CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7039, 29 January 1910, Page 5

CURRENT TOPICS

"A GREAT CAPITALIST." Mr J. Pierpont Morgan, by his latest deal, acquires control, according to the American papers, of capital reckoned, according to "conservative" estimates, at J.3;>0,0W),C00, and, according to others, at over .£500,000,01)0. But, then, what do a 4;i0O,00U,COO or so.matter here? What seems to be pretty certain is that Mr Morgan has under his control a greater portion of the world's capital than any other individual. An admirer once wrote of Mr. Morgan that he exerts his power in the open, that he wins his victories by main strength; that he could not be underhanded, and that he has neither time nor inclination to bo diplomatic. "You put him down as a. rough man, , rough in tho leonine sense; yet this 1 many-sided. genius has 'great culture, great courtesy, and great kindness of heart. You note that in and out of business he is always in a hurry, always impetuous, eager not to be delayed. You have only to look at him to know that he is a big man in every way. He is six feet in height, and he weighs fifteen I stone."

HARBOUR BOARD ELECTION. The Wellington Harbour Board election takes place on February 14th. So far three candidates are announced for tho two city seats—Messrs R. Fletcher and F. G. Bolton (present members), and Air G. Farland, assistant-secretary of tile Wharf Labourers' Union. These are to be elected by those on tho municipal roll- Tho payers of dues. Chamber of Commerce, Wairarapa and Manawatu districts, and suburban bodies return one each, and there are three Government nominees, with the Mayor ex officio a member. As Mr Wilford does not intend to seek re-election to the chairmanship, the new board will be required to elect one of its number to this position. Two or three candidates are already mentioned, hut as the composition of the board is likely to undergo •some change, speculation in regard to the new chairman is premature. Should Air Fletcher bo again returned hy the electors he will be an aspirant for the' j honour. A BIG ORDER PAPER. A special meeting of the Harbour Board is to be held next Friday, commencing at 1.30 p.m., to finish items on the order paper which could not be dealt with last Thursday. The hoard, true to its traditions, will consider the following public questions in committee: —A motion to rescind a previous resolution by 'which an office engineer was appointed; matters in regard to tho engineer's list of works; the question of the dock, and the result of the recent experiments regarding tho failure of tho cement to settle on the foundation, with a report from the engineer as to the suggested widening of the dock; a report from 'the secretary indicating the source from which increased revenue may be obtained; and the complaints relative to the handing of the Warrimoo's fruit, postponed from time to time. OUR CABLE NEWS SERVICE. The Premier of New South Wales, the Hon. C. G. Wade, is among those who are dissatisfied with the present cable service between New Zealand and Australia, and indicated it very plainly wh°rv speaking at the New Zealand Chib luncheon yesterday afternoon. He had evidently felt the absence of fuller news from the other side a good deal during the short time he had been in, the Dominion. He would have felt much happier, he confessed, if the news in regard to Australia, and especially to New South Wales, which came to Now Zealand was more frequent, and also more extensive. (Applause.) The same remark, as a matter of fact, applied equally strong in the other direc-. tion, and altogether, for some reason) hs could not account for, people belonging to the same race, and only divided by a small streak of water, could hardly obtain news of each other unless they could get hold of the papers of tho country in which they were interested. (Applause.) Where he returned to New South Wales therefore, he would endeavour to induce the papers there to obtain a more frequent news service, and to. deal with more matters of public interest than had been done in the post. (Anolnuso.) While at Rotoraa he had not felt very gratified at tho sort of advertisement that New South Wales bad received in the cable messages pnblished by the news- J papers. Thero were many matters of'

creat interest to both communities that could well bo transmitted from time to time and that would be of great value to those living on tho other side of the water. If he could claim to havo made any effort at all in the direction of quickening the bonds of sympathy ar.»l interest between the Dominion and tho Continent of Australia, he would certainly promise to shake up his rowspaper friends on this all important matter. (Applause.)

BEGINNING A INVOLUTION. Within two or three days at the latest tho first block of laud to be taken up under the Land Settlement Finance Act of last session will have changed hands, and a system which the Prime .Minister hopes is going to work a revolution in small settlement in the Dominion will have been given a real practical start. In speaking at tho Liberal partv's gathering last night, Sir Joseph Ward made an announcement to this effect, saying that only that day the Ministry had set tho wheels going of machinery which would enable men of small means to obtain land in such a way as had never been tried in any other country of the world before. The important Land Settlement Finance Act, which enabled tins to be done, made provision whereby men could form a small party to acqu re land on reasonable terms. The first application under the Act had come from the Geraldine electorate, and already an agreement had been signed by the owner of tho land and the party of men who.wished to take it up. The preliminaries were now practically completed, and tho transfer would take place probably on Monday, bo that these men would bo the very first to avail themselves of the splendid machinery the Government had provided.

A HAPLESS WIFE. The news received from St.. Petersburg that the Czarina is standing on the brink of the grave has caused no surprise to those who know the conditions {mder which her Majesty has lived e\er since her marriage. There is no mce pitiful tragedy in the history oi any royal house then the story of the unhappy Empress, who has for years been dying of terror (writes our correWondent). The Empress of Russia is the youngest daughter of the Urnna Duchess Alio? of Hesse, and after her mother's death she was cared for by Queen Victoria. She was so happy and bright as a child that her mother called her "Sunnv." Married at twenty-two, tho rigorous etiquette of the Russian Court changed the entire course of tier life. She missed the freedom and simplicity of Balmoral and, Darmstadt, and the atmosphore of suspicion and distrust which pervaded even the innermost circles of Russian Court life did much to embitter her. She has been a devoted wife and mother, but even her domestic life brought her sorrow. I'or Years the Czar longed for a sou, but the Czar's family of daughters increased, and the Czarina grew more and more melancholy. At last, when the hopes of the Czar were realised, and the Czarevitch Alexis was born, tho Empress's joy was followed by even, more profound dejection, for attempts were made to kidnap the child, and the precautions taken to protect the Imporial family from anarchical attacks had to be redoubled. Tho Czarina's mo was ono long nightmare. She was constantly oppressed by tho feair that something might happen to hex little son. Even the most trusted servants of the Imperial entourage came under her suspicion, and. during the first three years of the infant Czarevitch's life, she could hardly bo persuaded to abandon custody of hor sons person for an hour. All the food given him was prepared under her own supervision, and the child partook of nothing until his mother had first tasted - it. After the assassination, of the Grand Duke Ssrgius at Moscow, her Majesty could not sleep without tho I aid of opiates, for a week, and after tho funeral of the Grand Duke Alexis, to attend which she took a long railway journey, she collapsed, and for a time it was feared her reason had gone. The recent visit of the Russian TOyal family to Italy reduced the Czarina to the verge of imbecility, so great was her tsrror of bomb outrages by the way. From the effects of that journey, with its constant menace, tho Czarina has never recovered, and apparently the only release from the Teign of terror beneath which she has lived must come through hopeless imbecility or death. The very beggar in the street can afford to pity the hapless wife of "the Little Father."

< NEWS NOTESThe dispute between the Wellington Saddlers' Union and their employers will probably oome before the Council of Conciliation here within the next fortnight. . Mr Riddell, S.M., will hold an inquest this morning concerning the death of P. Throssell, who dropped down dead in a billiard saloon at Lower Hurt on Thursday evening. . Air E. E. Castelli, resident secretary for the New York Life Insurance Company in this Dominion, who has just returned from Australia, informs us that the new and paid for business of the company for 1909 amounts to .£29,000,000. While in Gisborne on Wednesday the Hon. A. T. Ngata was asked what was being done with Tegard to papatipu lands across the Waiapu. Mr Ngata said that the Native Appellate Court was expected to sit there early in April, and when tho disputes had teen, settled thero was no doubt that a considerable area around Hick's Bay would be available for European settlement on lease. Shifting operations of the Labour Department from the A.M.P. building in Hunter street to the Te Aro post office have now been completed, with the exception of the Conciliation \ Commissioner's office, which it is expected will be transferred at the beginning of next week. Miss JSremner, officer m charge of the women's branch of the employment bureau, has taken up quarters in the post office. The men's employment branch will remain in its present locale tni Hunter street.

At the forthcoming inspection by Field Marshal Lord Kitchener of the junior cadet forcesat the Hutt Park, the local and provincial district boy scouts are to be represented. A circular has been sent to scoutmasters giving details of the mobilisation. < Outlying' units will arrive on February 23rd, practise with the citysuburban cadets on the following day, and be inspected on the 25th. The lads for the purpose of the inspection and while travelling will be treated as part of the cadet forces. Local scouts will assemble in force at the city boundary and march to Lyall Bay this afternoon for practice work. The required statutory returns showing the membership of industrial unions are now being received by the Department of Labour. Secretaries of unions have until the end of tho month to send in the return, after which a penalty not exceeding ,£2 may be imposed for every week during which the law is not complied with.. In cases where the registrar has reasonable cause to believe that any union is defunct he may, after two months' notice has been given by correspondence, cancel the registration of such defaulting union by notice In the "Gazette."

During the quarter ending December 31st last the number of bankruptcies which occurred in Wellington were five, while those registered at the offices of the various deputy assignees were thirty-six—Wanganui .ten, P-alrnerston North three, Napier nine, Masterton eight, Blenheim, Nelson, Dannevirke, Westport, Hokitika, and Greymouth, one each. The number of bankruptcies closed during the quarter at depnty assignees' offices were sixty-two, leaving on hand at the end of the year 1U at the head office and 187 in the other centres. The amount paid in dividends by the assignee, including preferential claims, was ,£990 Os sd, and by the deputy assignees' offices .£2370 12s Bd.

Jnp;i\ Hand is to play at the 80. tanieal Gardens to-morrow afternoon.

The primary schools in the Wellington district will resume on Monday next alter tiie summer vacation.

The Mocraki, which sailed from Wellington „hortly after 0 o'clock last night, for Sydney, took IK) pas-enters.

The Onslow Borough Council notifies that 10 per cent, will be added to rates unpaid after February lith. Entries for the Mastertou A. and P. show close to-night at 0 o'clock, and for tho ram fair at U p.m. next Monday. A man who fell into the harbour and was subsequently pulled out was afterwards arrested yesterday morning on Waterloo rjuay by Constable Ferguson on a charge of insobriety.

The ceremony of unveiling the memorial in St. Paul's to the late Mr Seddon will be. performed by the Duke of Argyle at an early date. This memorial will bo next to tho Grey memorial. To-morrow evening tho Bishop of Christchurch will preach at St. Thomas' Church, Newtown, at the 11 o'clock service. At the evening service at 7 o'clock the Primate will bo the preacher.. Over thirty applications have been received by the Wellington Education Board for tho position of instructor in woodwork. A provisional appointment was made at Thursday's meeting of tho board.

Two police constables who were swinimrng at Lyall Bay on a recent afternoon observed a .shark swimming in the breakers. It was about six feat in length, and .probably ablo to inftiot a nasty bite. Tho animals imported by Mr J. J. Boyd for his proposed zoo at Aramoho, Wanganui, have all been permitted to land. Two American eagles in the collection will have the first joint of tho wing removed by a Government veterinarian.

Only ono foreigner among a crow of eighteen is a creditable record nowadays for a British sailing ship. The. John Lockett, which arrived at AVellington yesterday morning from Liverpool, has a French A. 8., but the remainder of her crew aro British.

Mr C. M. Montefiore,- of the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, has forwarded as a present four sets of boxing gloves and two dozen fencing sticks to the Central ]?ire Brigade for the use of the men for exercise, which will probably in future form part of their drill.

The council of tho AVellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon instructed the secretary, Mr S. Carroll, to issue circulars to all members inviting nominations for the election of a representative on tho Harbour Board. The nominations aro to be in by February 7th, the secretary being appointed to act as returning etDceir should thero bo more than one.

Tlio bis spaa: or log which was seen in Cook Strait recently by the officers of the Paitoena. was probably the obstacle which was passed a few days ago to the south-east of Stephen Island by the barque John Lockett. Captain Wy-Ido, of the latter vessel, is inclined to believe it is the trunk of a biff tree, and is a nasty thing for any vessel to run a-zainst.

The hearing of . evidence in the industrial dispute between the Nelson Painters* Union and their employers, in which' the services of the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr Hally) were requisitioned, has been adjourned for a fortnight in order that the union authorities may have the opportunity of citing as parties a number of tradesmen who had been overlooked, and who the employers considered should bo attached. ...

Curing tho voyage of the barque John Lockett from Liverpool to Wellington an elderly A. 8., James Ireland, belonging to Manchester, England, succumbed on Decemlx»r 12th, in latitude 41.22 south and longitude- 50.22 east, as a result of a severe cold on the chest. The deceased had been ailing for a week, and at 4 a.m. on that date he was found dead in his bunk. At 4 p.m. all handswere mustered and the body was consigned to the deep, tho captain reading tho burial service.

At 10.45 o'clock yesterday morning a stevedore named Arthur Johnson, a married man residing in Tory street, was attending No. 4 hatch, on the deck of the Moeraki, when the cargo hook caught in something while it was coining up. Johnson leaned over to seo what was holding the hook, when it became released and struck him on the forehead. A severe cut was inflicted, which was stitched bv Dr Henry, who then ordered Johnson's removal to the hospital. .Last night he was reported to be suffering from slight concussion.

The subject for the debating contest at this year's University tournament, which is to bo hold at Christclmrch at Faster, is:—"That the training and education provided by such a University as ours is the best preparation for a commercial or industrial career. Each of the four competing colleges sends a team of two, who are each allowed fifteen minutes in which to speak, there being two separate debates. In the first debate Canterbury College have been drawn to take .the affirmative, while Victoria College will take the negative; in the second debate Auckland University College will affirm, and Otago University will oppose. The judges are Messrs O. T. J- Alpers, if .A., LL.U., G. T. Booth, and E. K. Mulgan. M.A., -

The Feilding A. and P. show takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday next, and is likely to be one of the most successful held in the history of the society. Tho entries in the sheep and horse classes exceed those of last year, and all the other classes are well filled. Ike train time-table enables, people irom Dannevirke, surrounding districts, and Wellington to return homo the same day. The usual 5 p.m. train from Palmerston to Wellington, and the evening train from Palmerston for Dannevirke and Masterton, will be delayed till the arrival of tho 4.50 p.m. special tram from Feilding. The exhibition of stock promises to be exceedingly attractive, as some of the most prominent breeders in the province and neighbouring districts are exhibiting.

Some little doubt as to the wisdom of addressing the New Zealand Club was whimsically expressed by the Hon. C. G. Wade, Premier of New South Wales, in speaking at the club luncheon yesterday afternoon. Amid hearty laughter he referred to the addresses delivered to the club some time ago by Messrs Will Crookes and Foster Praser, both of whom, he said, are now dead! "They're both ex-politicians now," he went on, "and there is an unfortunate association of ideas about it, to say the least, that both of these gentlemen after having aired themselves hero have found themselves cast into the outer darkness politically on their return to England." (Laug"hter). Mr Wade added that his fear for himself lay in the fact that in the near future in New South Wales there would also be changes, and he could only hope that there would be luck in odd numbers, and that the fate which had overtaken the two previous visitors would not overtake him too. (Applause). The Lux Light Company wish it known that the Lux Incandescent Kerosene Gas Lamps give the Cheapest and Most Brilliant Light on Earth. See Te Aro House, Bates and Lees', Wardell Bros.', Levdon and Co., Caterer and Carey, E. Pearce and Co., R. Hannah and Co., Petone Workshops (where Lux replaced the latest devices in lighting). House Lamps 22s 6d. Lamps up to 2000 candlepower. 35, 37, 39, Old Customhouse street (back of Opera House), Wellington. .*