The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1911.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10716, 15 March 1911, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1911.

When the question of fortifying the Panama Canal was The Panama first mooted no one

Canal. expected that there would be any division of opinion in America about it, and no one thought that the rest of the world would raise any objection. Japan was the nation mostly 6poken of in certain quarters as likely to go to war with America immediately, but Japanese statesmen took an early opportunity of declaring President Taft's message to Congress quite correct. At the same time no other nation made any attempt to criticise the project. Thus the expectation of a general international agreement was fulfilled. But the expectation of the general acquiescence in America itself (the United States) was not so happy, for a violent objection was made and a powerful party has set its face against the fortification. Such men as David Okie, Starr Jordan, W. Dean Howells, and Fiiunco (the President of the Brown University) headed the anti-fortification movement. They have not prevailed for the simple reason that the majority of Americans take the same view of the matter as the rest of the world. The case they made out moreover, was singularly weak. That case stood on six reasons: (1) That unfortified the canal would be safer ai war; (2) that the original intention of the American Government was not to fortify it: (3) that the Suez Canal is unfortified; (4) that the United States will never be attacked, and is not likely to attack any other nation, after the completion of the canal; (5) that the undefended Canadian border has been the guarantee of peace for a hundred' years; (6) that the thing between five and ten millions sterling—would be prohibitive. Now, the first of these reasons is a paradox, as the Kaiser would agree if the principle were offered for the Kiel Canal. The second is worthless, because it does not meet the reasons given by thePresident and his Cabinet for the step they have asked Congress to take. - The third does not recognise the cardinal difference between the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal in this matter, which is the difference of the dependence of the two American coasts on the canal. It was a difference recognised in all the treaties with Britain, the British side always leaving America a free hand. in the matter. The fourth ignores the altered status and new ambitions of America. The fifth has been—not without reason —termed "tommy rot by an American critic, because the Canadian border had not so much to do with the century of peace as the general relations between the two nations. Moreover, the neutrality of the border lakes and streams when there are but two parties to a treaty is easy to arrange and guarantee, whereas, when the whole world is taking a hand the difficulties multiply. There is Suez with the whole world taking a hand, it is true v hut there is at Suez no America with the interests of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to safeguard. Neither is there any treaty hy which breakers of the neutrality of the canal"' would be boycottedvby the nations, and therefore commercially ruined. America is the best : guarantor,. and must have the means to make good. The sixth is just an evasion, because the. cost is subordinate as a question to the supreme necessitj- for the'fortifications. On the other hand,-the case for the other side is very strong: Frankly stated by the President and.kis Secretary of "War, it is an American case of special type. The reason which induced the Americans to build the canal apply to their insistence on its fortification. Forts will set free the American fleet to do its duty of protecting the coasts arid ; trade routes. They will prevent a bombardment of the Iworks which there would be nothing to prevent any evil-disposed enemy, from doing for the injury, of an adversary. They will ensure the passage of the American fleet between the two oceans with safety and expedition. Imagine a Japanese expedition, such as is freely talked of, for the raid and reduction of the Western States of America. No [ amount of theory will get rid .of the 'fact that the impossibility of blocking the canal and thus forcing the American fleet to a long voyage around the Horn while fighting was being m California and the western passes .of the I Rockies, would bo an irresistihle.temptation to the Japanese commander. I Lastly, the forts would enable the VAmericans to make good the. guarani tees tbey have given of the canal's ncu- . tralitv. ' It is, of course, one.thing for the canal to be guaranteed by America and quite another to permit it to be closed against her at any moment in spite of all the guarantees in the world. The fortification of the canal will be tn the interest of America and, better, for the interest of mankind generally. It is a wonder that any Americans have been found to raise doubts of so selfI evident a proposition. The fact makes one doubt the capacity of many American public men, but it will not prevent the canal from being fortified as it ought to be.

Tho English mail, via Wellington, Sydney, and Naples, which, was despatched from Oamaru on the 2nd February, arrived in London on the 12th March —one day late. Judgment for plaintiff by default of defendant was given at the Magistrate's Court this morning in the following civil cases: —Jas. M'Diarmid v. Harry Diver, £1 lis, costs 8s; Milligan and Bond v. Leopold Bottiug, £5 6s, costs 12s; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co. v. D. Brecn, £3B 4s lOd, costs £3 2s.

A distinct shock of earthquake was felt at Totara at 4.45 a.m. on Sunday. The shake was also felt in Oamaru.

It is understood that a petition has been prepared and is in circulation requesting the Borough Council to hold a poll under the Shops and Offices-Act to: decide whether or not Saturday bo fixed as the general half-holiday wifihin the' borough. : Never before has North Otago experienced so continuous, so general, so desolating a drought as that which, now has the parched and cracked throat of the whole district' clamoring for cooling draughts. Everywhere the eye is .wearied by .the monotony of dun-colored earth where were wont to bo green fields. As the result of the paucity, of rain during several years the grasses have become impoverished, and there are now many old fields in which the pasture has died right out. The face of the country is a desert of dust, and the only visual distinction between the roadline and the lea land is the boundary fence. Naturally then stock is in sorry plight, and equally naturally pastoralists have disencumbered themselves of the responsibility of their charges so far as the demands of the market will permit. A canvass of the stock firms in town gives us authority for stating that not less than 150,000 store sheep have been railed away from North Otago within the past two months. These include lambs which in the past have gone away as fats, but which had this year to be finished off elsewhere. There is also among the number a large proportion of ewes, which when the climate becomes normal again and feed reappears will have to be re-purchased. Fortunately until r.erecently feecfin pars of Canterbury, and Southland has been plentiful and the demand for sheep was good, so ihatt selling has not entailed an absolute sacrifice, but the farmer who has had to get rid of his young ewes can hardly anticipate to restock without considerable loss. Now that the scarcity of feed is general it is difficult to find_ a market at all.' The owner of cattle is in even a worse plight than the sheep man, for he can find no market whatever for his cows except as potters. At sale good cows out of profit realise the handsome sum'of ss, and. the poorer animals are worth the value of the hide. The exq'dus of this class of stock is unprecedented, and the district is poorer by not less than 1000 head of cattle. In fact the country is becoming almost de- . nuded of stockj and although in the absence of feed this inevitable step removes a serious embarrassment from the farmer, he must look forward with feelings of not unalloyed pleasure to the day of restocking. The North Otago Horticultural Society have long since felt the urgent need of increased equipment, in the shape of staging, vases, etc., in con- i nection with the several shows, but up to the present have been forced to forego these conveniences owing to a limited exchequer and the absence of any suitable solution of the money problem. The inodest membership fee of five shillings, which is so popular that it is not desired to increase it, leaves little margin for augmentation of the Society's plant. An opportunity of raising funds for the purpose has now presented itself. In conjunction with Hayward's Picture Proprietary the Society will give a combined picture and musical entertainment in the Opera House on Tuesday evening, March 28th, notice of which appears in our- advertising columns. A pleasing musical programme has been arranged, and this in addition to the pictures will doubtedly make up a good night's enjoyment.' Much assistance will _be rendered by the boys of the High School.

The monthly .meeting, of the South School Committee, hold last evening in the school office, was attended by Messrs A. Lucas (chairman), J. Crombie, A. Cross, J. Bee, L. Dewar, S. B. Paterson, T. Hunter, and R. C. Main (clerk).; The headmaster (Mr Aldred) was also in attendance. Nino months' leave of absence was granted the janitor, on condition that -a suitable person was obtained to carry oil the work, the Committeo expressing satisfaction with the manner in which the duties had been performed in tho past. Miss M. Garrey's resignation as assistant teacherwas accepted with regret, the Committee expressing its appreciation of the good work done by her since her appointment. Miss Martyn having completed her term of pupil teachership and left to continue her studies at the Training College in Dunedin, Mr Finlay ; was appointed to fill the vacancy, and the latter gives promise of becoming a valuable addition to the school staff. The headmaster's report showed that, the average attendance had been very,, good. Accounts amounting to £25 6s 9d were passed for payment. Messrs A. Cross and L. Dewar were appointed a Visiting Committee for the month. An interesting point was discussed at the civil sitting of. the Magistrate's Court this morning when the case New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. v. Bicen was called. Mr Newton for plaintiff said the case was not defended, but there was a point on which he wished to have his Worship's decision. This was in regard to the claim for interest. ' Mr Newton quoted' authorities \to show that interest could be claimed without an express contract provided usage were proved. He then called the representatives of the Loan and Mercantile and Dalgety;and Co.' to show that it was the. invariable cus—torn to charge interest after a .certain time. There, was provision m»do fbr ; this in the conditions of sale which were read before each auction. His' Worship remarked that he was satisfied that there was liability in the case; in question, without touching on trie point which was the subject : of argui ment. '";{■■:;

On and after Monday, 20th March; the Mararoa will leave Lyttelton for Wellington on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, after the arrival of the first express. Mails for the North Island on the days mentioned will close at 11 a.m. instead of 2 p.m. as at pree sent. '.".*•;

At yesterday's meeting the Oamaru Presbytery minuted the-following resolution, carried on the motion of Revs. Clarke and Standring: —" That the Presbytery places on record its sincere sympathy' with Mrs Hay in her present serious illness, and prajs God that the comforts of His grace may he abundantly ministered to her in her hour of trial", and also its sympathy with Miss Hay .nid Mr Hay. The Presbytery also extends its sympathy to Mrs Campbell, of Dunback."

Mr Joseph Binnoy, of (ho HarwardBinne\ Mission, in company with Mr Edgai' Ewing, visited the Hospital early last evening and spent a considerable time singing to the patients. As many of the patients as woic able to be moved gathered in one of the wards, in which the new piano had been brought. Mr Ewing presided at the piano and Mr Binnoy sang a number of solos. Messrs Ewing and Biuuev also icndercd several ducts. The singing was evidently much enjoyed bv the patients and nurses, and at'the invitation of the Matron Mr Binney promised to return at an early 'date.

Vim and vigor arc not yours with' ; a headache. Get rid of it—be yourself. Stearns' Headache Cine banishes the headache in a minute. 20

It is not very many years, counted in decades, since Edison produred the first rough model of a. phonograph. . The inr strument was no doubt tinny, and nasal, and unfitted for the reproduction of good music But in its short lifetime the phonograph has grown rapidly, so rapidlv that it would scarcely ho accounted a relative of the. first sound-re-cording and producing machine. The latest model is the Atnberola, which is in the form of a. handsome piece of furniture. Tbe instrument, handsomely finished, has the new stylo of stationary reproducer, the record moving. By a simple movement the machine may be adjusted to take either two or fourminute records, and it stops automatically. The lower part of the cabi-

natjicogiaijis. drawers to hold 100 reHie "chief improvement is in the^horn,' which is biriit' in as part of tije cabinet and hidden from sight behind delicately designed tracery. Yesterday a representative of the Mail was etiabled, to see and hear the first of faese-.instruments to be imported to Sew; Zealand. It iias been imported hy -the agents. Messrs Ciias. Begg and Go.*,, for Mrs Owens, of the North Road. Records of songs and instrumental and oratorio selections were played, and it | may. faithfully be stated that the tone Was practically perfect. The horn being of .wood, there was none of that, metallic: ring which often spoils a beautiful voice. The instrument also is very compact, a'iid since there is no protruding horn cah be placed conveniently in any corner 'of .a "room. Messrs Bcgg and Co. will liave the instrument at their premises "until- Saturday evening, and will be pleased to .show it to persons interested. .".Education, it is said, is the apprenticeship, of life, and this being so, the Objective of the Oamani Technical Classes' Association .should require no special impress on the youthful minds of the..community. And yet there are so. many who fail to realise that in these days of racing for commercial and industrial .supremacy it is those with educated minds who receive appointment to the most elevated positions. The classes afford an excellent opportunity for the young of either sex who liave completed their primary school course to pursue their studies along specialised technical lines, destined to fit them for "•captaincy" positions in whatever department of industrial life they decide to enter. An advertiscijient in this issue contains the announcement that students will be enrolled at the school on Tuesday. 21st March, in subjects that are spccilied. The work undertaken by the Classes should receive the sympathetic support of "the community generally, and parents can materially assist by encouraging tire, youth of their families to avail themselves of the opportunities for cdiicational advancement offered.

-.Mr Morrison, the consulting engineer, and Mr Cooke, ot the contracting firm, will be in Oamaiu to-morrow and will siipervi.se a trial run of the Harbor Board's dredging plant. ".A good rubbing of the chest and back with ROCKE'S Eucalyptus Oil and a few drops sprinkled on your pillow will relieve a cold. Ask for Australia's best —"ROCKE'S." 4 .. -Mr J. Swindley, Surgeon Dentist, will visit Kurow on Thursday nest, 16th. inst., and may be consulted at Spiers' Hotel. 725 - -There's no doubt that Indigestion neglected rapidly gains ground with its Victim, gradually involving every other .prgart in the body—weakening and un■cjenniniiig the whole system. Don't neglect, those first warning twinges of indigestion—it means much to you. Dr. Grassland's Xoxoi is what you need to;banish the trouble out of your system, and bring hack the healthy color to. your cheeks again. Delay no longer .-—send, to your chemist- or store for a bottle of Dr Crossland's X'oxol. Price. 2s. 757