The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1911.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10765, 13 May 1911, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1911.

Mr Massey's intention to address the Oamaru public on politics reminds us that no leading representative of the party opposed to the Liberal Administration has ever ventured on a platform in this town. Seeing that the Party of Progress has been in power since Sir Ballance assumed office in 1891, this shows a long period of immunity from Opposition solicitude for our temporal weflbeing and spiritual future. Whether this is due to our being deemed beyond redemption, or to our being already redeemed beyond the possibility of degeneracy, we leave our readers to conjecture. However, we shall all be glad to see Mr Massey amongst us and to give him a reception befitting a man who. whatever may be his political errors, is worthy of esteem as a man. Sir Ernest Shackleton, back from a visit to Buda Pesth, where he has obtained a concession pecuniarily more valuable than a section of the Antarctic .Circle, has a half-formed idea of writing a book chronicling episodes of his journeying and doings on his lecturing campaign, writes Sir H. W. Lucy. Judging from some of the stories he tells it" will bo exceedingly attractive. One records an interview with the German Emperor during a visit of the explorer to Berlin. Before being introduced to the Presence he was solemnly warned that in the course of conversation he was to carefully refrain from controverting any statement the Emperor might put forward, for, as his tutor observed in hushed voice, "His Imperial Majesty doesn't like it." The interview proceeded without hitch till the Emperor, always anxious for information, made inquiry as to the habits of white bears in the region of the South Pole. "There are no white bears there, your Majesty," said Shackleton with deep humility. "No white boars!" exclaimed his Majesty, regarding the explorer with withering glance, "why not?" By this time Sir Ernest, awakened to his indiscretion, took refuge in silence, declining to take on himself the duty of explaining the ways of inscrutable Providence. Thirteen Chinese who have been on a visit to their native country returned to New Zealand via Sydney by the Moeraki They belong to the gold-mining and market-gardening class, and on production of sufficient bona fides of their previous residence in New Zealand, were allowed to land without payment of the poll-tax. They have apparently brought much with them that will serve to remind them in a tangible manner of the land of their birth, their imposing array of luggage on the wharf attracting the attention of passers-by. From a view of their exterior one gathered that the numerous packages contained much that was edible, in the shape of dainty Oriental confections. Another Chinese who came by the same boat had the distinction of being the first of his race to take advantage at Wellington of the amended' legislation which allows a Chinese merchant to land in the Dominion on the condition that he deposits £lO with the Customs authorities and that his stay in New Zealand does not exceed six months.

The potentialities of Otiake as a fruitgrowing centre are being demonstrated by Mr Harris, a fruitgrower of considerable experience from the Teviot, where be sold' out his interest in the industry owing to the disabilities of railway communication, but not before having accumulated sufficient money to enable him to purchase the freehold of a 200-acre farm at Otiake. Mr Harris says that the soil at Otiake resembles that of Teviot, in that it is very porous and made up of alluvial deposits, and therefore well adapted to the industry of fruit growing; so much so that he asserts a family could do well on ten acres if in full bearing. Owing to the fact that the Rev. "W. J. Williams had to proceed to Palmerston to conduct memorial services tomorrow regarding the death of the Rev. C. E. Somerville, the local Methodist Church servioes have had to be supplied. In the morning Mr J. C. Yorke will preach, whilst the evening service will bo conducted by Mrs Williams. The collections for the day will be devoted to the foreign mission fund. The Enfield service will be conducted by Mr J. Mnrtvn and that at Kakanni by Mr H. Groc'ott. The annual meeting of the North Otago Branch of the Otago Educational •Institute was held this morning. The following officers were elected: President, Mr Rodgers (Moeraki): vice-pre-sident, Mr W. Cron (Oamaru South); Committee of Management—Miss King (Oamaru Middle), Messrs Aldred (Oamaru South), and Fleming (Otepopo); secretary, Mr Service (Oamaru North); delegates to Committee of Management of the 0.E.1. —Messrs Cron, Service, and Fleming. A long discussion took place on the question of reducing the salaries of teachers, members considering that the practice of doing so was unfair. The question was referred to the Management Committee for the purpose of ascertaining the true position.

The Universal Picture Company will present another excellent series of animated pictures at the Opera House this evening. The programme, which has been received direct from Messrs Fuller. contains many subjects of exceptional merit. Four "of the dramas are over one thousand feet in length. These are: "Faust," "The Bearded Bandit" (one of the Essany Co.'s masterpieces). "The Stronger Tie" (by the famous Kalem Company), and a new film by the Yankee Company entitled "A Fight for Millions." "A Daring Performance" is a subject depicting ihe famous trahiere, Alfred Schneider and Miss Marcela in a performance with twenty-two lions.

''Scenes in Vienna" is a magnificent scenic film taken by the well-known Pathe Freres, and one of their Gazettes has also a place on the pro-

gramme." After the Ball" (an A.B. comedy), "The Aerial Submarine," and "Foolshead, Inspector of Hygiene" are the titles of some of the other subjects. The Pathe Orchestra will supply the necessary musical accompaniments. Miss Gore, second assistant to Mr C. B. Morris, has succeeded in passing her second A examination for the Pharma-

ceutical Society of New Zealand. A young lady cycling round the corner of Tyne and Itchen streets this morning met with an accident that might have.been attended with serious consequences. Coming down Itchen street the cyclist attempted to ride into Tyne street on the inside corner of the street, by Nimmo and Blair's shop, and in doing so she collided with a delivery cart coming from Tyne street. The front wheel of the bicycle struck the wheel of the vehicle with great force, the impact being such as to buckle the .cycle wheel altogether out of. shape. The lady, though thrown heavily to the ground, sustained no more s"erious_ injury than some slight cuts and bruises. Had the driver of the vehicle not pulled his horse up promptly the accident might have been more serious. An invitation has been .extended to Mr "W. F. Massey, the Leader of the Opposition, to deliver a political address in Oamaru. A reply has been received to the invitation stating that Mr Massey will visit Oamaru on Friday, ' May 26. ■ , The Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Internal Affairs, arrived in Oamaru this afternoon on his way South. At tho Council Chamber a deputation from the Borough Council, consisting of the Mayor (Dr. M'Adam), Councillors Milligan and Mitchell, met the Minister, asking for information as to the class of Coronation memorial on which tho. Government would grant its subsidy ot £250. Dr M'Adam explained the various proposals made for the Coronation memorial —a band rotunda, gates for the gardens, and the improve- ! ment of the Tyne Street Gardens so as to render them fit for an athletic park. Mr Buddo stated that the memorials for which the Government would give a subsidv were a public hall, a library, gates of an ornamental nature bearing an inscription and giving access to a public place, a baud rotunda, or an avenue of trees. It was desirable that on Coronation Day some sort of celebration should be held, such as the laying of a foundation stone. He did not think that the subsidy could be given for a public park, as the Government s idea was to promote the erection of monuments which would remind the young people of the occasion and inculcate a wide spirit of patriotism. Recent tours by officers in charge of groups and sergeant majors in charge of areas disclose that the new military scheme is being everywhere received with the greatest enhusiasm, and that both serving volunteers and young men between the ages of 14 and 21 inclusive are fully cognisant of the privilege they enjov in serving their country under arms. Doubts existed as to certain hardships in regard to parades, etc., but these have now been removed. Up to May 13, 501 registration forms had been received from the Oamaru district, 54 of which came in last week. It is estimated that 1000 have still to register, and parents by seeing that their sons register at once, and young men realising their immediate responsibility, will save a house-to-house canvas of Oamaru by officers of tho staff corps and sergeant-majors. It is expected that tho" grand total of cadets, including Hi< v h School and nublic schools, will reach 2000. The Rev. George Brown, D.D., who has spent many years of his life in the South Sea Islands endeavoring to stamp out polygamy and cannibalism among the natives, says in some parts of New Britain the natives have a custom of placing young women in strict seclusion before marriage by imprisoning them in cages for several years until they reach a marriageable ago. Dr Brown describes how on one occasion he inspected a number of these human cages. "The cage was quite*, clean," he said, "and contained nothing but » few short lengths of bamboo for holding water. There was only room for a girl to sit or lie down in a crouched position on the bamboo platform, and when the doors are shut it must be nearly quite dark inside. They are never allowed to come out except once a day to bathe in a dish or wooden bowl placed near the cage. They are placed' in cages when quite young and must remain there until their marriage." The composition of the Chinese navy at present is as follows: One secondclass cruiser, seven third-class cruisers, three torpedo gunboats, 37 gunboats, . 20 torpedo-boats; total, 68. The total displacement is 45,070 tons. China has, however, now organised a navy department and intends to carry out a construction programme to' be completed in seven years. The programme includes the building of eight first-class battleships, over 20 cruisers and 20 gunboats, the organisation of two torpedo flotillas, and the establishment of four naval ports at a total cost of 158,450,000 taels. The new fleet will have a total displacement of 250,000 tons. One of the new naval ports _will be constructed at Siangslian, Chekiang Province. This is one of the many programmes of awakened China, for she has learned through bitter experience that without being backed by force she cannot hold her own against foreign pressure. Robert Dulwich, who has travelled extensively in the lesser known regions of the Himalaya, gives an interesting account of a native sect known as tho' Tharys, who have some curious practices. The sect are worshippers of the goddess Kali. They believe either in-' self-destruction or in the sacrifice of one of their fingers to appease the deity. Thus it comes about that when the ■ eldest member of the family is married the unhappy mother is expected to cutoff at least the first two joints of the last two fingers of her hand. Princesses and other smart people in this remarkable sect are allowed to offer a substitute of "ringer joints modelled in gold. _ Years ago a young New Zealander fixed rubber heels to his boots. His idea patented would have netted him a huge fortune —he let it pass! There may be others with ideas just as good. They should not let the opportunity pass, but should at once consult a reputable firm of patent agents like Baldwin and Rayward, whose local representative is Mr E. Piper, Thames street, who would give them honest advice, and make their rights absolutely secure.

The victorious "CALTHORPE" Car, winner of the only cup ever won by .an English car in a French road race; high road clearance, light weight, finest prices.—SEARLE, Oamarn, sole agent for South Island. -. Mr S. J. DAVYS. Dentist, will Visit KUROW THURSDAY, May 18th, and may be consulted at Spiers Hotel. , 551 Health counts most—you must have ic to win out —to forge ahead. Steams' Wine of Cod Liver Extract will assist your—build you up and keep you going. 11