CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12243, 6 January 1902, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

Tho visit to Naseby of Dr Mason, the Chief Health Officer of tho colony, invalidity and Dr Syme, the District insurance Health Officer fo. Cantercosipasiks. bury, for the purpose of examining the sites proposed for tho State Sanatorium for Consumptives is a sign that something is being done towards erecting tho first of these muchneeded end long-promised institutions. In Germany, the home of some of the most successful sanatoria in tho world—the Nordrach Sanatorium in particular, under the charge of Dr Wnlther, having a unique renown for its consumptive cure?,—the Government have legislated for and brought inlo being what are called State invalidity insurance companies, which havo as their object tho prevention of consumption, ,At the present time, as Mr Harold White points out in an article on "The Problem of Tuberculosis," in the "Westminster Review," consumptives are practically pro liibitcd from all forms of insurance, and considering that tuberculosis is really a, pr« vontable disease, some workable schemf should bo adopted to prevent it. In Germany, when a labourer or servant enters upon any kind of work or business, he is compelled by law to iiuuro against tuberculosis, and should he at any period ot bib employment betray symptoms of the diicasa : he is at once sent to the State sanatorium.

l!y tlii? lnwm« the fliacarc is dealt with upon its first manifestation, at the time when it most readily lend, itself to treatment, and is thus cured at the icart expense to the community. It is jijnilioint that the percentage of euros in all such cases of compulsory commitment to the State sanatoria i< far in excess of those effected in private patients, where too often .he disease is allowed In pursue its ravages for come time before the right treatment is adopted. Another point to hi noted is that in these incipient cases the sojourn at the sanatorium need not be a !on<r one, for one of-the latest returns furniclicd hy a German medical man shows tlmt the average, stay of the pat-wit is only 78} days. The extent to which the scheme hau spread in Germany may lie judged from the statement that, in 1870, 37 of the Government insurance companies collectively assisted MSO C(mH18 ,,,. tivos, of whom 4432 were sent to the subsidised sanatoria. In the same year these companies invested altos-Mlici 1,300.003 marks for consumptives, whilst in lEEO a fund of from three to four million marks wss devoted to the same purpose. Itiis said that since licensed gambling was abolished in Germany the axti-bhibuso population of Homlmrg, LEOIBLITIOS. Wiesbaden, Badon-Jiaden, itli'.l other spas has more than doubled, and they are more popular and prosperous resorts for n bettor cluc-.s of dimmer visitors thin in the days of their notorious gambling balls. lVlgium is now the only important country in Europe where public gambling halls am lictnsed by Hie Government. Monaco is an exception, but as that little principality is the personal perquisite of its reigning l'riuce, Monte Carlo need cenrccly he considered. Although in nearly every Continental watering place there are "eercles'' in the r.isinns where roulette, baccarat, and petits ehc-vaux are played, yet outside of Belgium ind .Monaco the gambiingjs carried on in defiance of the law, and only when winked at by the local authorities. Under existing condition* in Belgium, authority is given to the communal Governments of Ostende, Spa, and certain other municipalities to permit games of chance to be played within their jurisdiction, under such regulation and in consideration of such pecuniary compensation as they may severally presenile. The introduction of an anti-gambling bill in the Belgian Parliament at its last session is said to have been the outcome of the righteous indignation of a wealthy and •influential Belgian citizen whose son lost a fortune in one of the great gambling establishments which flourish undci the protection of the laws of tho Kingdom. The Belgian conscience was perceptibly quickened during the discussion on the bill, and the strength of the anti-gambling movement surprised even its promoters. The declaration of the Deputy who led the debate on the bill, that " the time ha? gone by when a civilised Government can afford to compound with vice by giving it shelter,,no matter what the pecuniary inducements may be," was cheered to tho echo. As originally introduced in the Lower House, the bill commanded an overwhelming majority of the Deputies. It was subsequently amended in Iho Upper House eo that its provisions should not take effect foi two years, and that the localities affected bj it should be indemnified. It was proposed, for oxample, that Ostondc and Spa, the principal places aimed at, should be comp-nsated to the tune of 5,000,000 and 3,000,000 francs respectively for the loss of their gambling license*. Those amendments were overwhelmingly rejected by the Lower House, and tho session closed with a deadlock. There is, however, every probability of an agreement being arrived at during next session, for the opponents of the bill made no serious effort to defend the license system, hut were content to plead for delay in its extinction. It would thus appear that tho end of licensed gambling in Belgium is not far off—a Irec-nn which New Zealand may well lay tc heart.

The Fire Brigade had two calls on Saturday. The first \va: from Shaeklnck's foundry, in the morning, and was canned l>y the patent alarm going oil The employees did not ring up to stop the brigade, who thus turned out for nothing. About 7.30 in the evening im nlann enmc from Mo'lison's, in George street. One of tho employees, in lighting n window, accidentally fet fire to soni<> fancy goods, and in k minute everything was ablaze. Mr J. F. Mollhon unci Mr E. H. Allen, together with a number of the amistauts, tore down the burning articles nnd stumped out the firo before much damage was dono. The whole thing was practically suppressed bnforo the brigade arrived, snd the damage, is mentioned, was not extensive. The following rclimis arc supplied by the Hospital authorities for tho past week: — Patient* remaining over from .ho previous week, 79; admitted during the week, 24; discharged, 12; deaths (Gilbert Gillies and Jessie M'Lean), 2; patients remaining in tho institution, 89. The Government of Tasmania hns let a contract, on the plan* and specifications of Jlr (J. Napier-ttoll, M.lnst.C.K., to cut a ship canal through" Kast Hay Neek. This will enable steamers sailing from Hobart to reach the north-east coast at Maria Island entirely through inland waters, tlmx saving ikml 103 miles of navigation round by the open sea. At (he Police Court on Saturday, before the Hon. 11. Goiirlcy, J.P., two first offenders within tho meaning of tho act were convicted of drunkenness and discharged. There have been no occupants of the police cells since Saturday morning—a good record for this time of the year. Mr ,1. Graham Gow, the travelling trade representative of the New Zealand Government, was hard'at work in Johannesburg, booming ilio colony, when the last mail left, Mr Gow was only ab'.o to tako up small cases of samples of Xe« Zealand products, owing to tho railage limitations. But even from this small exhibit it is (writes the Johannesburg flnaettc) possible to gauge the immense possibilities of intercolonial trade in tho near future. Here are samples of woollens and rugs manufactured at Wellington, Kaiapoi, and Mosgicl, perfect in texture and colouring, and to all appearance equal to anything produced on the best looms in Yorkshire. The enterprising New Zealand Government has on its Budget estimate; for subsidising a lj llc „f s t Mm ° K which will land mutton, butter, cheese, (lour, We., direct from the producer to South African consumer?, and it requires no great prophet in instinct to predict a flourishing trade in these products alone with our sister colony. The splendid quality of New Zealand mutton has been gratofullv recognised hero recently. Business in Johannesburg, to judge from the strings of advertisements in the Johannesburg Garotte, appears to be getting well mui-r way again, though it id subject to a large number of restrictions. Something very unpleasant must Have happened to Mr r\ Vi11i,,,.,-, t |, e war cor . respondent and lecturer, during his recent torn in Australia (say, ||, c London cm-res-pondont of the Age), for since he came hack hero a few weeks ago he lias been in '•' highly censorious mood about nearly everything in the Commonwealth. One of his assertion.. ;\ tha' the countrj as a whole is anti-JSritish, and that it is led by the nose by "n lying, scurrilous, and antiBntish wookly newspaper." He ■uggcsU that anybody iPe i;j ng a pleasant holiday should choose any part oi the habitable gobo latlio. than venture to Australia. , •Mr Yillicrs has a particular loathing f or Australian working men, and lie has detailed all their sins or supposed sins to a ' London tudieuw. He tank- fault also with ' the self-satisfaction of tho average Ah«. tralinn, with his tendency to " HV olled head," his increasing drawl, and his defi- j eioney in good manners. The lack of ap- | prcciation of London shown by a Melbourne I , war correspondent who camo hero for a j

i brief visit some months ago was singled out '• by -Mr Villiers for a special display of sarcasm, which, however, was too wide of ' the mark to be amusing. Mr Villiers is simply suffering from a fit of very bad temper, of which another evidence was his ' remark that the frequent ablutions of the .Australians were not due to a preference (or 1 cleanliness, but to tliei. "inherent desire to obtain something for nothing "! While in the years 1868-9 tho mortality from coneumplidn was about 2600 per million per annum in Ungland and Waleß, it had fallen in 18?0 to 1269 per million j and in the four years 18969 it averaged very little over 1300 per million per annum. There has, therefore, l«en foi 30 years a continuous and very satisfactory fall in the mortality from this terrible disease, and that fall has lieun going on long before any talk of » crusade against consumption bad bjen heard of, and independently even of the advance of better ideas regarding its infectiousness and ite hereditary transmission. It does not seem Utopian to nope yet to see the mortality from consumption reduced to very small proportions indeed.—The Week's Survey. The success o. some experiments with a new projectile which have lately been carried out in the German Army has been so pronounced that the British War Office is seriously considering the advisability of adopting it for use in South Africa. According to the reports ol experts who have watched the trialß, the fIioII in question has a cartridge compo-od of amorphous phosphorus added to the ordinary ehargo of smokeless powder. The result of thi.s is that when the projectile bursts a dcn.se bank of while smoke is immediately emitted. As this is not dispersed for several seconds, the enemy's own aim is temporarily masked. A second advantage consist* in the fact that arlilleii.ils using the new cartridge will be able to tell with certainty Inn nearly they have approached the object fired at. "Zadkicl," the well-known British prophet, in common with the rest of the outside world, is paying increased attention to New Zealand. In hie Almanac for 1902 (72nd year of publicity) " Zadkiel" has more than r passing word of precast for the colony. He does not take the aide of the pessimists regarding the condition of affairs here during the coming year, although he gave, indications of a dismal finish lo the month just ended, that were, happily, not realised. In March, ne declares, the public revenue will largely increase. Railway interests will suffer, most likely through ucoidents and increase of expenses. In his' liott, upon a partial eclipse of the sun on May 8, ho says that the eclipse, which will only he visible in the South Pacific Ocean, " lakes place in the eleventh house, in Taurus." He goes on to say that Cardan averred that a solar eclipse in Taurus portenda barrenness and scarcity by reason of I excessive drought. " This is, unfortunately, very likely to happen in New Zealand, as Mai's is elevated above the sun and moon ■ in Hie precedent angle; and a shock of earthquake is also very probable. An attack by a madman oi Anarchist is likely to be made in the latter Half of May on a person in high authority. An important change will be made in the Legislature after keen debates in the House of Representatives. The defences of New Zealand should be strengthened. -Mars in the tenth house foreshadows' increase of taxation. June, says the prophet, "will bring a most prosperous and healthy quarter to Now Zealand." Mrs Sara Draffin, of Auckland, lectured last night, under the auspices of the Thcosophieal Society, to a crowded audience, at the board room, Agricultural Ball. The subject, first of a series of five, was "Has Man a Soul?" and -Mrs Draffin began with au impressive rendering of the great speech, To be, or not to be." She discussed and compared the materialistic and spiritual hypotheses of the evolution of the universe, and presented the Thcosophical version in an interesting and able way. Numerous questions were asked after the lecture, and answered by M rs Diaflin, often with in acceptable touch of humour. A good story of (he late Li Hung Chang i* going the rounds in Paris. When he was in that city he went to visit the Credit Lyonnais, and showed livoly interest in its balls, its stairs, its safes, and the room where the bonds of the last City of Paris loan are kept.. He was first shown bonds of 500 francs and 1000 franca, and then of 5000 francs. Taking them in his hands, he scrutinised them, exclaiming frequently /'°!' ! Jo Then he anally thrust lliem m his pocket, saying ••Souvenir de Parisr the Governor of the Credit Lyonnais went o the Minister of Foreign Affairs with a bet of the bonds, and asked what he was to do. It was agreed that it would not (lo to ask Li to give then, up, and the foreign Office refunded iiia "Souveni, ie Paris. The Biograph pictures of tho Jefferies*itwiinmons fight are still being exhibited at the Sussex Hall. On Saturday night the entertainment was largely patronised. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. will sdl at their store,, tl„s morning grain and produce. On the 23i 1 inrt, a Strath-Taiori, a sale of freehold and lease o d farms, sheep, horses, implem ' etc., will take place. •"««>», Messrs Dalgety and Co. will sell grain <,„,] produce at their stores to-day. Messrs James Samson and Co. will sell at their rooms to-morrow household furniture" walnut piano, second-hand gig, etc. ,J> i ?i a . B u° ? ann " fl ' Co -°Pw«l've Association will hold their annual lamb sale at It'lnty-o's jardu, Owaka, early in Februurv. Mr J M A jti :cn| fj.M., J.0.0.P., W ill conduet the Lnth Lodge installation ceremony at the Albany street Hall 10-ni-ht J Tenders are invited for tho motion of a dwelling-house at Mosgicl. hnS? fl0 p t^ tl " dnle the employment S • n ■ 80, l and Iron Shipbmldcrs Unions can be seen at the Trades Tenders are called for the construction ot pontoons for tho Sullivan's Lead Gold Cdemg Company, fc Messrs La'wson and Salmond, architects, invi e enders for the erection of five brick resiunices mi the city. Christmas and New Year Presents.-The shon to purchase the above is undoubtedly G. ana •P. * oimg', 88 Princes street. Why ? Boa,"" iboy show he brjjat stock, tho newest patterns and give the best valne.-Advt. Who is Petkr Dick?- The most reliable Watchmaker and Jailer, opposite Coffe n, a iSte J : r 2s^ Ce>D,,Mdin - Cl,^' Molhson'3 ore now showing a lot of useful goods suitable for Christmas F ifl»; also a o of toys tor the cbildien.-Advf. Carter and Co. hove just purchased Fairlrv and Co. s drapery and underclothing s t ock t.te.rge street, Duiicdin, at 10s in the n. Great bale. Bargains all round at Carter's.-Advt Clmstuias h Coming I If you ü BO "Bock iL , y ,°" can have for ""thing your choice o ,00 books to give your girls and boya' Chris nias present. Tins is our simple way of Jdverlinng. and you get ,11 the benefit. Sen, to. U. Secular .nd Co. for catalogue of hooks All grocers sell the tea.-Advt. A Disinfectant is a continuous household «ccM.,ty. The cheapest and most effective for universal use is the •■ KJV' Fluid, kep t Z all chemists and grocers. Wholesale agents' Kemplherne, Prosser, and Co. (LimitedW