FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 81

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

[Conducted by Macistee, to whom all communications must be addressed.] NATURE NOTES. Tuesday's Times contains a letter by H. M. Levinge—l think this gentleman is a well-known North Island doctor —on "The "Voice of Spring," and I know of one school where this was read and commented on, and an informal half-hour lesson on Nature given. The same issue, in the News and Notes under the article, has a paragraph drawing attention to the exceptionally fine weather we have been having, with the result that ploughing is further ahead than in any previous year. At that rate, the winter must be a record in mildness. In some parts of Dunedin watercarting has been necessary, and a& much as 10s has been paid for 200 gal of water. That is another record for August; I think. I am wondering whether insect t pests will be more lively than usual this ] spring. I The Battle of the Clouds^ i Did any of you notice the commotion among the clouds on Tuesday afternoon just about 1 o'clock V A few clouds in skirmishing order seemed to be drifting up from the north-east, when heavy battalions came up from the south-west. How they spurted up and swirled when they collided! It' was a magnificent sight. ; The clouds from the south-west won, and ' soon'after we ha- some heavy, cold, pelt- ( ing rain"; but it did not continue long, and "there "are still many folk with half- j empty tanks. j An Anglo-American Navy. _' | Tuesday's issue also has an article which | is worth '"thinking over. The Hon. Paul Morton, who is said to be drawing a salary of 100,000dol a year, has a very line article on the Anglo-American Navy, an article which cug-ht to be read by all children in our upper standards and High Schools. "He advocates an Anglo-American navy to keep the peace of the world, and makes several statements regarding the United States. Think over them : — 1 The Power which controls the sea measures the Power which will control the land. 2. The United States is the granary of the world. 3. Americans want to see the United States the workshop of the world. 4. In a few years New York will contain 10 millions of people, and will be the counting-house ot the world. i 5. The American people are the richest in the world, and are becoming richer. 6. The United States exports more food in tonnage than any other nation. 7. The American naval officers are the best-> educated; and the sailors the best clothed, sheltered, paid, and fed in the world. 8. The United States will in time logically and inevitably become the most powerful in vhe world. But there is a weakness. Her carrying trade is largely in the hands of, other nations, in spite of her navigation laws. Perhaps, to get control of the carrying trade, the United States must do what Cromwell did. Then vce rnig-ht find it to our advantage to re-enact Cromwell's navigation laws. They brought about a ternlic duel with the Dutch, but we emerged supreme.