The Otago Witness WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1928.) THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3887, 11 September 1928, Page 47

The Otago Witness WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1928.) THE WEEK.

“Nunquam allud natura, allud sapientia dixit.” —Juvenal,. "Good nature and good sense must ever join.”— Pops.

The Eucharistic Congress.

The Eucharistic Congress which, with its

scenes of almost unparalleled religious enthusiasm is focussing attention upon Sydney,

inevitably recalls some famous words penned by Lord Macaulay nearly ninety years ago. The celebrated essayist and historian addressed himself to the issues raised by Professor Ranke in his “ History of the Popes,” commencing with the affirmation that “ there is not and there never was, on this earth, a work of human policy so well deserving of examination as the Roman Catholic Church.” He then examines the statement continually made that the world is constantly becoming more and more enlightened, this enlightenment must be favourable to Protestantism and unfavourable to Catholicism, and makes the comment: “ We see great reason to doubt whether this be a well-founded expectation.” Which leads up ■'to a passage often quoted in part, but away from the context which supplies its full meaning: The Papacy remains, not in decay, not a mere antique, but full of life and youthful vigour. The Catholic Church is still sending forth to the furthest ends of the world missionaries as zealous as those who landed in Kent with Augustine and still confronting hostile kings with the same spirit with which she confronted Attila. The number of her children is greater than in any former age. Her acquisitions in the New World have more than compensated for what she has lost in the Old. Her ■ spiritual ascendancy extends over the vast countries which lie between the plains of Missouri and Cape Horn, countries which a century hence may not improbably contain a population as large as that which now inhabits Europe. The members of her communion are certainly not fewer

than a hundred and fifty millions; and it will he difficult to show that all other Christian sects united amount to a hundred and twenty millions. Nor do we see any sign which indicates that the term of her long dominion is approaching. She saw the commencements of all the governments and of,all the ecclesiastical establishments that now exist in the world; and we feel no assurance that she is not destined to see the end of them all. She was great and respected before the Saxon had set foot on Britain, before the Frank had passed the Rhine, when Grecian eloquence still flourished in Antioch, when idols were still worshipped in the Temple of Mecca. And she may still exist in undiminished vigour when some traveller from New Zealand shall, in the midst of a vast solitude, take his stand oh a broken arch of London Bridge to sketch the ruins of St. Paul’s.

American Presidential Issues.

TTio fact that one of the candidates for

the Presidential ehair of the United States is a Roman Catholic and favours an amendment of

the Prohibition enactment, has given rise to anticipations that the battle will not be fought as hitherto on strictly party lines, as between Democrats and Republicans. This fresh factor renders any attempt to forecast the result all the more difficult. The intricacies of an American Presidential campaign prove somewhat puzzling to the unsophisticated New Zealander, but so far as can be gathered eaeh candidate is engaged in stumping the territory most favourable to the other. Thus, chartering a special train, Mr Smith proceeds west to invade the strongholds of Mr Hoover, notably California, reputed to be the most Republican State in the Union; while, also by special train, Mr Hoover goes East to storm the industrial areas of America. It is anticipated, however, that, the Prohibition issue will swamp and overwhelm all party considerations, and that the election of the President will ultimately be decided upon whether his sympathies are “ wet ” or “ dry.” Whatever be the outcome, the fact may lie stressed that it is not in the power of the President to alter or amend the Prohibition law—that rests in the main with Congress. Almost as much interest therefore centres in the Congressional elections as in the Presidential contest, for it is quite on the boards that a “ wet ” President may be elected with a “ dry ” Congress,” or vice versa.

Prohibition in New South Wales.

It is anticipated that with a few minor

alterations the Licensing Amendment Bill to be introduced to Parliament this week will be on the lines of the measure o!

last session, and that its will be much the same as before. With the licensing poll so near at hand the conditions under which the vote will be taken assume considerable importance and evoke the keenest interest. Unless some compromise is reached between the opposing factions, it is difficult to forecast the fate of the Bill. Under the circumstances, the Liquor referendum just taken in New South Wales is a clear indication of public opinion in that State, only 336,771 votes being cast for Prohibition, and 833,771 votes for Continuance—a sufficiently crushing majority. The excuse is advanced by the Prohibitionists that the referendum carried excessive compensation to all engaged in the liquor traffic in the event of Prohibition being carried, and that this fact accounts for the comparative smallness of the vote. It would probably be nearer the mark to aver that the decisive defeat of the Prohibitionists was due to the reports of the unsatisfactory situation in America under a prohibitory law. And whatever the conditions under which the vote is taken in this Dominion, everything points to a diminishing vote for Prohibition and a decisiou to let things remain as they are. One outstanding factor has to be taken into account, namely, the number of young men and women who at the coming general election will vote for the first time, and the spirit of the youth of to-day is distinctly against prohibitions of any and every kind.

More Muckraking.

It is strange how fashions change in things literary as in other ways. A few- years back the trend was all in favour of the rehabilitation of the villains and rascals of history by signalling out their good qualities and skinuning over lightly their numerous peccadilloes. To-day the pendulum swings in the opposite direction, and several instances have recently occurred*in which despicable nobodies have sought cheap notoriety by attempting to blacken the reputation of men and writers who have won universal love and esteem. By delving into Dickens’s correspondence and placing false constructions upon certain -incidents, a muck-raking writer has published a book which casts slurs upon the character and memory of the great novelist. His friends and relatives have taken up the matter, and Sir Henry Dickens in particular defends his father against so scurrilous an attack. One of the finest tributes ever paid to the kindly genius of the great novelist is contained in some lines penned by Theodore Watts Dunton, entitled “ Dickens Returns on Christmas Day,” and founded on the following incident, dated June 9, 1870: “ A ragged girl in Drury Lane was heard to exclaim, ‘ Dickens dead? Then will Father Christinas die, too?’”

Dickens is dead ; ” Beneath that grievous cry London seemed shivering in the summer heat; Strangers took up the tale like friends that meet; 11 Dickens is dead,” said they, and hurried by ; Street children stopped their games—they knew not why. But some new night seemed darkening down the street. A girl in rags, staying her wayworn feet. Cried, “Dickens dead? Will father Christmas die ? ”

City he loved, take courage on thy way. He loves thee still, in all thy joys and fears. Though he whose smile made bright thine eyes of grey— Though he whose voice, uttering thy burthened years, Made laughters bubble through thy sea of tears— Is gone, Dickens returns on Christmas Day.

The British Parliament.

Striking changes are foreshadowed in

the Parliament in Britain as a result of the general election in June of next

year. Itzhas been stated that 50 of the present members of the House of Commons have decided not to seek re-election, and that this number is likely to grow to at least 200. In addition, the names of four Cabinet Ministers arc mentioned as likely to retire at the end of the present Parliament. The deduction is that the Conservative Party and the Government will require to be largely reconstructed, since a number of new and untried candidates will have to be found. Another fresh factor in the political situation is the addition to the voters of live and a-quarter million women, who will qualify for the franchise at the end of the year, and whose votes may upset all previous calculations. All this adds piquancy to British politics, bringing as it does an element of uncertainty into the situation, and renderng Mr Baldwin’s task the more onerous. Judging by the experience of New Zealand, the advent of women voters does little to alter the position of parties, few of the women voters steering an independent course, but resting content with following a wellbeaten track.

During the sitting of the Assessment Court in Wanganui on Thursday, the Magistrate, Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, said there was an amazing difference between values in North and South Island properties (says our special correspondent). The difference was so great that it was hard to account for it. He said he had bought property at Dunedin at what he believed to be a reasonable price, but it would require a millionaire’s purse to buy the same property in the North Island—why, he was unable to understand. In Hamilton and even in small towns like Whakatane the prices were exceptionally high compared with southern prices.

The first white child born nt Port Chalmers was a son of Mr and Mrs Lewthwaite, who arrived there from Taranaki early in 1844. This information appears in the records of the Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association. Those records also show that a Mr-M'Kay settled there the same year and he opened the first hotel at Port Chalmers, naming it the Surveyors’ Arms.

Reporting on the progress of the operations in connection with the foundation of the new Post Office at Dunedin, Mr W. Downie Stewart states that the information so far obtained as a result of the bores that have ' been sunk points almost without any doubt to the conclusion that a pile foundation will be required. As the building will be a very large one, no risks can be taken in regard to its stability. The only satisfactory way of ascertaining the bearing power of a pile foundation is to drive a number of test piles. On August 25 the Public Works Department wrote instructing the district engineer to obtain and drive test piles, and some of the gear is already on the ground.

In celebration of tfie 100th birthday of Mrs W. Ormiston, a family gathering was held at the residence of her daughter (a photograph of which appears in this issue), Mrs J. M. West, at Church street, Onehunga. Mrs Ormiston personally received 80 callers, talking to each and exhibiting the liveliest interest in her visitors. Fifty bouquets of flowers arrived at the house during the day,' including a magnificent launch of 100 choice daffodils (one for each year of her life), the gift of her medical adviser, Dr W. H. Thomas, of Onehunga. Telegrams numbering 80, and two cablegrams from London and Melbourne were received, as well as a great many congratulatory letters. Messages were sent by the Mayor and Mayoress of Onehunga,. Mr and Mrs W. "C. Coldicutt; the president of the Methodist Conference, the editor of the Methodist Times, the Remuera Methodist Ladies’ Guild, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the Junior Christian Endeavour, the Epsom Ladies’ Guild, and the girl employees of Smith and Caughey’s workroom. In the presence of her two sons and four daughters, including Mrs J. R. Sinclair, who came from Christchurch for the occasion, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Mrs Ormiston cut a large birthday cake bearing the figures 1828-1928 embossed in white icing. Mr E. P. Lee, the chairman of the special committee to which Mr T. K. Sidey’s Summer Time Empowering Bill has been referred, on Friday asked. for and obtained from the House of Representatives an extension of time in which to report till Tuesday next. Though nothing has come from the committee (says our parliamentary Reporter), the general opinion of members outside it is that, owing to the many difficulties in the way of establishing local summer time, the Bill will have to be abandoned.

For a brief period Dunedin will be honoured by “the presence of Messrs T. H. Kelsey, F. Plutte, C. 11. Rex, R. Smailes, J.P., and R. J. Smail—a party of student farmers who arc visiting the Dominion in connection with the scheme suggested by Mr L. S. Amery (Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs). These gentlemen are naturally interested in farming, but are also anxious to ascertain what the position is regarding industry, especially industries drawing their raw material from our primary products. The party is travelling under the auspices of the Department of Internal Affairs, and the Progress Leagues of Canterbury and Southland and the Otago Expansion League have been requested to facilitate the visit. As the time at their disposal is limited to Monday, September 17, the secretary of the league (Mr W. B. Steel) has arranged for visits to the Roslyn Woollen Mills, Glendermid Tannery, and Donaghy’s Rope and Twine Works. The visitors resume their northward journey by express the following day. Much might be written concerning the new vertical retorts at the Dunedin Gasworks, but the principal fact, from the citizens’ point of view, is that under former methods of gas-extraction a ton of State coal produced 12,000 cubic feet of gas, while under the improved conditions a ton of coal (half State, half Newcastle) will produce 21,000 cubic feet. In his speech at the Gasworks on Friday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner) referred to the foundations of the new retort house. Owing to the unstable nature of the subsoil, particular care was necessary in the designing of a suitable foundation. Boring operations carried out on the site and in the vicinity to a depth of 500 feet showed that the subsoil was composed almost wholly of harbour silt. The type of foundation decided on was a reinforced concrete cellular raft, the whole area of which was enclosed by ferro-concrete, sheet piles, to prevent the subsoil spreading under load. The excavation work was started in May, and the foundations were completed by the end of October, 1927. At a meeting of the Waitomo Labour Party held on Thursday night, the following resolution was adopted (says a telegram from Te Kuiti): —“That this meeting of the Waitomo Labour Party entirely disassociates itself with the statement contained in the Press Association message alleged to have been sent by its secretary to the London Daily Herald. While agreeing that there is much unemployment in New Zealand, it is not correct that many are dying of starvation. It is the opinion of this meeting that the alleged statement must have been misconstrued from a private letter written by the late secretary to the Herald without the sanction or knowledge of the Waitomo branch of the Labour Party of New Zealand.” The Otago University Students’ Association is again this year to be favoured | by a visit of an overseas debating team. The Sydney University is sending a team on tour, and the visitors will arrive in New Zealand at an early date. This will be the first occasion on which a team from the Sydney University has visited the Dominion.

Microbe-hunting' by airplane is the latest activity amongst the airmen of the Royal Canadian Air Force. This As indulged in not as a sport, but as an undertaking which is very important for' Canadian agriculture. For the past few years efforts have been made to combat wheat rust from the ground. But the Agricultural Department, by enlisting the services of airmen, has discovered that the spores of wheat rust can be found at an altitude of 5000 feet, flyers having run into clouds of those invisible organisms which have been as thick as 5000 to the cubic centimetre. The spores float at high altitudes apparently, and when there is rain they are brought down and thus rust appears in widely separated areas and without any visible means of contact. Specially sensitised plates are used by the airmen to detect these spores, and now, it is said, means are being sought to destroy them .while still in the air and before they are precipitated to the detriment of the Canadian farmers’ wheat crops. The science and art of plumbing are, of course, highly necessary accessories to modern life. Every layman has felt a tlwill of admiration at the wonders which can be performed by the cognoscenti with a stick of solder and a spanner —paralleled only by the reciprocating marvels of the bills which follow the miracles. There are, however, tradesmen —and others. One of the latter (relates the Auckland Star) recently displayed in a northern township A young woman named Mavis Annie Fraser, was charged in the City Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., with being an idle and disorderly person, and was sentenced to two years’ detention in thq, Borstal Institution. At a meeting of the Executive Com? i mittee of the South Island Motor Union, held in Christchurch on Thursday, a letter was received from the Southland Motor Association with regard to a motorist who was fined for having no rear light when he had a red reflector attached to his car. The Association wished to know whether a motorist was bound to have a rear light as well aa a red reflector. It was decided to reply that a red reflector was an extra precaution, and did not do away with the necessity for a rear light. A report was presented with x regard to the recent conference between the North and South Island motor unions held in Wellington. The agenda paper for the, annual meeting of the union to be held on September 28 wai considered and approved.