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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10140, 29 August 1904, Page 4

An excursion .stcamtir (.says the Hongkong Press) will leave San Francisco within a very short time to visit accessible points m connection witli the Rus-so-Japanese war. The ship will be chartered for tlie round trip, find will be conducted .somewluat after the style of the famous Cook's tours. The advices mention particularly the Gulf of Pechili and Newchwang, indicating that the tourists pass close to Chefoo.

Dr Wohlmann says "every year it becomes more apparent that Kotorua needs a hospital, with a few beds, for surgical and medical oases. Cases of accident of a severe nature have frequently occurred, and there is no provision m Rotorua for their treatment. It is often positively cruel to send such cases all the way to the Hamilton hospital. I believe there is every dis'posrition on the part of tlie inhabitants of Rotorua to co-operate m providing funds for a hospital."

Tlie deatlis of two old stage favorites are reported from Australia. One is Mr George Leopold, who, up till a few months ago, impersonated funny old men m comedy with boisterous humor. He was last here with the WiHougliby-Gench Company. The other who lias made her last exit is Miss Julia Merton, one of the best "old women" comediennes of her class that the colonies have known. Mies Merton was a member of Williamson.^ Dramatic Company, headed by Mr Cuyler Hastings, which appeared m Gisborne some time ago. She gave a capital performance of tlie old negress m "Secret Service."

Recently a.n officer of the Tourist Department visited the Mokaui 'district' amd canoed up the Mokau river from Ihe heads to the terminus of traffic, a distance oif about 45 miles, thence travelling through the King Country, with a view to .gauging the value of the route as a scenic .track. When the river 3s rendered ■navigable for power launches or steamers to the vicinity of the present head of canoe traffic, it will undoubtedly become a popular route to travel, offering, as it does, some of the finest forest and river scenery m tlie island. At present the Mokau is only navigable by steamers for about 22 miles.

Tlie suggestion has been, thrown out (saye the Dunediu Sl«u') that, m order to raise tlie tone of the Chinese and protect our girls, the tax on Chinese women who come to the colony to join their husbands should be. repealed. It is pointed out- that while there are 4000 Chinamen m the colony, there are only twenty Chinese women, .and it is contended that under such circumstances vice is iuece»sariiy developed, to the danger and injury of the European race. The- heavy poll-tax on Chinese women is doubtless to blame, because nearly all Chinamen are married, single blessedness being considered a disgrace m China.

The lands report has some suggestive statistics anont the optional system, »is thus: "Last year under the sy&teni 402 selections took 'up 146,000 acres on deferred freehold (occupation license with right t>f purchase), 113 bought 20,000 acres on cash freehold, whereas only 97 took up 30,700 acres under tlie lease m perpetuity. Tlie selectors under the lease m perpetuity for the period were 1049, but of these only 97 were so of choice; 406 were under land for settlements; and t.he rest were^partly under tlie various settlement systems and partly because largs areas were withdrawn from tlie optional system by reason of mineral discoveries." This latter complicates the matter somewhat, but a fall to 97 from 285 of the previous year m tlie leases m perpetuity is disquieting, especially as the return foi twelve years gives 6723 under cash and deferred freehold, against 3599 selectors under the leases m perpetuity. Moreover, during tho twelve years the deferred payment men (4886) have liad tiw right tt> convert their holdings to leases m perpetuity, getting nearly a reduction of onefifth of rent, yet only one selector lias done so.