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Southland Times, Issue 19032, 28 April 1903, Page 2

l'erhaps there i« no more important question in Southland than the cause of the Wititon disease, which is proving so (instructive to stock just now, Kvery day wo hear of cattle and horses sue- ! cumbing to its deadly attack aud fanners are agitated in their minds us to what caw be the causo of it. Anything that throws any light on this point, or which may provoke useful investigation, in of the utmost importance, and a i.ew theory has been advanced which is wct'th directing attention to. An observer vho has studied the question a good (leal tUinks it is not the ragweed itself which lies at the. root of the disease, but the caterpillars which cluster so thickly about its flowers and leaves. It is always noticeable that tufts of grass grow in the sheltered spots to the leeward of the plant. Cattle naturally seek out these mouthfuls when the paddock is getting bare, and our visitor thinks that in doing so the animals aibsorb quantities of cuterpillnrs which are shaken down by the wind. Irritation is thus set up, and the stock die. The soundness or otherwise of this theory can only be arrived at by experiment and expert observation, an<) perhaps the matter will be investigated by those capable of doing so In any case wo will lay the suggestion before the expert who contributes Rural Notes to our Saturday's issue, and get a pronouncement upon the matter from him. Mr .1. J Zimmer has just received a certificate stating that ho has successfully pusseil the examination in course 1 — philosophy— in connection with tho American School of Metaphysics. The object of the School is to give a training in all brunches of learning necessary to the scieneiuc practice and teaching of tnttuphysicul heal/ing, and Mr Zimmer, who has explored these subjects with diligence for many years, has been impelled to take advantage of the opportunities for gaining deeper insight offered by this school, by a desire to probe still further into the mysteries of Nature. The Principal, Leander E, Whipple, |c a man of rare intellect and high stu miring in America, and the subjects embraced are philosophy, syuibology, olhics, mentality, and science. A description of tho courses of study is interesting. Philosophy deals with science., deity, being, reality and illusion, truth, logic, consciousness, will, evil uiul error, causation heredity, thought operations ; symbology deals with tho point . the lino, tho circle, centre and circumference-, the sphere, plune and solid figures, angles, the triangle and tho Trinity, lines, angles, curves, spirals and solids in combination, the origin of the Cross and its relation to metaphysics ; ethics deals with religion, divinity, justice, law, will, free-' doin, identity, courage, intelligence, truth, wisdom, harmony, faith, peace ; mentality deals with the forces, powers, laws, and modes of action of. tho mind ; science deals with the definite action of the mind in ity association with the nervous system, practical application in scientific image treatment.

B. It. Stephens elsewhere notifies that he has purchased the extensive stockan tho assignedostato of H. Blodorn. grocer, Tay

street, and quotes low prices for a great number of leading lines.

Miss Florence Baigurnie, interviewed in Sydney, said :— " During the .24 hours since I landed in Sydney I have seen more signs of poverty, misery, dirt, drunkenness, and out-of-workness than during the whole twelve months I spent in Now Zealund. You never see a working man in New Zealand sitting by tho side of the road eating with unwashed hands. The working-man there is the aristocrat of the country. He has raised himself to a standard of comfort I never remember to have seen anywhere els*. Again, one doesn't see the extreme of riches, but, on the otHer hand, you never see rags. There is not that aloofness and separateness between the classes noticeable fc/lsewhere. 1 was impressed by the simplicity Of life in New Zealand. They take people more for what they are rather tha-n for what they are worth."

Speaking of temperance, Miss lialgarni© said that the fact of the .Sunday closing provisions of the Licensing Act being, to a I urge extent, a dead letter, had much to do with rousing the Prohibition sentiment . The success of the movement was largely due to tho women's vote.

Southlnnds contribution to the cargo of the Aorangi, ftt Sydney, for Vancouver, is two barrels of coffee.

Another Attraction.— We desire to direct the intention of our lady readers Uf Messrs Thomson and Ueattie's advertisement in this issue, tn which they make tho somewhat sporting offer of the pick of fifty pieces of new dress* materials, overing tho whole gamut of fashion, from which they are prepared' to make dresses to order at a uniform price, which seems low considering that the best of finish and furnishings are qua-

■an toed

"(lifts from the Greeks" : Two Thts.salian buiuls have crossed to assist the Turks against tho Bulgarians.

When Mr J. S. Baxter introduced the now famous Hava Tea to the people of Southland, he expected a large sale, the quality being really good and the price remarkably low ; but the sales have far exceeded his expectations ; in fact, more than double what he anticipated.