The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1912. STEAM NAVIGATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9, 4 September 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1912. STEAM NAVIGATION.

On August 30th, as announced in can coble messages, the centenary of the lifst steamship—the Comet—was celebrated at Glasgow by an imposing maritime pageant. The Clyde has oeen famous for its ships for centuries, and it was fitting tin,at the celebration should have occurred at Glasgow as tnc port from which so many great ships hail. It is claimed, however, that it is scarcely correct to speak of 1912 as the centenary of the steamship’s first appearance, though it is just a hundred years since steam was applied to propel a craft intended to carry passengers in Pritisib waters. Seventy-five years earlier, it is recorded, in the year 1?’37, that one Jonathan Hulls in England patented a method of propelling a vessel by steam by means of a stern wheel. In America James Rumsey and John Fitch succeeded in 1786 in constructing each a vessel that was actually driven by steam; but the real precursor of the paddle-wheel steamer was constructed in 1788 by a Scottish landed proprietor, Patrick Miller, on Dalswinton Loch, Dumfriesshire. Put Enough other experiments were tried it was not until 1811 that the first passenger steamer was designed and laid down, and in 1812 launched amidst much speculation as to what she would do. This was the Comet, a shapely wooden vessel of only thirty tons register and forty-two feet in length. Her engines were altered several times, each alteration being an advance, and until 1820 when sbe was wrecked, fine Comet plied successfully between Glasgow and Greenock. The small yard in Greenock where the Comet was built became in course of time part of the large and modern establishment- of Messrs 11. Duncan and Co,, whose senior partner was a far-seeing engineer with firm

convictions as to the great future of the steamship. The owner of the Comet was Mr Henry Bell* who died in 1830, and to whose memory a monument now stands at Dun glass Point, on the Clyde'. The honour was certainly due to him, for he died almost in poverty, having been wholly ruined by his enterprise. From Henry Pell’s day to our own is a far cry, and the

difference between Ids little Comet and the modern liner is almost past imagination. T3ut he was the father and founder of a great industry, which has revolutionised tiie world’s stripping.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. The "Commercial Record" referring to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Britain a few weeks ago, says the appearance of disease causes great concern to those in the agricultural world, not only as concerning the supply of meat for the markets, but as relating to the cattle—whether herds may be depleted and so reduce the supply of milk—consequently curtail the supply of butter and milk. The very severe drought in England last year was a heavy blow to farmers, inasmuch that prices of butter and fliPAsn were for many months consid-

crably above the normal, thereby increasing the sale of substitutes. The "Record" goes on to say:—"lt is satisfactory to know that steps, have been taken to safeguard against the possible spread of the disease. iArrangements were made at Doncaster in connection with the Royal Show to keep all arrivals under careful supervision, also to send them back, or keep them isolated as far as possible.

The spread of the disease has boen rapid in areas of England, chiefly in tho North Western, Northern and the Midlands. The epidemic lha-s been traced to Irish cattle landed at the Port of Liverpool. The action already taken by the Board of Agriculture, includes prohibition of the lauding of Irish cattle in Great Britain, and restriction on the movements of beasts. and on the holding of markets in the affected areas of England."

THE MILITANT SUFFRAGETTE. A special cable message-published in the Australian papers last week tells us that it may be fairly said that the .suffragettes are making Mr Asquith'e life a very miserable one. Tilings have come to such a pass that the Premier dare not go to even a wedding without | a, bodyguard. This was sufficiently demonstrated one day when Mr Asquitb attended the nuptials of .some friend?, at which he was accompanied by tw> less tlhian three detectives. The British Premier lias made up his mind not to put in an appearance at any private receptions until the suffragettes abandon their present tactics. At three receptions in succession he has been assaulted by women. The other day a big reception in honour of the Prime Minister was to have- been held !>;, the National Liberal Club. Ufa© gathering, however, is said to have been postponed on the urgent advice of the Scotland Yard authorities, who had information that a band of suffragette* had planned not only to attack Mr Asquith, but to give the function a roUgh house generally. These are not nice tactics, and they cannot hope to succeed. '' Nevertheless the : problem' cf dealing with these misguided women is puzzling the authorities not a little.

COST OF LIVING COMMISSION. The "N.Z. Times" referring to the compiling of the report of the Cost of Living Commission, says that.the report though a very voluminous one, is 'drawn up in such a workmanlike manner that the mass of useful information it contains is presented in an easily accessible form, and the whole production is likely to prove of great value for reference purposes. Accessibility was evidently the object the Commissioners had in view all the way through. The mam report is divided into thirteen chapters, each dealing with one of the questions in the order of reference. Each main paragraph in every chapter has a brief marginal note to indicate its purport, and this feature alone should prove Invaluable for quick reference. lAlter the main report a summary of the findings is given. This is followed by tie minutes of proceedings and « com-plete-analysis of the evidence according to the occupations of the witnesses. For instance, in the first, or food section, those witnesses who gave information as to bread, meat, flour, dairy produce, etc., are classified under those headings and in the order of their importance in the handling of foodstuffs. Thus in the meat sect'on, the stock auctioneers are placed first, tlhen the heads of large meat-freezing concerns, the. master butchers, and lastly general members of the community. This analysis serves as an extended index to the report, for the page at which each man's evidence is to be found is given. There is also a general index to witnesses in alphabetical order. A noticeable feature of the report is the comparatively large number of references made in it to the evidence. Quotations are frequent, and the numbers of page and question are given in eaclb instance to indicate the grounds on which the various conclusions were arrived at. If the main report, together with the analysis of evidence, coidd be : spued ;s a separate document, it would doubt' less find a large demand among those who are interested in the subject yet who do not wish to burden-thems Ives with the complete but bulky, volume.