THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1913. SUMMARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13653, 19 February 1913, Page 4

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1913. SUMMARY NOTES.

The Polar Disaster.

~ The news of the.' tragic fate of Captain Scott arid his four companions after; reaching tlio South J'ole, and /within a short, distance of safety, was received with very "deep regret in New JZealand. The Ter-ra Nova arrived unexpectedly at Oamaru in Monday, the '10th inst., and after-landing.two members Of tho expedition, proceeded to Lyt.telton. The two who came ashore, Lieutenant Pennell and Dr. Atkinson, ■we're-of course immediately seized upon by eager interviewers, but vouchsafed 'no information, and it was not until tho following mprning that tidings of tho calamity were received by cable front) I London. The deep sensation was increased the next day, when Captain Scott's messago to the public and the details of that terrible struggle against i'death •' an.d 'the story of the magnificent horoisni of the victims; Ayero published by "the newspapers* The Dominion, and especially Canterbury, felt more than the general interest in the efforts of th» various British expeditions to lay bare .the secrets of the Antarctic regions, from the fact that each has made a New Zealand port its starting point, and ''from New Zealand tho results have beenrgiven to' the world; In addition to that the Dominion; through the Government and prii&ate liberality, 'has contributed in some measure to the /funds and equipment of the. expeditions. The '*' sad fate' of the gallant explorers after achieving their great object, therefore touched a personal chord, and was the occasion of aremarkable, manifestation of public sorrow. Throughout the Dominion at practically every public gathering and local-body meeting resolutions expressing, admiration of the courage of Captain Scott and his companions, and .sympathy, with their relatives, have been, adopted, and memorial services have been •,widely held. At Nelson on Friday evening the * various religiousbodies held a- combined service in the School of Music, which proved too small to accommodate the numbers who desired to attend. , Impressive ..ddresse6 were delivered by the Bishop of Nelson and the. Rev. J. H. MacKenzie. The Terra Nova is now at Lyttelton, where she will remain for some weeks.

Methodist union.

An important event in the religious history of the Dominion has been brought about this month by the amaligamation of. t-Ke Methodist and Primitive Methodist Churches, the unal conforences ■of which as separate bodies have been held in Wellington, and .have ratified the basis of union, thereafter meeting together as the Conference of the United Methodist Church. The , deed of .union was formally s-igued at a largely attended public meeting held in the Town Hall, Wellington, on February 6th, at which His' Excellency the Governor presided. Both bodies have been actively engaged in the • Dominion practica|l : yvfj:orn tho earliest, days oi; cdlpnisationr The Methodists were- established at Wellington as far back as 1840, and the Primitive Methodist -Church followed a few years l.'ter,. tho first minister and congregation being at New Plymouth* At different times offshoots of. Methodism, the United Free Methodist Church and the Bible Christians, established themselves in New Zealand, but in 1896 these bodies became united with tho Methodist Church. Negotiations have been proceeding at intervals over n number of years to establish a basis of union of the Methodists and Primitive Methodists, and the consummation of that aim practically completes', the prqeess of unification of the different branches of that faith. The United Church Will have a membership of nearly 95,000. The proceedings- both in tho* separate and united conferences at Wellington were marked by the utmost cordiality and goodwill, and it is to be hoped that the union wall greatly strengthen the Church in carrying out its mission in the country.

A Cook Memorial.

On Tuesday, tho 11th inst., an historic ceremony took placo at Ship Cove, Queen. Charlotte SounS, the spot where, 143 years ago, Captain .Tames Cook proclaimed Britdsh sovereignty over the South Island, when His Excellency the Governor unveiled the first monument to tho memory of tho great navigator erected in New Zealand. Crowded excursion steamers run from Wellington and Picton, convoying some thousands of people to the Govo, and there were several official representatives f'oin Nelson. The Governor, Lady Liverpool, and suite travelled by the Government steamer Tutanekad, and the training ship Amokura also went over from Wellington,.'the. vice-regal guard of honour being '."furnished by the boys. The Government was represented by the Hons.jH. D. Bell and F. M. B. Fisher. Lord' Liverpool delivered aruinteresting address, in which lie sketched the voyages of Captain Cook. -The other speakers were Messrs. John Duncan, R. McNab, and the Hon. Mr. Fisher. The Ship Cove memorial represents only half tho design for which the committee is. soliciting ■''subscriptions-. It is intended to erect at a later date a comniaudiug monument ou Motuara Island.

Drought and Bush Fires

The dry Avoathor usual at this time •of year is no^r being experienced throughout the Dominion, and in places is producing serious results. For some time Nelson has^cen enveloped in a haze of smoke due to bush iiros in various parts of tile province, but though isome anxiety has been occasioned, they do not appear to have been responsible- for serious damage to property except an the Wakiiniarina. and llai district's; :wliere tlie settlers '-hail atrying time. In parts of the '/NorthIsland the fires assumed very seriou& proportions, especially i» tho Gisborno and Dannevdrke districts, where heavy losses"of stockj buildings and fences aro reported. ;,;' '

Nelson's Anniversary.

?; The SQvonty-first anniversary of' tho foundation of Nplson province was this year observed on Monday, -February 3rd instead of Saturday, Ist February..' There Was ( a general holiday, and tho weather being fine, tho various outdoor gatlierings were- well patronised. At the Botanical Reserve a children's fetch organdsed by theNelson'Citizen./ Band passed off very successfully. The Golden Bay A. and P. Association's annual show held at Takaka was largely attended,, and the varied exhibits showed an improvement on previous blvows, arid demonstrated tho (remarkable fertility of tho soil in that district. • >