"DISTANT GENIUS APPRECIATED."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14325, 15 October 1910, Page 6

"DISTANT GENIUS APPRECIATED."

To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald." Sir,—lu your issue of even date there appears a statement that an electrical device for cleaning the bottoms of warships without docking thorn was recently tried with success on H.M.S. Revenge. I know nothing of the method used by the designer or designers, but I am painfully aware of the fact that during the RussoJapanese War I made a rough model ssuw iug how this could be done by the ship's own engines without docking them, and assisted in a small way by the late ilr Andrew Allan and another gentleman now in Timaru, I wont to Lyttelton to place the plan before the commander of a British warship lying there, one of whose officers directed me to send or take all particulars to the Admiralty's headquarters in Sydney, and it would receive consideration. But it is so easy to give advice that costs us nothing: and which is painfully listened to by one who has already impoverished himself and people by spending a great part of twelve years on similar work. and who, whilst -other people are "growing rich liy working I'm- themselves, is vi-.trlv growing poor by working fur the Empire. But whilst we are going on in such confidence in our Imperial strength let us go carefulv lest we encounter an uncharted obstacle, for remember there is a world wide awakening of peoples and ear,,ires just now. "N,. think it is a fair growth if a nam attains a hehdii of s!x i'r-pt in eighteen years. iiut what lias been the national prowili of Japan in le-s than a decade, who it is rumoured has decided tf> divide honours will western nations in exploring the Antarctic Ocean y Dees no; all this n,iut to the wisdom and necessity ~|' ,:s„ K v.lial little brain power ls available anion..our own people, even i,, Uic extent ol monetary assistance if necess:irv J

Kvei-v thinking person knows this is an age ol transition. Tlc-i-p is scarcely time to perfect illly m > at design or departure I rem old ruts before tins design is superseded by some other fit;vrt.lin.g idea or diseinverv. Now those ideas must emanate from some one. V.'lio is wise enough to foretell the right man? Now the question arises does the designer ,->r anv of thes" new ideas fulfil the nroeonr-oivod ideal* of a certain section of the public, as lor instance physical mould. social states, mechanical or scientific trainnig. It lacking m a,ny of these indisl>ensablo qualities the verdict mav bo —exit. sir. _ For we would rather'that our Sovereign s name he changed : ,nd nay tribute to another Ruler than lower the dignity of on,- authorities that he. But for optimism I give to no man Britons never shall be slaves, so whether we sleen or wake, work or play, it must, nlwavs be the same. ?so country will cast lontrin"eyes on any part of so great an Eir° I"? 5 "-,- * pllt y ™ r "i<mcv on the totalisator or any dog race, things nyll remain as they are to "the end of time.—l am. etc.. MA R K sA TT yni?-D q Pleasant Pt., Oct. 13th. '