The Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1896.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5689, 7 October 1896, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1896.

Whatever may be the outcome of Mr Cullen's candidature, he can at least be complimented upon both the matter and the manner of His preliminary address at the Ait Gallery last night; and he could not fail to realise that the somewhat vindictive " heckling " indulged in by two or three Prohibitionists was utterly distasteful to the great majority of the audience. Mr Cullen is not a speaker of the demagogue type, by any means. His remarks showed clearly enough that he has read much and thought much upon "labour questions, labour legislation, and the interests of workers generally," and that he has arrived at some level-headed conclusions. A quiet, somewhat nervous speaker, he' nevertheless, impresses the attentive listener with sterling honesty of purpose, and with possessing in a full sense the courage of his convictions. The precis of his speech that appears elsewhere in this issue, forms a fair outline of the views he enunciated, and we anticipate that his platform oratory will — if he proceeds with the campaign — speedily show marked improvement. The VOte of thanks accorded him last night -was well merited. Until half-past four, this morning the House of Representatives sat, in committee, for the consideration' of the Public Works Estimates, and completed its task. The opposition offered was almost entirely on the part of Sirß. Stout, who constituted himself Objector-General for the occasion, and waged specially fierce war upon the Midland Railway item of .£25,000. It was a curious example of inconsistency, however, that Sir Robert should object to the vote on the ground that the railway was " unauthorised," and yet be prepared to sanction the greater part of the projected expenditure. But the House and the country have long since ceased to expect Sir Robert Stout to bs consistent, and it -was this, na doubt, that largely operated in securing the rejection of his various amendments. The only change effected in iho Ministerial proposals was the striking out of .£2OOO, allocated for the Law-rence-Roxburg Railway — a sum that would apparently have been expended on preliminary survey work. Is the game worth the candle? Prom English files one sees that the question has been widely asked, in varying form, with regard to Nansen's latest exploit. But then the same question might be put in connection with other lines of exploration, and with munerous specialist methods of scientific research. The results in an individual case may not seem to compensate for the outlay involved and the hardship undergone, but they nevertheless play their part in building up the sum of human knowledge, and in preparing the way for pronouncements that are of great practical benefit in one way or another. Nansen failed to do that which lie had laid down for himself, but he was all the while busy with meteorological observations, sea soundings, and so on ; and he has managed to completely upset the theory that there was a shallow Polar Basin. South of OOdeg of north latitude, the sea was found to bo ninety fathoms deep ; but a little further to the northward it suddenly increased to from 1600 to 1900 fathoms. " Under the stratum of cold ice-water covering the Polar Basin," says Nansc-n,. "I soon discovered the warmer and more saline water duo to the Gulf Stream."