The Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1898. NOTES AND NOTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6128, 15 March 1898, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1898. NOTES AND NOTIONS.

In connection with the " Broken China " question, the prominent feature seems to be the determination of Russia to secure territory. Her talk of " leasing " Chinese ports is warth absolutely nothing, for the lease would inevitably prove to be a neverending one; and any pledge that Russia might give to keep those ports open for the unrestricted trade of all nations would be practically valueless. Great Britain, on the other hand, seeks to securo freedom of trade, not merely for herself, but for other countries; so that her efforts in this regard are of world-wide interest and importance. As a countermove to Russian desisms, it is hoped that China may be induced to cede to Gr at Britain the island of Chusan, which is no great distance from Shanghai and the entrance to the Yang-tse-kiangriver. The island, which is approximately fifty miles in circumference, is described as mountainous, with many fertile valleys and a plentiful supply of water. Ting-hai, the capital, is. a walled town about two miles in circumference. This place was surrendered to the British on July 5,1840, evacuated in February, 1841, and retaken in October of that year. On the close of the war the island was handed over to the Chinese Government. Then, in 1860, British troops once more occupied it, until, by the Convention of Pekin, it was again restored to China. There can be no doubt that as a British naval,base, at the present juncture, it would constitute a highly important strategic position. Baron von Mueller steered clear of small details, such a3 worry ordinary folk. His thoughts were always "in the skies." The writer (a correspondent of the Bulletin) one day mot him riding a pony, without saddle, but bridled. He led another animal (with a saddle, on) by a headstall. The unconventional character of this arrangement was pointed out to him. He looked around wistfully. "Ach!" he said, " der ,sattel on der wrong, horse! It should be on der donkey, mineselluff!" He got off, and mounted the saddled pony. But he never changed the headstall for the I .'^} lt -i°^ed off as anomalous as ever —hat, like the Tower of Pisa, balanced at the back of his bonest head, and his pale blue eyes fixed off the far away horizon of abstract thought. There was a lot of Don Quixote about the Baron. «™ TH * E i i<m*earfed Gordon piper is not a son of the Scottish Highlands, but a

i«rman,'from Hesse-Darmstadt; whois acwstomed to answer to the prosaic name of Fulius Graumann. Like many other Germans, he has taken service in the English army, thrown in his lot with the Gordon Highlanders, made the campaign as a piper, and, true German that he is, done his duty on the field of battle." So says a German paper. Whereupon a a London contemporary evolves the following skit .— Die Schotsmen hafe ein piper ; Top-sawyer on die reel ; He blayed sooch susse melodie — Mein Gott ! How er could spiel ! Und er 'gaiust Fatban schweinbilnd •trave soldaten led on ; Vile murmured rapchurous die men " He's Scliotland's husky son I" Die Scbotsmen bafe ein piper, Der fact gif dem schwelled hend ; Dey schneered, by donder, at pravo poys Vot like vise fought and bled. Bey braggl— dey trink der vhiskey oop— Dey Talk oopon deir heels ; And say *' No gottdammt Engliscbi-r Gombare xnit canny chiels !" Der Schotsmen bafe ein piper ; Der hero von Dargai, But vhere got he sein gonrage ? Vhere learnt die bagpipes blay ? 0, not in echone Schotland— Not mit der Gordou glan I Der shturdy Scottish piper Er ist ein Deutschernxann ! Der Schotsmen hafe ein piper, Shooat hafe ein lattf mit mir ; Und schvig der Sherman Schotsuian'shealt' In kegs ot lager-bier. For, like most tings inPritainland, Potztausend ! Don't you see Der shturdy Schottish pipers all Sind made in Germanee !

A public morgue for this city is one of the urgent recessities; but a morgue is not quite the kind of building that it is desirable to erect in a prominent position, or in proximity to dwellings. In any case, to be of real use, its sanitary arrangements must be as good as it ia possible to make them; and since a morbid curiosity is inevitably displayed by some section of the public, the position should be. secluded] and shielded from the public gaze. We certainly do not think that it would be a wise plan, as was proposed by the Reserves Committee of the City Council, to build a morgue on the Chester S treat Fire Brigade section; for, apart from other considerations, the area is quite small enough for the purposes to which it is now put. The matter has been referred back to the committee, and the councillors who compose it might do worse than to consider the subject in connection with the projected new municipal yard. If it were determined where that was to be located, it might be found that a morgue could be conveniently and judiciously included in the structuies.