DAILY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7806, 10 September 1903, Page 2

DAILY NOTES.

The philanthropic "Yank," American" in the person of Mr George generosity. Dunnatt, of t<he Oceanic Steamship Company, has again been lifting up bis voice in our midst. Ma> Dumwtt explains thait the company does not want a.n extensiin of the San Francisco mail contract. It loses moiney over it. In fact, xos he told us. once before, it spends more money in New Zealand than it takes out of the colony. But in an excess of generosity it is willing to continue the contract. This is indeed kind! But why, if tJie Oceanic Company is not particularly,desirous of securing an extension of the contract, . dees -it take the trouble to send its representative to Wellington just at the time when the question of t : he contract is likely to come up for discussion? The coincidence is peculiar, to say the least of it. __—. *''!s'•■ The announcement made the somali in Tuesday's cable messages campaign, that a Coolie corps was baing formed in India foe service in Somalilaod is confirmation of a statement made in the latest English newspapers jthat the Government of India 'has taken over the whole of the ordnance supply and' transport arrangements in Somaliland. It is sending thith-sr ten British and 327 Native agfirils under a. British officer, with supplies for keeping 10,000 camels and 2000 mules in t ; he field. Late advices fqjom Somaliland make it clear that General Manning's failure was due entirely to the immobility of the British columns owing to inadequate transport, and not to the tactics followed by the General. The fact that he had only 1200 camels and 450 mules, whereas 10,000 camels and 2000 mules are now to be sent out, shows how utterly xmequal were his means to the end. It is clear that tie new operations will be 011 a very large scale. A new departure is to be motor made in connection jsvitJi the transport, transport operations of the coining campaign. The military authorities are sending to Somaliland six motor lorries to assist in the transport service tliere. The lorries will cost about £735 each. This will bo the first appearance of motor-cars in actual warfare, and the working of the cars, which will be of the type that was successful in a recetnt competition promoted by the War Office, will ba^wntched with interest by all concerned in the mo-tor industry. The Department of IndusTin; south trios and Commerce is fully African justified in congratulating trade. the colony on tlie establishment of steamship connection Ix-twean New Zealand and South Africa.. So far, the service has fully borne out the most extravagant hopes of its founders and, us far us it is possible to judge, there is no reason why- it should not continue to prove the success it iias been up to the present. For many years to com© South Africa will be obliged to import many of the products ■which New Zealand can supply, and if our exporters remain, alive to 4fb.e^advaiiUiges-j&f. tins, trad,^ thejr-p,ugh.t to j

bo. ablo to retain a share of it as long as it exists.

The attitude taken up by A winter certain members of tlio Cangliow. terbuiy Agricultural an* Fastci'itl Association with regard to the- proposal to hold a winter show is not very creditable to their patriotism. Instead: of joining heart and cmii with the majority in am endeavour nob only to hold tlio show, but also to ensure its being aj succe-s, they are chiefly ex-arcised in conjuring up difficulties which they conceive to be in the way of lbs project. Apparently they shut their eyes to the fact that the Otago and Manawatu Association's have held highly successful winter shows, and what they have done Canterbury ought to be aible to do.