TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8296, 27 November 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Au interesting evolution in the streets of New York Uity is now taking place in the extension of the wooden paving blocks which have won so mucin favour on lower Broadway that tbey are baing substituted for stone in many of the other principal streets. Prior to the laying of wood pavßtnent it was asserted that it cuuld never stand the straiu of heavy teams, but it oeitainlyhas gin tetter shape than stone blooks ever seemed to. The blooks do not ohip off or arack, and the traffic is practically noiseless. The blocks as put down in New Ybrk at nro> sent are about twice the sizu of au ordinary brick; are made of yellow pine, and are soaked with a mixture of melted rosiu and creosote, which tends to preserve them, but which at the same time adds to their inflammability, so that in the streets in which they have beeu piled for use they offer a tempting display 1 to the wandering gatherers of fuel; and many thefts have been reported. The thieves, however, seem to be getting more than they bargained for, inasmuch as one of these briquettes plaoed in* a kitchen range and lighted gives off such an intense heat than the inner (jiates of the grate are soon burned, out or melted, and it is stated that

there is seldom much danger of a second offence. It eeeraa a wonder that wood block pavement was never adopted in New l?ork before, in view of its great success/inBOine of the New England and Canadian towns.

Tbo rumour that the Marconi Company baa sold its wireless telegraphy rights to an American syndicate may. remind us of the immensely import ant interests now involved iu the usa of ethargrama. Though invented by an Italian, the iviarooni system, havitfg been adopted by the British Admiralty and the Board of Trade, is now to all intents and purposes a British Imperial concern; aui its position has already been the subject of more than one diplnmatio discussion between England and the Continental Powers. The orujiaal Marconi 0 >mpany was form's I in 1337, aa 1 W3fj at once made with the Italian, Canadian, and Newfoundland Gov. ernments, and with Lloyds. Since then, as Mr Henniker Heatou impressively puts it, the world has become "one vast whispering gallery." Sixteen of the largest shipping lines now have wireless installations; and through the agency of the ethergram we need no longer depend as heretofore upon telegraph wires and cables. Admirals in oom • mand of fleeta uan issue their orders *:o individual ships hundreds of miles away; travellers can transaut commercial or financial business of the highest importance with perfect seoreoy thousands of miles from shorn; vessels ' threatened by fire,, famine or shipwreok can appeal to land for assistance; "and even explorers making their way through pathless deserts or primeval foresta could oommunicate their whereabouts to the centres of civilisation. Perhaps no single invention has ever done more to extend the range of scientific progress/that Marconi's system; and its future developments are fraught with marvellous possibilities for all mankind.

Diplomatic news from Berlin is not always so distinctly open to suspicion as "specials from' Vienna," where all international sensations are supposed to bo invented. But we may reasonably doubt, says a contemporary, if the remarkable report forwarded to the Daily Mail by its Berlin correspondent is altogether accurate. According to this statement King Edward is about to visit Germany again for the purpose of ratifying a secret treaty with the Kaiser to guarantee the Integrity of Denmark, in return for Denmark's good offices in allowing the Sound to be closed if a foreign navy should attempt a raid upon the Baltic ports. It is quite possible that the King is about to make some arrangement with Germany concerning Denmark's territorial rights. Butjfche story as it comes to us is almost incredible. The only Powers which could by any conoeivahle possibility attack Germany's Baltio coast are Russia, Frauce, and England. It is ob viotis that as Russia's fleet oan have no headquarters but the Baltic, Denmark's attitude as to the Sound cannot affect, Russia* It is hardly likely that England would agree to an arrangement that would certhinly ba a serious obstacle to her own movements if she were engaged in war with Germany; and i; is quite impossible that under, existing conditions King Edward would'consent to a treaty that might reasonably be construed as a threat direqted against Germany's only dangerous continental rival; France. On these grounds we prefer to wait for some more feasible interpretation of thia alleged "seoret treaty" than that suggested by the Daily Mail.

. Zadkiel, ia bid almanao, for 1907, offers for 6d a catalogue of borrors □early as terrible as Old Moore could give for a pet.ny. The two prophets in many respects corroborate one another. Like bid Moore, Zadkiel warns ah that, though "a gooi beginning for our beloved oountry may assuredly be anticipated," "political turmoil will soon attend. ' In the middle and latter half of January •'aerials will' be manifest »n Asia" and "vastchanges will soon follow." There is a plentiful crop of shipwreok, earthquake, and famine for the close [of the month. In February and in May "the British Government will be in a quandary—one of tbeir number will be in soir-o personal danger," while the March railway accidents will be frequent and very' destructive, snows will be dyed with human blood, ana "our Fleet must bo manned and thoroughly equipped, bo that we may not be taken by surprise'." Much the same is the programme for April, with the addition that "a most important epoch for India is now inaugurated. Let the British Government and the Viceroy accept this serious warning that a Great Crisis is at band! A .wave of fanaticism will surge far and wide over Hindustan. Precautions must be taken accordingly, or the consequences will be appalling," hs if that were not bad enough, in June, "Mars "opposes Jupiter, accentuating religious strife. nnd fanaticism in the East." "Strange sights in the heavens" are to alarm July. Ihere will be floods and earthquakes in September, while in October there will be busy times for doctors and clergy, who "will extend their influences, a revival of religious feeling among the people being presignifled." In the dread month of December "the City of London will reform the administra. tion of its; invaluable property," ",the Cabinet will And its position awkward an,-J somewhat unsafe," and the prophet has grave warnings as to the personal safety of about half the crowned beads of Europe.