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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8998, 7 December 1907, Page 4

It is popularly assumed that the moon influences the weather, and there have been, and still are, many theories in connection with this question. Some of the theories are very ancient, and may possibly be traced back to the time of Adam. Ir.deeJ, it is not improbable that Adam himself formulated a few ideas about the weather, and that, where his imagination failed to evolve a plausible belief, Eve's subtle mind supplied the necessary theoretical "facts." A watcher of the weather stated, some weeks ago, to a Wellington paper that he had reduced the forecasting of weather to a very reliable general rule. His plan is to make the general average of the weather, as regards temperature, wind, rainfall, etc., for the two days preceding the new moon,, the day of the new moon, and the day after. This average, it is claimed, will give the general character of the weather for the following four weeks,, until the next new moon. The forecasts made in this manner, it was stated, only apply to the localities in which they are made. A Masterton resident has been adopting a similar plan, and informs us that so far as his observations extent l he. believes that the clan referred to gives a good fair general average, of what the weather will be for the next ensuing four weeks. On the occasion of the new moon last month his observations were, three days hot weather, one day rain threatening and very slight fall; and the weather experienced during the subsequent four weeks coincided very closely with the observations made on the four days.

A contemporary, writing editorially upon the system of "trial.by jury," remarks:—"How often is a guilty person acquitted by a jury, whilst the unfortunate whose innocence seems most probable is sent to gaol." The quoted sentence is loosely worded enough in all conscience! The suggestion made, however, is that innocent persons are frequentiy sent to goal, while guilty persons escape punishment. The systetni of trial by jury is no doubt open to objection, but because it is not all that one would wish it to be there is no reason for any newspaper to become hysterical. It is very much bette" that several guilty persons should, go scot free than that one innocent person should be wrongly convicted. Any person who has had. any experience of our law courts must certainly hold the opinion that it is an extremely rare thing indeed' for any accused person to be wrongly convicted. That is the chief charm, of the trial by jury system. The average accused would most certainly rather be tried by a jury than by a single individual, even if that individual is a judge of the Supreme Court. The contemporary referred to speaks with much more truth when it observes:- "At one time the jury system was a necessary safeguard against the tyranny of an executive not directly responsible to popular control, but that danger has practically passed away, and the question is whether or not the sys'ein has survived its usefulness.''

Sir Maurice O'Rorke, M.L.C., has been throwing a stone at the conservatism of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in respect to sex distinction. Speaking at the ceremony of the laying of the memorial stone of the new Girls' Grammar School at Auckland, this week, he pointed out that all the universities

north of the Tweed, and those in Ireland, were open to boys and girls alike. So in England, of the ten universities*, eight were open to girls, but the two greatest English educational institutions kept their doors closed to women. Sir Maurice sarcastically mentioned that these institutions were founded in the Dark Ages, when it was considered sufficient to enlighten one - half of the community. That evidently, to his mind, accounted for the attitude they maintained in regard to the gentler sex. He suggested that the King and Queen should take steps to ensure the same advantages for girls at Oxford and Cambridge that were now enjoyed by boys.

The Southland Times remarks feelingly and truthfully:—"lt is a delusion to suppose that the principles of sound finance can be ignored with impunity,and nothing is more certain than that the day will come when the people of the colony will pay dearly for the reckless expenditure of borrowed money for illegitimate purposes which has characterised the Public Works policy of the past twelve or thirteen years." However unpleasant the intelligence contained in such a sentence may be it is refreshing to read such candid criticism. The reckless expenditure of borrowed money which has been going on for years past is a fact with which the people of this dominion will have to reckon some day. By the time that they awaken to the real position they may take the philosophical view that "there is no use in crying over spilt milk," but let us hope that they will resolve to appoint more competent servants in the future.