TOPICS OF THE DAY.

West Coast Times, Issue 13731, 30 January 1906, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

One of the fir3t questions which the new British Parliament will old age be asked to consider (say? pensions, the Lyttelton Times) will be the provision of pensiens for the deserving poor. The National Committee of Organised Labour has been keeping this particular i-sue steadily before the electors during the political campaign, and it is regarded as one of the livest subjects ot the hour. The House of Commons has repeatedly declared by large mnj >ritu a for oM age pensions, but hitherto every attempt to give the proposal legislative effect has been met with aome excuse. The tinib was inopportune, the finances of the country could not bear the burden, or the people had not been sufficiently consulted upon the matter. But, as the manifesto of the National Committee points out, the time has cow arrived wheu the claims of old age must be frankly faced. All parties in the State are agreed o» the need and justice of pensions for the aged. Tne war in South Africa necessaiily blocked the way for a time, but (hat is over, and the field is clear. The facts are well known. Governcentstatistics show that more than a million aged persons over the age of sixty five are practically destitute. The machinery of the Poor Law baa broken down, aid personal thrift is often unequal to the task of making provision against a rainy day. ' Charity in any case is precarious, gsner-* ally demoralising, and always inadequate. Tho manifesto further calls ' upon the | electors not to be misled by the parrot cry that the country cannot afford pensions. Every party in the State has its fcheme • for providing; new and ample sources -of revenue, and the wealth of the nation is steadily on the increase. "Electors," the committee bega, "do your duty to your aged fellow c : t;z ns. Speak for ; those who cannot speak for themselves, s Vot9 on behalf of tho3o who, through the 3 indigence of age, havo lost their votes; see to it that they do not suffer because they lack the advertisement of contro1 verted politics. The worn out worker, 5 man or woman, who has belf ed to build i the fabric of our national life, demands - not charity, but justice." This appeal i appears to havo met with a generous ret sponse at the polls.

Pomatos and plamcots sound to the uninitiated ear very much pomatos and like some strange vegeflumcots. tarian freaks that Alice might have met in Wonderland, (says the Lyttelton Times), but a3 a matter of fact, they exist in all their native splendour in the real gardens of the enthusiastic wizird who Las followed in the footsteps of Burbank. The pomato is, of course, a sport between the tomato and the potato, and tho plumcot is a cross between the plum and the apricot. Both are ihe "creation" of Mr Luther Burbank, of whom Mr W, S. Harwood has just completed a biography. The book forms interesting reading. Burbank's creed consisted of the single axiom. "Nature cannot He." He shook out the truths of Nature, however, at a I greater rate than she had hitherto given them. The first incident in bis career as a nurseryman illustrated this. An order wa9 goitjg begging in California for twenty thousand pruna trees. The rancher would give only nine months for its completion, but as such a tree requires, even in California, about three years to grow, some reluctance to undertake the contract was natutal. Burbank rushed in. Late in the season he planted almonds which sprout in autumn an<i grow very quickly. When they were big enough prune buds were grafted on to them, and when the nine months were up twenty thousand prune trees were ieady. Not only so, but to-day, 20 yea T a afterwards, one of the finest prune orch\rds in California or the world is grow n ; from these trees. Since then Mr Burl ank has gone <n from vegetarian miraclo to vegetarian miracle. His achievements are too mny <o mention in any sorb of d.txil, buc the ihorule j s edible cactus which he has evolved is a thing apart. According to Mr Burbank, the population of the globe may be doubled, and yet in the immediate food of the cactm pUnt itself and in the animal food whi;h raty be raised up* on it, there wou'd still b-j enough fur all. When it is recollect >d fr nn greenboa3e experience h >w eauly i.he c itn is pro, aejated by cuttin§3 it really ueeuv as if tho D urban k theory might do much to solve that eternal pro l ile.n which bau^s over suc'o'ogiats as to how the world v to live in aqother few thousani years. Perhaps by that time Nature will have progressed as far by herself as Mr Bur- > ank seems to hive antic ; pated hor.

Very interesting explanations of th« failure of Count Witfce to oun't aviixe's advance the cause of ia^k. liberty, says the "Press" aro put forward by the Moscow correspondent of the 'Standard.' To begin with, he would have the greater part of tho world revise its opinion of VViite, aa opinion formed opon his work at the Pence Conference, at which he was really the defeated pirty. He is by no means as great as he is suppose*] to be outside Russia. He has enonuous brain power and untiring energy, hut his chief detect is lack of character, the quality so largely possessed by the iroo handed rrepoif. That is to say, while Witte has already been tho hero of several ciuse*, he will never be the martyr of one. Trepoff works steaiily tor a rotten cause with a persistence that compels admiration, but around Witte there will always be "tned-imoing suspicion of insincerity." But even if Witte were all and more than he is supposed to be abroad, it is unlikely that he would be mote successful, for the circumstances under which he took office were almost unprecedented in their difficulty. Personally obnoxious to the Czir, no longer supported by the once all nowerful influence on psblic affairs of che Dowager Empress, suspected of liberal tendencies by the old school and of double dealing by the new, Count Witte owed hia sudden return to poirer 1,0 three reasons- the necessity of making v Hppaar that the altogether unexpcCttd Miunmtiou of the Portsmouth peace • i L;utiatiyris was h dip'omaiio triumph for itu-ai.i; the uecis>uy of security a large f.'i-ei"!) loai? in circumstances calculated l , tix flveu Witte's well known powers in :,'i«t department; and, tbirdly-this reasea , j) ly consolidating the other two —thanks t the fact that, tlie newspaper Pre«s of ( ,v fact that the newspaper Press of the world had created for Witte abroad such as no B ( fttPßman of Rus<ia ever enjoyed u efore." One disastrous iff^ct of bis

unpopularity at Court w the delay which it causes in the transaction of public busin.eS3. He is not received more often than once or twic9 a week, and as he dare net leave State papers to be discussed by a reactionary entourage behind his back, instead of taking a pile of important d.cuments and leaving them for the Imperial signature, he has to take on« or two at a time, and persuade the Cz*r to Bi§u them befoie the audience is over. "The country is clamouring for reforms 1 y th* mile," he is reported to have and, "and I hive ta drag them out by the inch." "Witte hangs by a hair," said a speaker ac the rrcmt Zemstvos Congreu, and it would be dangerous to prop him up. That was two months ago, and the hair still supports the Premier.

The Bank of New South Wales shipped five boxes of gold yesterday by the Arahura valued at £20,000. Mr G. J. Rob arts, Commissioner of Croirn Lands for Westlaod, leives for- 1 Grej mouth this morning to forward the International Exhibition project in that district. A Dotice in reference to the New Zealand Defence Rifle Association meeting to be held at Trenthaoa on Monday, sth March, 1906, appears in our business columns. Messrs Mark Sprofc and Co will sell at Arahura yards on February sth a special entry of 800 breeding ewes and fat sheep, The sale commences at 9.30 a.m. sbarp. A visit will be paid to Goldsborough by the Public Works Committee of the West'.andflCounty Council to»day to examine and report on an application by some ratepayers for the right to work a public road. The Westland Couuty Council have obtained a special grant of £600 to enable urgent repairs to be carried oat on the roads in Bruce Bay district, which are reported to ba in a bad and even danger' ous condition. Members of the N.Z. O jntingonti who served in South Africa daring the years 1901-1902, are notified in another column that they may obtain their clasps on application to the Officer Commanding the District, Nelson. The railway ched by the ballast pit on , the Rofls-Hokitika line was lifted bodily* by a whirlwind yesterday, and deposed in the creek near there. It is somewhat peculiar that there was little or no wind in Hokitika yesterday. Aged West Coasters are fast passing away. Last year in the Registrar's d•• trict of Hokitika, the following were the death ages registered :— Between 60 and 68, 15 ; 70 and 79 yearn, 25 ;80 and 89, 5 ; 93, 1 ; and 96, 1. T0ta1,. 47 aged rottiers. Mr J. H. "Matthews, the Government Chief Forestor, who isjalso -a member of the Scenic Commission, has been deputed by that body' to visit the West Coast. He has arrived in Greymoutb, where Mr Gh J. Roberts will meet and confer with him, and subsequently be will wait Hokitika. The Premier is not yet certain whether he will be able to visit Australia or not in response to in invitation he received some time ago. He bad received a cablegram from Deakin, asking when he conld go, but Mr Seddon states that be does not know whether the time at bis disposal will permit of his leaving New Zealand. The death of Wil iam McLaren, of Back Creek, who passed away at the Westlacd Hospital yesterday afternoon, removes another of the now fast fading /•old timer*." The dpc?a o ei w*B nairly 70 ) ears ot age, and arrived in Victoria in 1852 from whence he followed the rush to Otago and Westland, arriving here in '65, si 03 when he has resided in the Rioau district. He was a native of F feature, Scotland, Many old mates will regret to hear of his death. His funeral takes place to-morrow, notice of which will appear to-morrow. The following are amended regulations under the Government Valuation of Land Act, 1906:— "14. The fee chargeable fur supplyingicertified copies of|theivalu*tions aopearing on the district; raloatioo roll .-hill ba not less tban 6d, and not more than £1 Is., in each ca*e as the ValuerGeneral determines. 15. The fee chargeable for any service performed by the Valuation Department not otherwise provided for by regulation shall be fixed - at such sum as the Valuer-General determines, provided that no fee shall be fixed at a less sum thau the cost of performing t-uch service as estimated by the VainerGenera." la bujiog a p'aao cne naturally wishes to know what the grade is, what kind of materials are used, who makes it, and what kind of a reputation is enjoyed by the Company who product it. Tv which answer is made that the Dresden Pano Company engage only practical high-grade mechanics, have never been connected with the produce t'oa of poor goods, mike their own p ; auos by the aid of first-class workmen in th"ir own factories, use only the best mate- his throughout, and having a sole 'hit is as nearly perfect as can be made, claim that the Dresden Pianos^™ equal to any and second to none. For wbicb facts the Company sfgoify their faith by Usaiu; a warranty for ten years with each instrument sold by them. Any further particulars that may be required will be famished by Mr O. Campbell, the Company's representative, who is at pnontin town. Yesterday af.ernoon a pretty wedding, which evoked a hrue amount of interest, was celebrated at All Stints'* Church when Mr H. W. R. Sweney was married to Miss Lillian Robinson, stationer. The ' Rev H. G. Hawkins performed the wed* ding ceremony. The bride looked charming in a pretty dress of Lousine silk with | chiffon yoke, being trimmed with pleated ohiffon. She wore a wreath and veil and carried a beautiful shower bouquet presented by M'ss AmbergT. Misses Peillon and Eleanor and In* Sveney acted as bridesmaids, Mr Fred S veney as beat man, Mr Robinson as groomsman, and Master Tom Robinson as page. 4fter tbo wedding the party drove to the resi, dence of the bride's father where after* uoon tea was served and the usual toaati honoured. Mr and Mrs Sweney left by last evening's train for the north, where the honeymoon wi)> be spent, acconw panied by the good wished for tbeif future of a host of frieodi,

Since 1851 N«w South Wales fcas ex- » ported £300,000,000 worth of wool aud 136,000,000 worth of «oldAn area of 26 aores of laod, opposite the Lower Hutfc. Rail way Stauoc (Wollipgtoo) hw bsen bought by a syudicabe for £30,000. In the Kaiapoi old age pension district since 1899 thj r.a-nber of pensions granted have been 647. 133 of the pensioners have died in the past sevea ytara. * With the prospect of no license baing enforced at lovercargill.the value of an botel in the vicinity, just outside the boundary, has exactly doubled during the last few week?, a price equivalent to that increase having been offered and refused. The Southland County Council has decided to supply each surfaceman with a ditry, in order that he can supply monthly reports to the council, stating in detail the nature of each day's work, and the W locality in which it is performed. Probably no one (pays the Christchurch "Press") had a worse experience of the storm on Sunday than a gentleman and his wife who bad climbed to the top of the Sugarioaf, the high hill on the east of Djer'i Pass, just before it began. The wind blew so furiously that they had to lie flat on thejeanh to prevent themselves being blown down the side of the hill, and the bail beat down on them mercilessly, there being not the slightest covor near. The gentleman shieided his wife as best he could, with the result tint his neok and ahoulders were afterwards found to be bruised and red from the hailstone?, against which his clothing was but an inadequate protection. When the storm Ceased, the two people, drenched to the skin, commenced the descent of the hill but being unable to find the track, wandered far out of their way before they reaohed the plains. | The endurance of some animals is very remarkable, but aa incident related in the Adelaide "Regiatel" must go very near to establishing a record in fasting, for fox terriers at any iate. It is stated that nearly a month ago a small fox terrier dog was missed 'from his home at Glanville, but as the little fellow wad in -the habit of scouring the sandhills in search of rabbits, and would frequently remain in a burrow for several hours at a Jkne, no notice was taken of its absence. #*When two or three days had 'passed and the animal did not return, the owner and his wife began a search for it. Afcor a little over three weeks of patient calling and listening at the openings of many scores of burrows, they were rewarded by hearing a faint whining noise coming from one of the warrens. They were not long in getting to work with pick and shovel to try and release the creature, which had become entangled in some roots and could not free itself. They were successful in extricating it alive, and with careful attention the dog has almost recovered, although at the time of its rescue, there was not much chance of it surviving, as its bones were nearly through tbeekin. It existed in the burrow tor over three weeks without food or water. New York hopes to be the greater city in the world about the year 1920 (writes the London Telegraph's corns* pondent). At the present time she is eclipsed by Imperial Lrndon, butber growth in population and area encourage patriotic' citizens thero to toliore that "•""thay will not always hold second phce. One New York commissioner with a tasfc-s for calculations, estimat-js that Loudoa in the year 1910 will only surpai3 New York's population by less than half a million, and tbaf in 1920, if the rate observed in the census period* of recent years be followed, New York will have 9,843,000 inhabitants, and London only 8,940, 000. But any com 4 oansous o£ lha two cities are exceedingly dffinlt, London having the immeasurable advantage of beini? all London, *h areas New York, whenever the question of comparative population comes up, al\va/> in dudes a number of outlying places, such as Jersey City, which is in anothar State. It is also forgotten by America-! commissioners occasionally that London, thongh confessedly behind the times in some things, still goes ahead very ripid'y in area and population. There is i o doubt, however, that Mew York expenditure is advancing at an alarming rate. It is estimated that within the next four I years this city will spend in tunnelling, V bridging, water supply, and countless J other civic needs nearly £80,000,000. Thus an Opposition paper.en the Premier's visit to the West Coa?t:—Uule?s one reads the West Coast papers (remarks the "Post") it is quite impossible to giin any but the faintest idea of the whirl of excitement into which the Premier's visit has plunged Westland. It is quite * impossible, also, to learn what else, if anything, is happening in that lucky province, since the newspapers contain nothing but reports ot the Premier's movements, described with a voluminous detail almost beyond belief. Thursday's loangahua "Times" reflects iv petto the delirium of the whole place. Ie has a leading article entitled welcome, conclu ding with a thick black line of type expressing a wish for "A Happy Visit to Reeftoo." The "local" column also reflects the wild enthusiasm. It consists of the following five paragraphs:— "The Premier's train left Greymoutb at 12.29." <It was absolutely impossible tj pro2ure A flag in town this morning for love or money." "Decorations are the oider of the day, and are being put up a 3. fast as flags can be provided." "The members ot the County Council and Mr J. Colvin, M H.R., went down by the morning train to meet the Premier." "Mr Mathews and his assistants have to be con- ' g'atulated on the effect of their decorations at the bridge and racecoirse." The Westport "Times," in an ecstasy of appreciation, baj a long leading arlicle to prove that Mr Seddon is equal to Napoleon Amongst o'her things*, it says of the "giddy eminence" of this "calm, bold captain" that ''the coupling of Mr Soddon's name with that of Napoleon is not due to accident nor to a desire for rhetorical effect, for we are convinced that in the ultimate analysis the qualities of mind and character of both are e«stntiully the same, though in Mr Seddou'a case the opr. ortuniiy for development came later Jfc is true, of course, that their spheres if nativity differ, though not to the extent tfrat the supetficiul nuy imd fc iue. . . .

! The "British Auatralaaian" of D cembei 14th, published a full-page cartoon show ing Mr Seddon in the act of kicking a goal on the football field, while the s Mring board shows tha record — Government 60; Opposition. 16. The cartoon ti tn'itled, "The Big Kick of Km* Dick," and has over it a motto, "A!:e, Ake, Ka, Kaha." A supplement to the "Gazette" of Dec. 23rd, canta-ns amended regulations uiider the Defence Act. Tie amendments refer chiefly to the examinations of officers of the different clasies of Volunteers. Amongst other matters we ncto that in the "Company establishment" of mounted rifle.«, "Sergeant-Major" is tJ be inserted instead of "Colour-Sergeant," and that where there are only four companies in battalioa, thera is to be no Lieut. Colonel.