West Cost Times THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1906. TOPICS OF THE DAY.

West Coast Times, Issue 13733, 1 February 1906, Page 2

West Cost Times THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1906. TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Superintendent E, Smith, of the Christ-

church Fire Brigadp, es-

hotting timates that \he hotels of exhibition that city could aciommovisitoes date, at a pinch, 4000

people. Boardinghouses cou'd "put up" 4500 more, while some 2000 visitors will no doubt stay with private fiiends. If the accomoditioc enumerated above did not come up to demands, the Drillshed might be secured, and here from 700 to 1000 could be provided with beds for the night, aud, as a last resource, the Exhibition authorities might erect frame buildings, with canvas coverings. Mr Smith ia of the opinion that the authorities should issue a handbook giving tho names of all hotels and places where accommodation can be obtained. These books should bo distributed free, aud thore should be a central office in the ciry and at the railway station where the wanta of strangers could be readily attended to. A«ked to roughly estimate the limit of the city's capacity for dealing with an influx of visitors, he said he did not think a great deal of cifficulty would be experienced in providing for 25,003 oi 30.C03 people. Our contemporary questions whether the "extra" housing facilities and the temporary arrangements are likely to satisfy thousands of people who intend visiting the Exhibition. People used to moderate oomfort and the attention" bestowed at hotels that claim to cater for the public are not going into a tent, or a barn, or a skeleton building, or even a bcardinghouse. Oa the face of it iheie appears to be a good deal of wisdom ia a suggestion that the Exhibition Executive should erect and equip a large commodious bu : lding for the use of thoaa people who are willing and prepared to pay for good accommoda'ioa, but who are unabie to fiud lodgings at the leading hotels. Oth rwise we ft ar that visitot3 from Wflllingtpn "will find it iocumbant u^jon themselves to include in their luggage a few tents, and perhaps a billy and a colonial oven

A recent cablegram (nj'3 the Lyttejton Tunes) states th it th 3 the home, 11-xnford electorate has ELECTIONS, doubled m size s-ince the

election of 1900, and accounts, of course, for tho enormous figures which were recorded in the polling for this parD.culir electorate. Asa matter of Uct, the R Jinfor.l division of Essex is now the largest B-i ish constituency. It contains 44 012 (lectors, and has increased by 2253 in the l.nt ye*-. The smallest electorate is Kilkenny, which has a roll of only 1527 voters. The Jargesb borough constituency is Newcastle upon Tyne, with 1 35,931 electors, who return two mi.nibers, whilst the largest single member conitituency among the boroughs ia Wandsworth, with 29,846 voters. The expense of a general election at Home to the candidates and to the country v enormou3. A recent estimate predicted that about three-quarters of a million would be spent upon the present election between the date of dissolution and the meeting cf Parliament. This U a large aum to secure the return of 670 members. The present Corrupt Practices Act limits a candidate's expenditure upon an election, other than the p^rsoail expenses of the candidate and the returning officer's charges, to £350 for 2000 electors in boroughs, and £650 in couiitisa, with accretions of £30 for every additional 1000 electors in boroughs and £60 in counties. Any personal expenses oE candidates over £100 must be acouuied for b/ thdr election agents. The most coatly con tesb recorded was that of 1835, whan almost every borough and county wai contested. In the succeeding yeir. when many an elector was hesitating as to which|of two camps he should enter, the Home Rule or the Unionist, the number of unopposed returns was exceptionally large, araouuting co over 200. In 1892 they were le«s by about 25 pjr cent, and in 1895 they were under 140. The num ber of disqualifications for membership of the House of Commons constitutes a curious list. Clergymen of the Established Churches of Eng'aud and Scotland and of the Rdraao Catholic Church are ineligible, aud so are judges, stipendiary magistrates aud cjrUin officers of t!.e Stsice and Civil servants, Itnb9Cility and aliensbp are bars, whilst so also are ban* ruptcy and femininity.. Government contractors are ineligible, and partial dUa.m»lifiwion9 attach, to ret«miog-offi-

cers, recorders, revising buristers, and certain others holding official positions.

The mail via Sin Franciico, whiohleft Hokitika on 22ad December arrived at London on 27ih January, 1906. Some visitors who returned from Okarito last evening report that the Okarito ha.: is absolutely closed, and unless there >s a heavy fresh, there v no chance cf it being opeced for two or three weeks. Mr H J Matthews, the Chief State Forester, arrives from the north tomorrow to make an inspection of the scenic reservations which it i 9 proposed to conserve in this and the _ South Westland Districts.

Mr R Acbeson, 8.M., returned last evening from Okarito, where he held the quarterly sittings of the Magistrate's and Warden's Court last Monday. He was accompanied by Mr Joho King, Government auditor, and several other gentlemen. Tbe County Chairman, MrMcGuigan and several of tho Councillors have gone out to report progress on tbe Styx road to the Westland reefs, which in being constructed with a view to making application to 'he Government for the continuanca of the work. On Tuesday at 2.30 p.m. Messrs Pollock and Bevan will sell at their room", without reserve, by order of the administratrix, part of a section bituated in Ball Street- The property is adjoining fctopfonh's coal yard, and contains 22 perches, with cottage erected there* on.

Some of our townsmen who have just returned from a trip to South Westland state they ware greatly struck by the advaaced state of settlement reaching from Boss to Okarito. A visit to the Franz Joßef glacier was made, and the weather being delightful throughout, the trip pioved most enjoyable. The Eev Father O'Hallaban, of Kumara, who has been in indifferent health for some time, announced at St Patrick's Church Kumar a on Sunday last that he' is about to have the assistancs of a curata. Theßev Father Creed, of Ashburton, will take the petition, aad ia expected toarrive inKumara on Saturday next.

Messrs Donovan and FriendVnew flax^oill at Okarito is now working constantly and a considerable amount^ of fibre i 3 ready for shipment. The Wafcaroa mill is also working full time, and is employing about 30 men, They have a large quantity of flix ready for loading as Eoon as the stsamer can work the bar. The following is the latest report of the High Commissioner in London : — The hemp market is firm with an upward tendency. There is a general and active demand in distant deliveries. Reports from Manila indicate light shipments of hemp from that port. The price ot New Zealand hemp, "good, far Wellington" grade, on spot per ton is -632,103 for January to March shipment. The. price of Manila hemp, "fair current" grade, on spot per ton is €42. His Worship the Mayor (Mr Mandl) in compliance with the request of the Major of Greymonth, will a«k the business people of the town to c'oaa at noon on the 14th inst on account of tho West Coast A. and P. Show, to bo held at Greymouth on that dxte. The Mayor of Greymouth state 3 a like sarvice will j be performed in that town next Wednesday, the 7cb inst, iln Greymoath business people bein» asked to closa at noon to enable the residents to attend the Westland A. and P. Show. As the result of their vist to Goldaborough on Toes lay to raport oa the application of a mining p irty to be allowed to work a public road in that vicinity, the Public Works Committee of the Westland County Council decided to j favourably recommend the application to tbe Council. The application will be supported by the Committee, subject to the U'ual conditions being complied wiih the applicants, viz, as to the written con»enfc of the residents being obtained, and that the ordinary traffic will uot ba interfere.! with, another road being provided. Interesting experirufnts in fc*>e coldcaring of cheeae are being mado at the Dtlefield cU'ry factory, and this week (■jays the Wellington co Bpondent of the "Press" ay s t of inspection was paid by the Secretary for Agriculture (Mr J. D. Ritchie), the acting-Dairy Oommis* j-ioner (Mr D. Caddie), Mr Singleton, of the grading staff, Mr J. G. Hirknesa, of the National Dairy Association, and others. I'be results of the experinnnt are btfig carefully watched, and dati are to be compiled to enable a decision to hi come to as to whether the process is a paying one or nut. A more vigorous policy in regard to 'ho opening up of land in South Westlaod will shortly be unugurited. Survey parties will be detailed for special work in that locality, while the probp'-Ct of an early conomencetnont with two bridges ia expected to give settlemeul a great impetus. In ordar to deal more suoce esf ully with the land and encourage settler* it is probable that special regulations will ! be devised— somewhat in the nature of a r turn to the old homestead system. Afc the present time Mr W Wilson, District Surveyor, is visiting South Westlaud on business connected with the Department. The Grey ''Argus' " Nelson correspondent reports that there is great dissatisfaction amongst the majority of the competing Bands at the Nelson contest owing to the "ringing in" of professional players by tbe Mwtertent FeilJing, and Tetnuka Bands. The other Bands, he states, intend to protest against the action of these Binds, as the pr >fessionals engaged have not fulfilled tb« residential conditions .mdare thus committing a breach of the contest rules. A private wire from our own corespondent states that the competing Bandd other than those mautioned will hold a meeting to-day in connection with the "ringing iq" oJ professionals by oertain Binds. Masterton, Temuka, and PeNding are the favourites for the teit, stflectiou.

There are at present in the colony 498 nurses registered under the Nnrses' Registration Act, 1901. .

Johnny Vane, the last of Ben Hall's gang of bushrangers has died at Oowra Hospital, Sydney. Latterly he was engaged in farming.

From January 18th to January 22nd 510 trout were cinght ab Boterua, their aggregate weight being 17471 b. On Thursday a sixteen pounder was caught. The training ship Sparrow, whioh his been lying in Wellington harbour for some time, will shortly be placed ia commiEsion again. G. S, Hooper. 8.N.8 , formerly chief officer of the Hioemoa, has been given command.

Tbe Governmsnt has decided upon the appointment of M T. H. Hamer as Under Secretery of Mines, in succession to Mr H. Eliott. of Mr P. S. Hay at present superintending engineer to tie Public Works Department as Engineer* in-Chief, vice Mr W. H. Hales and of Mr P. J. O'Regan as Chairman of the Wellington Coonilia'ion Board.

The survey of the proposed route to divert a port'ou of the Clarence River through tbe bill at JoUie's Pass for the purposes of electric power has been completed. Tbe survey party, under Mr Norris, has now moved to Lake Tennyson, at the head of the Clareooe, where levels will be taken and a survey made for a reservoir, so as to provide a supply of water in tbe event- of a dry season.

( -I am not Solomon," Mr Bwhop told a dissatisfied litigant at the oival sittings of the Magistrate's Court Chrietchurcb the other day. "£ can't tell which of you is telling the truth.". "1 am a poor working man," interjected the irrepressible plaintiff. "Everybody is on an equalty in this Court," the Magistrate replied, "and lam not going to take on* man's word before another's. Ihe case is simply one of oath against oath." The statement of the Savings Bank transactions for tbe December quarter of 1905 affords interesting reading. For. tbe pnrpose of comparison, the figures for the corresponding quarter of 1004 are given in parentheses. There were 12,693 accounts opened (11,818), and 9848 closed (9377). The amount of th* deposits was £1,538,235 ( 11,361,253), and witbdiawls totalled .21,422 575 (1,310,373) the excess of deposits ov*r withdrawla thus being £115,659 (£50,880). Il is interesting to notice that Nelson 4nd We9tport are the only two places ia which the withdrawals exoeeds the deposits. Tbe excess at Nelsen was '

£3447, and at Westport £837.

The London wool sales now being held show that coarse crossbred! bay* lost their commanding position. The demand now appears fo be for fine wools, and th* . come descriptions are ruling at 6 per oent lower than at the November sales. It it unlikely that there will be any improve* ment at the March or July sales, bscaus* during; the first half of the year supplies reach their maximum, but in th* second half there may be an improvement. Th* coarse of the wool market is not easily forecasted. At the present moment sheep farmors in the North Island have to " write down tbe values of their crossbred . sheep because both wool and mutton ajrt lower in prices.— Post. ,

Lecturing at Maugatainoka on Diseases' in Cattle, the Chief Government Veterinarian said that instead of there being too many stock inspectors, the namWr, ia his opinion, wan insufficient They wasted m9n thoroujbly quilifi i. for th» work from practical experience, to pas* the necessary examimt'on 1 * p-ovin> thoir theoretical knowledge to b» adequate. He advocated am amalgamation of groups of dairy factories obtaining milk supply •rom 6000 to 8000 cots to secure tha sole services of an inspector. It would pay the farmers to" bear half th* co3t, at 61 per cdw, the Government cou-

treating the other half. There wa\ he

feared, too great a disposition to put tbe whole ouuslon to the Government, instead of the farmers being more self-reliaat. The man of New ZoaUnders learned about fifteen years ago that when Mr

Seddon auoounoes an intention he gener~

ally "g«ts there" says the Lyttelton rim 88. Yesterday "the Premier proved h's ability to overcome obstacles had ia uo wis? diminished. He had bees chatting with a Press-nan in a compartment of a bird cage carnage dartog the j»urnoy from Springfield, and when a few miles outside Christohurch he rone to go into another part of tbe carriage. He found that the door had j uno&ecl, and vigorous pushing from inside and b^Hde, even with tbe assistance of sonu kicks and verbal admonition, could not pbrauida it to slide i*aok. The other passengers decided that the Premier would have to wait for expert asaiatanca at OhrUtobarch hut Mr Sjddon w»s nit to beaten. H* opened a window, aad before the spectators could finish explaining that the feat was absolutely impossible, hebai olimbed out and disappeared -down the corridor with a quikt sraild. Tbe window measured 20 inches by 16} inches.

Steps are being lafcen (says tha Sydiey

'Daily Telegraph") by the Resident British Commissioner at the Gilbert and EHice Group, in the Paoitic to stock the is'ands with rabbit?. The CommiMioner (Mr W. Telfer Campbell) has approached tbe State Lands Department with a view to relieving N«w South Wales of a few of tbe nimbi*' little quadrupeds that constitute such a pest here. The Gilbert Group i» situated nearly 3000 miles from Sydney in a north-easterly direction, *nd not far from tbe Equator, and th* ooooanut thrives there. One of the drawbacks of life there is the absence of a good fresh meat supply, and the fecuud rabb t is no doubt wanted to supply the need. It] the buncies transported from New South Wales thrive on t'aa. islands— and Australian expeiiauces dhow that the hot wMiher does not prevent their cumbers from multiplying— there should always be plenty of material for a dainty meal, tht flesh of tbe rabit being undoubtedly s> delicacy. The trouble, however, in New South Walts ia that we have to* much ot a good thing, the risk of which the GiU bert Islands authorities are now quit* prepared to take. At th* first opportunity a consignment of rabbits will be sent over to ihe Qtv( upi

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