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West Coast Times, 4 May 1912, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS. Tin; idea of allowing a condemned prisoner the alternative of commiting suicide, which is the object of the Bill introduced into the Japanese Legislature, is distinctly Oriental, and it betrays a characteristic which, to the foreigner, appears like an exaggerated sense of honour. According to a recent Reuter message the whole question of the ethics of harikari is likely to bn opened again by the resignation of Dr. Yamakawa, resident of the Kyushu University. The resignation followed a curious incident. In November, last, when the Emperor attended the grand manoeuvres, the Imperial train jumped the. points while shunting, with the result that its Imperial psasenger was detained for forty minutes at the Moji station. Subsequently, the stationmaster, as an atonement of what had been no fault of his, committed suicide by throwing himself underneath an express. His Majesty was much moved on hearing the tragic tale of the poor fellow’s contrition, and sent a cheque ,to defray the jfuueral expenses. It was proposed to erect a statute to his memory, lest posterity should forget, his sacrifice. Dr. Yamakawa wrote to the newspapers protesting against the proposal. At the same time he drew attention to the number of school-teach-ers who had been killed or severely burned in their attempt to rescue,, the Imperial portrait when their schools caught fire. The Premier declared that his letters were most indiscreet, and demanded his resignation, which he has handed' in. Incidents such as these demonstrate in the most telling manner the intense patriotism that is the consolidating’ factor among the people of the Furthest East.

In connection witii a charge preferred by the police against a local resident for riding a bicycle on a footpath in the Borough of Hokitika, Sergeant Barrett stated in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday that the case was the first of its kind brought before a local court under “The Public Works Act, 1908.’’ Tills provides that no person shall ride or drive any vehicle on a footpath constructed t for ’foot passengers. The Sergeant went on to refer to the origin of tho construction of the footpaths of the Borough of Hokitika, and also the I definition of tho term “footpath” under the “Municipal Corporation Act,” which provides that the Council may laj out, construct footways, or channels, or both, on one or both sides of the street in such a manner, and in all respects as it thinks tit. Cases of this kind wore invariably met by by-laws in other parts of tbc Dominion, but as no such by-law existed locally, recourse had to bo made to tho Act. His AVorship, in commenting upon tho case, referred to accidents which had resulted owing to the dangerous practice of riding bicycles on footpaths, and made reference to the fact that the matter had not been taken up previously as the “Public AVorks Act” ami the “Police Offences Act” specially provided for such cases. In concluding bis remarks the Magistrate said it was ‘ still not too late to shut the stable door to prevent the steed from bolting,” and strongly condemned the practice that had hitherto existed locally. A j the offence seemingly had become a general custom in Hokitika he said hj ’ would only inflict a nominal penalty in the case, but that in any future instances, culprits would be more seveiely dealt with. The defendant was fined Is and costs 7s.

lx thanking members of the Hokitiki Harbour Board last night for reelecting him chairman for a further term, Mr H. L. Michel referred to the i cry noticeable improvement which the exten ion of the north and south walls hat! already effected to the entrance, to the port. Only about a third of the total extension of the walls had been carried out, and it was hardly expected that the improvement should he so very marked. Mr Michel said he anTcipated that though there would not be many ships trading to Hokitika until there was a well-defined and perma-

' nent channel, there would be no dearth of boats when tho construction of the walls was completed. Mr Michel" referred to the financial position of the Hoard as being extremely satisfactory, and up to the present time the interest earned had been equal to that which had been paid in connection with the loan. The position of the Board was such that it would not bo necessary to strike the rate at least in the near t'u-

tore, and if the port was improved sufficiently to allow of half a dozen ships to trade here regularly—and he had every reason to believe such would be th • case—the whole of the interest and sinking fund in connection with the loan would he furnished out of the resultant revenue. It was as well that th i public should know that a steamer with the carrying capacity of the Defender, with a. full cargo inward and outward, meant at least £2O towards the Board’s revenue. “ Erom this,” concluded the chairman, “it will ho observed that the revenue would lie largely increased If half a dozen similar boats were trading to this port.”