DAY BY DAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11245, 12 January 1912, Page 4

DAY BY DAY.

State Sanatoria. Speaking to a deputation from Hanmer, the Hon. T. Mackenzie said the placo (now managed by the Government) ought to lie leased, as it was difficult to overlook those places from such a distance. The Government was very foolish to bother with these places at all. The Minister should have something else to do than bother with their administration. These resorts could never be made~to pay uuder existing conditions. Mr Mackenzie said that proportionately there had been more complaints from Rotorua than from other places, and if Rotorua was not satisfied with what has been done, what could be Jdone with other places? A place like Haunter could always lie managed best by those resident' in tho place. Those people could do a great deal of minor work which did not involve big cost. The Government had spent something like £10,000 in the last three years in improvments in aud about Hanmor. He reiterated that in his opinion the best thing that could be done was to lease the place as a sanatorium.

' Franklynne." The people of Wellington are frankly impatient for some decisive development in the political situation (says Saturday's New Zealand Herald). They are tired of the unchanging clouds of gloomy indecision, and are eager for some, ray of light. A few days ago a party of enthusiasts endeavoured to bring a little brightness into tne city. Provided with a neatlywritten card, they visited the residence of the Prune Minister, and, without ringing the door-bell, they fixed the card on the, name-plate. Next morning, when Sir Joseph Ward walked out to have a look at the weather, he found that his official residence, no longer bore the. name "Awarua.'' In the night it had become "Franklynne.'' One of the under-gardeners had a busy five minutes, and the old order was restored before visitors arrived. But that evening a pot of honest paint was utilised, and the name "Awarua"' was effectively obliterated. The people of Wellington are nothing if not hospitable, and they want the Ministerial residence to have a homely look when Mr Massey returns.

An Alleged Scandal. A telegram from Nelson last week stated that a Ministerial member owing to being implicated with other politicians m a certain land transaction, is iv danger of losing his seat. Nothing further has been been made public concerning this matter; but dealing with it editorially the Dunedin Star says:—

"There is one of them who is still entitled to write M. P. after his name, and he sits for a mining constituency in the North Island. Tlie transaction with which his name has been associated is said to have arisen in connection with the passage of the Mining Act Amendment Bill of last session, but whether or not there has been 'graft,' for that nakedly is the averment againts the trio, is a matter unquestionably for searching investigation at' the proper time and in the constitutional way, for the honour of Parliament seems to be, involved. The allegation cannot be passed over in silence. It must either bo formulated aud proved, or it must bo shown to have been concocted for a sinister purpose. But in justice to the Parliamentarian whose name has boon associated with the allegation! it must be said in fairness that he has given a most emphatic denial to the story impeaching his personal honour and courts the amplest possible inquiry. The matter is certainly too serious to rest where it does at present, but the next move in tho face of that positive denial must come from those who are said to be in possession of the alleged incriminating evidence. Developments will certainly be awaited wtth tiie utmost curiosity."

What Europe Drinks. A French paper, the "Cosmos," gives some, interesting statistics concerning tlie drinking habits of Europe. The Dane, drinks annually 104 quarts of beer, littlo or no wine, and 21 ouarts of brandy; the Swede absorbs >)('. quarts of beer and 1) quarts of alcohol, while the Norwegian is content with 31 quarts of beer and 3 quarts of brandy. The Russian requires only » quarts of been- and r> of brandy (vodka); the Frenchman must have 33 quarts of beer, JOB of wine, and (!0 of brandy. The Englishman consumes (1 quarts of gin or whisky, little wine (scarcely 2 quarts), and 152 quarts of beer, alo, or stout; tho Dutchman 38 quarts of beer and 8 1 ,, of brandy; the Belgian 221 quarts of beer unci 0 quarts of alcohol. Tho Austrian absorbs 10 quarts of wine. 80 quarts of beer, and nearly ll!-.< of brandy. The Italian drinks little beer (scarcely 2 quarts), 1)8 quarts of wine and 1.3 quarts of brandy; be is the least alcoholic of Europeans. Tho German is not included in this list. He drinks on the average 7 quarts of wine, (!';,' of brandy, and 135 quarts of beer. The Germans in tho great cities of Berlin,

Frankfurt, and Munich easily beat I British working men in the average of beer-drinking; for in Berlin 200 quarts are annually drunk by each | inhabitant, while in Frankfurt the average rises to 432 and in Munich to the astonishing total of . 570 quarts, and this includes women and children and old poople who cannot drink very much.