ATLANTIC RACE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10521, 18 December 1901, Page 2

ATLANTIC RACE.

Our readers will remember that a Home cable was received last month stating that a company was being formed in America to place Europe and the States in closer connection. The following from the London Daily Express gives a few particulars of the scheme: — The new company that has lately been formed under the title of the Ocean Rapid Transit Company is not yet. sufficiently formed -to give the present England-to-America lines any cause of uneasiness. "There have-been for years past proposals of all kinds to cross the Atlantic more rapidly than

science and steam have yet enabled us to do," said an official of the Cunard Line of steamers to an Express representative, "but up to the present all the schemes have been impracticable.. The present plan of adopting the use of the turbine class of steamer seems to have an "element of possibility of success in it. Naturally, until the new company has been placed on a firm business footing we shall take no action in the matter, but there is no doubt that should the Ocean Rapid Transit Company ever start their boats running across tho Atlantic we should have to take the matter in hand." The new line will have the best railway connections with their boats, so as to ensure as little delay as possible in the transport of passengers from the coast inland. The steamers will all be of the turbine class, and oil will be used as fuel, and stored in tanks at the bottom of the vessels. The Dublin correspondent of the Express, telegraphing further on the subject, says: — Mr J. O'Brien Crbker, manager of the' Cork, -Bandon, and South Coast Railway, who is a near relative of "Boss" Crokcr, of Tammany fame, has written from New York giving some particulars of the scheme. His visit to the States is in connection with the undertaking, and the ocean speeds tabulated are: — New York to London, under 4} days; New York to Paris, under 5 days; New York to Berlin, 5} days. In order to do the running from Berehaven to London in the time stated (thirteen hours), all tho companies must improve and accelerate their services. If the mails are despatched via Holyhead, the journey from that place to London, Mr Croker states, must be accelerated by 2} hours; but he believes that the Rosslare and Fishguard route will be chosen, and a railway bridge built across the Leo at Cork, so that tho mails can be sent direct without a stop.

On our first page to-day will bo found a complete report of the annual prize distribution at the Collegiate School last evening ; also sporting.

The tradesmen of Wellington ace complaining of a scarcity of ready cash.

It is stated that the Minister for Education is preparing a scheme of training schools 'for teachers.

The grocers of Dunedin and suburbs have agreed to abolish the practice of giving Christmas boxes to customers.

Good progress is being made with the Patea Poultry Company's buildings, and it is hoped that a start will be made soon after the New Year.

As a result of the continuous wet weather, rust has made its appearance among the wheat' in the Wakanui district, Ashburton.

Greymouth is about to erect." a new and handsome town hall at a cost of w£7ooo, and tenders have been called for a water supply for, the town, at a cost of .£20,000.

We (Eltham Argus) hear that bacon pigs are not so scarce as they were some short time ago. About 50 pigs are ing killed weekly at the Inglewood factory.

A cashier at one of the Auckland banks last week, discovered, when making up his accounts, that he • had accepted a ' gilded sixpence as a half sovereign.

The Oamaru Mail states thai the late rains have effected a transformation in the appearance of the country in. Central Otaeo. The prospects of a good supply of winter feed are now bright. The population- of all boroughs of more than 2000, inhabitants at the last census is now "gazetted. The return shows Wanganurs population to be 7,329, Feilding 2,298, and Falmerston N.*6;534. - ' There are now 300 head of cattle on the State Farm at Levin, and all are in first-class condition. The cows in milk number 130. The Agricultural Department hopes to establish a dairy school at Levin early, next year.

Bank notes for about a farthing each circulate freely in Paraguay. It takes two notes to get one's. boots blacked, and eight to pay tho postage of a letter to England. Yet one of them will buy in the season 15 oranges, three bananas, or a water melon. - -

At the Police Court this morning, before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., Dudley Eyre was remanded till Friday on a charge of stealing i!ls 15s of the monies of John William Jackson on 13th October, 1887. Mr Barnicoat appeared, for accused, , .Mrs Hatrick has kindly consented to distribute the prizes at the Boys' District High School to-morrow (Thursday), at 2.30 p.m. The Rev. T. B. McLean, chairman of the School "Committee, will preside, and the day being that of the weekly half-holiday, large numbers of parents ■ and friends' will no doubt find their way to the school.

The Bruce Herald understands that several influential farmers in the Tokomarino district have under consideration the establishment of a twine factory for the manufacture of binding twine. All coarse wool will be utilised in the production of the material, and it is claimed that tho woollen article is moro serviceable and cheaper than the flaxen thread, while the farmer is directly benefiting himself by the use of his own products. At the Invercargill show last week two young ladies or the same name, and apparently sisters, put up a record in the matter of "dead heats." -They were equal first in two classes of fresh butter and equal third in powdered butter. The facts are such as to indicate -that the exhibits were of butter made at the same churning from cream skimmed from milk drawn from the same cows. If so, the judging that declared it impossible to separate the, exhibits of the two competitors was remarkably good.

A man named Ross, -the member of a survey party working in the district, came to town about a fortnight ago, since which time he has been drinking protty freely. On Sunday last he twice tried to obtain drink at the Criterion Hotel, but was refused, and in the evening, about .7.30, he gained access to the bar and was caught in the act of helping himself to a' bottle of brandy. ■He appeared »fc the Police Court this morning, and 'was convicted and ordered to be imprisoned till 5 o'clock. A 'prohibition order was also issued against him. McLachlan won his fourth half-mile in Australia, at the North- Melbourne L.A.C.'s annual meeting. Though a field of close on 30 runners contested the event it was not long ere its dimen-sions-were considerably reduced. McManus, who was on the scratch with L. C. Mcliaclilan, only covered three parts o£ the Aißhance, trhea he crzc<3 enough) and when the Maorilander simply ran 'through about a dozen of the others as if they were standing still, they pulled up, and left the ultimate finish to be fought out by five or six. D. Cashen, on the limit, struggled on gamely, but onqe McLaohlan clapped on the~paco nothing could live with him.

The Band Association of New South , Wales is holding an -Inter-State Cham- i pionship Band Contest, to take place in the Sydney Town Hall, on January 25 and 27 next. The sum of- ,£350 is offered in prizes, and- tho contest is open to all bands in the Commonwealth and New* Zealand: An< art union on a largo scale, sanctioned by the AttorneyGeneral, is also part of the programme, consisting of 185 prizes, valued at .£775; the first prize being- a gold cornet, valued at £100. The price of- tickets! is Is, -and they are obtainable at all 'music shops, newsagents, etc., and from the members of local bands, who have the privilege to devote one-half the proceeds from local sales to any one of the public hospitals. The art union is to be drawn 'on February 20, a month after tho contest.

For riding a bicycle in the borough at night without a light, G. M. Yerex was this morning, at the Police Court, fined 5s and costs 7s. Captain Edwin telegraphs: — North to west and south-west gale soon, glass ■fall, but rise after 10 hours from now; sea heavy; tides high; indications for rain.

The Girls' School "broke up" to-day ' for the Christmas holidays. We are aßked to state that the distribution of prizes was deferred till the re-opening of the school, owing to the Inspectors' marks not having yet been received.

The Tyser liner s.s. Jndraghiri arrived in the roadstead from Napier at 2.30 this morning. The vessel will ship equal to 18,000 carcases of mutton and also a quantity of tallow, pelts and wool from this port and will then proceed to Wellington for final loading.

Mrs WillianiEon* acknowledges, with grateful thanks the following donations to the Christmas fund for the Jerusalem Home': — £1 from Charity Fete Committee, Mrs Hope Gibbons and Mr Ainsworth, 5s each; Miss Corbett, Is; dressed dolls from Mrs Garrett and little Miss Ruth Fairburn.