Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XXI, 26 May 1900, Page 969

Topics of the Week.

MAFEKING!

Hurrah! Hurrah!! Hurrah!!! How cold the words look on paper. One cannot recognise them as the individual notes in that mighty shout of joy which burst from the Empire on Saturday when the news of the relief of Mafeking was at last confirmed. The song of jubilee had been trembling on our lips for nearly a day and a-half, but the one little doubt cheeked its utterance in most cases, though not in all. On Friday, when the unofficial annoinicement that the siege was raised came to hand, the pent-up flood of enthusiasm tenrst its barriers here and there, and men found relief- in unrestrained rejoicing.. These, however, were- but--" sporadic demonstrations, mere rehearsals of what was' to follow when on Saturday the signal guns boomed out, with all their warlike emphasis, the glorious message. With the first gun the spectre of doubt and fear had vanished from our eyes, and ere the last deep voice had spoken the flags were blossoming from the housetops and there were strange murmurs as of a people awakening. As it happened to be Saturday afternoon the streets of our cities were somewhat deserted, but when the cannon spoke there was an immediate gathering of glad humanity. An hour later, and the stream of workers that earlier in the day had been flowing steadily out of town, began to flow back the other way, for the news flew fast through the remotest suburbs and folks hastened to the centre to gather, if possible, particulars and to join in the rejoicing, it was not till night, however, that the enthusiasm reached its highest pitch. We British are somewhat shamefaced when it comes to proclaiming our feelings aloud in the full light of day: But, under cover of tonight, we can be more demonstrative- And on this occasion there was no lack of unrestrained jubilation. We fehoiited, we- sang. we cheered, We abandoned ounwlves to the spirit of the atonlent. We let loose the jingo that is in us all. It was a rolling sea of bright faces, strong glad British faces, that filled the lighted thoroughfares. It was patriotic music of the most pronounced kind that was wafted along on the evening air. “God Save the Queen,” "Rule Britannia,” “The Absent-mind-ed Beggar,” “Sons of the Sea,” and "The Soldiers of the Queen,” the good old tunes and the good new ones—you could not get away from them. And you did not want to get away from them, for they played to your dancing heart. But why should I tell you all this, dear reader? You know it all, ant), understand it with your heart in a way’ no words ean express. Only do not forget that similar scenes were being enacted in every corner of the world. There’s where the grandeur and magnitude of the whole thing comes in. If you could have got away high up above this world and been able to see the orb as a whole, yet focussing with eye and ear all its sights and sounds, what a vision you would have beheld. From your seat in the heavens you would have heard the great Imperial Te Deum rising in victorious cadences and drowning all other sounds. You would have seen a wreath of bunting by day and a girdle of festal fires bzy night circling the old globe. And all because a little township in South Africa had been delivered from the hands of the enemy! A small enough matter looked at in one light. But our rejoiejngs are not only on that account. Even had the little town fallen into the hands of the Boers, it would have affected the campaign nothing. Nor does the Empire rejoice merely because these brave men are delivered from the terrible privations they have endured. We have festooned the Empire with flags, we have fired our salvoes of cannon, we have sung our martial songs, we have cheered till we are hoarse, because once again the valour and invincible endurance of a sovereign people have been made manifest in the eyes of the world—of a world that loves it not too well — and has looked in vain, hoping to see u tremble in the lion's nerve, a quivering of his undaunted et'e. AU honour to the hero of Mafeking, and all hononr to his

brave comrades, who deservedly share with him the crown of heroism; and honour, yet again, to the people among whom, whenever occasion arises, are to be found, and in plenty, men of that heroic breed.

WLLL LORD ROBERTS VISIT l'S?

When our impulsive and übiquitous Premier issued his warm invitation to the Coinmander-in-Chief in Soutli Africa to visit New Zealand after the war. the affair was regarded with a certain amount of good humoured levity in certain quarters, it being opined by the scoffers, that the invitation was ridiculous and presumptuous, and stood no possible chance of being accepted. This belief, in which not a few of Mr Seddon’s warmest admirers and best friends shared, was evidently strongly held in Australia several highly sarcastic articles appearing in the press pointing out the utter hopelessness of expecting so illustrious a visitor to our shores, and animadvertenting on what school lads would term "the cheek” of the proposal. But the manner in which the invitation was received, and the graciousness of the assurance of the pleasure it would give both himself and Lady Roberts to visit New Zealand, should circumstances permit, have somewhat changed the outlook, and both in Australia and here, those who began by scoffing at the invitation have finished by praying that it may after all be found possible to arrange an acceptance. The difficulties in the. way are of course not inconsiderable. Lord Roberts is not a young man-— more is the pity—and worn out with the tremendous work and responsibilities of the campaign, laden with years, and weighed down with sorrow for the death of his gallant sou. it might well be thought that to persuade -the great field marshal to undertake what would practically be a state tour of the colonies would not be merely impossible, but. that the very attempt would savour of selfishness and even cruelty. And if the man were not Lord Roberts, if it wenanyone of similar age, under similar circumstances all this would be true. The difficulties would be obviously insuperable. But Lord Roberts is no ordinary- man, no ordinary- victorious veteran even, no mere gallant father of a gallant son, and just because no other man in this world would do this thing under circumstances so trying, is just the reason the hero of Kandahar—the beloved ami revered “Bobs” may do it. There cannot be the slightest doubt that if it is possible for Lord Roberts to be spar-d from London when lie leaves Africa, and if he feels equal to the strain, the Queen, the Prince, and those in authority w ill probably- point out that . no be more effective!v finish his splendid services to the Empire than by visiting the colonies whose Joyal response to the call of the Motherland has been worth the cost of the war. terrible as it has and may yet be. England will feel when all is over, a generous and natural desire to prove in some gracious ami complimentary way the honour in which she holds the brothers from Australasia and Canada who flocked round her in the hour of trouble. And England will know full well that with the exception of Her GrneionMajesty herself, there is perhaps no person in the world whose presene; amongst us would be accounted a higher honour than Lord Robert-. To say this is no reflection on the Prince of Wales or other minor rovalties who might make a stale tour of the colony. At all times a visit from the Prince or Duke of York would be warmly appreciated, and when in the natural course of things—ami may it be long—one or the other becomes sovereign of this great Empire it will be fitting that then tinnew King should inspect his inheritance and receive the respects of his subjects. But under the present circumstances Lord Roberts would be the visitor par excellence whom we should all delight to honour,—ami should it be possible for him to pass through Australia. New Zealand, ami Canada oh his way tittek Io England it would be the endeavour of every

niau. woman, and child in the colonies mentioned to make his triumphal progress One which should rival those of the mighty Roman conquerors of old. The tour need not keep Lord Roberts so very long away from head-quarters at Home. He would come presumably on one of the fastest of Her Majesty’s first-class cruisers, and spend but a day or so in each great port or chief city. He would cross from here to Vancouver and thence make his progress across the great Dominion. A visit to the States would naturally follow, ami would bring forth results only .secondary in enthusiasm (ami I believe value) to our own. In short, from the point of view of statesmanship the results of such a triumphal progress through these colonies. Canada, and the States would be so far reaching, and productive of so many excellent results, that it is likely, in my belief, to lie very seriously considered, and I think ail will join in wishing the decision may be favourable.

v» VS OCR DI’TY AND THE FAMINE IT’ND.

But for the fact that we are somewhat dazzled by the brilliance of the war news received during the last few days, the gravity of the situation in India must have more seriously enchained our attention and have aroused emotions equally deep, though of a far. far different character from those with which we received the welcome intelligence of the relief of Mafeking. The cablegrams of Monday from India were side by side with those giving- details of our successes'in arms in Africa and of the world-wide rejoicing which followed, and the sadness of the news from the districts where famine and her dread sister disease are laying thousands low-, and bringing sorrow-, ruin and desolation on hundreds of thousands was so acute a character as to give any thoughtful person pause,and to strike a solemn chord amid the clangour of rejoicing. The famine fund has already been fairly well subscribed to by a section of the population, hut the va.st majority have not yet contributed a single sixpence towards- the fund. The- general cry .is .that one eannot subscribe to everything, that there are and have been so many culls this year. That Js true, and of absolute spare money there may la- little left-, while some have already made sacrjfioes. of more than they can reasonably afford, lint our responsibility is clear in- the matter. How many thousands, tens of thousands. of men are there in this colony alone who have as yet done nothing, or next to nothing, for the fund, ami who would state, not without show of reason, that they eanpot subscribe anything? Yet what proportion of those thousands could not save al least a few shillings by leaving off smoking- or "shouting" for a month? The individual sums thus subscribed would be insignificant, but their aggregate would reach a sum which if it (lid not. in Kruger’s famous phrase, "stagger humanity" would assuredly surprise those who made the trifling sacrifice. Women have less opportunity. but even here some reduction in housekeeping- expenses, the sacrifice of something not absolutely essential at the meal table, might result in a trifle being raised. As for those who have been more liberally endowed with this world's possessions. let them show their gratitude for the relief of Mafeking by responding Io the necessities ot India in such fashion that both their usual desires and their banking balance will feel the reduction. Let. it entail sacrifice, for not only is sacrifice wholesome at any time, but it is specially so in the hour of victory and exultation If we once realise the misery of India we shall be in no danger of in our excitement becoming forgetful of the Power under whose favour wo hold the responsibilities resulting in victory in Africa, and which call upon us to face the duty of fighting the famine in India. ® ® ®

THE PEI OF HIE FAMILY.

Without a doiibh. New Zealand at this nioiiyeiit stands higher in the esteem ami alfeetion of the Mother Country than any other of the colonies. Mr ( Immberlain Ims publicly announced the fact. In his speech on the Commonwealth Bill lie declared that "New Zealand's extraordinary proofs of alfeetion inclined the House of Commons to make almost any rnnenwinil she might require, if the ililTeiwli e <>nlv concerned the Mother Country.” Thr-e golden words, so un isual and

&4 unexpected, are calculated to set U 4 (ill athinkiug au adreaming. To be the favourite child of an indulgent mother means to get much coddling and little spanking, to live in the sunbhiuc of the maternal smile, and feed sumptuously every day. on double helpings of pudding and cake. Surely the fact of being the pet colony of the Motherland must carry with it some similar privileges and indulgences. Now what are the equivalents of pudding and cake that New Zealand may look to get from the maternal hand? What will it mean precisely to bask in the full warmth of the Imperial smile? Well, I fancy that it may ineau for us a bigger share of titles and' orders and such little gewgaws. Mr Seddon will assuredly lie a knight, if not something bigger still. Some imagine this Queen's birthday should see him a.full blown pher, and it is hinted that he has gone to Tonga as much to escape congratulations as for the sake of his health. Hut this would be a somewhat too sudden exaltation, 1 am thinking. There are other folks, who, if such prizes are agoing would not be averse to a thistle or a garter or a bath. 'These things, however, are limited to the- few. We cannot all get them or they would soon cease to have any value, anti <the fact of having more titled personages to the square mile than any other colony is not a distinction that can give lasting satisfaction to the rank and tile of the population;.who are not titled. Where then, are the peculiar material advantages the colony as a whole might hope to derive from being the pet of the Motherland? Humour has been quick to formulate one. and a very big one. It is said that the Premier's visit to the-Islands is preparatory to the announcement of a great scheme for the federation of New Zealand and the South Pacific. Islands. Indeed it is said ihjtt .proposals have already been submitted to the Imperial authorities. and,,W that is indeed the ease, is it -not possible that Mr Chamberlain's assurance of the goodwill of the Mother Country towards us may be a covert to her future action in this important underetaking of ours, “federal Australia” has a fine sound, but there is something finer still to my ear in the phrase ‘‘Confederation of the Pacific."-Though in fact it may be a smaller affair, that is. include a less land area than Australia, it suggests a boundless oceanic vasthess that is singularly captivating. The very titje seems io make us a sea Power at.one stroke, and opens' up visions of. maritime glory.

-C/ C/ aS' OPPOKTI'NK QI'EHY

yfloes a soldier require io have good teieth? In the days of the old musket, When the men had to bite the cai’t-rufgy-S sound incisors were part of a .'fighter's necessary equipment, but now-a-days, except as a sign of good general health, and perhaps in view of the toughness of the rations he may liavtj to consume, the quality of a soldier's teeth would not appear to lie -a mallei- of the first consideration. A qfiick eye. a steadfast soul, and a wiry ftame. characteristics often of men who are indebted to the dentist for their teeth, are surely of much more consequence. On this point, however., there appears to be a considerable difference between popular opinion and the practice of the Army authorities. The latter, no doubt greatly influenced by tradition, have been rejecting Home volunteers lor South Africa on the sole ground that their teeth are bad. and the rejected ones have been loudly complaining, with the- result that a. good deal of public sympathy lias been evoked on their behalf. I suppose, that sympathy is in a large measure due to the fact that carious teeth and gapped gums are the rule talher th in the exception now-a-days. and that it irks our soldierly instinct to. think that these defects should stand in the way of our showing dor devotion to our country. It is a feetipg in which we colonials can heartfly join. for. in the matter of teeth. I am afraid we are even worse off than the folks at Home. I do not kmiv whether in passing applicants for the eqptitigents the medical men here looked carefally into their mouths, ns the rets did into those of the horses. | am inclined to think they did not. and that among the gallant boys at the front who are earning undying fame for the colony, are not a few w!h» might fail to satisfy the recruit dentist at Home. If sound teeth are to be n sine qua non of the wouldbe warrior, the Imperial armies of the

future will not be able to number a great many colonials in their ranks, unless there is a great improvement effected in the teeth of the Australasian community. Such an improvement Is, of course, highly desirable. Though I don’t believe that unsound teeth of themselves are immediately detrimental to a soldier's prowess, there is no hiding the fact that one’s general vigour is likely to be affected if his ancestors for generations back suffered from an insufficiency of masticating machinery. For which reason I consider as most excellent the suggestion that has been made at Home for the appointment of a fully qualified staff of dentists to annually inspect the teeth of the school children throughout the kingdom. One can conceive of other precautions being adopted with advantage. The decay which attacks the teeth of youngsters is very often the result of want of cleanliness on their part. If a boy comes to school with a dirty face or grimy hands it is the teacher’s business to make him wash himself, if not to punish him for neglecting to do so. Might not. that supervision be extended to the teeth?

BEAUTIFICATION OF SCHOOL GROUNDS.

The ceremonial of hoistin" and unfurling’ of the Empire’s flag by His Excellency the Governor, at two of the largest of the suburban schools in the North, may seem a subject of rather insignificant interest and importance to the colony as a whole, to choose as the subject for a topic of the week. Yet. though 1 now only intend to use the incident as a sort of introduction to some remarks which I have long intended to make on school matters, there fs, as a matter of fact, much which might be said as to the excellence of the example shown by the Parnell and Mt. Eden Schools in subscribing for and erecting a flagstaff and the purchase of oi.r national emblem, and still more as to the valuable effects which are likely to follow its hoisting- on all occasions of school state, and national re joicings. The lessons it may be made to teach, and the feelings it may be made to inspire, might well furnish forth . material for many articles; but the topic on which I now wish to briefly discourse is the general ugliness of school grounds, and a plea for their beautification. Both in the town and in the country the school grounds are usually painfully plain and unsightly pieces of ground. In the town there is often but little room or opportunity for any extraordinary improvements, but certainly even in town much could be done, if teachers and school committees would take the matter in hand. But it is the country and suburban schools of which I am mainly thinking. Who does not know the appearance of the usual up-country schools, dumped down, so to say. anywhere, a gaunt, often hideous building, the sole object in whose erection has been cheapness. Often it is surrounded by the stumps of the indifferently burnt bush, with here and there the rcmnhnts of a disreputable and uneared for fence. Now. how ease it would be to alter this state of things. The great railway companies of England give annual prizes for the best gardens and most neatly kept railway stations. Why should not our Education authorities offer prizes for the most beautiful and picturesque school grounds and the best kept buildings? Stimulated by the teachers, the children would not only rapidly work a perfect transformation in the school grounds, but a section of them would, at all events, quickly become enamoured of the occupation, and keenly ambitious to make their school the most beautiful in the colony, thus enabling them to capture the coveted prize bestowed thereon. Of the advantages of inculcating a taste for the beautiful, and encouraging the nobby of gardening, it is assuredly unnecessary to speak They are obvious. There are. however, always some persons ready to quash any suggestion of this sort, on the ground that it is “faddy,” or sentimental. or unbusinesslike, or someother thing. To these I would point out that the large railway companies of England who, as I have said, spend several hundreds a year in prizes and premiums for this sort of thing, are not given to sentimentality or unbusinesslike actions. They recognise that it is “good business” to spend the money in this way. Not only is their property improved and beauti-

tied, but the system leads to an increased care for the buildings, etc., on behalf of those who uvqthein. The idea has, I Understand, been receiving some attention in Canada, and the State has undertaken to consider the advisability of offering substantial gifts to the school whose grounds and buildings are pronounced most beautiful and most neat by the inspectors. The schools will, of course, be divided into grades, and all circumstances of situation, surroundings, and youth or age taken into consideration in making the awards. The idea is, at all events, not one to be lightly dismissed, and I commend it to the proper authorities