THE OLD COUNTRY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 14 October 1908, Page 7

THE OLD COUNTRY.

The refloating of the sunken cruiser Gladiator cost £50,000.

The English shareholders in the Manawatu Railway Company have approved of the New Zealand Government’s acquisition of the line.

Lord Ripon has resigned the office of Lord Privy .Seal. Lord Crewe will succeed him, but will retain his portfolio of Secretary for the Colonies.

The Franco-British Exhibition which closes this month, has been so successful that a scheme is under consideration for holding a similar Exhibition next year. The Elcho Challenge Shield, fired for nt Bialay in July, and won by England, has been awarded to Scotland owing to the top scorer in the English team inadvertently infringing the regulations. Mr. Winston Churchill, President of the Board of Trade, in addressing bis constituents at Dundee, described the Liberal party as the Home Rulo party, adding that the party should not bind itself at next election not to present a policy for the proper pacification of Irish claims. Mr, Balfour on Some Political Aspects. Mr. A. J. Balfour (Leader of the Opposition), speaking at Dumfries, and referring to the question of reforming the House of Lords, said he was dismayed at the idea of the establishment of an elective chamber coequal with the House of Commons. The country would not tolerate the possession by the House of Commons of power to pass without discussion measures of the utmot importance without being reviewed by some second chamber. Mr. Balfour condemned the Government’s reckless and irresponsible schemes for social reform, and censured Mr. Lloyd-George’s disastrous attacks on the propertied classes, which were calculated to destroy confidence, which -was the root of all enterprise. While himself a profound believer in fiscal reform as a means for promoting the unity of the Empire, the stability of trade and the growth of national industries, he did not pretend to believe that alternations of affluence and depression, of feverish over production and melancholy under-production, could be cured by any system of fiscal reform. Chnroh Congress Opens. The Church Congress was opened at Manchester on October 7th. A long procession, including th* Lord Mayor of the city .justices,clergy, bishops, and Archbishop of York, marched to the Cathedral, where Bishop Riley, of I’crlli (West Australia), preached the inaugural sermon, declaring that, despite all the wonderful achievements of the past century, there remained a burdened sense of the social maladjustment which created the social question.

At the inaugural meeting of the Congress the Bishop of Manchester (Dr. K. A. Knox), in his opening address in the Free Trade Hall, touched upon the present commercial depression and unemployment. He urged the Congress to discuss social problems. Alluding to visionary schemes of social reconstruction, tint Bishop remarked that Sin was a mountain barring the path to the Land of Promise. He said the Church’s distinctive contribution to the solution of the world's perplexities must lie in her ability to inspire a living hope for the removal of this barrier. “Why should not our ago,” he asked, “witness another great religious revival?" A Fair Offer. The trade unions connected with shipbuilding are considering Sir Christopher Furness’ offer to sell them the shipyards of Furness, Withy and Co., at Hartlepool, or to establish a co-partner-ship, provided the workers pledge themselves not to strike. He states that he fears to enter into contracts, unless industrial peace is assured. Mr G. N. Barnes, M.P., secretary of Amalgamated Society of Engineers, declares that proposals tying the workmen to a particular firm are inimicable to th® principles of trade unionism

Mr. W. C. Steadman, Labour M.P. for Central Finsbury, and a barge builder by trade, states that the offer- is not worth the paper it is written on, and is sure to be rejected. Mr. Richard Bell, M.P. for Derby, and secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, says if neither offer be accepted it will be a serious reflection upon organised labour. Professional Football. The Australian League players were welcomed to Bradford by the Mayor. The match was played in beautiful weather, before an attendance of 4000 spectators. The Australians secured a try and a penalty goal in the first half, and Bradford a goal and a try early in the second. The game was exciting to the finish, the visitors eventually winning by the narrow margin of one point. During the match Hennessy’s jaw was broken. A Flooring Collapses. During a presentation to the Duke of Devonshire, which was being made on an improvised flooring above the public baths at Matlock, the supports gave way and the flooring collapsed. Forty of the ducal parly were precipitated a distance of seven feet to the bottom of the. empty bath. The number included the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, Lord and Lady Ch-ewe, and Lady Manners. All received a severe shaking, but the injuries, generally speaking, are slight. There was an ugly rush by the panicstricken audience, but fortunately no one was injured. A Good Record. During the season just closed, Theo. Tartakover, the Sydney swimmer, who was one of Australasia's representatives at the Olympic games, won six races promoted by the Otter Club, was second three times, and third once, all from serateh. He. received two cups for the highest points in the handicap. A Successful Flight. Wilbur Wright’s aeroplane made another long and successful flight on Sunday. The American acroplanist took two passengers aboard his machine, and remained in the air for 1 hour 9 min. 45 sec., only three minutes less than the longest, flight on record, 72 min., which Mr. Wright recently accomplished alone. y Professional Marathon. Eighty-nine professional long-distance runners started in the Marathon race promoted by tnc “Evening News,” over the Marathon course from Windsor to the Stadium, precisely the same route ns that followed nt the Olympic games being adopted. Siret, a French runner, won comfortably by nearly' three minutes, lie covered the 28 miles In 2 hours 37 miu. 23 secs.

White, an Irish competitor, was second to finish, his time being 2 hours 40 min. 15 sec*.

Seven runners finished the course inside the time recorded by Dorando, and all passed the post comparatively fresh and running strongly.