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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1991, 29 January 1907, Page 3

The share list of th'e Alpine Gold Mining Company closed last night. The London Morning Post publishes an article urging that boys should ho taught how to uso the rifle, and at the outset the writer asks: “Is Great Britain to continue to lag behind her colonies in teaching the young idea how to shoot? New Zealand has taken the lead in making it a necessary part of the curriculum of physical training in public elementary schools that boys shall be taught the use of the rifle, and the reports received from that colony show that the experiment has been an unqualified success. Firing exercises, combined with a moderate amount of drill and discipline, help in the process of physical development, arid at the same time build up a nation oi marksmen ready to face any emergency in defence oi Imme and country In Australia, in Natal, and also in Canada boy marksmanship is encouraged. .The Mother Country still remains in an isolation whicli can scarce be described as splend kL In our great public schools, it is true, there are volunteer corps, and in secondary schools some amount or rifle-shooting is provided for; hut the central idea governing operations in the colonies is that if you arc to obtain the best results you must catch your future marksman young and train him up from tender years in the way ho shoulfl shoot. Tuelve years is the age at which tuition may begin with miniature rifles at miniature ranges, and bojs or this age evon can do wonders with the service Lee-Enfield v, capon. A Sydney humorous paper tells the following story, which, it not true, is certainly amusing:—Elizabeth street, Melbourne, was enormously delighted on New Year’s Eve by a large, florid Scot who had been laying in supplies for the national festival, the midnight Hogmanay. Apparently lie had taken the whisky for a large circle of friends internally ior convenience of transit, and, while making for Ins train, suddenly recollected that a lobster was part of his make-up. Be went into a. fish-shop and purchased a lobster, stayed for 20 minutes to gravely expound the political situation to the shopman, and then, made a fresh start, with the lobster under his arm. Ten paces away the lobster worked through its paper wrapper and fell, but the string of the parcel remained attached to the crustacean, and the spirited Scot towed the sliollfish after him along the path. Some youths got on to the show and made a procession of it. Their howls of derision and delight brought more spectators, and the splendid Caledonian headed an enraptured regiment, as lie grandly dragged a boiled lobster on a string. Presently the Scot wha lias conceived a dim idea that somethinc unusual was happening. He glanced back and discovered the lobqter He turned' and looked down on it puzzled, but with dark suspicion. He resumed his journey—the lobster followed. Again the Scotchman became aware of the attentions of the, extraordinary fish, and swung round cnce more. He shook Ins forefinger ominously. “Gang awa, heJWI “gang awa’ I I dmna ken wlia ye are, and I dinna care: but 111 no he followed by tli’ likes” He went on. The lobster jumped and capered after him. Fear came -into the face of the big Caledonian. He looked back with grim anxiety. He hastened his steps, hut could not shake off the awful lobster. Terror then possessed the man; he uttered a weird Scottish cry, and started to run ;but the lobster still pursued him, and two minutes later a policoman captured a half-mad native o’ Glaskee careering wildly up Flinders street, followed by a vociferous rabble. The man’s eyes were full of horror, and lie was towing behind him the claw of a giant lobster

THE MEN WHO LEAD THE LORDS. Tho striking ’parliamentary picture of recent days has been tho dtiol in tho House of Lords between an aristocratic Unionist and an equal aristocratic Radical. There are keen thinkers and brilliant speakers on both sides of the llouso of Lords, men who would 'live distinction to any legislative gathering, but in the recent debates (writes Mr Frank Dilnot in tho Daily Mail) there have stood out two personalities, clean cut and dominant. They are the generals commanding tlio forces on each side; men who have not .only to fight tlio Opposition, but to guide and, in some cases, repress their own followers. They have distinguished themselves in striking fashion. Their unceasing patience with platitudes, their skill m the verbal flanking of opponents, their unshakoaoio courtesy, and their sudden deadly swiftness of attack, liavo seized tlio attention of the most casual visitors. The two men are tho Marquis of Lnnsdowne, loader of tho Unionist Peers, and tlio Earl of Crewe, tho present virtual louder of tho Liberal Poors. THE DOMINANT MARQUIS. Tho Marquis of Lnnsdowno is a famous loader, a tried and subtle warrior, who novel- flinches, who always goes out to win. He is a slim’little man. with a stateman s head. Ho is rather bald, with iron grey moustache, curved, powerful nose, and non-committal eyes, and gives tlie impression of a dolicatolymade aristocrat, with a resorvo of iron strength. He is always perfectly dressed, and his distinguished mark is a neat dark tie, fastened in a bow. He walks with quick, nervous steps, and it requires hut little imagination to understand that behind an impassive face his brain is working continuously and rapidly. As lie sits among his colleagues liis back is erect with the rigidity of the grenadier, and be standsto address tho House with the same stiff, unbending poso. One is awaro that in spite of his smooth words nothing on earth would turn him from his purpose. A hush always falls on tho Lords when Lord Lansdpwne rises from his placo in tlio exact middle of tlie front Opposition bench, and steps forward and lays his hands on tlio despatelibox on' the table. For the House knows it is to have real guidance and illuminating argument.

THE HEART OF THE DEBATE. Lord Lnnsdowno does not spoak very frequently oven though he leads his side. But the Peers know that when there have been hours of argumentative tangle, when the desires of Government and Opposition alike have been obscured by amendments, and counter-amendments, and amendments to amendments, . it will be Lord Lnnsdowne who will rise anil in two minutes pull the heart out of tho argument, and hold it up to the House to seo. I3i.it that is only oiks part of his power as leader. Ho has a modest, penetrating voice, possessing the peculiar property of. inspiring confidence. It is almost imxiossible for a man with any sympathy with Lord Lnnsdowne to hoar him spoak and believe him wrong. And lie unites to this a masterly skill in the management of men. Very often they do not know they aro being managed. He revels in great sarcasm. Lord Crewe made a speech on a subject which he desired to leave a matter for open voting among his followers. Lord Lansdowno congratulated his friend on his eloquent speech. “ I liavo followed it,” -he said, “ with earnest attention, not only on account of tlio importance of the subject, but also on account of tlie noble lord’s judicial attitude. I admired his earnestness and eloquence, but what impressed mo most was his impartiality.” A pause. “Yes. until tlie last minute I did not know on which side of tho fence his Lordshiji was coming down.” DEBONAIR RADICAL EARL.

Lord Crewo, the present great op--ponent of Lord Lansdowne,. lias added daily to his reputation in his conduct of the Education Bill, and daily impressed liis personality more deeply in the House. He is a delightfully romantic figure, slim, extremely ' tall, with a very winning manner. Ho is comparatively young, but has the wisdom of seventy. Picture to yourself this slim man, standing up from among the handful of his grey-bearded colleagues, and with smiling eyes and soft, persuasive voice, gently beating arguments into the other side with his silver pencilcase. He looks the typical debonair aristocrat and goes to Ills work with a certain serious gaiety delightful to behold. , But for all this Lord Crewe is a master of debate. More than that, he lias conquered the intricacies of a complex subject with a thoroughness which would do credit to the professional chief of a department. Despite his elegance and suavity, he is laden to the finger-tips with facts, and beneath bis courtesy there is an immovable firmness. Ho will set forth technical details with an enlivening wit and will express his uncompromising hostility to a suggestion in words of honeyed sweetness. THE RETORT SEVERE.

Once in a way an Opposition Peer rises to ask a question. With the quickness of ail eej, Lord Crewe darts back into his seat tq let the noble lord have his say. No one in flip House is so quick as Lord Crewe to take his seat to let another i>eer interrupt. It almost seems that he regards interruptions as a compliment. But it is as well to bo wary in paying these compliments to Lord Crewe. They sometimes prove traps, for Ids lordship has a stabbing power of roxiarfee, ap.d, for all liis smooth words, can on occasion bp .quite relentless. Ho replied to an'argument of Lord Londonderry’s some days ago, and was extremely severe. “Me are all very xileased to hear,” he said, ‘of the noble marquis’s visit to the country and what he discovered there; but I regret,” lie went on in gentle, compassionate tones, “to notice that tho noble marquis has also taken a journey into tho realms of imagination. And so Lord Crewe continues with his lioxieless task, trenchant, witty, sometimes gay, and always undismayed, sometimes taking hard knocks, birt never failing to return them —a gallant fighter and a clever man.