TOPIC OF THE TIME.

Hastings Standard, Issue 7, 4 May 1896, Page 2

TOPIC OF THE TIME.

(ior.DsJirni spoke of " wealth accumulating as men decayed," and it is abundantly evident that in our day as the world *8 wealth "rows, misery, abject and despairing, increases. It appears from some recent statistics that the world's wealth has of recent years increased % leaps and bounds. The amount of gold held by the principal national hanks-, which ten years ago was C 05,000,000, is now no less than £'l^o,ooo,ooo, and during the last ten years the annual production of gold lias risen from t'20,000,000 to .£8(5,000,000, and last year probablv would exceed £10,000,000. Of course money is not wealth, but it is in a sense, and this is still more so when for nine-tenths of the purposes for which money is used, onesovereign will procure a good deal more now in exchange than it did 40 or !30 years, or even 20 or 10 years ago. And yet all evidence tends to show the abject poor and despairing were never a larger proportion of the population than at the present day.

To l)c forwarned is to bo forearmed. " If people would only believe me," cried Zadkiel, " the half of the troubles that afflict the just on this side the grave might be averted." For many years now the prophet of the spheres has been foretelling events that are to come, and Zadkiel's Almanac is an annual publication that a few swear by and a multitude read and laugh at. Unbelieving multitude ! None are so blind as those who will not see. Why, Zadkiel proclaimed long since that the close of 'OS and the beginning of "9G would be darkened by war-clouds. In bis almanac for 1895, at page 61, we read of the peculiarly perplexing positions of Mars, Saturn, and the moon, and then comes the revelation:— " This seems to indicate a very serious coalition of enemies against Great Britain. It is imperative that we should be ready to defend our Empire." A page or two further on we stumble on the sentence —" In the end of December Colonial affairs will be beset with difficulties ; and a bIoAV is likely to be directed against the power of Great Britain." In reference to the month just gone we read—"The Government will be troubled by foes, and will have a rather serious crisis to go through." Sceptical persons there are who will say that these are predictions which the veriest amateur. prophetsmight have made. But Zadkielites will look upon them as striking and significant proof of Zadkiel's theory that events of this world are ordered by the movements of the heavenly bodies.

The report of the U.S. Minister of Agriculture for the year ended 80th June, 1895, states that the quantity of pork examined microscopically for trichinosis and exported during the year was 15,094,5981b., against 35,487,9371b. in 1894 and 20,677,4101b. in 1893. Despite the " unjust discriminations " of Germany and France, the former country took '29,203,9951b. of microscopically - inspected swineflesh. " Reciprocal certification of the chemical purity of wines exported from those countries to the United b E a v- s may some time be demanded t'rr :j • the German and French Governas a sanitary shield to American C'W-ismers, for certainly American n < f .; are as wholesome as foreign tlit year numbered 824,299 head, a de-

cline of 39,236 head on the number exported during the previous year. Every bovine animal was tagged and numbered so that each could be identified. All the cattle wore certified to be free from disease. Sheep was exported to the total of *350,808 head, as compared with only 85,809 in the proceeding year, the increase amounting to over 300 per cent. A matter of grave import to sheep-breeders in England is the risk of introducing scab by means of store sheep brought across the seas to be fattened on English farms. We read that sheep sometimes become infected with scab while on shipboard. "Flocks carefully examined and found entirely free from any symptoms of disease at the time of embarkation are sometimes found badly affected with scab when landed." The various sources of infection include railway cars, stock-yards, and probably the ocean vessels also. Comprehensive regulations "for disinfection are called for, and furthermore "inspection must lie so rigorous and specific as to prevent the sale by growers and feeders of diseased sheep to be placed on the market.

Tun losses of live animals exported from the United States during the year have been heavier than usual. Out of 201,331 head of American cattle shipped to England 1836 died in transit, or 0-G2 per cent., against 0-37 per cent, in 1894. Sheep lost in transit numbered 8180 head, or 2-GG per cent., against 1.29 per cent, in 1891. Texas fever is the only disease which has yet been absolutely controlled by stock-yards inspections, but it is proposed to ultimately include hog cholera, tuberculosis, sheep scab, and other diseases. During the year 702 animals imported from Europe were quarantined. In the same period 292G13 sheep, 90S swine, 18 head of cattle, and 5 moose were admitted from Canada without quarantine. From Mexico 03,710 head of cattle were imported into the United States in the first half of 1895, and they were found on inspection to be free from disease. " It is suggested that if the duty were taken off Mexican cattle it would be of great advantage to the graziers of Texas and the feeders of Kansas, Nebraska, and otter North-western States which have a surplus of corn (maize) to convert into beef. Should these cattle be let in free of duty, it would certainly not enhance the price of steaks and roasts to beef-eaters in the United States, who largely outnumber beef-producers."