The Chronicie. PUBLISHED DAILY L E V I N. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1913. FORECASTING THE WEATHER

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 June 1913, Page 2

The Chronicie. PUBLISHED DAILY L E V I N. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1913. FORECASTING THE WEATHER

Long-range weather forecasting, so long discredited by scientific men. appears to be gaining respectability, little by little, with tlie progress of meteorology. The last annual report of the Dutcli East Indian meteorological service mentions the fact that forecasts of the strength and weather characteristics of the easterly monsoon arc now issued at Hataviu each April. Official monsoon forecasts have been regularly made in British India for many years. In the United States "Weather Bureau, Sunday forecasts for a week in advance have become an established institution. Of course in all these cases the forecasts deal with only the broader features of the weather over the wide areas. THE MONEY" MARKET.

"The local money market shows very little sign of any tendency to ease and the supply of funds available for investment of all kinds remains very restricted (says the Trade Review for June). The volume of oui exports has been very well maintained so far, and the prices realised are generally very satisfactory. For the year to March 31, st the total of exports constituted a record, the increase over the previous year being £3.640,000. For the two months since then there is a further increase of £39,000, and the funds from the realisation of those exports are coming in to assist the money market On tlie other hand, our imports arc still maintaining a very high level, which does not show any sign of reduction. ond this means calls on the funds of the banks for financing them. Tho ever-increasing trade of the dominion requires increased capital for all the various trades and enterprises, and constitutes a continual call on the general supply oi funds. 3 '

LEY'JV.S ANNUAL EISTEDDFODD

The idea of a great annual district gathering, when every kind of gift and talent, cither budding or fully developed, finds a lield for its unloldiug before appreciative and overflowing audiences, is one that has had brilliant exposition in many lands. The home of such great, all-embracing, popular festivals— at least the home of the "Eisteddfodd" —is the principality of Wales. Tho idea has been built upon and improved, however, and has ramified out in many directions. One of the most conspicuous and successful forms the "Eisteddford" idea has taken is musical and elocutionary competitions. (Societies of this nature are literally leaping from town to town, and it may be said with no more than bare truthfulness that the heart of the world has gone out after competitions, especially in the Commonwealth and this dominion.

Tlie benefits to be derived from such comprehensive contests, including music, both vocal and instrumental, elocution, oratory, dramatio, literary, and art, concerted as well as individual classes, are mainly threefold. The first is—

EDUCATION.-It lias Icon pointed out that those societies stand 011 the same level (and serve similar o'bjects) as art galleries , and public libraries. Just as'those latter exhibit and bring within popular reach the masterpieces of paintings and eminent authors, so competitions popularise and familiarise the people with the noblest forms of literature, poetry and music: Shakespeare, Beeethovou, Schubert, and their works aro 110 longer the monopoly of experts and the universities, but be-

come common knowledge, and provide profitable conversation oil street

and car, and in the average home. Hy hearing the same choice selections from these masters over and over again, and studying the judges' criticisms of different performances, both competitors and audiences imbibe a taste for the best literature and music, and heart and mind and all the varied powers of our nature are stirred to the nobler issues of life.

ENTERTAINMENT.—It lias been often remarked that groat as is the power of press and pictures, the living voice, with its musical range, sweetness and inspiration, its echoes of soul, its master-touch on the hidden chords of man's being, will always remain pre-eminent. The competitions are a great theatre for the living voice to play ou the strings of the heart, and lift the people above the sordid concerns of life. Many worthy forms of public entertainment may be found and patronised in the round of the year, hut hero in the competitions is a galaxy of ontertaininent, summing up and embracing every other lorm of indoor amusement for large gatherings. •

ENRICHMENT. —Nor do competitions interfere with other legitimate forms of public and private uo tivity. They enrich the talent oi the community and thus add to its total wealth. They bring crowds together, minister to their good humour, and cheerful, unselfish outlook on the world, and thus promote the growth of social sentiment, without which no (public end that is worthy can be achieved. Further, they are an immense advertisement, and undoubtedly load to the freer circulation of moneys. But, while competitors approve themselves eminent benefactoro to our common life, the\ entail an immense amount of organisation, and no small degree of anxiety, to their promoters. They cannot bo maintained without generous support from the general public. ouch backing has been conspicuously and splendidly displayed in the past by the people of Levin and its district, and the local society looks confidently for a similar measure of support this year to its great enterprise. That support is necessary chiefly in two ways. First;

"Entries" are an indispensable condition of success, and large entries involving some tax on leisure and labour beforehand must ho forthcoming to command the good programme the society hopes to secure. If the entries are left to a few trained musicians and elocutionists, the competitions will fall far short of their goal, and that will be in spite of all encouragement, labour and expense, the society has been at to induce latent talent to come forward. To put forth the excusc of not being up to competition level for refraining from entries is to misunderstand completely the object of such festivals, which arc not for the perfect, but for those who wish to avail themselves of all opportunities to become perfect. There is still plenty of op portunity for practice, for though entries close on Saturday night, a month will remain after that for preparation.

Second : Prizes are inevitable in order' to induce outside competition, and the expense involved in music, entries, etc. For these the society largely relies on its patrons. Donations of this kind encourage the development of talent which the general public is always glad to employ for its pleasure, while relieving the society of some of its heavy risks.

The festival of 1913 gives promise of even greater tilings than that of 1912. The increase of classes by some fifteen, t,h<> better organisation in the light of previous experience, the excursion rates granted throughout the North Island railways, and the extension of popular concessions shortly to bo advertised in connection with the sessions, should undoubtedly conspire to reach the topmost note of brilliant success.