Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, FEB. 15, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8741, 15 February 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, FEB. 15, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

' Mr Lucy, the well-known Parliac mentary correspondent, telis ua that J Mr Chamberlain's illness, -which ail parties unite in deploring, has left the tariff reformers without a lea; .y and that the agitation for tariff | reform has collapsed like a pricked ' I bubble. The protectionists are no I doubt hoping that some life may he given to their propaganda by the proceedings of the coming conference of Premiers, and it is amusing to 1 note how the newspapers which have supported Mr Chamberlain endeavour to keep bis proposals before fhe public. Almost any subject serves tiS a peg on which the moral, pre--1 f.erential tariffs, can be hung. In a recent English paper we read an article which explained the reason why the British Government po often seemed inclined to sa dvfliCO ino interests of Canada in the desire P keep the friendship of the United States at all costs. The cause assigned was that Canada had a land frontier of 1000 miles, on one side of which were less than six million British subjects and on the othereighty million Americans. The danger of invasion, it was hinted, was what made the British Government so afraid to offend the United States, and the remedy suggested was tariff reform which would tend to increase the population of Canada. The article reminded as strongly of .those advertisements of patent medicines which lure the reader on by what appears to be an exciting story into whot he finds in disgust is merely an account of how Mrs This or Mr That was cured of some fatal disease by a box of pills or a bottle of ointment. A similar experience befel us on reading a letter from an apparently well informed correspondent on the fisheries question in Newfoundland, The solution was again tariff reform. We do not doubt that if the youth mentioned in Longfellow's well known poem were to , start to-day on his aimless mountain ; expedition he would bear a banner ; inscribed with the words “ tariff re- ; form ” instead of “ excelsior,” and , that his ultimate fate and that of ] “ his banner with a strange device ” j would be thoroughly well deserved.

Tee present British Ministry seam tc be, to say the least, very unlucky ir their methods of dealing with: questions in which the colonies arc interested. The indignation aroused by the New 7 Hebrides Convention and by the settlement of the Nowfoundland fisheries difficulty is fresh in the minds of all. Possibly the Government effected the best possible solution of these difficult problems, but if they did so they w 7 ere singularly unfortunate in the reception given to their efforts by tbo parties chiefly concerned. Their latest tactical blunder has been tho omission from the King’s speech of any reference to the coming conference of Premiers. Sir IT- Campbell Bannerman’s explanation that it was not customary to refer to such conferences in tho lung’s speech is w 7 orth' little. The King’s speech, as everyone knows, is a mere formal affair, and no one could have complained if a new 7 departure had been made in it. The omission matters little unless it can be taken as a sign that Ministers regard the Conference as of little importance. It has given the Opposition an opportunity, of which they have immediately availed themselves, to pose as the true Imperialists and is another example of how men who have the best intentions often fail to show those minor courtesies which cost little and yet are very effective in smoothing the rough places of social intercourse.

At a meeting of the Nelson Laud Board yesterday, it was resolved to throw open fifty thousand acres of land for settlement, mostly in the vicinity of the town of Murchison, Central Bullet, with exemption of rents and local rates for four years. It is expected the land will he cady for selection in about three months

The Taluno arrived in Auckland 1 from Gisborne this morning ifi hours late. She encountered a gale of a cyclonic nature yesterday morning. As land was not visible the vessel was hove to for 14 hours, after which the weather cleared. Heavy rain at the time obscured the view. The Wanaka, due from Gisborne yesterday morning, had not been sighted at 10 o clock to-day. . , A meeting of Bedding Horticultural i Society was held on Wednesday night, IMr Prior in the chair. After some dis- | cussion as to tho advisability of holding a ! show .this autumn or deferring the next ! show until tho next A. and B. Association show, holding tho horticultural show as a side show-, it was decided to hold the autumn show as usual, the date fixed upon being Stli March. With slight alterations the schedule of 1900 show was adopted. Arrangements were made for circulating the schedules and tho meeting adjourn d for a fortnight.

A curious church episode occurred at i St. Matthews, Auckland, on Ash Wednesday. When the vicar entered the church to conduct service lie was informed by the verger that a man had taken possession of the sanctuary, _ It appears that a young man had gone into the chancel, hail decked himself out with a -white “ stole,” and was sitting in tho Bishop’s chair. Tho verger had tried to get him to leave, but he would neither move from the chancel nor answer any questions. A policeman arrived, and after much persuasion the man was got oat of tho church, tho man protesting that ho had a right to preach to tho people when the boll rang. The man appears to bo mentally deranged, and tho police took him into custody.

From 1878 to 1803 there was an average of one Chinaman to every three Europeans engaged in alluvial mining in New Zealand, saya Mr Mclntosh in his essay on tho mining industry of the colony. About this time the majority of the alluvial flats, which were the favourits haunts of the Chinese, were taken up as dredging claims, and the number of Chinese was gradually diminished. From 1599 to 1903 the average was about one Chiaman to five Europeans, while during 1904 and 1905 the decrease was even more marked, the average being one Chinaman to every six Europeans. Tho total decrease may safely bo attributed to the dying-out of the individual miners, both Europeans and Chinese. Tho most marked degree is in the number of the latter.

Our Kimbolton correspondent writes —Mr Sinclair had the misfortune to have his house burnt eknyn on ‘Wednesday morning. Both Mr Mrs Sinclair were from home at the time of the accident. It is presumed that the fire occurred from .burning embers left in the fire-place.

R In view of the fact that such krg i° numbers of school cadets are visitin the Exhibition, a plea has been pv forward by Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R that senior school girls should 1) h, allowed to travel to Christchurch i >y the same way, Mr Hogg has assure a- the Acting-Premier that “the girl will dine like the boys and sleep o w straw like the boy si” if they ar allowed, to go. The Hon. G. Fowld 0 has replied that the Government car >f not undertake the responsibility c taking girls to the Exhibition. ” Dr. Schuster hag resigned his pos tion as Professor of Physics at Mar Chester University, and Profcsso r Ernest Rutherford, Macdonald Prc I fossor of Physic's i ll the McGii " j University, Montreal, llffs been ap t pointed to succeed him. KefeiT'ng t this appointment, a leading Londoi paper says :—“ Professor Rutherford i a native of New Zealand. After : distinguished academic career ia thi New Zealand University he went t< Cambridge, where he prosecuted re t search work in the Cavendish Labora 1 tory. He was one of the pioneers o. t wireless telegraphy.” Prof. Ruther , fcrdß researches m the realm o f radium haws given, him a world-wide 1 reputation, 3 Why it is necessary, says liu 3 Hawera Star, to scud deputations t( 3 Wellington when road-making is re 3 quired in a district is just one of thosi ) peculiarities of our governmental sys 3 tern that it would be hard to satisfac c toriiy explain. We have paid Mints , ters in charge of roads, paid officials tc j advise them, paid representatives o: constituencies who are presumed to b« chosen to .control the public expend! 1 ture, and to repress the needs anc 1 wishes of their const,puents, and tc 1 watch the public interests oi ij>e ,dis,i tricts they represent. And yet wue;: ■r work is required the chances arc that £ > special deputation to "W ellington' it deemed to bs necessary. « The tiff l ® bas come for ,the passing of regulations fCgafding the burning ol native grasses oil tb.3 tUUS m Otago. There is no douht that Ouf t?s?toral country is gradually being destroj**’" by the system of burning that goes on at present. Indeed, our whole system of dealing with runs must be altered. We give no encouragement to the occupier to improve. It is all the other way. His interest is to make the run as valueless as possible when the lease is expiring, in order that there may not be koeu competition when it does expire. With proper encouragement and a system of resowing, a great deal of the pastoral country could double its carrying capacity.” Thus Mr T. McKenzie in the course of a conversation with a Dunedin Star reporter. Pearl Axup, victim of the Wellington shooting tragedy, says the Carterton pape . was born in Greytown 17 years ago. ;;.-r father, Mr Walter Axup, was manager for Mr J. Cotter for about 10 years, and left Greytown six years ago to take up farming at Rata, Rangitikoi. Of late misfortune has dogged the family. About two years ago Mr Axup was smashed up in a combine accident and spent nine months in the hospital. Eight mouths £go the man he placed in charge of his farm died, and as Mr Axup was much enfeebled by the accident and subsequent sickness a boarding-house I business was acquired in Wellington. On top of all comes the death of the | girl under tragic circumstances. Pearl Axup,- even as a small girl, was a popular rider at the shows in the Rangitikoi district, and was fearless in her management of horses. Her shocking death has created a painful sensation in those districts where she is bast known. !

A curious application was read at the last meeting of the Hawera Borough Council for the position of caretaker at lung Edward Park. The covering letter, which tilled four backs of telegraph forms, dealt at length with the applicant’s willingness to settle down in Taranaki. The district’s many historical spots had a great interest in his heart, and the applicant foreshadowed in a wealth of prophecy the time “ when unborn millions will view with sensational entrance into colonial life . . . the old battlefields of Taranaki.” After a reference to a new life being inhaled from tbo soil of a free people, the writer enjoined the Council “to give every encouragement to the Britons who are leaving their native shores to come here.” The letter was unstamped and ike applicant wanted his faro paid from a South Island city. He didn’t get the job. Suffered Thebe Months.

“ My little girl suffered for throe months from Whooping Cough,” says A. iviiborn, Carlton, Vic., “ and during that time I had tho best medical advice for her but she obtained no benefit. One day I was looking over a little newspaper issued by tho Chamberlain Medicine Co., and seeing what they .claimed Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy would do decided to give it a trial. I am glad I did, for a perfect cure resulted, and I cannot speak too highly of Chamberlain’s Cough Remedy.” For sale by T. H. Bredin, Marton; Ellis Bros., Huntervillo; and W. B. Clark, Bulls. What shall we do with our boys ? There can only bo one advice, viz.—Bring thorn along to McEklowuoy’s stores, where they con bo fitted in wearable, unlearablo and well-fitting clothing at Rock-bottom prices. Try them at McEi.no wnet’s stores, Marton, Huntervillo, and Tailmpo ! jj .A ;

The Minister of Lands will leave Welling 'ton on Saturday for Auckland to prose 'cute tho campaign in the far north, jle will probably be absent about 10 days.

We hold' .our sections on a 999 year’s lease,” saida Koro Koro resident at Petone Borwugh Council meeting last week, “ and wo would hae a little money expended^ on the roads before the leases expire. ’

Mr C. B. Collins, solicitor, Martou lias received an intimation from the Registrar of the New Zealand University that cabled advices from England' report that he has gained first-class honours m Law. This distinction entitles him to the degree of Master ot Laws. . It is interesting to note that the name of Tohu, the Maori warrior who died recently, occurs in the Bible, in the first verse of the first chapter of the ! first book of Samuel. This fact seems | to be conclusive evidence that the I Maoris are really the lost ten tribes. Inau attempt to prove an alibi concerning two boys accused of throwing stones near Canterbury, tho mother of one of them declared that at the time named by the constable “both boys were in her house reading the Bible aiul playing draughts.” The Bench preferred to believe tho policeman. _ ! At a meeting of the Ladies Guild or the Presbyterian Church, Kimbolton, it was decided to hold a garden party at Mr 35. Crabb’s estate, Moorfield. A largo committee of ladies and gentlemen has been appointed to carry out the programme, consisting of swimming ; events, croquet, tennis, racing, etc. The British Government has appointed MrErnest Aves to ho a Comi missioner to enquire into and reportupon : (1) The systems of wages hoards iu Australia; (3) the compulsory arbitration systems in force in Australia ■and New Zealand ; and (3) the Shop j Hours Acts of the two countries. Mr ! Avcs was to leave England last month I for Australia. I When a man is hastily dressing, j and is struggling with an obstinate | collar button, he is apt to envy the j savages, who never use either collars ior collar buttons. He may easily cool his temper and accomplish his object | by simply wetting his thumo and foreI finger and moistening the buttonhole. | Treated in this way, the hole seems ! eager to clutch and hold the button. | A correspondent writes to the 1 Farmers’ Advocate as follows: I j have rearml a 34 acre paddock of Italian rye-grass three years in sueI cession, the third year yielding GO ! bushels per acre. In the first year I | reaped it twice. I have thus had four j crops in three years, the average yield being 45 bushels per acre. I have also grazed it for sir months ;n the year, and have neither ploughed nor

re-aowu. Why suffer the awful agony of rheumatism, gout; lumuago, sciatica, and kindred diseases. Euetjiio if given a fair trial will quickly cure you. Sold at 2/6 and 4/G.