The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1912. BIG CRUISERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 34, 3 October 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1912. BIG CRUISERS.

During her official trials the new bat-tip-cruiser Princess Eoyal recently attained the marvellous speed of thirtyfour miles an hour, and thus easily holds first place in her class. At the beginning of 1912, the battle-cruiser Lion created a record by attaining an average speed of a fraction over thirty knots, thus beating the German battlecruiser \ on Moltke, which held the record for a few months with a speed of 29.7 knots. The Princess Eoyal was designed to reach a speed of twentyeight knots, so that she greatly exceeded her scheduled rate of steaming. Sue is a ship of 26,360 tons, and carries eight of the new 13.5-inch guns. The New Zealand, the next of the class on the list is ready for sea and the Australia—a sister ship, will probably reach Sydney early in 1913. The two latter are not so large nor so speedy as the Princess Eoyal, this vessel marking a great forward stride in the building of battleships. Today, without a rival in sight, the Princess Eoyal stands as a triumph of naval architecture, but with past experiences to warn us, it is hardly to bo expected she will keep her proud place for very long. WEATHER TALK. * “Givis,” in the “Otago Daily Times,” writing on the shockingly bad summer season experienced in England this year, says:—“Lost, stolen, or strayed —the summer of 1912,” laments an August “Westminister Gazette.” The season had been wet, wet, wet, beyond living memory. With loss of the hay crop in prospect, agricultural villages were betaking themselves to prayer. At Hamburgh in Yorkshire, for example, the clergyman held largely attended intercession services twice daily, and during most of the day kept the church bell “tolling for fine weather.” These weird observances have tended to newspaper discussions headed “The Parson and the Weather.” An “old Duke of Cambridge,” eon of George IV, is recalled as publicly testifying in church against the prayer for rain. “No use,” cried the Duke, “as long as the wind is in the east.” But audible comment during divine service was a habit with him. When the clergyman said, “Let us pray,” the Duke would answer, “By all means.” And on one occasion he cavilled at the boast of Zacebeus that he gave half bis goods to the poor, calling out, “Too much, too much; don’t mind tithes, but can’t stand that.” Clearly, in short, this “old Duke of Cambridge” was a bit of a crank. AMERICA’S BEEF TRUST. Though the great American Beef ( Trust is dissolved, officially, and to 1 ]

all appearances as a matter of cold fact too, this has brought no advantage to the American consumer of steaks and chops and n lo os, lor tin; prices are still soaring heavenward, a ,\e\v York correspondent write.--. 'lhe dissolution was voluntary, alter the Government's criminal suit had tailed. That it will ho no paper dissolution ius was suspected in the case of the Standard Oil Trust, the people are assured by Federal Attorney-oeneia 1 Wickersham and the other Government law officials. The Armour, Swift, and Morris interests divide their assets, and will now resume their old competitive basis. The attorneys for the meat packers have assured the Government that all the stock-holdei s of the National Packing Company, representing approximately 350 packing plants, valued at 50,000,000 dollars, have claimed their holdings and that the organisation has wound up its business. The increase in retail prices is stated by the meat interests ro have no connection with the dissolution of the Trust, and higher prices yet are foretold. It is pointed out that the ranges are gone, and with them the beef that grew on a thousand hills. Dairying is a growing industry, and the dairyman aids but little in furnishing a meat supply. The South has not yet awakened to the value of live stock as a source of income. Last year was a dry year, feed was scarce, and cattle were sold to get r.d of it before the winter. These are among causes to which the advanced prices are- attributed.