NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4410, 13 May 1909, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

That Te Aroha is growing there is no gainsaying For some time past it has been a question of where oan we build without paying exliorbltant prieps for land whereon to erect

the contemplated strue* E ture. It was only at the last Council meeting

Moke Rkidkxce Sl'i'Etf.

that Cr- Rowe urged forward the no essity for the Council taking over the Endownment on the west side of the river, cutting tho block into sections and inviting applications for same. This it was decided to do, and doubtless the lots will be eagerly sought after. Then egaih thp rich Ruakaka land, with «t 9 elevated position, when cut up in sections was *' rushed so to speak, and at the rate of iiOO ] er are paid for lots. Some substantial villa residences are now erected thereon, and the probability is tj}ut <4« Borough water and electric light will be numbred with Buakuku's c mveniences ere long. There are still however, a good many building sites 1 ind recently purchased from the native owners —neuer home, Along on the rising ground near Furi r i- street there are quite a number of “ peggable ’’ sections, but which ieq jrp surveyibg The siu.tion is the best in the town, and wo th looking afie.-. Perhaps, in order 1t help the town aloDg, it would tot bo amiss for the Borough Council to sec that this area is surveyed without further delay. Last hut not least, that area of land situated between the railway line atld M-tsspy-street, and known as '* Edwards' Paddocks will bo throw r n open for residential purposes under the Mining Act, on and after Tuesduy next, 18 th May. A notifiea'ion to this effect from Warden Burgess appears duly advertise! 1 in this is.su t. Doubtless there will be a rush for the sections, but wc understand tb it step;; Will be taken to avoid placing the sections in the hands of speculators.

Tho history of Constantinople jr almost a record of its sieves, writes one authority. About 100 years after its enlargement or foundation by Conflin fit I*o <1 4". /

A City oe Sieges.

stantine the lireat (ooU A.D ) bpgun that series of assaults by sea and land

before which it gave way only thrice, wimp its gates were opened to Dandalo. Michael }»ilaeo’qgus, and Mahomet 11. Michael, by the aid of his Varangians recover «1, 201 years before its final capture what tho L 'tins had held nearly 00 years; and 100 years j before it surrendered the Ottoman Turks profited by the divisions in the empire, and were called into the cast of Europe as the followers of the antiChristian standard had been called into the west, till the last Constantine fell in defending the city which the first ha fl raised and named Constantinople was , threatened by the linns, in tho reign of Theodosias the Voungpr, 160 ; by the Huns and Slavs in that of Justinian, 033 ; by the Persian* and Evars in that of Horacliue, 6?G The Arab? besieged it in th’ec different <xpcditions. They game under w ophian iu 008, and attacked ft six. times, once every year (072-679), when Constantine Pogonatuo was Emperor. Loo the Jsurian repelled a second invasion under Moslomah in 717. They were finally led by Haroun-ail-Bashid, who made peace with Constantine and Irene in 78*2. The Russians assailed the sea-walls of the capital four times from NO;} to 1013, in the reigns of Mi.hael 111, and bis successors. Romanus Leeapenus, who beat them back when they came down tho second time, had to repel another enemy— the Hungarians—in 921. It was not by

arms, but by the treachery of Gilpracht. the leader of the German guard, that Alexius Comnenis entered one of the landgates aud seized the throne (1081) ; and another Alexias, with hie father Isaac Angelus, brought the L itins, who occupied the city for 56 years, after the two segeß of 1203 and 1204. until Michael Palaelogus embossed his name as conquerer on the bronze gates of St. Sophia. In tho fifteenth century Constantinople was attacked by tho Turks twice ; under Manuel it resisted Ainurathin 1422; but under Constantine Palaelogus it yielded to Mahomet in 1453. The city has thus been otten the aim, rarely the prize, of invasion.

In their report on the International Tuberculosis Congress, the British delegates present an interesting account of the amazing energy with which the United States are The Fight fighting the plague Against of comsuniption, Consumption, alike by educative and administta’ive methods. With an army of lecturers continually discussing the disease and its treatment, it is practically impossible for patients and their friends to remain in ignorance which is still too common in regard to it among ourselves. Night camps, organised for the accommodation of sufferers who seok a cure without abandoning their work, offer pcrluip* the only solution which combines adequate supervision with financial practicability. Notification is the necessary basis of an effective system. If the doctors can be warned of its abuse, it may be of the greatest benefit in a ph'hisis ridden world.

Now that tlie football season lias just been opened it is interesting to observe a few characteristic features of the game, and also to touch upon a few of the ideas prevalent

A WOItD

amongst the people as

Fok FOOTBALLEH9

a whole, concerning football and foot-

ballers. The cry is now in some quarters that it is all sport, that nowadays the young New Zealander thinks of nothing but football, football, football, and that the more vital and sciious concerns of life have no interest or attraction for him. In some cases this is so. There are some footballers who can talk of nothing else. Off the field their minds are one complete blank, and they are not content unless their minds dwell on footba’l f>r sport of some nature ; but fortunately this type is in the minority, and a very small minority, The average footballer is a sane man. He is generally the allround man. Football is played because it is liked, and it is a recreation only. The game is one where speed, and swift energy are essenfial. Grace and skill and courage, wbi -h are fine physical and mental qualities, are needed iu any youth who hopes to become a first-class footballer. So great is it national popularity heto that it requires skilful and bold managements from those who organise it. unless it is to degenerate in public favour because of certain scandals with which it is in danger of being associated. One of these is professionalism, whose “ best enemy ” is commonsense, but it is nevertheless seriously confronting the footballer in New Zealand. And then again at times a little gladiatorial brutality disfigures the game, but happily this is not common. Players should not be afra/d to ‘‘bring down their man ” with no uncertain swing or even sound but all vicious play should be dealt with instantly and effectively'. Good spirit prevails for the most part, and the gonoral . public would not bo wasting its time in according football support even if only becaqso of the fact that it is New Zealand’s national game, and by keeping ahead in the football field New Zealand can testify to the world tint in her island home are born and bred settlers of a healthv, hardy type* keen, adventurous, manly.