THE CZAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 57, 11 March 1904, Page 4

THE CZAR.

PROBABILITY OF AHDICATIOX. ST. PETERSBURG, Jim. lio ; Since the sudden and pathetic death in his arms of little Elizabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt, the Czar lias been more than ever devoted to his religious duties. He always has been religious, hut now he spends hours at his jrivutc devotions, and in writing prayers in Russ and Slavonic l'or the Imperial family. A strange rumour is current in both Moscow and St. Petersburg that if the child expected next June should be a son, the Cznr will abdicate in favour of his brother, who will become regent until the Czar's son becomes of ugc.

"In travelling- through New Zealand it Ims often occurred to me " says a New Zealand Times correspondent, " thai a custom width oblaiiis largely tit Home in connection with the railways might, ivitli great advantage, lie followed here! I icier to the system of encouraging station masters and other railway employees to beautify their stations" b.v offering prizes for the best kept ami most ornamental station and adjoining ground. Many of your readers -will remember the very beautifully Kept stations in the southern counties of Kngland, especially those of the Loudon, Brighton, the South Western and the Devonian stations of the Great Western, and how, even in Ihe naturally beautiful counties these lines traverse, these bright cultivated spots gratify the eye. If that is so in fair Devon, how much greater a source of pleasure would it he amid the somewhat monotonous srenerv of the Canterbury Plains or the \Vaikato district. As regards Hie lime spent and labour employed, surely the country stalionmasler of the colony must have more leisure than those on the main lines of the Brighton or South Western of Kngland. I commend this suggestion to the New Zealand Uailwuys and the Tourist Department."