The World's Press.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7755, 6 March 1905, Page 4

The World's Press.

I tpLONIAL NAVAL DEFENCE | The present contribution of £200,000 towards the maintenance of the British ships that we rely upon for the deface of Australia is ridiculously insufficient. We-should request the British Government to increase the naval strength on the Australian station, and we should be prepared to pay amply for that increased protection.—Telegraph Sydney. SOCIAL REVOLUTIONS. TYoplc no longvr stay for half the y.ear with laboured solemnity in the country, and with laboured frivolity in London for the other half. The motor car has annihilated time and space. We arc witnessing a social revolution which ■ may possibly end in no one who can help it living in or even near London.—The Sketch. CLARET AND CIGAHS. I heard a lovely sentence the other day. " Gentlemen, you will and the jclaret and the cigars in the marble lounge." Cigars and claret are two 1 good things impossible in conjunction, for 'tobacco smoke kills any man's laste for good Bordeaux. Cigarettes have killed the delicate red wine for after-dinner drinking.—The Onlooker. UNSUSPECTED TREASURE. At present a fancy value attaches to old pewter, to old fire-dogs and fire-backs, snuffers, brass candlesticks, and the like. A " find " of this kind occurred recently at a farm at Kingsworthy, near Winchester, where an " old tub " was found to be a standard Winchester bushel of - bell metal. The object, which the ' farmer had sold for a few shillings, 1 was sold later for £6o.—County 1 .Gentleman.

BEAUTY WITH ECONOMY. I Women have learned that they can look Well without absolutely ruining I their husbands or parents. Feminine extravagance is made the text I lor endless sermons, and when, therefore, we can say, as we can at this moment, that women have never been dressed more tastefully, picturesquely, sensibly, and withal moderately, from the financial ooint of view, we surely have very good" reason to feel proud of ourselves. Lady's Pictorial. UNIVERSITY CLIQUES. The idea that there is a great gulf fixed between the men who are and ( the men who are not in a certain social set in a college, and that this |gulf cannot be bridged on the common ground of the football or cricjket field by individual excellence in 'athletic pursuits, is one which is doing much to mar the success of unijversity athletics generally. And yet it is, wo fear, very prevalent to-day. —The 'Varsity, Oxford. OUR '■'- FEAK. FOR INDIA." The reorganisation of the British army and the hurried departure of Lord. Curzon are sickly signs of the limes, and testify to the f e nr for India which is entertained both in (!overnment and other circles in England. If Great Britain, through Hie intermediary of Japan, tries to ilesjtroy the work of Russia in the Far East, the capture of Port Arthur will compel Russia to seek other outlets to the open sea.-Viedoiuosti, St. Petersburg. NEW NELSON MESSAGE. Since it has become generally known that the hundredth anniversary of the death of Kelson occurs on October 21 next, there is little else to be heard of than schemes ior converting the memory of the hero into cash. Prints and portraits of him are being collected to be consigned to the colonics : portraits tfi Lady Hamilton arc rapidly rising in value ; relics of Nelson are being hunted for in every direction. It would be appropriate to alter the memorable message to the fleet at Trafalgar into every man to do his neighbour." The Graphic. HIGH FARE BELOW STAIRS. Most London servants are served with food no less than seven times a day. : They partake of tea, like their masters, on awakening. Breakfast, in the " room " for the upper functionaries, in the servants' hall for the lesser, is a substantial meat meal. At eleven o'clock, beer or milk and light refreshments are set forth, and bridge \he; t-jnw ''" " heavy repast at 'two o'clock or so. -aWr-HiW then an elaborate dinner, antl refreshments or light supper about ten o'clock, bring the number of meals up to seven. Hearth and Home. THE ORIENTAL WAY. Previous to the Empress-Dowager's birthday, Her Majesty announced her stern determination not to accept .presents from her Ministers and high officials. " owing to the deplorable and poverty-stricken state of the country." Yet the value of the pre.sents received has been officially estimated at. 1-5,500,000 taels (about £2,000,000.) Men who had been cashiered and desired to retain their official rank and titles, as well as those whose ambition was to get appointed tor lucrative posts, seized this opportunity to buy Imperial favour. Certain officials whose gifts amounted to only 10,000 taels in value, were put on the Imperial pr*vate black list, and their " trivial " tributes returned.—North China Herald, Shanghai.