GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 55, 30 March 1909, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

NEW COMMAXDKIi. FOR THE PIOXEEU.

Captain Miller has been succeeded in the command of 11.A1.5. Pioneer by Commander William l'\ Blunt. Commander Blunt entered the naval service in .Inly, ISB3, and his subsequent promotions ran : Midshipman, 18S5 ; sublieutenant, 1889 ; lieutenant, 1802 ; and commander, June, 1904,' He was recently serving at the "Rock" in command of the sloop Cormorant, llagship of Sir James E. Goodrich, K.C.V.0., admiral-superin-tendent in charge of the. naval establish ments at Gibraltar. Commander G. C. Quayle will shortly pay oil' the cruiser Pegasus and recommission her for another spell with the Australian Squadron. Under ordinary circumstances lie would have struck his pennant in October next. Lieutenants (.'. i'\ Stow and R. Bachus have been appointed to the Pegasus on recomiuissiouing. Engineer-commander George Paseoe, from tlie cruiser Charybodis, has been appointed to the cruiser Cambrian. This officer has served in his department of the service for 14 years, and reached ids present rank in January, 1902.

THE OPIUM TRAFFIC. Tlie Shanghai correspondent of The Times writes, under date ISlh January:

The delegates to the International Opium Commission are assembling, but the present uncertainty of China's attitude and the absence of any definition of the standing and swipe of the Commission render a forecast of the results a matter of considerable difficulty. Distrust, at first, of the motives of UnAmerican Government whose responsibility in initiating the conference appeared scarcely justified by the American interests at stake, China is now realising that the commission will afford her an opportunity of showing that she intends to grapple with the stupendous task which recent Imperial edicts havr announced.

There is unquestionable, evidence from Consular. Customs, and missionary sources that the production and consumption of the drug throughout the country are diminishing, in some provinces' in consequence of oll'icial pressure, in others as the result of the energy of lociil associations. There may be thus seen, for once at least. Imperial decrees producing concrete results. At Hie same time, the habits of many oll'icials in high positions who are confirmed opium smokers -and. 'the rcbklese encouragement of the use of so-called antiopium medicines afford the usual spectacle of unorganised China at cross purposes with herself. Among the most serious aspects of the opium question which the Commission is bound to face is the fact that the antiopium remedies, almost without exception, consists of morphia in one form or another. The clandestine importation of and the traffic in this drug are known to have very greatly increased, with the result that' the opium habit is givhg place to a mure insidious vice.

JXWIAX REFORMS. 1 have not met n single oll'ieial (writes tile speeial em-respondent of The Times from lliimbay) who does not admit Unit some changes which should gratify Indian longings were necessary ; and I might have expatiated upon abounding evidence that. Lord Jlorley's despatell and speech have iinip.csi.innahly eased a tension which hail become extremely alarming, lint, at a time when, in India iiml in England alike, there is apparently a disposition to assume that by sonic magical process our ilHl'ienHies a-c

about to be overcome, it has seemed nccessarv to point, out that there are still niauv'obstacles in the path. The greatest 'problem nf all is hardly any nearer dilution. The jubilation which is so widespread is almost wholly Hindu satisfaction. When we an- told that India rejoices, we find upon enquiry that it is the Hindus who rejoice. When we hears thai the appeals of Indian politicians have been answered, we discover that, it is the Hindus who have been gratified. There arc sixty millions of Mohammedans in India, and some of their leaders have a different tale to tell. It cannot be said that the scheme of reforms, as nt present projected, lias given much satisfaction to the Mohammedans. They have thrown no bombs and organised no conspiracies, and they nrs almost ready to think fiiat they have suffered because they have been passive and loyal. As they are in a minority in every province, save the Punjab'anil Eastern Bengal, lliey fear they will have very few representatives among the executive members of council.

The sleeping-out craze is having a nne effect on house architecture in

Australia. A Sydney llnlli'tin writenotes that people arc building' (heir new domiciles with balconies ami v. nui,| : ilis I'nilil 1211 to 2llfl. ill wiiH.li, and so I hey revert to tlu> wavs of Hie earlv station bungalow. For years tln> Riiburbfts and city balcony has' been merely a narrow ledge willi 'much ornamental'and useless trimming. " Sleeping out" has taken the suburbanites by the neck anil hauled them through their narrow doorways into the fresh air. It is not merely a case of summer-camping along surf-side ■' resorts." liven in correct rind rigid Hawthorn anil neighbouring suburbs, where dwell the bank clerk anil the soft good- emporium individual—even ia those decomus villages the carcfiillyinowu lawn, which is the size of cighlceii-pemo, is invaded by bents. Ailing the river the hummock swings by the dozen, and the mosquito invites Vis friends to lunch on the occupant. TlK'iv is even a boat-house, witli the small rowing boat turned into a girl's bed, ami tricks of mirror and tnmlc are glimpsed through the open door.