GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 165, 6 August 1909, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

Six of the crew of H.M.S, Challenger evidently find the attractions of the Islands irresistible, for on the occasion of the visit recently they remained IJu'ie after the Challenger returned ti. Auckland (says the New Zealand Herald), 'They were not allowed to enjoy their liberty very long, however, for they were arrested at ltarotonga and placed on the llauroto to Ve brought back to Auckland. Just as the steamer was leaving Itarotonga two of the men made another bid for liberty by jumping overboard and swimming ashore. The llauroto arrived on Saturday morning, and the remaining four men—Edward Duncan Foreman, William Le M. Dawson, Charles Dagg, and William Joynce—were charged at the Police Court with having absented themselves without leave' from their vessel on sth July. They all pleaded guilty, and were remanded for a week, to be handed over to the naval authorities. A striking feature of the meeting of Czar and Kaiser was the precaution taken to defend them against attack. The meeting took place at sea, because the land was not considered safe. Russian torpedo boats were anchored round the Imperial yachts; others cruised incessantly in the Baltic to prevent the h |jproaih of revolutionary conspirators. Submarine signalling bells were filial to indicate the approach of any other vessel. At night searchlights were thrown over the waters without interruption, and the torpedo boats were very active. Russia has not only a lively dread, but a high opinion of the elusive powers of the terrorist, The extent of the precautions is impressive. It indicates as nothing else could the continued unsettlcment of Russia. Mcaawhile—let us remembe r it thankfully— King Edward welcomes his visitors at the railway station with a guard intended rather for display than defence —Evening Standard. Recently Mr. S. Pearson, of Wellington, wrote to the Hon. D. Buddo (Act-ing-Minister for Lands), suggesting that local bodies should be given power to acquire land outside their boundaries to subdivide and sell to workers under an easy payment system. It was further suggested by Mr. Pearson that something should he done in New Zealand on the lines of the new Act at Home. This Act provides for the appointment of Small Holdings Commissioners, paid by the State, whose duty It is to ascertain the extent of the demand for email holdings in each county or that there would be such holdings if suitable land were available. The result of the investigations is then forwarded to the Board of Agriculture, which, if it sees fit, directs the County Council concerned to draft a scheme. There is, however, nothing to prevent a council from acting 011 its own initiative. In leply, Mr. Biuldo stated that the matter was one which deserved encouragement. The only difference between the present system and the one advocated was that the State in New Zealand had acquired the land, whilst it was desired to see the local r oodies do it. There were fewworkers in regular employment who could manage to take up a holding of as much as three acres, but it was always desirable that a worker should have enough ground for a garden. Even as near as Pctone a substantial area of land had been purchased for workers' dwellings, and of this there was still a iportion unoccupied.