CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 279, 18 April 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

VETERINARY SURGEONS. "Horse doctors" grow on every bush, speaking broadly, and most men can tell you what to do with a sick horse, from lighting straw under his barrel to dosing him with kerosene. For a country that uses horses so largely, and which grows them to perfection, New Zealand is extremely badly off for veterinary physicians. The few skilled men who serve the public and their horses can get more patients than they know what to do with, but the horse-owner is so frequently at hia wits' end to obtain skilled help to save his animals in sickness than an invasion of "vets" would be a boon. It-is, therefore, cheering to hear that the Otago branch of the New Zealand University proposes arranging for a veterinary course. Veterinary science is of vast importance to New Zealand, anil it is a little odd that a young New Zealander who desires to undertake this valuable work should not be able to obtain the, necessary study in New Zealand. Anything short of complete knowledge in the treatment of animals is worse than useless, and numbers of valuable domestic animals are slain in all countries every year by ignorance. The Government has done a great deal in allowing itß veterinary officers to assist stock owners, but they are comparatively few, and private practitioners are wanted everywhere. We see repeatedly that New Zealand horses are considered of high value outside the Dominion, the success of both our blood and draught stock on the Australian markets and on the turf demonstrating the point. The breeding of horses will become increasingly important as time goes on, and scientific study of tliem by New Zealand-born young men will help the reputation already achieved. In. this connection it is interesting to remember that various local bodies have regulations in regard to the loads that may be carried on various types of vehicles, width of tyre, and so on. No local body ever gave the owner of a horse a certificate defining the maximum load the horse should be asked to draw. When the communities become thoroughly awake to the part the horse plays in our commercial life, they will insist that every animal used for carriage or draught shall be periodically examined by a veterinary surgeon and licensed according to his ability. There are too many horses in New Zealand trying to do the work of traction engines.

THE KING AT WORK. King George, since he came to the throne, has surprised those about him with the rapidity with which he works and the quickness with whieh he can make him»elf the master of any document or State paper that is put in front of him. The late King was rather slow and deliberate in his methods, and liked to consider every point with the greatest care. The present King, on the other hand, takes every point with the greatest care. There is nothing that misses his eye. He is naturally a rapid thinker, and possesses a wonderfully retentive memory. He is a very early riser, and, whether lie is staying at York Cottage, Windsor CaHtle, or Buckingham Palace a cup of coffee and roll and butter are taken to his room a little before seven. By eight o'clock His Majesty is seated at his desk, and Is going through the papers that have accumulated from the previous day. He reads carefully every letter that reaches him, no matter how humble the source; and when he has finished he pencils a few instructions upon it and places it in one of the red morocco-leather des-patch-boxes that stand in front of him. Every one of these boxes belongs to one of tlic officials of his household, and the name of the owner is plainly marked upon it, so that when his private secretary and others are ready to begin their day's work they find their boxes well filled and ready to their hanus. There are many papers, of course, that cannot be dealt with by the King in a moment or two, and these are placed on one side for more careful consideration. Between 10 and 11 in the forenoon communiuations from the Prime Minister and the heads of the various Departments of the State reach the King, and by this time his two most trusted advisers, Lord Knollvs and Sir Arthur Bigge, are at his elbonr ready to advise him. It is stated about the Court that among the last words of the late King to his son on his deathbed were, "Trust Knollys," and to this His Ma jesty has steadily adhered. The King does not maintain that regular and voluminous correspondence with the heads of foreign Powers that King Edward did during his reign, but his letterbag, day by day, is of very considerable dimensions. If he is in town and the Premier desires an audience, this is granted about noon. By this time, hi* Majesty has completed the routine work of the day, and is able to give undivided attention to all that is placed before him. He makes it a rule that no member of his household is present at these interviews, so that the Minister may speak in the fullest confidence. If there is anything that the King particularly desires to remember, he jots it down oil a writing pad in front of him, and transfers it to his diary of daily events later in the day. Practically the whole of the King's work is done in the morning, and he contrives to keep hit afternoons free for recreation of one form or another. The evening, however, finds him back at work again, glanting

through the matters that have been submitted for his consideration (luring the (lay, as he likes to have everything clear before he retires for the night.