CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 51, 22 August 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

A WORTHY CITIZEN. The praise lavished on Mr. William 11. Skinner at yesterday's civic and Anglican Church faretwells was fully deserved. In Mr. Skinner we are losing, only temporarily, let ua hope, a useful and Worthy citizen, who has done his full share, as far as his official position allowed, of public service. In this respect he has been an example to many who have the opportunity but neglect the duty which is imposed on them to do something to make the town and the world they live in the better for their life and work. The name of Mr. Skinner will always be closely associated with Taranaki Maori lore and with scenery preservation. Few know the amount of work which he had in connection with the preservation of the Kaitake Ranges, which now form part of the Mount Egmont National Park, whilst the very reservation of the park itself was in a great measure due to him and his colleagues on the Scenery Preservation Society. The location and preservation ot Maori Iburying-places and old (battlefields was another of Mr. Skinner's hobbies and some day this work will be recognised as of great value, for they are bound to prove a great attraction to the large body of tourists who will find joy in Taranaki's mountain scenery and historic places. The New Plymouth Public Library lias had many years ot Mr. Skinner's faithful service. He has been a pillar of the Anglican Church, and responsible for much practical Christianity. We join in congratulating Mr. Skinner on his promotion to the post of Commissioner of Crown Lands in Blenheim, but are glad to see that he intends, if spaired. to return and settle down once more in New Plymouth. AN UNWORTCED FIELD. The tremendous advance that has taken place in the living picture business during the past few years has apparently left few subject fields unworked. The whole world is becoming familiarised to the patrons of picture shows, and a new art has arisen requiring gifts of acting not requisite before the coming of the picture. Picture dramas have, indeed. improved acting wonderfully, for it is necessary to be both natural and emphatic to carry a true message without words. These clever picture firms are, as everyone knows, constantly on the look-nut for thrilling and new subjects, and there- seom to be none that are more popular than those depicting men employed strenuously. Thus there is no comparison in the matter of "effect" between the picture play in which the stage man is dragged off the boards and stuck on a horse in a "chasing" drama and the obviously real "cowboys" or "Indians" who are used for the splendid American "road dramas" so fa-

miliar nowadays. The value of such pictures is in their absolute realism and the fitting of the players to their parts. New Zealand offers a fino field for cinematograph pictures of the scenic order, but as yet no entrepreneur has seen the value of the Maori as a player in savage or historical drama. The Maori is a born actor. It would be possible to reproduce for the machines the historical and beautiful story of Hinemoa (with obvious deletions), Maori fights, and oldtime Maori actualities generally. There are not better "backgrounds" for picture stories than N#w Zealand supplies, and no race that could supply more romantic action and color than the Maoris. Such pictures, too, would be invaluable records of a people the romance of whose natural life has almost disappeared.

A MEMORABLE BEGINNING. The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society was offered recently an opportunity to establish a memorial of the circumstances under which the first shipment of frozen meat was sent from New Zealand to London, and an elaboi'ate record, mounted and framed, has been placed in the Society's hall. The history of the beginning of an enterprise that has been of enormous value to the Dominion is attractive and interesting. In 1881 the New Zealand and Australian Land Company entered into an agreement with the Albion Shipping Company, of Glasgow, to charter its sailing ship Dunedin for the purpose of making a trial shipment of frozen meat to Great Britain. The vessel was fitted with freezing machinery, and as there were no refrigerating works in the Dominion it was arranged that the meat should be frozen on board ship. The Dunedin arrived at Port Chalmers in November, 1881. Sheep and pigs wi-re slaughtered at the Land Company's Totara Estate and conveyed in special railway vans to Port Olialmcrs, where they were cooled and prepared for freezing. After about 2000 carcases had been treated on board the Dunedin the freezing machinery' broke down, and the meat which had been frozen had to be sold at once. Tlie engine was repaired, however, the freezing operations were resumed, and on February 15, 1882, the Dunedin sa-iled for Lpndon. She carried 4311 carcases of mutton, 598 carcases of lamb, 22 pigs and 2226 sheep's tongues. She was docked at London on May 24, and the meat was disposed of successfully by Messrs John Swan and Sons, stock agents, of Edinburgh. The arrival of the shipment caused some stir at Home, and the Times described the safe carriage of the meat "a prodigious feat." In New Zealand keen interest was taken in the venture, and the Land Company was awarded-a boniw of £SOO by the Government for its services in opening up the trade. The company maintained its interest in the meat trade by chartering the Dunedin for ten consecutive journeys, and the vessel's association with the growing industry continued until she foundered at sea in 18S0.