CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 217, 1 February 1913, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

THE PLUNKET SHIELD. Congratulations to Canterbury and congratulations to Auckland. For years past the northern province has successfully defended the possession of this blue riband of the cricket world, although upon one occasion only the Duke of Wellington's prayer for "night or Blucher" allowed them to retain the Shield fnorn the same formidable opponents who have now appropriated it. We are quite certain that the northerners will not grudge Canterbury a temporary possession of this coveted trophy. It is good for the game that it should travel around, and now we want to see Otago or Wellington wrest it from Canterbury before Auckland has a chance to re-secure it. Auckland has had to defend its title on many occasions of late years, and almost I every province has attempted to rob her of the .Shield without effect. Tlrere was. indeed, a gentle suggestion in cricket circles that, she was tired of holding (he Shield, but in a true sportsmanlike spirit she has played her best to retain it.

THE BOWLING TOURNAMENT. The bowling tournament was brought to a conclusion yesterday, if not exactly in a blaze of glory, at least with a distinct odor of appreciation on all hands. The thirty-six rinks, had, of course, long been reduced by a process of elimination, but the semi-finals and (the finals attracted almost as much interest among the lookers-on as they did amongst those more immediately concerned—the players themselves. The fickle jade the weather, who frowned ominously in the early morning, changed her mind and donned her best summer garments for the occasion, with the result that the tournament must be classed as one of the most successful functions of its kind ever held in Taranaki. This applies not only to the quality of the play and the number of entries, but to the excellence of the management generally. There are few more sociable outdoor game* than bowls and these annual gatherings, oragnised in the admirable spirit that

they are, do much to promote its popularity and stimulate a keeness in interclub contests. The vexed question of the open-door policy must be left for the bowlers themselves to settle, although to the average layman it would seem as if we could not have "too much of a good thing." In the meantime we have all enjoyed a fair slice of one. WILD HORSE COUNTRY. The I'limic Country is the land of wild horses (writes the special commissioner of the Auckland Herald). They can range over hundreds of square miles if they will, but they seem to fix for themselves special territory, and certain mobs haunt certain districts, while special stallions, with their following of mares, each have their feeding grounds. Riding up against the wind one afternoon I camp upon two mobs, and was able to get within 50yds of them. The first mob contained seventeen, beaded by a big roan. I watched them feeding for a while and then gave a whistle. Tn a second mares and foals closed together, and the mob wheeled across the valley with their long tails and manes streaming in the wind. One handsome black marc showed a wonderful turn of speed. I saw another mob of seven, and got quite close to them. There were two big roans and two handsome chestnuts. There is on doubt that the Pumic Country breeds fine horses, and when man uses his selective powers famous hunters and racers will be produced' there. I have made two long journeys on animals that were bred wild, and I do not wish for hardier or surer-footed mounts. They are not always to be trusted, of course, and though some of the younger men of the uplands rather pride themselves on showing their mastery over some of the wicked ones, yet they must have a sure saddle grip and strong wrists to keep them within bounds. I saw one quite i good-looking black, known as the Beetle, put up a performance which would not discredit what the Australian blacki fellows call a "Warrigal Yarraman."

HOBBIES OF THE SCHOOLBOY. Mr. A. C. Knight contributed an interesting paper at a recent conference of teachers in Sydney on the subject of the hobbies of the schoolboy, in which he laid emphasis on the necessity for judicious encouragement. He remarks that parents should closely watch the hoy's hobbies for indications of character and latent natural ability. A great deal of harm may he done by spending money lavishly on a boy's hobby—giving him everything he wants, or thinks he wants, in the way of apparatus. "I am sure," adds Mr. Knight, "a photograph taken with a pin-hole camera, which the boy has made himself, is worth a hundred taken with an expensive camera, and put into a developing tank—worth infinitely more, I mean, from .the point of view of the hoy's development. Elaborate apparatus at the early stages simply defeats the end in view, which is not the production of a photograph technically perfect, hut the teaching of a boy to overcome difficulties, and invent expedients. Let him not look to a special fund to provide him with all he wants, but rather encourage him to save out of his weekly pocket-money." WHY TURN ON THE WAR SPIRIT? Under this heading the Feilding Star writes:—"Steps are being taken in New Plymouth to celebrate the anniversary of the province and the battle of Waireka. The anniversary of the province falls on March 31, and that of Waireka on March 28. The two occasions are to he jointly celebrated by a gathering of veterans and pioneers at the Recreation Grounds on March 27. Wouldn't it be a better spirit to cut out the pnhlic celebration of an incident in a war period that should not be rubbed in annually? The Maori was beaten at Waireka long ago—why drub him every year?" Our contemporary misinterprets the spirit underlying the 'movement to do honor to the warriors and pioneers. It is not that the folk in New Plymouth desire to glorify or perpetuate the war spirit; they desire, but to show their old people that their past services are not forgotten, services that entailed a great sacrifice on their part and services which have made possible the easy and prosperous times the younger generation now enjoy. The celebration is hut a small acknowledgment of our indebtedness to the virtual makers of Taranaki. Alas! they are rapidly disappearing, and hefore many years have passed there will be none left to honor.

A GOOD MOUNTAIN STORY. A good mountain story was related to a News man the other day. Recently the informant climbed to the top of Taranaki's sentinel. He met there an elderly gentleman, a son of the soil, with his two lad's, who had scaled the mountain from the Manaia side. '-Say," said he. "have you seen my brother (naming a farmer living on Egmont road) about?" No, our informant had not. "Why?" lie asked. "Well," replied the farmer, in all seriousness, "I had arranged to meet him here and go into the matter of buying some cattle!" Arranged to meet his brother on the top of a mountain to transact business! And it was said in such a matter-of-fact tone, too, as if such a meeting place was. nothing out of the ordinary! Our informant happened to strike the brother on his return from the hostelry. "My word," he said, "you're in for a hot time. Your brother was expecting to meet you at the top of the mountain yesterday about seme cattle?" "Well," came the quick response, "more (adjective) fool him; that's all I can say!" Fact.

WARD v. MASSEY LAND LAWS. The Wellington Post (a Government organ) says editorially:—The difference between the Ward law and the Massey law, as regards the conversion of leases in perpetuity, is as follows:—Under the former a lessee in perpetuity could purchase the freehold by paying the capital value (less improvements) which—vide section 177 of the Land Act, 1908—"shall include the value of all minerals other than gold and silver" Under the Massey Act the price which a lessee in perpetuity pays for the freehold is based on the original value (surface only) at which he took up the lease, and the freehold carries with it the right to coal 01: or under the surface, and, it seems, to any minerals other than gold and silver. Parliament, at the instigation of Mr. Massey, has bound itself hand and feet. The State has given up what no one had the assurance to ask for. and the Crown tenants have received from Mr. Massey the whole of their price and more.