CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 254, 17 March 1913, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

■ A GOOD AXD USEFUL CITIZEN. Tiie departure of Dr. 11. 13. Lea.th.am to the Old Country to-day gives us the opportunity of drawing attention to the excellent work he has done on Xew Plymouth's behiilf during the past few months, lie has, during that time, been the heart and mmil of the Expansion and Tourist League, which in its short existence has achieved results that the most optimistic supporter could nevei have anticipated. His enthusiastic confidence in the town and district as a place for the enjoyment of the tourist and the man desirous of settling down has been infectious. Hence the success of the. movement. It is much to be regretted that the Doctor lias to leave just now, for there are few, if any, as well fitted to fill the position of chairman that he is vacating, though, it must be said, the foundations have been so trui; and strongly laid under his guidance that the matter of adding the superstructure will not entail the difficulty that otherwise might have been the case. In his quiet, unassuming way, Dr. Leatham has in many .other respects proved a good and ttsefnt citizen, and bis departure, even for a year or so, will lie regretted by a wide circle of friends, who will, with us, however, wish him and his family "bon voyage" and a safe return to their native town. OVERSEAS TRADE. The arrival of the Bendixseu at Moturoa from Puget Sound with a large cargo of timber is an event of some importance, for it marks the commencement of direct trade between America and Taninaki's leading port. It also shows that sailing vessels, of whatever tonnage, can safely "make" and berth at the port. American pine possesses special qualities for particular classes of work, and it is not surprising that there is throughout the country a considerable demand for it. Now it has been proved that shipments can be made, at a minimum of cost and with expedition, the demand for this-class of timber in Taranaki should grow. The enterprise of the firm of Webster Bros., who were responsible for making the shipment, is to fie commended, and we hope it will be rewarded as it deserves. Who knows but that they pioneered a service pregnant with possibilities and profit to the people of Taranaki? THE TURKISH NAVY. The Turkish cruiser Ilamidieh, which escaped from the Dardanelles some weeks ago and is at present in the Aegean Sea. where she tired on Servian transports, killing fifty men, will be a source of anxiety to the Greeks as long as she remains at large. The Ilamidieh is a comparatively modern vessel of British construction, having been launched at Elswick in 1903, and she is capable of holding her own against any craft of similar size and equipment if properly handled. Originally the ship was called the Abdul Hamid, after the red-handed despot who ruled Turkey when the order was given for her construction, but the name was changed by the Young Turks after the revolution. The Ilamidieh carries two 6-inch guns, eight 4.7 guns and twelve smaller weapons, and has a speed of twenty-two knots. Probably she could out-distance the fastest of the Greek cruisers, the Geoi'gio AverolT, as that vessel has been at sea almost continuously for many months past. THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. When the Hon. James Allen arrived in London recently ho told the representative of a Press agency that his business in Britain included the consideration of matters of defence organisation. "An important question 1 have to discuss." he said, "is the organisation of a New Zealand, expeditionary force for Empire service. We want to be in a position to say to the .Mother Country that we have always at her disposal a permanent organisation by which we car. send about SHOO men to any part of our Empire where their services may be needed, provided the sea-way is open for them to go. These men will, of course, .be volunteers." This statement is entirely in accord with the provisions of the Defence Act, and it disposes of some misapprehensions which have been created by cabled summaries of Mr. Allen's remarks, though it does not explain why 'the Defence Minister did not make his intentions clear before lie left this country. PATHETIC POSTHUMOUS EPISTLE. Tt is stated that amongst the possessions handed over to Mrs. Wilson, widow of Dr. Wilson, who lost his life in Antarctica, was a letter from Captain Scott, in which the latter wrote that her husband had the hardest time of them all. as he hail to dress Lieut. Oakes' feet and hands. As the doctor himself was weak, this extra work con-iderably hampered him. Captain Scott added his belief that Lieut Oates went for his last walk mainly for Dr. Wilson's sake. The assurance is given that Dr. Wilson did not sutler much at the last. None of the letters sent on to the fatal five members of the expedition reached them, as they were at the depot a few miles away. Tt seems that while Dr. Wilson was confident of returning from his first trip to the Antarctic, on the last occasion both he and Mrs. Wilson had a feeling that he would not come back. LORD ROBERTS' LABOR OF LOVE. The splendid labors of Lord Roberts on behalf of national defence were duly honored at a meeting on January 22. v In celebration of his eightieth birthday members of the National Service League and others presented him with a statuette symbolising "Armed Peace." and a cheque for C."> 000, which Lord Roberts is devoting to the aims of the League. In acknowledging the presentation, Lord Roberts said that the work of the League had been a labor of love to him. The principle of universal military training was the onlv fair, manly and democratic method of raising a national army. The territorial associations had done all that was possible to make Lord Haldaue's scheme a success, but the net result was that precious time, money and energy had been utterly wasted. He recalled the words spoken by Colonel Seely in 1110-2. fresh from his experiences as a Yeomanry officer in the war. "ft would be extremely desirable that it should be obligatory for every male in this country to be trained to arms." and observed that thev were even more valuable now than when they were first spoken, of.