TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8116, 10 April 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Phrenological selection is the latest solution seriously put forward for the domestic servant problem. k phrenological employment agency has just been registered with tbe London County Counoil. Every individual Whose name appears on the agenoy's registrar has been submitted to phrenological examination, and none admitted whose "bumps" do not prove her competency for tbe post she desires. "I am not confining my employment agency to servants," said the "professor." "lam taking all olasses of men and women in searob of work, and am prepared to advise them after a phrenological examination for what career, whether literary, artistio or professional, they are best suited." One of the largest railway uompanies in America, the "professor" added, engaged no new employee unless he first submitted to a phrenological examination. The impending shipping war between tbe subsidised Federal Line on tbe one hand and the direct lines an the other, has not yet opened. Negotiations are still in progress, but whether they will lead to a settlement of tbe trouble o: not, seems very uncertain, although it is hoped in some quartets that an open rup-, ture may be avoided. Mr I. liibbs, the manager of 4 the New Zealand Shipping Company,one of tbe direct lines"affected, and Mr J. J. Kinsey of Kinsey, Barnes and Co., the Christohuroh agents for the Federal Liine, were seen recently, but both these gentlemen were very reluctant to give any information at all on the present situation and the probable consequences. They stated that while the negotiations were pending the parties interested were most anxious that nothing of what was transpiring should be made public. One of the gentlemen approached admitted", however, that the present position wad most acute, and some thing would have to go shortly.

Greater New York is to-day governed by former newspaper re porters. From the Mayor down ihrough the various heads of departments to secretaries, ex-reporters are in charge. Mr McClellan himself worked on a newspaper in New York from" the time of his graduation from Princeton in 1886 tili the time he was appointed treasurer of Brooklyn bridge in 1889. Since then be has held political office continually. Supporting the newspaper reporter Mayor there is a newspaper reporter at the bead of the fire department. Another reporter is at the h*ad of the bridge department. The Health Commissioner was an editorial writer, and the License Commissioner a labour writer. The secretary of the Mayor is Prank M. O'Brien, a reporter. William M. Willis,* the Mayor's assistant secretary, was a reporter for thirteen years. Eight important city departments have newspaper reporters for secretaries, and in addition fully thirty other important places of trust are now held by men who, until recently, were writers for the daily press, An incident has been reported to the Southland Times 'which shows how careful one should be in hand ling domestic pets, especially the household cat. One case of diptheria was reported to the Invercargill Health Office during Maroh, and the medical attendant, and Health Officer, after investigation, came to" the conclusion that the patienly'a child, caught the disease from the feline pet, which he had been in the habit of fondling. Pussy died just about the time of the outbreak, and a post mortem disclosed the fact that the oause of death. It is no uncommon thing for cats to contract this disease, so owners should keep a wary eye on the health of the cupboard protector. In Wellintgon there were a few more bankruptcies last year than in the previous year, but the Official Assignee does not think this represents any general unsoundness in trade. The failures are mostly indi vidual instances of reckless or unbusinesslike trading, which will happen in the most prosperous times. Credit, he sayfy is given to a number of people by the storekeepers, and, when the money is pressed for, they prove to be almost entirely bad maiks. There is too little care exeruised in giving credit. This, and bad book-keeping, or no book-keeping at all, are at the bottom of many bankruptcies.

The commission which was set up by the Government three years ago to advise as to what areas in various parts of the colony should be reserved for scenic purposes has beeu dissolved. Arrangements have been made whereby the work will be oatried on by officials of the Tourists and Lands Departments. The commission —which consisted of Mr S. Percy Smith, of Taranaki,; formerly Surveyor - General, Mr Matthew's, Chief State Forester, Mr Smith, of Ashburton, and a representative of the native race—bad visited most of the beauty soots in* the North Island, and also inspected a number of others in the South Island, and had submitted several Interim reports, but as its labours have been suddenly terminated by an order from Cabinet, which is understood to have been dissatisfied with th'e rate of progress made, it has not beeu able to carry out its intention of preparing a comprehensive report on the whole question of scenery preservation.