TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8170, 28 June 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Though very few of those who are in the building daily are aware of it, there is carefully bidden away at the Admiralty tu-day (says M.A.P.) one of the most notable piotures ever painted by a British artist. This is the original painting of tbe wellknown "Light of the World," by Holman Hunt. It is the property of Lady Tmeedmoutb, wtio regards it as, to use her own words, "the most wonderful and soul-stirring picture ever painted by man." There is a general impression that this original picture is at Keble College, Oxford, and even the usually correot "Who's Who" stumbles here. This Oxford pioture, however, is only a replioa. Ihough it iJ now many years since the pioture was first painted, it is as fresh to-day as it was when it first left the artist's studio. This is accounted for by tbe faot that it has always been kept carefully covered, and is shown only to a favoured few. Lady Tweedmouth is a great connoisseur of works of art, and her collection, though small, is one of the most notable in London. Evidently, then, there are three copies of the great pioture.

In dealing with the subjeot of tariff rev'sion and preferenee in Canada (says tbe Gbristchurch Press) we do not pretend to argue that the preference given by the existing tariff to British imports has resulted in any phenomenal increase in the Dominion's trade with Great Britain, as compared with its trade with the United States and other connirieß. Tbe offloial returns show that out of Canada's total trade, the percentage transacted with the United Kingdom in 1903 was less by \y z per cent, than in 1895, whereas the United States percentage was 1% per c*nt. greater. Between 1897 and 1903 the vaiue of British imports into Canada rose from six to twelve millions sterling, and of imports from the United States from twelve and three-quarters to twentyeight millions. The figures for 1904 and 1905 may show that British imports have been gaining. But it ia fairly obvious that unless preference had been granted, the Amerioan gain would have been much greater, as well it might be, considering the geographical advantage possessed by the States.

Prom South Africa comes the suggestion, pat forward, by Mr Douelas Blackburn, editor of the Johannesburg Daily Express, and a wellknown writer on agricultural subjects, that in the "monfc-eating ant" of that part of the world, ia to be found an agency which will destroy the rabbit pest in Australia. Mr Blaokburn in 1896 started to breed rabbits for the veldt, to meet the a jaroity of a cheap form of flesh food for the Kaffirs, and be found that while the animals bred well in hutches, the •xperiment was not satisfactory when they were turned out. A year later he tamed out near Johannesburg 300 rabbits for sporting purposes, on conditions which were apparently perfect, but the young made a tardy and scanty appearance, and the experiment was abandoned., In 1901 he went to Natal, and conducted experiments there, with the same result ; success in the hutches, and failure when the rabbits were turned out and a year, later he received reports from twenty-one farmers in Natal, the Transvaal, and the Orange Elver Colony all of whioh told a similar tale. Mrj Blaokburn finally dis oovered, as did the other experimenters, that the failure of the rabbits to multiply when turned out was dne to a red "meat-eating ant." He noticed, and this was oonflrmed by the Kafflrs ; that all animals born without hair are subject to the attacks of these red ants, and that such animals, in areas infested with the ants, build their nests on rooky ground. The ants will not, how- | ever, attack an animal born with fur.

An occurrence probably unprecedented is reported by the Nelson Evening Mail. It seems that Nelson possesses a citizen who keeps a pub-lio-house for a living and follows manual labour by way of recreation. The matter was discussed by the City Coonoil last week, apropos of a communication from the Trades and Labour Gouneil, enquiring "why men were discharged from the Council's employ while a man who held a publican's lioense was kept on." A disoussion ensued amongst councillors. Councillor Atmore moved to the effeot that it be a recommendation to the oity surveyor that if any man had been discharged and another man earning a living by other mens had been kept on, the latter should be dismissed. Councillor Harrison said the Council bad to get the best men they could, and they could not put the men on out of charity. Councillor Petitt said Councillor Harrison bad lost the point of tbe letter. The fact was that a man with a pnlioan's lioense was working for the Counoil, and perhaps keeping a married man with a family out of work. Councillor Turner said the man referred to was one of the best men the Counoil had, and he saw no objection to him being employed by the Council. Councillor Atmore said that work was not too plentiful at the present time, and if a man was making a fair living out of one calling and was employed by tbe Counoil to the exclusion of a married man, be should be dismissed. The motion was carried.