TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8243, 22 September 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Woncen writers appear to be gaining more and more ground in New York magazines. A glance at four of tbe leading publications shows that of tbe thirty short stories in the August editions women have written seventeen. In Harper's five of the nine stories were written by women; in Scribner's fhreo out of seven; in MoGlure's, four out uf eight; and in the Century, five out of six. Men fare bettor with verse. They wrote the four poems in Soribner's two of the four in Farper's, but the only poem in MoGlure's came from the pen of a woman. In verse, consequently, the men won by the score of eiuht to Qve.

Mr William Carroll, the Chicago city eluotrician, has issued a report showing that by the municipal ownership of it;s street lighting Chicago has suved £64,000 in the eighteen years of oity proprietorship, in addition to owning a plant valued at £700,000, and in 1005 saved £70,500 over what would have been the cost if tho eleotrio street lamps had been rented. Mr Carroll estimates that, the cost of rented service since 1888 would nui>regate over a million sterling, to whiuh ho adds interest nt four per cent. The oity has expended £94U,000 for construction and operation of the municipal plant. Adding to this item also interest at four per cent., there is shown an actual saving in cash to tbe oity of £95,000, from whioh, however, Mr Carroll dsduot3asmall amount as lost taxes.

So much has been written—muoh of it in violeufc terms—about the extravagance and brainlessness of the British officer that a brightlywritten defence of that person contributed to the Daily Mail is very welcome. The writer remarks on the amazing ignorance of most novelists on the subject. The average officer of to-day, says his defender—be takes the jase of a member of a "crack" corps stationed at Alderehot—sleeps iu a room furnished with ,a oamp bedstead, a wash-hand stand, a plain deal table, a bath, a ohect of drawers, and a strip of carpet. On the table stand a few photographs and a few bgoks—works on polo and golf and military treatises. Be rises at seven, breakfasts on bacon and eggs, with an occasional Bausage (a luxury), deals with his company delinquents at eight, and half an hour later probably takes his men out for training until half-past twelve. He returns to barracks,, inspects his company's rooms, and has a plain lunofa at falf-past one. In the afternoon there is an essay to be written, a tactical sobema to be worked out, a sketch to be com-

pleted, work to be doao on some ocmmittee, oourtrnartial duties to be performed, rifle praotioe to be watobed, or a war-game to be attended. Every week there is a route marob, and every fortnight afield day, nud there are numerous courses of training in signalling, musketry, mounted infantry work, and other subjeota to be gone through. From March to September, the period in whiob the various trainings are in progress, he is on his legs from morning till night. In bis spare time he plays polo, if he oan afford it, or something less expensive, and the opportunities to loaf are few. He does not drink champagne, and hardly ever wears r a monocle He is not brainless, or J he would not have passed his examinations, and he is not lazy, or he would not be permitted to stay in the servioe.

The passage of a Bill through the Cape legislature last month,empowering the trustees to send the Sir Ueoigi Greyoolleotion of Polynesian manuscripts to New Zealand, was indirectly the outcome of a visit of six weeks spent at the Cape recently oy the Kev. H. Williams, of Gisborne, who investigated 'the manuscripts and pointed out their great historical and literary value to this onloDy. With reference to objectionu expressed at Capetown and Auckland to the transfer of documents lodged in the respective libraries, it is pointed out that Sir George Grey clearly contemplated that his collection would be made available to New Zealand, scholars, and suggested ultimately:—-"I have no doubt frequent exchanges of literary treasures will take plaoe between them (New Zealand) and the Cape, and that tbey will tons, each of them, by relinquishing something, gradually acquire these manuscripts, which in their respective estimation they think it most desirable that eaoh country should possess." Sinne the Government of the Cape is willing to let New Zealand have the manuscripts as a loan returnable on demand, the Poverty Bay Herald suggest*) that this offer be accepted with gratitude, and that during the time tbey remain in New Zealand tbey should be placed in the custody of the Polynesian Society, an organisation that would jealously guard them, and is in a position to make the best use of them.

The Native Land Return recently presented to tbe Legislative Council has now been summarised and printed. It has been found impossible co five suoh details as the exact area of milling timber and precise figures as to the class of land, etc, but the information set out makes the return considerably more valuable than it was in tbe first instance. It is shown that tbe total area of land ic tbe Auckland district is 3,768,897 acres, of which 1,571,974 acres are forest. The total area is owned by 58,028 individuals. In Hawke's Bay there are 1,108,316 acres, of which 462,781 is unproductive, owned by 25,986 different people. In Taranaki there are 495,210 acres of which 96,192 acres are opened and 399,018 in bush. The native population residing on these lands is estimated at 280 to 300. Tbe productive area is set down at 12,500 acres, and the unproductive at 482,710 aores. The country suitable for sawmilling .is estimated at 15,000 aores. The natives interested in tbe ownership of tbe whole are stated to number 8,722. Tbe area of native land in the Wellington district is set down at 1,506,744 aores owned by 10,869 different Maoris. Of the total area 231,700 acres is milling country.