TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8366, 23 February 1907, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The outbreak of bubonic plague iri Sydney has'evidently not yet reached its climax. It is easy to conceive what a serious matter this may be fo v Sydney, and, indeed, for the whole of Australia. So tar as Sydney is concerned, one (definite case has occurred in the very heart of the city, and to enforce quarantine in the great block adjoining the Post Office would be practically to paralyse the commercial activity of that splendid town. Beyond this, the necessity for careful inspection of all goods and passengers that have passed through Sydney would have an immediate eifect upon the inter-State traffic of the Commonwealth, a large proportion of which "-centres round Now South Wal'.-.a and its capital. Of enure, if the ].iague should get a firm hoid of the populous quarters of the city the loss of life may be appalling. But there is not any very serious danger of this at present.

The population statistics recentlypublished by the Registrar-General should afford some consolation to those' people who are constantly deploring the slow increase in our numbers. Since 1902 our total population rose from about 808,000 to about 909,000; and" at this rate we may reasonably hope to reach the million limit within the next five years. Since 1902 our numbers have gone up steadily at the rate of nearly 2,5000 a year; and though our birth rate is low compared with that of many other countries, our death rate is so low that it more than compensates. The excess of births over deaths last year was nearly 16,000, and for the past five years the excess was 71,394. The net gain in population for 1906 was 28,761. Another interesting fact brought out by these figures is the steady growth -of our immigrant population. In 1902 the net increase from abroad, after deducting those who left New Zealand, was nearly 8,000, and in 1903 it was over 10,000. Even in 1905, when there was a slight temporary exodus, our net gain from abroad was 9,302; and last year the arrivals from other lands were 12,848 in excess of the departures.

The rumors of an understanding between Britain and Russia are being revived, and the statements now are so positive that we must suppose them to have a basis of fact. The renewal of the Anglo-Japanese alliance unquestionably changed the whole situation in Asia. Under that agreement, it will be remembered, Britain and Japan will make common cause in the event of either of them being attacked in the Far East or' in India, and the provisions are sufficiently broad to secure Eastern Asia or India against any political development or against any action by a European Power that would threaten the interests of either of the nations in alliance. By the much-discussed colonial frontiers agreement with France, again, Britain practically secured South Eastern Asia against dangerous developments. It may be that the understanding in this case sacrificed the interests of some of the natives of Indo-China, but the definition of boundaries has removed a well-recognised source of possible conflict between Britain and France, and so far as European Powers are concerned, peace is apparently secured round the whole coast from Vladivostock to Karachi.

The example set by an American newspaper proprietor, who Opens the news department each morning with a service of prayer, is about to be emulated on the New York Stock Exchange in the hope of elevating the standard of morality of all engaged in financial transactions (lays the London Daily Mail's New York correspondent). This departure in the daily life of Wall Street is an elaboration of the plan originated by Mrs G. Alden Gaylor, who commences business in her brokerage offices with prayer. The Wall Street

services are to be conducted by the Rev. Henry Marsh Warren, who occupies the unique position of hotel chaplain in New York. For years Dr. Warren has fulfilled the mission of attending the emergency calls of the inhabitants of hotels who may desire to have children baptised or to receive spiritual consolation. Dr. Warren now announces that he has been in communication with Messrs John Rockefeller, Jacob H. Schiff, Jefferson, Seligmann, and others well-known in Wall Street, and hopes for the co-operation of many of thern in the new movement. Dr. Warren and his co-adjutors propose to open the business of Wall Street each Wednesday morning with a service of prayer and hymn on the kerb in front of the Stock Exchange. Well-known singers will be engaged to lead the singing.