THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1907. JAPAN AND THE WESTERN POWERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8472, 25 June 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1907. JAPAN AND THE WESTERN POWERS.

The Paris Matin publishes an interesting and weighty interview with' Mr Kurino, the Japanese Ambassador, on the desire of Japan to effect understandings with the Western Powers. The new Franco-Japanese agreement, he said, like that existing between England and Japan, involves no arriere pensee. It is directed against nobody and has exclusively in view the maintenance of peace in the Far East and the development of commercial and industrial relations between the contracting countries. The agreement now being negotiated between St. Petersburg and Tokio has the same object. The maintenance df the status quo in the Par East will soon be guaranteed by four Powers, which implies that these four Powers bind themselves to maintain the existing territorial conditions. But it further implies that these four Powers also bind themselves to prevent other nations from acquiring territory in those regions. Asked whether the Japanese Government might he disposed to negotiate a similar treaty with the United States, Mr Kurino is represented to have replied: "The Japanese Government is always ready to prove its peaceful intentions and its desire to cultivate the most amicable relations with the Western Powers. In .Japan, notwithstanding the incidents which have recently taken place at San Francisco, there is stM genuine sympathy for the American people, as it was America who was the first to treat the Japanese people on an equal footing. In concluding the treaty with France, of the broad lines of which you are aware, Japan creates relations by which its trade and industry will benefit, as they will henceforth attract the interest of the Paris market. If in concluding a treaty with America Japan wei-e to obtain any advantages, it is quite probable that the Government

of Tokio would not hesitate to enter into negotiations with Washington." Questioned as to whether he believed that a Germano-Japanese treaty similar to the Franco-Japanese treaty were possible, Mr. Kurino replied: "Germany has r.o territory in the Far East like you, England, America or Russia. Kiaochau is not a colony properly speaking. It is territory ceded on lease, by China. Consequently a treaty with Germany which would guarantee the preservation of mutual possession similar to those we shall have with France and Russia would have no raison d'etre." In the further course of the interview, in reply to a question as to whether Siam was included in what was called the Far East, the Japanese Ambassador said, "No, Siam is outside our treaties."

HOUSEKEEPING BY ELECTRICITY.

Mrs H. W.' Hillman describes in Good Housekeeping "the electric day" which habitually proceeds in her household. Her maid is awakened by the milkman, and finding it time to get up she turns on the switch at the head of the bed, which puts into operation the electric cereal cooker (Anglice, porridge-pan) in the kitchen, which is also a combination water boiler. By the time she is dressed and ready to go to the kitchen the water for the coffee is boiling. In the electric coffee percolator it becomes delicious coffee. In seven or eight minutes the coffee is ready for the table. The cereal and coffee being arranged, the switch for the frying-pan is turned on, and in one minute bacon and eggs are frying. "Ironing day" has been abolished. It requires but a few hours to finish i ironing with the electric fiatirons. The maid turns on the flatiron switch, and in j,three or four minutes starts to iron. To cook the boiled dinner a large four-quart electric kettle is employed, which, together with the potato-steamer and other utensils, | gives the electric outfit the appearance of a full-fledged cooking equipment commonly used with coal v and gas ranges. For a roast dinner the oven is turned on, being regulated by a three-heat switch. In fifteen minutes the device is ready for work. A 141b turkey has been admirably cooked in this electric oven. For breakfast the aluminium gridiron and electric broiler may be used instead of the electric frying-pan. After lunch callers are received in the musicroom, which is then heated by luminous radiators. The electric diningroom table is fitted with electric wiring receptacles and switches suitable for operating two or three devices, such as coffee percolators, chafing dishes or water boilers for serving tea: The sewing-room has an electric motor attached to the machine, and a small nickel-plated fiat-iron ready at a moment's notice for use. All the wardrobes are supplied with electric light, with switches outside the door. There is also an electric shaving mug. The writer says that the cost will no doubt be" greater than if coal or gas were, used, but that is more than compensated for by cleanliness and ease of manipulation. There are also electric cigarlighters, heating pads, percolators, curling-irons, shaving mugs, baby milk-warmers, etc. Electric Kettles vary in price from 24s to £3 15s. The cost of an electric oven will vary from £lO upwards. The writer adds that there is not the slightest danger to be apprehended from the use of electricity.