TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9663, 30 November 1909, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. ] i The only amendment made by the Lands Committee in the Land for Settlements Bill is in relation to leases to employees on properties prior to acquisition by the Government. The Bill proposed that section 53 ot the Land for Settlements Act, (which gives power to grant leases to employees in certain cases without competition) shall, only apply where the person employed by the late owner of the land had been continuously employed on the property ftr at least five years previous to acquisition. This has been struck out, and in its place has been inserted a clause : repealing section 53 altogether.

INFLUENCE OF A COMET. The secret is out. All the strange and hitherto unexplained happenings of the day are attributable to the approach of Ha Hey's Comet. Those who read the list of occurrences recorded against the dates of the previous visits of this stellar wanderer must have been struck by the persistent way in which it has brought the unexpected in its train. To go no further back than one of the last visits of the comet we find that it caused a political crisis in England. Who can gainsay that a similar crisis is ripening for fruition just about January next, when this fearsome trailing star is again due to be visible? The very fate of the House of Lords is in the balance at Home, and a socialistic upneaval threatens. In our own country the influence of Halley's Comet is just as patent. What else can have caused Sir Joseph Ward and his Cabinet to become freeholders?

THE WOOL MARKET. Mr F. W. Warren, speaking at the meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, was especially appreciative of the position of the wool market. "Never before in the history of New Zealand has the wool industry appeared brighter," he said, "and there are three factors that should work to produce a record in the value of this our most important product. In the first place we have a record flock of 213,480,907. Then we have the. wool in splendid condition, owing to the unusually fine winter. The staple ia sound and well grown, and what wool has come forward is bright, clean and wellnourished. Finally, we have a buoyant market, and the prices current at last week's sale are such as to satisfy the most optimistic grower. Reports from all parts of the Dominion anticipate an extra weight per fleece of a quarter to half a pound, as compared with last year. This additional weight, added to that of the extra 1,031,654 sheep, should produce 35,800 bales. Last year's export was 190,428,3261b. or 491,757 bales, valued at £5,975.283. I think lam within the mark in estimating this year to produce bales, which, if prices hold somewhere near present values, will yieH a return oc fully £7,500,000, or an increase over last year ot £1,500,000."

ESSAYS BY CONVICTS. Down in Duncdiu t'e kind persons who take an interest in criminals have been catering to the literary and moral instinct* of the imprisoned ones. The moat recent outcome of this is a series of essays by the. dishonest on "flow to be Honest." or something like that. So beneficial a scheme should not be allowed to languish for want of support. Much excellent reading, both light and instructive, might be obtained from the ! pens of convicts. For inatance, what could be more interesting than a paper on "The Suppression of Passion," by a murderer "Dangers of, Heavy Boots" would be a subject upon which many a burglar might wax eloquent, whilst "How to Hold a Pen," should be delightfully told by the average forger. Of course there ' would be a difficulty in getting

criminals to reveal trade secrets, but essays might be planned in which they might disclose the sweets and soars of servitude, and so on. The ide aof a dishonest person writing about honesty is delicious. It is on a par with the spinster devoting many written words in advising 1 matrons huw to manage "hubby," and what to feed the baby on. A clergyman would be no better authority upon how to run a gambling den, whilst it could not be expected of a washerwoman that ahe should produce a noteworthy article on naval warfare. Nevertheless, all these subjects treated by the persons referred to should strike a new note in "literature. The main point is, however, to encourage our j convicts to become teachers of morals ! instead of "'orrible exarnDles. "