The Waipukurau Press. Friday, April 20, 1906. Notes.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 20 April 1906, Page 2

The Waipukurau Press. Friday, April 20, 1906. Notes.

—o — The local Jockey Club is to be congratulated on the excellent meeting held on Monday. Gate receipts and public attendance showed marked increases on previous years. Of course, fine weather is to be largely credited for such a result; still the fact that the meeting is conducted on proper, up-to-date lines must be an inducement for people to attend m such large number. Many go for the sake of wagering; other for a day’s outing and to see friends ; while not a few attend to view the racing of the horses, which in itself is an exciting and harmless form of amusement: only when the betting element is introduced can the most circumspect person take exception to horseracing. A feature of Monday’s meeting was the large attendance of ladies ; a few “ had something on the tote,” but the great majority went for the mere pleasure of meeting friends, to see and to be seen ; very few to watch the racing. The meeting was highly successful from every point, and the club’s fortune will no doubt prompt it to “go one better ” next time.

The quinquennial census is to be taken in New Zealand at the close of the present month, and active preparations for the occasion are in progress. As the dates for taking the census have now been synchronised in all parts of the British dominions, the coming “numbering of the people ” will provide an opportunity oi noting the exact population of the Empire, and its condition socially, educationally, etc. Dunug the lorty years elapsing from 1861 to 1901, England’s Queen reigned over 259 millions of people, occupying some 8| million square miles uf the earth’s surface. In 19U1 King Edward VII. could call practically 400 million men, women, and cnildren “ My people,” and the area ol nis dominion was 11,90a,u7b square miles. Broadly speaking, the 100 millions of British a subjects residing within the Empire’s limits may be divided into “ whites ” and “ coloured.” The latter vastly outnumber the former, for whilst there are approximately only 54 million whites, the “ culled pussons ” muster 344 millions—over six to one.

The great struggle for supremacy which took place a year or two ago between the shipping companies controlling the trans-Atlantic traffic is about to have a parallel in the the fight now begun between the two direct lines trading between New Zealand and London, on the one hand, and the Federal-Houlder bhire company on the other. The two companies running the direct service are the New Zealand Shipping Co. and Hie Shaw, Savill and Albion Co. Their rivals have hitherto been satisfied with a monopoly of the trade between New Zealand and the West of England ports, leaving the trade with London in the undisputed possession ot the other two companies. What the real cause may be of the dispute which has now culminated in a rate cutting war, hag been so far a matter for conjecture. The point which the public will readily grasp is that the battle of rates will give visitors to the Old Country an excellent opportunity of having the cheapest trip on record. The Federal Houlder Company are offering passages, at the rates of 25 guineas tor saloon and 12 guineas for third class, to London. The freight charges are also reduced. Such a war, if continued for long, can, of course, end only in a gigantic loss for all the companies concerned. Meanwhile, there is the tempting chance for all and sundry of having a marvellously cheap holiday.

The valuable exhibit which the Imperial Government has to send to the New Zealand International Exhibition will add much to the prestige of that enterprise. It is proposed to spend £lO,OOO on an exhibit representative of British art and education. The art section will include oil and water-colour paintings by artists who are members of the chief academies and art societies in the United Kingdom ; engravings, etchings, ana black-and-white drawings; small pieces of sculpture; architectural designs of public and private buildings; and specimens of applied arts, such as work in metal, wood, and glass, bookbinding, printing, embroidery, caligraphy, etc. The educational section of the exhibit will be illustrative of education in the schools, universities, and technical colleges of Great Britain. Geography and exploration will be fully illustrated. Specimens of modern pictorial aud scientific photography, of medals, coins, and seals produced at the Royal Mint, and plans of public works in Great Britain will be included, aud possibly a collection of antique armour and weapons.