The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1909. BUILDING BRITISH DREADNOUGHTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2537, 25 June 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1909. BUILDING BRITISH DREADNOUGHTS.

While the cablegrams are constantly giving ns reminders of the feverish haste with which Germany is building her fleet, wo are quite without news in regard to corresponding activity on the part of the British Government. When the naval estimates were being discussed the leader of the Government conceded the perils of the situation, and both he and Sir EdwaM Grey have on many subsequent occasions stoutly affirmed the determination of the Government to maintain at all hazards Britain’s naval supremacy. Yet every few weeks brings us proof that Germany possesses much greater capacity for rapid battleship construction than was formerly believed possible, and is actually working considerably ahead of the schedule laid down by her naval law, which was officially confirmed a few months back by Admiral In other words/it is foolish to place any reliance upon these unsolicited assurances of German officialdom, and the broad fact must be faced that this virile foreign people will, at the present respective rates of progress, before long have a fleet superior to our own. For at present Britain still lags and little, save talking, seems to have been done. Writing on May 15th, under the heading, “Two Months'Wasted," the London “Daily Mail” said:We hope that the effect of the delays which are occurring in the ordering of guns, gun-mountings,- and armour for the four British Dreadnoughts of this year’s programme is clearly understood. In his speeches on the Navy Estimates Mr McKenna admitted that it was impossible to complete, a British battleship in two years if those essential parts were not ordered well ahead of the hulls, and ho indicated that the time requirod to build a British Dreadnought, from the giving of the first order for the materials, was thirty months. It follows that, as he has wasted two months without giving the orders which ho promised on March 16 should be placed “at once,” the completion or the new ships may bo'delayed, and they may not bo ready till thirty-two months from March 16. The .reason why they wore to. be completed' by July 1911, was that then one of the “danger periods” for this country will begin. As Mr Balfour and Mr Lee showed, the German Navy will about that date draw ahead of the British Navy m Dreadnoughts, unless special and extraordinary precautions are taken. Now through Mr McKenna’s refusal to take these special precautions the risk has been incurred that the first of tno new British Dreadnoughts-will not be at sea till much later than July 1911. It is a tremendous risk, so tremendous indeed that the . question of every thoughtful man will be: Does tlio British Government really grasp what is at stake for this country in the maintenance of its undisputed command of the sea? Since the above was written the only news of importance, which has reached us by cablb is the fact that the British Government has' apparently decided that the four “contingent” Dreadnoughts which were mentioned as a possible addition to the four definitely placed on the year’s programme, will' not be laid down this year. Truly the position is far from reassuring to Britishers, and will probably be. deemed by the Germans to be most encouraging. Any apathy or weakness apparent or real on Britain’s part will most certainly spur the. Germans on in their desperate, struggle for naval supremacy.

The adjourned meeting of the Poverty Bay Employers’ Association will bo held in the Farmers’ Union rooms at 8 p.m. on Monday next. ■ :V. It is announced that on Saturday (to-morrow) the train which ordinarily leaves Gisborne for To Karaka at 9.30 p.m. will leavo an hour later, and will run correspondingly late throughout. The choir and children taking part in the anniversary services of, St. Andrew’s Sunday School are to have a combined rehearsal thjs evening at 7.30 p.m. The Southland Erozon Meat Company’s works at Mataura are at present freezing fully 1000 sheep and Jambs daily, says the “Southland Times.” There is, however, a decline in the number of rabbits being packed for oxport, the weekly average amounting to not more than 25,000. With reference to the announcement made recently that Mr Foster Fraser, the well-known English author, is coming very shortly to Australasia to lecture, it appears that Mr Fraser’s object in coming is twofold; to lecture and to write a book upon Australia and New Zealand, which will be published early next year. For some time past Mr. A. T. Hookey, the organist of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, has been drilling a choir of children for the special service:! to be held on Sunday next in connection with the Sunday School anniversary, ancT a bright and delightful service of song is assured for the occasion. The final rehearsal takes place to-night. Mr. George Darton, who left on Wednesday night for Lawrence on receipt of information that his father was not expected to live many days, received a telegram in Wellington yesterday stating that his father had passed away peacefully that day. Mr. Darton, sonr., was 84 years of age, and was one of the oldest settlers in Central Otago. On inquiring among the farmers who attended the Matawhcro sale yesterday a “Times” reporter learned that, on account of tho mild winter experienced so far, lambing is expected to be early this season. Tho opinion was expressed that the outlook for the coming spring is hopeful, and if the value of stock would only rise in conformity with the improved wool market, farmers would have very little to complain about. Last year a conference of the various branches of the Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held in Wellington, and it is now desired that . there should be annual conferences. At the. last meeting of the Wellington blanch of the society it was decided to send circulars to all kindred societies, asking their opinion on the subject. Frankness is not generally supposed to be a characteristic of the politician. At Pahiatua recently, however, Mr It. B. Ross, M.P., at a social at which he received a purse of sovereigns, made tho following statement in a speech, which is reported verbatim in the Woodville paper: —“Financial help is always welcome to a Liberal member of Parliament, for they are mostly poor men, and were it not for such assistance they would be unable to continue the struggle or retain their positions !” A very interesting scientific lecture on tho mdestructability of matter as demonstrated by the chemistry of a candle will be given by Mr. T. C. Cox in the Y.M.C.A. rooms this evening. iThe lecture, which will bo open to all members of the Y.M.C.A. and their friends, will be illustrated by a number of chemical experiments, the apparatus being lent by Mr. Gatland, headmaster of the High School. The lecture, will commence at 7.30 o’clock, and should prove both entertaining and instructive. Maori hakas will shortly be a “turn” at the New York Hippodrome, if the mission of Mr It. W. Macßride is successful. Mr Macßride recently passed through Wellington on his way north to engage about forty Maoris to dance in New York. Tho idea was suggested to the manager of the theatre by an American with the Fleet on its recent visit to Auckland, and no time was lost in commencing negotiations. “I want the tattooed Maoris —tho real genuine thing,” said Mr Macßride to a press representative. Ho also explained that the troupe would bo required for a dancing turn of about twenty-five or thirty minutes. A Tenui (Wairarapa) farmer, who was in Wellington recently, gave his opinion that next season’s wool clip would be the greatest ever known in the Wairarapa. The beneficent autumn and winter seasons experienced right up to the present time have made the wool grow so rapidly that already there is on the sheeps’ backs a quantity almost equal to an ordinary year s yield, though there are three or fontmonths yet to pass before the shearing season comes. As the experience of the Wairarapa in regard to weather has been a general ono throughout New Zealand (says the Post”), a record season is being prophesied in respect of wool quantities. It is stated that a lady resident of Whangarei, who has tho power of discovering underground water by divination, has also found that she possesses the power of locating coal seams. In searching for water she was puzzlod by having a strong attraction. On one occasion, when in a building at Whangarei, under which a considerable quantity of coal was stored, she felt almost an irresistible inclination, and on making further investigations as to tho cause, found tho existence of coal. She has since tested the matter in various ways, and has found that tho attraction was invariably duo to the existence of coal. Since then it. is stated that she has done a good deal to assist in locating coal deposits in Whangarei, and in preventing useless boring in unfavorable positions. The funeral of the late Mr. E. H. Featon took place, yesterday afternoon at the Makaraka cemetery, and .was laro-ely attended. Tho Rev. Mr. Hamilton read the Church of England burial service at the graveside, and the remains were interred with military, honors. Tho pall-bearers were: Lieut.Colonel Winter, Captain J Warren, Captain Beere, Captain Zachariah, and Mr. G. H. Lysnar. Mr. Clare represented the Land and Survey, Department, and many other members or the civil service attended. Among the numerous messages of condolenco was a tefegram to Mrs. a eaten from the Acting-Premier (Hon. J. Carroll), as follows: “Deeplv grieved to learn that . your husband has passed away, after a long and honorable career, both in military service and as a progressive, citizen ot the Dominion. He rests from ms ; .labors. —J. Carroll.” r

An inset published with this issue of the “Gisborne Times” gives particulars in connnection with the “great moneyraising sale” now in progress at the Melbourne Cash Drapery Establishment, with details of the reductions made in the prices of the goods offered to the public. There was a moderate attendance in His Majesty’s Theatre last night on the occasion of the second performance, of the Imperial Picture Syndicate’s cinematograph entertainment. A great variety of pictures were thrown on tho screen, including films illustrating hu-, inor, pathos, and tragedy, and a number of colored scenic pictures, which were heartily applauded as they wore , projected on the screen. A specia.ly attractive film was that depicting the British Dreadnoughts and torpedo boats manoeuvring, the representation being most realistic. The entertainment will be repeated to-night, when there will be an entire change of programme. The New Zealand Employers’ Federation is thus touched on in tho annual report of the Wellington Association: —“This federation, members are doubtless aware, represents the whole of the organised employers’ associations of the Dominion, and is proving of valuable assistance to the great body of employers, as well as to employers individually. The federation is, your committee believes, wielding an important influence on legislation, and is proving instrumental in securing a proper and reasonable administration of industrial laws. In addition, it is educational, in that it is leading employers to a better conception of their responsibilities, rights, and privileges.” Half a Mil'ion Pounds.—Public curiosity has been much aroused during the last few days concerning the mysterious claim on the New Zealand Government for half a million pounds, and the sending Home of the SolicitorGeneral shows that it is a matter not to bo treated lightly. This, claim for half a mil ion, if substantiated, will mean a great loss to the colony, but it is only one of those unforeseen things that happen whether in the history of a colony or in any business enterprise. The great loss on many of the great bargains now offering at Melbourne Cash sale moans a very great loss to the firm, but at the commencement of a season it is impossible to foresee these things, and they have laid themselves open to clear their stock at any price. The public are evidently much appreciating this huge money-saving sale.*