The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY. OCTOBER 15, 1909. TYRANNY OF THE KITCHEN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2633, 15 October 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY. OCTOBER 15, 1909. TYRANNY OF THE KITCHEN.

An article which will evoke considerable sympathy on the part of women folk appears in a recent issue of the “International Magazine. ’ It is written by Dr. Hermann Beck, and it shows with much detail how the tyranny of the kitchen may be avoided by the construction of blocks of buildings with private sets of rooms for each family, but with a common kitchen from whence food may be supplied well-cook-ed and to the individual order of each family. Here is a description of the present too well known tryanny :

In one only of the most important branches of economic labor, that of the preparation of food for human consumption, the retail system of the individual household prevails everywhere. What a very retailed system it is! Iu a city, such as Berlin, for instance, in many hundreds of thousands of kitchens ot all sorts and sizes, roasting and boiling are being done daily at many hundred thousand fires by many hundred thousand women in millions l , of pots and pans! What a mad expenditure of the time and labor particularly of women, and what a lavish expenditure of money from the economic point of view, and all this in our busy age, on the part of people who would smile if other branches of economic consumption were organised on such an out-of-date, primitive, and irrational basis.

Cookery by the retail method suffers from the lack of labor-saving appliances. How much better can many dishes be prepared in large utensils! What a lavish expenditure of firing! To this add the extra cost of purchasing the materials for cooking. Everything is fetched in the very smallest quantities, and naturally at much greater cost. Moreover, the ability to cook is partly an art that cannot be learnt, but a natural talent given to the fullest extent only to a small number of girls and women. The system of individual household cookery rests, however, on the false assumption that every woman is capable of cooking. The indifferent feeding of the family, and perhaps even an unhappy marriage may often :e li t consequences of this false ass Ui. p.ion and compulsory arrangemo it. Here is a picture of the house w.lh the single kitchen:

In tli-o single-kitchen house more regard can be paid to the wishes of the individual than in the single household, because a choice is possible for each member of the family, and, therefore, the whole family is not compelled to eat the same food. But, at the same time, the meal is taken in one’s own house, in the intimacy of the family circle or with friends. The dishes are taken at the indicated hour from the dinner-lift, and every one sits down to the meal, the lady of tlie house in particular, with a far better appetite than if she had spent the whole forenoon in the kitchen. This must make a very attractive picture to many a 'woman whose multifarious duties have depressed and overwhelmed her. As Dr. Beck says, the married woman is often mother, nurse, and, perhaps, also teacher of her children; sweetheart, companion and fielp meet of her husband; alike supreme in the drawing-room n id hoioei'.cener’s department; cook, seamstress, laundrymaid, etc., with, perhaps, some commercial or artistic occupation of her own —the whole comprised in one individual. Amid all this vers it I '.tv :» she not frequently condemned to remain an amateur in many of these branches? Is it not conceivable that she is forced to neglect even the first-mentioned duties towards children and husband, quite apart from the execution of any professional duties? The one-kitchen house, however, relieves the married woman from just that portion of her previous labors which can be most easily and in many cases, even better performed by others in the course of theii regular employment. This is a form of centralisation which should be quite practicable for immediate adoption in large cities, but it is not so easy to arrange in communities where population is more scattered. All the same, the principle is so sound that it is only a question of time when all obstacles will have been overcome and central cooking, will lighten the present incessant drudgery that comprises the lot of the majority of housewives.

Til© usual monthly meeting of the Waikohu County Council will bo held at Te Karaka to-day. In the Clydesdale class at the Dunedin horse parade, the judges said that the first four would hold their own m any prize-ring in the world. The usual monthly meeting of the Hospital Trustees will take place tilts evening at 7.30 p.m. in the County Council Chambers. The usual week'y parade of the Gisborne Rifles will be held as usual this evening, but will commence at 7.20 p.m. instead of 7.30 p.m., the customary hour. On a population basis, indeed, a Cabinet of six North island Ministers and four from the South Island would not be so far out, yet, in spite of this, we find Southern journals coollv suggesting that Mr. Hogg's successor shad bo a South Island representative. —Napier “Telegraph.”

Wool continues to come into town freely. Two large bullock waggons, heavily loaded, arrived yesterday morning, one of them containing portion of the well-known Rimuroa clip from Waimata. It is expected that quite a quantity of local wool will lx* snipped in time for the January sales in Ixntclon.

The Union Company’s Waikare is to make a couple of trips from Dunedin to the West Coast Sounds this summer. For the first she is to leave Dunedin on December 23rd and return on December 29th. The second trip is to begin on December 30th and conclude with the steamer’s return to Dunedin on January sth. The Visiting Committee of the Charitable Aid Board paid a visit of inspection to the Old Men’s Home yesterday afternoon. There are at present 19 male and 3 female, occupants of the institution, who npjiear to be thoroughly well cared for and comfortable, everything in connection -with the building being spotlessly clean. On being questioned the inmates expressed themselves as being very satisfied with their treatment, and as having no complaints of any kind to make.

An extraordinary accident befel an albatross which was skimming along in the wake of the \iarriinoo on a recent passage from Sydney to Wellington. Somehow (says the ‘‘New Zealand Times”) the big bird got foul of the line attached to the patent log which is towed over the stern of the vessel to record the distance covered. The apparatus is spun around as it trails through the water, and the bird was mangled to death h- the log. The apparatus had to he pulled on board to free the remains of the bird.

Amongst the recent additions to the Auckland Museum Maori collection is an ancient treasure-box, which was used for holding greenstone and other valuables of n deceased chief, and then deposited in the same cave as the chief’s body. The box is carved in the shape of a human, figure, with its “hands” raised to its head in an attitude of KiiP’dication. It is very old, being probably a relic of a couple of hundred years nark. The front is carved with gpliods and ornaments in shallow carving.

Mr. C. R. C. Robieson, Director of Tourist Resorts, told a “Dominion ' reporter that the prospects for the c oming tourist season were very bright. The traffic at the northern resorts was heavier than it was at the same early date last year. Advices from the bureaux at Sydney and Melbourne were decidedly encouraging, showing that enquiries were numerous and that the tours proposed were more extensive than had usually been the case in the past. This was doubtless attributable to the prosperous condition of Australia at the present time.

“The anticipated improvement in the import market is* not yet strongly in evidence, though in some quarters a more buoyant "tone is reported,” says the “Trade Review,” in its current issue “The dairy trade is becoming active, and in another month or so the butter money circulating will give an impetus to country trade. In the softgoods branch the season’s trade, so far, has been somewhat quiet, but better in the country than in town, where stocks are still rather heavy. The general prospects of the produce season, however, are distinctly cheerful, and a more decided improvement is looked forward to with confidence.”

A trick of the trade in regard to the frozen lamb and mutton business was divulged at the mooting of the. Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, by tho chairman of directors, who stated that one of his follow directors, followed the practice of closely watching the reports of the Australian Eleven matches in England, as an index to the state of the meat market. If play was interfered with by rain, he told hiniselfwitli a knowing nod, that prices for lamb and mutton would recede, while reports of bright weather would indicate that prices would be in favor of tbe producer. The chairman said that prices for lamb and mutton had this year been very disastrous, owing to tho cold, wet summer that had been experienced.

The second of a series of “all-right” nights, under the auspices of the Druids’ Lodge, was held at the Masonic Hall last evening, and proved an unqualified success, the hall being crowded. The function was of a most enjoyable character, and everyone appeared on pleasure bent. The firstpart of tho evening was devoted to progressive euchre, the ladies’ prize falling to Mrs. Grattan, whilst Mr. Eaton carried off the gentlemen’s prize. The “booby” prizes were secured by Mrs. Lichtwark and Mr. H. Crighton. After supper had been dispensed, dancing was indulged in, and the music and' floor being of a. high class order, everything went off with a merrv swing. The music was supplied bv Mr. and Mrs. West, Mr. N. Kirk, Mrs. Lichtwark, and Mr. Oowlev. Songs were contributed by Messrs R. M’ilkinson, Hyland, Barclay, and Crighton. Mr. W. Pilcher carried out the duties of M.C. in an efficient manner.

“It is said that men are losing their chivalry—that they do not pay women tho same respect as they were wont to do,” said Mrs. Ncligan to a mass meeting of girls at the Auckland Choral Hall. “Surely,” she continued, “that is our own fault. Every girl is treated by man according to her own standard and her own dignity.” (Applause.) Miss Fulling, head mistress of the Diocesan High School, referred to the same tiling. “We have got to keep tho world wholesome ior the rest—l mean men and children,” she said. “Men and children, you know, are very much alike. They both take their standard from you. If you are flippant. the men will sink to your level, liacau.se. for the most part, they are ashamed to be better than you, but they want to be as good as you.” “That is absolutely true,” said tho Bishop. “No man will ever say or do anything in the presence of a girl which she docs not want him to do or say.”

be a complete change of program™at stares *- “The monthly meeting of the Cook gxss toThe “Southlnnd Times” go's ‘hot It News” >s well over £30,000. (it n +s of people can find money OI the raceswlion ‘they cannot find money tor their tailor or grocer- At-toast, tint is inv experience, said ->lr x Um‘ S.M.? in the Magistrate s Court, yesterday. Communications with at Melbourne arc being .made hi th Salvation Army authorities tor - Zealand regarding the objections adc | )V Island Bay residents to the I'Toil establishment of a Prisoners Lc-cuc Home in that district. “Sheep in the country are in good condition, and farmers are m ianly good heart owing to the good .prices wool is fetching, though mutton Jo st.il low ” said an expert in these matters at the Matawhcro stock sales yesterday. The Australian Mutual Provident Society notifies that the amount of profit distributed among policy holders toi thevear 1903 exceeded £i 40,000. -V. number of examples of bonuses declared on wlio’e life policies affected during the last quarter of 1908 are given in an advertisement in this issue. The summer of 1909 will be an important one for the borough of Grey [,vnn (remarks the “New Zea.and ireraid”). In consequence of the raising of the loan of £45,000 and the arrangement with the Bank of New Zealand for cutting up and forming roads on the Surrey Hills Estate, a* large amount of work will be undertaken by the Borough Council in the near fiKUie.

Miss Celia Ghiloni, who will re-appear in Gisborne with the Hugh V aid Company, has the true artist s instinct, for chough possessed of a very fine stage appearance she revels in parts that require ugly ‘make-ups.” Those who remember her splendid performance of Katisha in “3 he Mikado” will Ik* interested in her impersonation ci the vinegary spinster, Minerva, in “A Bachelor’s Honeymoon.” As the result of the accidents which took p’ace in connection with the cycle races held at the Labor Day sports it is stated that no more of these events will be held in the Domain. The track is unfit for racing whilst the fact that spectators, including children, are permitted on the enclosure, makes the racing dangerous to all parties, The newly formed cycling Club is agitating for a special track as the popularity of the racing is invariably manifested by the great interest shown by the public.

That people who go to the races do not drink merely for the sake of drinking has been amply exemplified at Avondale, savs the “Auckland Star.”

The club’s racecourse is now in toe dry area, and this prevents the order, to suit the convenience cf their patrons, issuing cf a booth for the course. In regard to those who were seized with thirst during the racingthe club converted the booth into a temperate hostelry, and so great was the rush on the soft stuff that the whole of the stock laid in for the meeting was consumed on the first dry. A narrow escape from drowning in the Waimata River was reported yesterday. A Mr Allen, who for some time has been staying with Mr T. F. Brown, of Kaiti. attempted to cross to that gentleman’s house from the opposite side of the river. He got into difficulties, but just managed to reach the other side. He was too much exhausted to climb up the hank and hung on to an overhanging willow until Iris cries for help were heard. When discovered Mr Allen was in a very weak state, and eoulcl not have held on much longer, but quickly recovered on being assisted indoors.

The novel sight of a cat mothering a iitter of young rabbits may be seen at Mr. Bennett’s farm, near Palmerston North (says the “Manawatu Evening Standard”). Mr. Bennett, while ploughing, discovered four small rabbits only a few hours old, and brought them home and gave them to his sister, who tried the experiment of rearing them with her cat, who was suckling kittens at the time. The cat had six kittens, and four were drowned. The young rabbits, which immediately took the place of the drowned animals, at once settled down with their new mother, and at present are doing well, their foster-mother treating them as members of the family. The rabbits run about and do not seem tho least upset in their new quarters. There seems to he good prospect of prosperous times ahead in the immediate future of the Auckland province. The “New Zealand Herald” states that reports received from all parts of the province show that there are bright prospects for an excellent dairying season, while the flax industry, which received a severe check last year. will, owing to the increased prices now prevailing. soon be in full swing once more. Flaxmills are re-opening in manv parts of the province, and the cutting and treatment, of the loaf should soon provide employment for a large number of hands. The supply of labor in the city is being drawn on to a considerable extent, but in view of the fact that the erection of big public and other buildings in Auckland will soon absorb a much larger number of hands, and that contracts are being let in connection with the drainage scheme, many men are disinclined to take country work, and there seems a .possibility of employers being soon faced with a dearth of labor, instead of a surplus, as has been the case for some time past. Now that Halley's comet, has been discovered, as it was by Professor Wolf, of Heidelburg, on September 11, there can no longer be any doubt as to whether it is going to return again or not, as some were thinking; and it will probably not be ’eng before it becomes a prominent object in our skies. Certainly all the resources of modern science will he brought to bear upon it (says an authority) as they never could have been before, and for probably the first time in the history of • astronomy it will be photographed with accuracy, instead of our having to depend upon eye-sketches as formerly. Every effort will be made to obtain accurate measures of its position, and the particulars of its orbit. The recurrence of the same doubts as to its reappearance in conformity with prediction which were current in 17-38, when it was first anticipated, are curious; they show that the tendency to contradict sciont'fie inductions has not yet disappeared from the popular mind, just as the idea that the earth is flat is still cherished by certain people, in flat opposition to all evidence of every kind. But the motion of comets, like the shape of our globe, is not ruled by such notions, which, like the megatherium and the ichthyosaurus, are mere relics of a past and gone state of things.

The Gisborne Lawn Tennis Club* will open the season cn Saturday, October 23rd on the Kaiti courts. y special meeting of the committee ot { T,e Chamber of Commerce takes place at the Borough Count-.. Chambers this evening a t 7.30. The rumor of the impending resignation of Mr. W. Dirniie, Commissioner uf Police, has been revived in southern papers ’ When seen by a Dominion importer, Mr. Dinnie again emphatically denied it. There is. says the “N.Z. Herald,” every prospect of a ia.rly successful •ind profitable strawberry crop in the Birkenhead, Nortlicote. and surroundj,)districts this season, although it is expected the crop will not be quite so heavy as last year. From statistics supplied by the International Bureau at Berne, it appears that New Zealand stands twelitii amongst the countries of the world in respect to its telegraph business exceeding such countries as Holland, Switzerland. Spain, J-gvpt, Sweden, Turkey and Portugal. Mr Hugo had a full house at his last lecture on physiognomy last evening. st, the close Mr Hugo expressed his pleasure at having had so good attendances at all his lectures, especially such a number of young people. Mr Hugo wiil also lecture in the country places, due notice of which will be given.

Itefering to the Timber Commission, tho “Otago Daily Times” says:—W* see nothing in the report that can be

said to represent an adequate return for the .large sum expended upon the. commission A Certainly no information, is funds bed which could not have been equally well obtained, at a mere fraction of the cost, by a select committee of Parliament. A social, which is expected to be a most successful function, is that under 'the auspices of the Alhambra Club which is to take place on Tuesday night next in WhinravT Hall. The floor will be subjected to a special preparation, and Lang’s orchestra will supply the music, with the catering, under the capable direction of Mr 18. Moot ton. An enioyab’e evening is promised to those who attend the Social. At the invitation of the world-fam-ous guide, Maggie Papakura. over 300 poepi© assembled in the native reserve •it Whakarewarewa last week to witness. the ceremony of the opening of her row wharc. This is a large, substantia: build in'*' lit throughout by electricity, and the eyes of the figurehead arc- represented by two -'-lectne lights. It has been named “T uhornmataknka.” being called after the eldest son of Tamatc-kapua. the wellknown chief who came to New Zealand in the canoe Arawa from Hawaii!:!. Argentine frozen mutton is selling, increasingly in Rome. Hie municipal council are formulating a scheme for its admittance on a large scale. StTltzerlar.d is now open to receive frozen meat, under reasonable regulations. In 1840 there were 32. sheep in France; now there are but 17.000,000. Owing to these figures, and also owing to the fact that mutton and lamb are now very much a la mode, there -should be a good chance for frozen meat in that country, if the agrarians could be checked. A gigot ueg) of mutton now costs in Paris Os to 7s. A circular letter from the Ven. Archdeacon Williams, Bishop's Commissary, lias been distributed throughout this diocese of Waiapu. appealing for funds with the o hject* cf completing the See Endowninent Fund before the close o: the present year. An effort is being made to increase the Endowment and provide funds fer building the Bishop's residence, and the circular states that a further sum of £3OOO would, with, the £ for £ subsidy up to £7OOO offered by the late Bishop of the Diocese and several of his relatives, complete the fund, and provide an adequate stipend for" the Bishop. Tlie New Zealander is a übiquitous individual, says the “N.Z. Times.” He turned up at Buenos Ayres when the tram" steamer Lodoror was at the Argentine port. A Dunedinite who had been roughing it in Alaska came on beard and was permitted to work Ins passage to Newcastle. Fortunate, y for the New Zealander, the Lodorer had to make for Wellington, thus enabling. him to reach his home more easily. While the vessel was battling: with a severe .gale he fell down tlie stokehold, and received a severe gash on the head. The chief officer put several stitches in the wound. Writing under date of September llth. the San Francisco correspondent

of the "Press” states; —The seventeen Maoris who were forbidden to land at this port because they were declared to be suffering from the dangerous eyedisease trachoma, are now in New York with the rest of the troupe, engaged to give -erformances at the Hippodrome. It came about just as had been anticipated. Probably the immigration doctors themselves came to the conclusion that they had been wrong in diagnosing the trouble as trachoma. Every independent expert, consulted: declared them mistaken. Still, they had' to save their faces, so they kept tho -alleged afflicted Maoris under treatment in the -uarantine hospital tor a time, and then declared them cured, and allowed them to proceed to New York. It is fortunate for the Ma oris, and oveit more so for the Hippodrome Company, that sufficient influence was brought to bear to induce tho Y\ ashington authorities to stay the order of deportation. The seventeen narrowly escaped being sent straight back to New Zealand, and the Hippodrome was almost loft with the meagre remains of a troupe of its hands with a nine months’ engagenemt. Now everyone is happy.

“Trade ruined”; “Bettor than over”; "Just about the same.” These are (stated the Melbourne “Argus” on the -20th nit.) the various views expressed by business people in different, Melbourne suburbs as to the result of the Saturday half-holiday. Those who find their trade ruined' are in a minority. 11 hosp who find business better than ever seem to have benefited b v some of the trade diverted from other channels by reason of the lialf-holiday. The people whose business lias neither expanded nor fallen off are perfectly content, and do not wish for a reversion to the Wednesday half-holiday. Interviews with suburban shopkeepers indicate that at least the amount of money formerly spent, on the necessaries >of life is still so expended, and few complaints are heard from grocers, clothiers, or butchers. If an injury has been done, it is to pastrycooks and confectioners and to sellers of fancy goods and toys. Pastrycooks do not close on Saturday afternoon, but they lose a “catch” trade from people who used to shop on that afternoon. This they say they cannot regain, as women now make at home whs* they used to buv for Sunday. These tradesmen also lose the Saturday afternoon tea business. Fancy goods dealers find that money formerly spent on toys and ornaments is now used to pay for amusements.