Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-30

South Wales. The nefarious practice of
''crimping" has created a situation which
| is becoming intolerable. and this in spite
| of the act specially passed last year TO
put an end to the traffic. 1t is stated that
| the law is openly def1ed. and that seamen
are victimized and shipowners blackmail-
| ed with the utmost impunity. At a re-
cent meeting of the council of the local
| chamber OF commerce a member men
| toned that formerly "crimps charged 50
per head for supplying sailors, but since
| the PRONUNCIATION of the local government
ordinances the mercenary wretches had
advanced the price to SO per head. and
the. masters were compelled to pay this
blood money or go without crews. More
over. the "crimps'' contrived to mplicate
the shipmasters by making them a re-
| bate per capita. in order that the traffic
, in flesh and blood should be kept quiet
For years past the steady spread of the
prickly pear in Queensland has been re-
garded as a curse. and standing re-
ward of $4,000 Is offered by the govern
ment to the inventor who comes along
with some effective scheme for the eradi-
cation of the pest From the investiga-
tions of X NJ. Gibson. local chemist. II
would appear that Queenslanders have
! inwittingly slandered one of the most
useful members of the vegetable king
DOM Mr.. Gibson claims for the desplsed
plant SO many valuable properties that
fortunes would seem to be waiting the
enterprising individuals who. exploit its
lieve,'' he says. that in the near future
it's growth will be cultivated with as
much vigor as any marketable product at
the present time. I have obtained from
it a white spirit equal In quality TO IN
best obtainable in the commonwealth,
and sold in Brisbane at $S.12 per gallon
The cost of production would not exceed
81 cents per gallon In treating for white
spirit the by-prOduct. combined with other
products can be made into a nutritious
feed-cake for stock at cost of not more
than $3.50 per ton. The cost of feed
cake in this state is $3.50 per ton.
Make Paper From It.
Also from this refuse excellent straw
board and white paper can be manufac-
tured at a cheaper rate than any product
now in use In using the prickly pear as
pulp and forcing it under hydraulic
pressure articles of great commercial
value can be obtained-dishes, buckets
Jugs while fioorcloth much cheaper and
as good as linoleum can be got IN any
color Last, but not least, it makes eX-
ceIlent sugar For this purpose two tons
of prickly pear will produce as mucn
sugar as three tons of sugar cane ana OF
equal quality AS a vegetable for human
consumption it is equal to anything pro-
duced in the kitchen garden.
Owing to the rise in the price of coal.
the government of South Australia has
recently concluded negotiations for the
purchase of $500 acres of land in New
South Wales for the purpose of estab-
fishing their own mine. About eighty
acres have been cleared. dam has
been constructed and preparations are
being made for sinking. This new de-
parture in state ownership, regarded
with miSgiVingS in certain quarters. heaS
given unbounded satisfaction to the
socialists who confidently look for an
early extension of the principle.
MormOnism seems TO be making head
way among the MaOriS in New Zealand.
1t is reported that the mission at Hast
about $4,000 in esta blishing college
for the ducating of natives. Accommo-
dation is to be provided for hundred
students and a capable staff of teach
ers. who are to instruct them in scien-
tific farming. stock raising. carpentry.
blacksmithing. engineering and
draughtsmanship. All this will be done
free of charge. with money sent from
Salt Lake City.
For Shipwrecked Sailors.
Many years ago the New Zealand gov
eminent established on the Auckland,
Campbell Bounty. Antipodes, Kermadec
and Shares islands depots, in which
were placed stores for the use Of ship
wrecked sailors. Only the other week
the crew of the French bark President
Felix Faure was cast away on one of
the rocky islets composing the An
tipodes group, and their lot during the
sixty days of their enforced STAY was
greatly ameliorated by the fact that
when they landed, foodless fireless
and drenched to the skim they found
stores and shelter awaiting them. 1t