GENERAL NEWS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16883, 10 July 1920, Page 8

GENERAL NEWS.

« • The 11.M.5. Tahiti, which arrived.at Auckland yesterday freni Vancouver, brought mails from England, Canada, and America. The southern portion should roach Christ-church to-morrow. The auction announcements of H. Matson and Co., P. S. Nicholls and Co., Harnian and Stevens, Craddoek's Agency Co., L. 3>. Nathan and Co., Norton and Co., D.algety and Co., McKenzie and Co., Harris Bros., George Anderson and Co., Lawrie and. Dalton, W. 10. Simcs and Co., New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., National Mortgage and Agency Co., H. C. .Smith, J. 10. Watson and Co., Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Co., Farmers' Saleyards, and Brown, Littlo and Co. -will be found on pages 17 and 16 of this issue. "I think wc should compliment the Hon C. J. Parr for his promptness in bringing this matter before the Department," said Mr John Jamicson, at yesterday's meeting of the Canterbury Education Board, when the Department's arrangements in respect of the Chatham Islands schools were under discussion. Mr Jamicson added that the Board had get an answer within three weeks —usually they got an answer in three yearsMr C. S. Howard announced at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board that the following communication had been received from Dr. W. J Anderson, Director of Education: "With reference to the Board's application, dated May 12th, for the erection of a manual training school at Timaru, I have to inform you that a grant of £323(5 has been approved for the purpose." Mr Howard expressed gratification with the Department's decision in a matter that had been for some time under consideration. Tho . building, which will be of wood, will contain four rooms —ono for cookery, another for woodwork, another for tho agricultural instructor, and for the inspector. The total number of "books issued from the lending department of the Canterbury Public Library during June was 16.0C0, compared with 13,030 taken out during June of last year. In the reference library 3718 works "were consulted, being 7GO more than the issue for June, 1919. In the juvenile library 1638 books were issued for home reading. The membership was increased by 149 new members enrolled during the past month. A very large number of new books -were- added during _ the month, 266 being placed in the circulating, 114 in the reference, and 18 in the juvenile library. Travelling libraries have been recently established at Waddington and Mason's Flat. Two of the collections from other districts ■were returned for renewal, and it was gratifying to find how well the books had been used by the readers. Comment was made at yesterday's meeting of the Education Board on the statement contained in the chairman's annual report that 406 candidates (181 girls, 225 boys) were presented last year for junior national scholarships and 39 qualified—ll girls and 28 boys. The secretary $Vlr H. C. Lane*) stated that the Department had laid it down two years ago that if more than ten per cent, of the pupils in a class were presented it would be considered excessive, and would be enquired into. Mr T. Hughes remarked that the figures were significant, but that there must be some exolanation. On the face of it, they reflected on the standard of education in Canterbury. Mr W. A. Banks remarked that the low percentage might be due to the. stiffness of the marking. It was decided to ask the Appointments Committee to consider and report on the matter. . A meeting of representatives of public bodies,, business men, and the general public, was held in Greymouth during the week, to discuss a proposal to form a Progress League for the district, the Deputy-Mayor, Mr W. Parfitt, presiding. The chairman congratulated the meeting on the representative Attendance, and said that, being nonpolitical, it would, with the right kind of assistance, be of great benefit to the district. A discussion took place concerning the proposed rules, it being decided that these should be conveyed by the delegates present to their Associations for discussion, tho outcome of which should be reported to a subsequent meeting. The secretary was instructed to write to the Prime Minister, asking that legislation should be passed vesting power in the local bodies within the proposed League's area to grant funds towards the League. _ Mr T. E. Coates was proposed as president, but it was decided not to eloct such an officer until tho rules were adopted. According to the annual report of the chairman (Mr. E. H. Andrews) of the Canterbury Education Board, tho percentage of attendance in 1919 reached the satisfactory proportion of 90.6, the highest recorded for a considerable period. There were 391 schools under ihe Board's control last year, as com--pared with 185 in 1880; the number on the roll in 1919 was 35,138; in 1880 it Avas 23,038. Average attendance m 1380 was 71.1. as compared with 90.6 in 1919. In 1880 the Board expended £55,318 17s 8d in salaries, £8071 12s 2d in incidentals, total £63,390 9s lOrl; in 1919 there was spent on salaries £213,461 10s lid, on incidentals £13,923 12s id, total £227,385 3s. Last year the Board spent £4335 17s lOd for the conveyance of 1291 childre.n to school, and paid boarding allowance in respect of 50 children. At "the end of the year there were 987 teachers in tho Board's employ—3B2 head teachers and teachers in sole charge, 4?3 assistants, 122 pupil teachers; in addition there ; were 84 probationers and SO sewing mistresses in small schools in charge of male teachers. A characteristic littlo speech was made by General Birdwood when presenting the shooting prizes to the boys of the Auckland brMimar School (telegraphs our Auckland correspondent). The General was vociferously welcomed ov the boys, who quite filjod the assembly hall of the school. He said he was alwavs glad of an opportunity of addressing the rising generation, in whose hands lay tho future. He was parti- - culany pleased to present medals for I good shooting. Like tho American, | who said he might never need his gun , at all, and might only need it once, but I then he might need it, "Durned bad."' ; They might never need their rifles, but thev might want it once, and "durned ; bad," too. He explained to the lads ■ what tho splendid musketry training or 1 the Old Contemptibles meant in tho earl*- days of the war. After paying a fine tribute to -the early pioneers and the work of the colonial troops in tho late war. and analysing the characteristics that enabled them to accomplish what they had done, as comradeship, loyalty, and initiative, he told the boys it* was "up to thorn" to carry on the splendid traditions their fathers and brothers had established in GnJlipoli, ' Palestine, and France.

The Education Board yesterday decided to put matters in hand for the erection of an infant school in connexion with the Samcrneld school. Mr A. Peverill was informed at yesrerdnv's meeting of the Education Board that no information has been received from the Department as to making the Christchurch school a District High School. Word was received by the Timaru i Herald Company on Thursday that thv price of newsprint paper hi the shipments which arc coming to New Zenland between now and the end of the year will show an advance of approximately £20 per ton over the last shipment 'received in February. » The following contributions to the Mayor's Coal and Blanket Fund have, been received: —A Hawarden friend cs. a friend £2 2s, I.W. 10s. Christchurch Cathedral bellrinjrers £1 Is, Mrs G. Sandrev £1, trusters M. E. Staples £25, G. E. Greenstreet £1 Is, Library ss, H. L. Bowker £2 2s. In response to a request from a clerical deputation, the Rotorua School Committee (says n Press Association message) resolved in favour of permitting religious instruction in the school by outside instructors for half an hour oiie morning weekly. A referendum of parents by circular showed that 1 40 were in favour and only eight against tho proposal. A definite step in the scheme for supplying Otago with electric power nnd light bv means of energy from Lakes Wr.naka and Hawea has been taken. Mr Charles Todd, chairman of the Otago Expansion Lea cue, left Dunedin yesteidav with the object of conferring with the Oamaru people, and then going on to "Wellington to be with the Otero members of Parliament in the meeting with tho Government to ask for an official and frank statement as to what tho Government intend to do in the way of forwarding the scheme. The annual report of the chairman of the Canterbury Education Board states that about 240 schools took un the subject of elementary agriculture, and thero is ample evidence to show that some good experimental work has been done. "The competitions in connexion with the McFarlane Shield, the Hurdley Shield, and the Board's potato competitions were the means 6f arousing a great deal of enthusiasm and promoting healthy rivalry. The appointment of Mr Ridley has given a great fillip to the work'on the West Coast; and the results of the experimental work that is being done thero must have a beneficial effect on the economic life of the community. The rural courses at the district bigli schools were attended by about 214 pupils; the girls receive an excellent training in housecraft and homekeeping, and the boys aro taught agricultural science. In spite of the return of most of the Canterbury teachers who went on active service, tlie shortage of teachers, states tho chairman of the Canterbury Education Board in his annual report, is still acute. Tho influenza epidemic had been responsible for the necessity of employing a considerable number of relieving teachers, and there had consequently been much difficulty in filling all the vacancies, especially in the country districts. Until some satisfactory plan has been devised to provide suitable board and lodging for teachers in the more isolated localities, the Board will continue to experience the greatest difficulty in securing certificated teachers for these positions. With the return to normal conditions and tho better remuneration now offered to pupil teachers, probationers, and Training College students, it is hoped that in the future the supply of qualified teachers will be more satisfactory. A lengthy detailed report by Messrs C. H. Opio and "W. A. Banks regarding the condition of schools in mid-Canter-bury, the result of visits paid" by members of the Board, was submitted at yesterday's meeting of the Canterbury Education Board. Mr W. A. Banks, speaking to the report as a whole, urged that the Board should acquire a motor lorry, and should employ a carpenter and a plumber to go round and effect the necessary.repairs. It was not creditable to the Board that things should go on as at present, and it was time that a scheme was devised so that these small jobs could be done by the Board's own workmen; until that wa9 done, the repairs would be effected only at considerable expense. Mr T. Hughes considered that this was an admirable suggestion. Mr W. P. Spencer said that the repairs should be effected at once—he was quite satisfied that the schools in mid-Canterbury were in worse repair than in other parts of the Board's district. Our London correspondent mentions that, in a letter to a friend in England, tho Rev. T. H. Sykes, Kilbirnie, Wellington, says, relative to the poverty of the clergy in England, he wonders sometimes why more men are not willing to come to New Zealand. "I have come to the conclusion that the life of a clergyman in New Zealand with £250 or £300 stipend, "with, vicarage and garden, and, in many cases a motor-car provided by the parish, rates and repairs to vicarago paid by the vestiy, is about the happiest life any clergyman could desire. We have a splendid climate; roads in most cases are good; tnere are first-rate educational advantages; many of our churches, though built of wood, are very pretty. Most of the people aro either British or of British parents. If you know of any clergyman who would adapt himself to the life in New Zealand, and who is willing to come, toll him to write to the Bishop of Wellington." "Corrugation of rails," one of the troubles of tramway engineers which generally develops after a new system has been in operation for ten or twelve years, has made its appearance in the Christchurch system. It is most pronounced on the Papanui line, a route that carries a great amount of traffic. One of tho effects of "corrugation" is that the vibration causes the spikes to lift slightly from the sleepers; another effect is a "chattering," the noise - caused by tho loosened rails. _ The Tramway Board is at present considering the' desirableness of importing a . rather expensive plant to ccpe with the difficulty. Workmen are at present engaged on a portion of the Papanui line between Bealey avenue and Holly road. The subsoil on Papanui road has always been a difficulty. Prior to the road being treated with tarred macadam, the roadway and the tramway lines sunk together: since being treated with tarred macadam tho rails have sunk but not the roadway. This, conjoined with the fact that the rails and sleepers are getting worn and old, has resulted in "rail corrugation." It is the belief of Mr E. Howell, the father, and Mrs Howell, the widow of Captain C. E. Howell, who lost his life at Corfu while on an air voyage to Australia, that tho aviator landed on the island, was murdered for his money, and the body and machine then pushed into the sea (says the "South Australian Register"). Captain Howell, they assert, had £100 in cash, and some hundreds of pounds jn credit notes on him at the time, but that money had not been found. The identification of the body is not regarded by them as satisfactory, because the doctor who conducted the examination said there were only three teeth mising, whereas Mr Howell knew that his son had lost five. A significant feature was that the chest of the body which had been sent to Australia was - white. Mr Howell said he had been informed on medical authority that had i the aviator been drowned his chest would have been black. A cotton scarf which had been wound round the neck ' is regarded by him as having been used to cause his son's death. Regarding the fate of Air-Mechanic Fraser. who accompanied Captain Howell, nothing had been heard, but it was strange that hjs diary should be found five miles inland. Mr Howell is pressing the British authorities for a full enquiry.

A Wellington telegram states that j the Appeal Court reserved judgment in 1 the case of Knight v. the National j Mortgage and Agency Co.. Ltd.. and i Ashton. ! I Tho Rangitata Island School Com- j i niittoe has been civen permission by , '. the Education Board to place an acro- : plane propeller from France m the j I school, as a war memento. The following aro the awards in the -Vuckland Camera Club's photographic j 'exhibition: Dunedin first; Wellington; j second: Auckland third. In the judge's] ; opinion the best portrait is by A. j Dickinson, Dunedin: the best land-i scape, W! J. Ferguson, Dunedin. The Canterbury Education Board has I convened meetings of householders ier | Mondav, August 2nd, for the purpose of j | the election of school committees in tho j following school districts, where at the . annual meetings in April the complete committees wore not elected:—North-1 west Ward: Awatuna, Blackball, Blue | Spur. Bruce Bnv, Cnilaghan's. Duncan- ] ville-Marsdcn, Glen Kowhai, Han linn | Humphreys, Tnchlwnnie. Jack s_ Mill, i Koiternnsn. Kokatahi Upper. Kokiri, Kowai Bush, Kumara, K'.imam Junction, Lvnton Downs, Okarito, Okum, Pokcku'ra, Rotherhnm, Springfield, Stafford, Tavlorvillc, Wataroa, West-j brook, Woodstock. Middle ard: Avlosburv. Evreton, Gebbie's \ alloy, j Teddington, Wainui, West Melton. The ; election of a school committee for tho school district of Burohani has been declared invalid.

"The first thing Ivaikoura needs, liko the rest of the province, is, of courso, the completion of the railway," said Mr Will Lawson, organiser for the Marlborough Progress Committee, at Ivaikoura on Thursday. _ "To liurry matters up in this direction, we are arranging a big deputation to the Minister m "Wellington in ten days' time. A number of prominent Coast and Kaikoura men have expressed their intention of being in the deputation. Ward, Seddon, and Wairnu will be with us, too, and Canterbury and" Wellington also, we hope. Wc will bo able to f>ut o. good caso before Mr Coates, the Minister. This piece of trunk railway is the last in New Zealand to be built, and if the Government declines to construct it, it will mean that the Government has reversed its avowed procedure. We do not anticipate anything of the kind, and the chances of active work being resumed on the line aTe rosy." The famous "A.C." Tabs—tho ideal cure for constipation—are again available from Loasby and Co. direct, or from stores and wholesale houses. People who suffer from constitpation find "A.C." Tabs an ideal remedy—you'll known if you've tried them —try them if you haven't. 6 For many years the name Armstrong has been a 'synonym for matchless values, tho result of a steady, consistent policy of moderate profits, and of giving to our customers the advantages of our great cash purchasing facilities. , 6 Messrs Baldwin and liny ward, of 122 Cashel street (corner High and Cashel streets'), Christcliurch, Head Office, Wellington, report that recently they acted as agents in filing the following applications for Letters Patent: Gerrard and Wrisht, Chicago, wire tying; P. Wright, Chicago, wiro tying; R. j Temple. Bromley, mechanical operations ; J. E. Rnyward, Auckland, milking machines; Hawkes and Ockleshaw, Christchurch, concrete construction; C. Palmer, Auckland, globe fittings; A. Mac"Lennan, London, vapour burners; S. Morrison, Carterton, motor-cycles; W. H. Beadle, New Plymouth, bed fastener; T. Kennedy, Makuri, globes. 6 ATcaroa's early spring, with its beautiful harbour, healthiest holiday resort in the Dominion, lots of sunshine in the restful old French town. 2 . Quite the biggest footwear event in Christchurch is Hannah's _ sale, commencingz on Monday morning. A fow items from the bargain list: —Ladies Glace Derby Shoes, patent caps, medium toes, 2Ss Gd, cut to 17s (3d, 30s line cut to 20s; Patent Court Shoes, Cuban Heels, smart and up-to-d°to 455, cut to 33s 6d: Men's Glace Kid, Box Calf, and Tan Willow Calf Derby Boots, nut from 45s to 37s 6d. Youths' Box Calf Derbv Boots, sewn soles, sizes 2 to. 5, cut from 28s f>d to 22s 6d; while all regular lines of Footwear, _ Gum Boots, and Farm Boots are subject to discdunt of 2s in the £. "6 Mr A. W. Martin, Rupture Specialis, from Dunedin, has now arrived, and may be consulted up to the 10th of July, at the White Hart Hotel. 6 Love and "No Rubbing Laundry Help" will lighten the daily toil of the patient wife, and enable her to do the washing with a light heart. Is packets. H4984 The daily toil of cleaning your knives is quite unnecessary if you purchase Christopher Johnson and Co.'s Stainless Cutlery, made from the finest Sheffield steel,"and procurable from Hastie, Bull, and Pickering, Ltd., 113 Cashel street. 9 Our special Influenza Mixture quickly relieves, 2s 6d. To prevent an attack, use our special Nasal Douche and Gargle. Kills the germ. Never known to fail. Creosote Cough Cure is unequalled for Coughs and Colds. E. Cameron Smith, Chemist, 96 Worcester street (just off Square). 58619-1413 J. Johnston and Son, Rangiora. Established 1863. Sole Agents for famous Massey-Harris Farm Implements and Separators. British manufacture throughout. Catalogues posted on application. P.O. Box 1. Phone 4. 6 Wo pack, mark, route, and ship goods with care, securing for you the best rates and most careful handling at a moderate charge. J. M. Heywood and v>o., Ltd. H4943 "Eyes Right"—was a familiar phrase to our soldiers;but very few people realise the importance of having their eyes right in regard to seeing! If your vision is not what it should be, let Seth R. Whale test your eyes and prescribe suitable glasses. Call 754- Colombo street. W 869 <-4537 For a train journey, for a picnic, for school and city lunches, the most tassr and satisfying meal can be made by using St. George Sandwich Paste. It is economical, and makes sandwiches that will appeal to the appetite. Ask vour grocer for "St. George Sandwich "Paste, in either Ham and Tongue or Ham and Chicken. He stocks it. 15 SM \RT, UP-TO-DATE STUDEBAKER, ROADSTER—£I6S. Now on view—Very smart and newlooking Studebaker 2-3-seater roadster. Just refinished in cream; 4-cyl., e.1., and s.s. Shod with Silvertown Cord Tvres, which cost £123, and are nearly new; Car in tip-top order, and full equipment, including spare rim, tyre, etc. Price £465. HANDSOME. UP-TO-DATE BUICK SIX—£SCO. Inspection Invited —Buick Six, 5seater, just repainted French grey. Full road equipment, e.1., and s.s., spare wheel, tyre, etc.. and rear windscreen. Looks' like new, and in splendid order. Good tyres. Price £500. MITCHELL SlX—£32s. A Special Bargain—o-seater Mitchell Six, late model, e.l. and s.s. Smartlooking car with up-to-date body. Good tvres and full road equipment, including spare rim, tyre, etc.' Price, for a quick sale, £325. Adams, Ltd., Garage, 210 Tuam street. 0