General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22445, 5 July 1938, Page 10

General News

“Snowed In” A laconic explanation of his inability to attend the meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday was given in a telegram to the secretary from Mr J. K. McAlpine—“Snowed in.” Music for Higher Leaving Certificates In and after 1938 music will be accepted as a subject for the higher leaving certificate in secondary schools, provided that the candidate has succeeded in obtaining a mark of 38 per cent, in that subject in the entrance or school certificate examinations in the preceding year, according to the “New Zealand Education Gazette.” At least four units of advanced work in the subject must be done by the candidate within school hours. Planting of Shelter Trees Experimental planting of Cupressus arizonica will shortly be carried out by the North Canterbury Advisory Committee on Tree Planting in North Canterbury districts, upon receipt of a supply of plants from the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln. This kind of tree was mentioned by the Director of the College (Professor E. R. Hudson) at a recent meeting of the committee as being eminently suitable for shelter belts because it always remained bushy almost from the ground level, and provided much better “under” shelter than many

of the trees used extensively for shelter purposes. Water Supply Charges Numerous applications are being received by the Christchurch City Council for remission of accounts for extraordinary water supply, but the works committee had definitely decided that no remission will be allowed except in extreme cases of hardship. This statement was made in a report last night to the council by the works committee. Railway Conference in Sydney The bi-annual conference of the Australian and New Zealand Railway Commissioners, which will open in Sydney next Monday, will be attended by Mr G. H. Mackley, general manager of the New Zealand Railways. Mr Mackley left Auckland last night for Australia by the Awatea, and will return at the conclusion of the conference, which will last for about a week.—Press Association. Maoris and the Treasury “The Treasury is the big taipo of the land. It seems to be a party on its own. It comprises all sorts and has representatives of the various departments, and a Government cannot even handle its own Treasury,” said. Mr E. T. Tirikatene, Labour member for the Southern Maori seat, at a meeting at the Arowhenua Pa, Temuka. He was speaking of the progress being made with the Ngaitahu claim, and said that with the present Government it was nearer settlement than it had been under any other. “But many people do not realise that the Treasury is the master of the situation,” he said, “and he is the hardest man we Maoris have to face.” Big Building for Wellington The firm of William Angus, Ltd., Napier, has secured the contract for the erection of a new building in Wellington for the Mutual Life and Citizens’ Assurance Company, Ltd., the contract price being a little more than £ 100,000. The contracts provide for the completion of the building by January, 1940.—Press Association. New Station Facilities Ambulance facilities will be provided in the lay-out for the new'railway station at Christchurch. This has been decided by the Minister for Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, according to advice he has given the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. Following on representations urging the provision of this important facility, Sir Heaton Rhodes has been advised by the Minister that “it is the intention to provide an ambulance room in this building.”

English Women’s Hockey Team The English women’s hockey tearfi which is touring New Zealand arrived in Christchurch early yesterday morning from Sore. The team was entertained at afternoon tea at Ballantyne’s by the Travel Club and was addressed by the Mayor, Mr R. M. Macfarlane. To-day the team will practise in the morning at Lancaster Park before going to Ashburton in the afternoon to watch the Indian hockey team in its match against a Mid-Canterbury side. The English women’s team will return to Christchurch in the evening and to-morrow their first test match against. New Zealand will be played at Lancaster Park. Entrance to Training Colleges “All prospective applicants for entrance to a teachers’ training college should be advised that a higher leaving certificate will rank on even terms with a pass in the training college entrance examination,” states a notice in the latest number of the “New Zealand Education Gazette.” “All who hold such a certificate or are likely to obtain one by the end of the year, should therefore not enter for the training college entrance examination. The entrance examination will be held "this year, but it is intended primarily for those who left school without having obtained a pass in the university entrance or the school certificate examination, or who, though still at school, have concentrated on the training college entrance examination requirements and not on those of university entrance or school certificate.” Schools to Close for Hockey Match The Canterbury Education Board has decided to allow the primary schools to close in time for pupils to attend the first women’s hockey test match. England v. New Zealand, at Lancaster Park to-morrow afternoon. Voting at Municipal Elections Efforts to have adopted a uniform system of voting in municipal elections are being made by the Municipal Association of New Zealand, according to a letter received last night by the Christchurch City Council. The letter from the Municipal Association said that the executive had recently discussed the voting systems used in municipal elections throughout New Zealand, and representations had gone forward to the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) that a uniform system of voting be adopted throughout the Dominion at municipal elections.

Health of Former Soldiers “It is absolutely surprising to learn of the large number of men in Kaikoura who are ‘cracking up’,” wrote the secretary (Mr E. F. Willcox) to the executive of the Christchurch branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association last evening. “I have been struck by the modesty of many of these men, who seem diffident to make an application for recognition. In many cases they seem to have just claims for pensions.” Roll of Master Bellringers A board recording the names of masters of the Christchurch Cathedral Society of Bellringers since its inception in 1882 was unveiled at the annurl meeting of the society. Mrs J. A. Julius performed the unveiling. Vessels for Naval Base A pinnace and motor-boat are at present under construction at the Devonport Naval Base workshops, Auckland. When completed, they will be employed for general purposes, such as taking ratings and workmen to and from the city side of the harbour. This boatbuilding is in continuation of a policy which has been in operation at the base for some years. When small boats are needed, it has been considered desirable to build them at the base and in the last six years whalers, cutters, and dinghies have all been made by permanent base employees, who have achieved an unvarying high standard of craftsmanship.—“ The Press” Special Service. “To Whit! To Whom!” Boston, said Professor C. L. Bennet, of Halifax, in his address to the University Association of Southland, was a cultured city where one could hear perfect English spoken without affectation. The people were charming in their manners snd speech. “In fact,” he added, “it has been said that even the little Boston owls shriek ‘To whit! To Whom!’’*