Personal Items

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22464, 27 July 1938, Page 10

Personal Items

The Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C., left for Wellington by the steamer express last evening.

Mr R. C. Mathews arrived from Wellington by the steamer express yesterday morning. Mr R. B. Tennent, director of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, was a passenger from Wellington yesterday morning by the steamer express. Mr A. Laurenson, of Dunedin, was a passenger for Wellington last evening by the steamer express.

The Rev. Fathers John Mannix, S.M., and A. Heavey left for Wellington by the steamer express last evening. Mr E. A. Jones, assistant general manager of the Vacuum Oil Company Proprietary, Ltd., in New Zealand, left Auckland yesterday by the Monterey on a three months’ business visit to New York. During his absence his place will be taken by Mr R. Martin, the company’s manager at Auckland.

A Sydney resident who visited Wanganui recently on holiday took back with him a few pieces of pumice picked up at Castlecliff Beach, which he distributed among friends. He writes that he is inundated by requests fpr similar pieces, and suggests to a Wanganui resident that he forward a sack full. Powdered pumice is often shipped to Australia for commercial purposes from Wanganui. There has been a steady decline in the number of Standard VI pupils in the Dunedin schools within recent years. In 1933 the number who finished their primary school course was 999. In 1936 it was 852. while last year it was only 800. Commenting on the decline, the Dunedin Vocational Guidance Association’s annual report states that the fall must be attributable to declining child population, and not to more pupils leaving school before completing their primary education. At a meeting of the Southland Calf Pool Committee of the South Island Dairy Association it was decided that no bonus could be paid to suppliers for the last season. An advance payment of 10s a head was made when the calves were killed and although the season’s returns have not been completed it has been found impossible to pay any bonus. Preliminary arrangements were made for this season’s operations, but the advance payment was not fixed. It was stated that because of the serious drop in the value of skins the advance would be on a lower level than last year. Mr G. R. Herron was re-elected chairman of the committee.