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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 11

Cabled advice was received yesterday bv Mr. 11. Atmore. M.P. for Nelson, of tile death of bis brother, Mr. Edward Atmore, at Sydney yesterday morning.The late Mr. Atmore, who was attached to the National Mutual Insurance office, was well known in Wellington and Nelson.

In some of the schools and colleges of Auckland, the ceremony of “ragging" still has its place (says the “Star”)- ’ New boys, or freshmen, are initiated ’ into college life by various - methods.’ which sometimes mildly resemble the . celebrations of Neptune on crossing. the Line. At the Auckland Grammar School the old-time custom of ducking a few hundred heads under the tap still survives, and the event, ■in ■ anticipation, has terrors for youths to whom the life of a big school is regarded with awe and wonder. Professor A. P. W. Thomas, chairman of the Grammar Schools Board, said at a meeting of the board that be was, aware the custom of “ragging still existed to some extent, but he did not consider that action should be taken to suppress it, as there was never a suggestion of violence.

The floods at Mercer were not without their humorous aspect (says an exchange). The township has been inundated so often that it has become a joke with many of the residents that if there wasn’t a flood once a year great disappointment would be caused.’ Fate dealt a shrewd blow at the owner of a small residence in a low-lying part of the town. He sold the house some time ago, but having just got married, he rebought the premises, and went to considerable trouble and ex-, pense in repainting and paperhanging.’ He and his bride had just taken possession when the flood came, and they had to make a hurried exit. The main road alongside the river was converted into a waterway, along which launches of considerable size plied for hire. Patches of laud which were still above water were appropriated by live stock.