NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 128, 24 February 1938, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

School Committees

The Wellington Education Board at its meeting yesterday approved of Monday, May 2, as the date of the school committee elections, an'd Monday, May 30, for second elections. First Salmon in Hurunui.

The first salmon o£ the season was caught this week at the mouth of the Hurunui River, by Mrs. A. Gillanders, of Mount Seddon, Domett. It weighed 291-11).

College Gymnasium Equipment. Gymnasium equipment costing from £3O to £4O is to be purchased for the use of pupils attending Wellington College. At a meeting of the college board of governors, the headmaster, Mr. W. A. Armour, was granted permission to purchase the necessary material. The Wellington Girls’ College was also granted an allowance for the purchase of equipment.

Robert Parker Memorial. The result of a concert given by the Wellington Harmonic Society on December 7 in aid of the Robert Parker Memorial Fund was referred to with satisfaction nt the society’s annual meeting last night. The net return from the concert, it was stated, was £26/10/-, the largest single donation made to the fund, which was now nearing £3OO.

Examination Results. Gratification with the results achieved by the four main Wellington colleges in the annual examinations was expressed by Mr., W. B. Fitchett at a meeting of tiie colleges board of governors. The teaching staffs had done excellent work, he said, and it was decided to send x a letter of congratulation to the principals of the four colleges.

Good Mushroom Season. On account of plentiful supplies coming to hand, mostly from the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts, the prices of mushrooms on the Wellington market have eased this week, and the public is reaping the benefit. Last week the prices ranged -from 1/- to 2/a lb. retail; this'week the range has been from 6d. to 1/6 a lb., with a lowering tendency. First-class mushrooms, in good order, could be purchased yesterday (retail), for 7d. a lb.

Woodwork and Domestic Science. During 1937, a dotal of 2684 boys in primary schools in the Wellington district received instruction in woodwork and 2641 girls in domestic science, according to the annual report of Mr. A. A. Brown, supervisor of manual instruction, placed before members at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Education Board. These pupils were drawn from 90 schools. In addition 40S pupils from 46 schools did light woodwork, an increase of 78 pupils and five schools.

Salvation Army Bands. Four Salvation Army bandmasters have been appointed territorial headquarters’ band instructors, two for the North Island and two for the South. They are: North Island, Bandmaster Davies, Newton, and Bandmaster Dutton, Petone; South Island, Bandmaster /Argyle, Ashburton, and Bandmaster Millard, Dunedin. Their services Will be available to the bands throughout the Dominion. The instructors will act with the commissioner’s authority and under the direction of the bands’ department. Lift for Carillon Tower.

The passenger Gift for the carillon tower, Buckle Street, has arrived from England, and is now being erected. As the authorities did not wish to interfere in any way with the groun'd floor chamber, which will subsequently become the entrance to the Hall of Memories, the lift will not start from the ground. People who intend to use it to ascend to the clavier room (which commands a marvellous view of city and harbour) will have to walk up steps to the level of the first floor. The lift will not be ready until next month. No Bread on Saturday. The attention of the public is drawn to the fact that no bread will be baked or delivered in Wellington on Saturday owing to that day being the occasion of the annual general public holiday for bakers’ employees and carters in the Wellington district. is also compulsory for all home-made cookeries and kindred businesses to give their bakehouse employees a holiday on this date. It will be necessary, therefore, for the public to make adequate arrangements for their week-end supplies of bread and smallgoods to be delivered on Friday.

Appreciation of Peace Advocacy. Appreciation of what the High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, has said at Geneva in support of peace was expressed by the Metho'dist Conference in a motion it carried yesterday. When the motion was proposed a speaker protested that it had a political flavour, but the mover replied that politics did not enter into the subject. If they considered New Zealand’s representative at the League of Nations could speak in the name of Christ an'd humanity they should carry the resolution. The subject was brought up when a committee report on peace was being considered.

Maori King’s House. The new house which is being built at the Ngaruawahia Maori pa for King Koroki is now almost completed, and will be ready for a ceremonial opening on March 18. Over 5000 Maoris from all parts of the country are expected to be at Ngaruawahia during the celebrations, and it is hoped that the Gover-nor-General, Viscount Galway, will be -present. The launching of an old-time canoe, which has been repaired and fitted with new carving, will be an interesting feature of the ceremony. The canoe was sunk at the Waikato Heads during the Maori wars, but was recently brought to the Ngaruawahia pa by Princess Te Puea.

Heavy Swordfish. Two striped marlin swordfish each weighing 4101 b. were caught by members of parties that visited Mayor Island recently. The successful fishermen were Mr. 11. Galbraith, Taihapt, and Mr. J. Mowlem. Both catches were made on the same day and are the heaviest recorded this season. Messrs. B. I). Armstrong, L. Cowan, and 11. Smith, of Akitio, Hawke’s Bay! between them captured four swordfish. Mr. Smith secured' two striped marlin of 3301 b. and 3201 b., Mr. Armstrong landed one of 3641 b., and Mr. Cowan another of 3501 b. Power Station Plant.

There will be a small function this afternoon to mark the taking over by the Wellington City Council of the new steam generating plant from Messrs. Brown, Boveri and Co., Switzerland, at the Evans Bay power station. The new plant consists of two “Velox” boilers, the first of their class to be set up in Ibis country, and which practically revolutionise, in point of time ail'd economy, the raising of steam from cold. The turbines they actuate were supplied by the Parsons Company, England. These boilers have been set up under the direction of Mr. Deitler. Baden, who will shortly lepve New Zealand on his return to Europe.