LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 144, 15 December 1922, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An agreement has been come to by all the retailers in the business portion of the city respecting the hours of business during the week preceding- Christmas Day, which this year occurs on Monday. It has been decided that the half-holiday of the week preceding Christinas shall be observed on Monday, 18th December. On the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (J9th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd December) the hours will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (23rd December) will be observed as Christmas Eve, Tjith business hours from 9 a.m. to 10' p.m. During the week following Christmas, the nsual business hours will be observed, with the late night on Friday, 29th December, and the half-holiday on Saturday, 30th December. .

When a list of closing orders came before the City Council test evening for authority, Councillor L. M'Kenzie asked if this meant pulling down the houses. He had seen it reported that families were charged as much as £1 10s weekly for one room. While this sort of thing was going on no houses should be pulled down if it was at all possible for them to be made so that they could be lived in, even if in normal times they should not be allowed to exist. Councillor Bennett explained that the authority was asked so that owners oould be proceeded against for a closing order as a means of forcing them to do repairs which they would not >do under a cleansing order.

It was reported to the City Council last night that the erection of new bathing shelters at the north end of th^ Worser Bay Beach would be considered in connection with next year's estimates, the shelters to be of similar design to those at Evans Bay. The Baths (J!ommittee recommended, and it was decided, that the question of extending and improving the Maranui Swimming Club's shed on the Lyall Bay Beach should also be considered' ip connection with next year's estimates.

No prizes were given to pupils attending the Wellington Technical College yesterday, and the reason was staged in the annual report of the director (Mr J. H. Howell). Mr. Howell said that as far as he was aware that was the first occasion when, except during war time, the breaking-up ceremony of a large New Zealand school had been accompanied by no distribution of prizes. Mr. Howell continued that at the Cheltenham Ladies' College, the largest and best known girls' school in Great Britain, Miss Beale, although not able to break away altogether from the tradition of giving prizes., would never allow public presen-tations^-they were always handed to the girls without ceremony in her study.

"We have gone further than this, and what is more remarkable still, it is by the wish of the pupils themselves that prizes have been abolished altogether. I feel sure the work of the school will be done no less efficiently because it is done for a worthier end than that of winning a prize. And prizes are abolished not merely for class work, but for Athletic and swimming sports as well, co that we are coming back to the ideals of the old Greeks, probably the finest athletes the world has known, who rewarded the victors in their contests with' a crown of laurel. After all it is not the result that matters most; if we play the game and do our beat at the job in .'hand wn notirl not concurn ourselves overmuch about tho result." '

It is stated that a building to cost £13,000 is to replace the old Marquis of Normanby Hotel at Carterton, ■which was destroyed by fire. Plans will be submitted to the next meeting of the Wairarapa Licensing Committee. The Postal authorities have received advioe from Sydney that the Tahiti left at 2 p.m. yesterday for Wellington. She .carries 682 bags of mails for the Dominion, including 294 from Australia, 68 from beyond, and 320 parcel receptacles. With a view to future, street-widening operations, a city bylaw is to be prepared making it compulsory to set back any new building 9ft 6in from the present eastern boundary of that portion of Willis street from Manners street to Webb street, and the whole of the northfim side of Vivian street from Willis' street to Cambridge terrace. It was stated in the course of an address at Wanganui that the own and the country surrounding it, from Kai Iwi to the river, was purchased by the Government from, the Maoris for a case of _ clay pipes, of which the speaker retained: one as a curiosity. There will be no trams running in the city on Christmas Day. As a general rule the tramwaymen have taken their \ full holiday "on Good Friday, Unit thia year they have,, chosen Christmas Day, and the City Council last evening decided to grant.that holiday. A prominent pastoraliat iii Central Hawkes Bay, stated recently that, the shearing results were most satisfactory. The fleeces were heavier and of better texture than for many years past, and the sheep were coming out of the wool in good condition.. "The farmers,", said the settler, "are in for a good, season in Hawkes Bay, and that means good times for everybody else." A classification of members of Parliament (in past Parliaments, of course) was made, by Sir John Findlay last night. Visitors to Parliament, he said, would divide the members into three classes: Those who were always there, those who were seldom there; and those who were not all there. The price of building can scarcely be said to be coming down if comment made in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth is to be relied upon. A case was ■heard in which there was a dispute in regard _to the workmanship in connection with the erection of a five-roomed brick bungalow at Nolantown, Hawera. Counsel for the plaintiff said the contract price given in 1920 was £1250, and his Honour Mr. Justice Chapman commented that it was a low, price'J and he knew in Wellington that It was impossible to get anything satisfactory at much less than £300 per room. When addressing the boys of Wellington College yesterday, the Mayor (Mr E. A. Wright, M.P.) reminded them that it was more pleasant to give than to receive. Nobody knew that batter than the man who held a public position. " The best thing you can do," he said, "is to give. When you have something •to distribute, you are all right; but directly you are. compelled to curtail anything, particularly if it is something which the public has enjoyed, whether it is right or not, you are 'all wrong." Tj)e boys were not slow in showing their appreciation of the Mayor's unconscious humour.

"Parliament is a most peculiar place " said the Mayor (Mr. B. A. Wright, M.P.) when speaking in humorous vein to the students of Wellington College yesterday. ''Every man who. goes in with great ideas finds that it is a place for humbling a man and taking the pride out of him. On the floor of the House the members fight like Kilkenny cats, but in the lobbies they are on the most friendly'terms. 1^ have seen only one fight in the lobby sinoe I have been there. (Laughter.) In •Parliament you cannot call a man a liar. What you qan say is that he has used a 'terminological inexactitude.' " (Renewed laughter.)

The Auckland City Council last night approved of recent correspondence between the Mayor (Mr. Gunsbn) and Dr. Liston, Koman. Catholic Coadjutor Bishop of Auckland, concerning the resolution of the council on 23rd March last, in respect of the Bishop's speech in the Town Hall on the evening of St. ■Patrick's Day. In # letter , last week, Dr. Liston 1 said: "It is not my intention to resort to litigation or to do anything which will accentuate or reopen old differences." ? A mption was carried: "That the council, approve the correspondence, deems the incident therein referred to as closed, and with that end in view resolves that the Resolutions passed on 23rd March, 1922, shall henceforth cease to have any operation."

•" It is not necessarily the child at the tnp of the class who merits the prize," said a member at : a recent meeting of the Palmerston North Terrace End School Committee, when referring to school prizes, "for he may have natural ability. The prize should go to the one who shows the most improvement in his work during the 1, year." Other members of the committee' were also of this opinion, and the meeting idecided to allot prizes on that basis (states the " Manawatu Standard "). " We treat our children more liberally than any other local committee at the present time," said the chairman. In addition to voting a sum for prizes, the committee provided the expenses of the children in connection with the annual picnic excursion to Plimmerton.

Another warning in connection with municipal expenditure was given by the Mayor (Mr. E. A. Wright, tyl.P.) when speaking at last night's meeting of the City Council. "We are, £8000 behind now, and we have three months t(/go," ha eaid. "The position is very serious." Councillor B. G. H. Burn said he considered that the, rates should be increased to permit of more public conveniences being provided. It was necessary to do this if public requirements were _to be .met. The Mayor stated that if the council did not come out on the right side with its/balance-sheet the councillors would be fiidividually liable. Councillors should always bear that in mind when- considering the expenditure of money. "Our motor-cars are all done, remarked Mr. Wright at a later stage, "and we have no money to buy new ones. That is the position."

Fifty-two years ago last Monday the Prune Minister of New Zealand, Mr. W. F. Massey, first set foot in New Zealand. Among his fellow-passengers were Mr. and Mrs. J. C. M. Gibson, of Thames, who supply some interesting particulars of the arrival of the future Prime Minister of the' country (states the "New, Zealand Herald"). "The vessel was the City of Auckland, 'of about 800 tons, and she cast anchor in the Waitemata after a splendid voyage of 84 days,- land to land. Captain Ashby' was in command, and the journey was a pleasant one. On arrival, »tho ladies of Auckland came on board with baskets of peaches. _ There were 250 immigrants on board, including several young ministers, who afterwards became well known. The Revs. W..J. Williams, F. Isitt, and Smalley were' among them. Some years ago, when Mr. Massey. visited Thames and delivered a political address, Mr. and Mrs. Gibson Waited until the-close and then went up to greet their old shipmate. They had not seen Mr. Massey since the landing, but he at once recognised Mrs. Gibson. They found that the Prime Minister remembered the names of practically everyone on the ship, and knew where most 1 of the- survivors were. He had always taken a keen interest in the welfare of thn people who journeyed to this laud in the City of Auckland in 1870.

Last night the City Council granted an application for the erection of a hoarding at the corner of Constable and Owen streets, subject to the usual conditions.

Permission has been granted by the City Council .for picture entertainments to be held on" Christmas Day, provided the programmes are subject to the strict censorship of the Acting-Town Clerk.

Very hot weather is being experienced in Gisborne this week. ... Wednesday was the hottest experienced so far this summer, 92.5 degrees in the shade being registered about noon. :

Upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the City. Council last night decided that no action be taken with regard to the purchase of a motion picture of the city at a cost of £75 for the film..

A letter of thankß is to be forwarded by the City Council to Mr. A. Greenhaigh for his presentation of a number of bower birds and parrots to the Zoological collection. . >

Permission is to be granted an applicant to hire chairs on the Day's Bay Beach, subject to the payment of a license fee of £1 per month to the City Council.

Among the matters to be considered by the City Council in connection with next year's estimates will be that of the construction of a track from' Old Earori road and the erection of a light suspension bridge over the stream for pedestrians only in order to improve the access to the south end of Wilton's Bush.

The request of the Lambton Quay Business Men's Association for a revisiou and reduction of fares on the city section, Courtenay place to Lambton station, has been declined by the City Council. The proposal was that the present section should be., divided into two, and that one penny should be charged for each section

On the Reserves Committee's proposal, the City Council last night decided that the cost of the season ticket for the use of both the grass and asphalt tennis courts, Williams Park, be increased, from 30s to £2 per season, the season to, extern 7 from November to the end of April, and that the hourly fee to be 6d per player per hour or portion of an hour.

"Have we been advised of any reduction in the price of'coal?" Councillor Chapman asked the Mayor, at' the City Council last evening.l He said he had been told that one large local body'in Wellington TTad been told that there was a reduction of 2s 9d per ton. . The Mayor said no advice had been received yet, ■but if other local bodies were getting reductions, the council should also.

"Employers are looking for the man with initiative and self-reliance," <feaid the Mayor when making reference at Wellington College yesterday to'the Dalton plan experiment. "They- are willing to pay him as he should be paid." Mr. Wright paid a tribute to the excellent" work done by the college, and stated that many , men. who had made their mark owed their positions very largely/ to, the good work done in the Wellington College. He wished success to the boys who were leaving, and believed that they would carry with them the best traditions given to. them,"by their teachers and their predecessors.

A recommendation came before the City Council last evening to dispose of thu old tramshed sits in Adelaide road. When the matter came up Councillor Parton said ho had thought the area would make.a good playground. The ■Mayor said the land belonged to the Tramways Committee. Another councillor suggested that the site had been considered for a milk depot. Had that been knocked on-the head? The Mayor: " Yes." Councillor J. Burns asked if the department had considered building the necessary stores department on the site. The 1 Mayor said the council could- not afford a stores department building. When it was absolutely necessary there would be plenty of land available.' Councillor Burns moved-that the matter be referred back to the committee, but this was defeated, and the recommendation was adopted.

An endeavour is be made by tlie City Council to procure legislation authorising it to take over as public streets certain private ways'in the City of Wellington notwithstanding the fact that their width is less than 40 feet. The City Engineer, is to be' instructed to furnish a list of these private ways which he would recommend being taken over as public streets, and also to furnish a report on the probable cost of acquiring such additional areas as may be necessary for the purpose of improving these ways, and completing the formation ol them. '

The Tramways Committee recommended to the City Council last night that an amending Order-in-Cquneil be applied for in connection with the increasing of the speed of the Kelburn cable cars, and that the necessary authority be obtained for' permission to carry a white light at both ends of the cars instead of a white at the front and red at the rear. The recommendation was adopted the Mayor (Mr. .R. A. Wright, M.P.) stating -that the action being followed was in support of an application made by the Kelburn Tramway Company. /' "There is .6ne feature of, our school life that" is a cause for unmixed regret, and that is the large number of pupils who leave school. to take up I work alter only a short period of training," said Mr. J. 'H. Howell a' the distribution of certificates in connection with the Wellington Technical College yesterday afternoon. "This has been specially forced upon our notice by the numbers leavingtowa-rds the end of the year. The reason is often an economic one; in these days' of dear living parents find the weekly wages of the boy or girl a comfortable addition to the family income, and they are' often encouraged to take the young pupil from school not only by this' consideration but by the fact that the restlessness of .adolescence often makes _the boy himself wish to leave. It^is here, if parents are wise and have regard to the true interests' of the boy, that they will restrain hi& restlessness and forego their own temporary advantage, iX order that his future may be better, assured. The short view'is the foolish view, and in education above all it is necessary to take the long view. To remove the boy or girl from the ordered influence of school just ,at the critical stage when childhood is passing into youth, when the capacity to receive mental training and to form new habits is at its greatest, and at. this time to place. the 'pupil in the! workshop or the office where, if any training .at all is received, it is of the most 'haphazard kind, and where the influence.' are certainly not ordered and are. often pernicious—this is a course of action ' that 1 ' only sheer- necessity should lead parents to take."