LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 81, 3 October 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Health Week lectures in the Town Hall this evening will be "Care of the Feet" and "One Way to be Healthy." To-morrow evening the very interesting subject of "The Relation of the Mind to the Body" will be taken . by one lecturer. The other subject, also piquant, is "Music in Relation to Health."

The four eleven-fobt <■ dials for the Town Hall clock were yesterday hoisted up to the clock chamber in the tower in sections, and will be put in position within the next few days, alter- which work in installing the actual mechanism will be commenced. It is anticipated that the clock will be going by the end of the month.

Replying to a request from the Eastbourne Borough Council, the Wellington City Council's engineer wrote stating that the question as to whether the borough could obtain water from the city's supply was one that could not be answered off-hand. The matter would be considered by the City Council shortly, when a definite reply would be given. The General Manager was authorised to supply the city_ authorities with any further information of the borough's requirements.

The Acting-Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) announced last night _ that the question of allowing securities to be prepared by 'a solicitor whom a borrower desires to' act for him has been under consideration, and it has now been arranged with the State Advances Department that, provided the Department is satisfied that the solicitor is of good repute, this course can be followed. In future, therefore, any solicitor approved by the Department will, on the request of the borrower, be entitled to receive instruction to prepare the mortgage.

-A plea that her view of the Eona Bay Wharf should not be blocked by the proposed war' memorial at Bastbourne -was voiced in a letter from Mrs. Elizabeth Ross to the Borough Council last evening. She declared that in the deed of dedication of thft foreshore it had been stated that nothing over three feet would be erected thereon. It was explained by councillors that the final site had not yet been chosen, and it would be inadvisable to listen to complaints of the kind at present. A reply on these lines is to be sent to Mrs. Boss.

The Minister of Education, Hon C. J. Parr, announced at the conference of senior school inspectors yesterday that," in view of the appointment of an Assistant Director of Education (Dr. Marsden), it had been decided that the Chief Inspector (Mr. T. B. Strong) would be largely relieved. from his office duties so that he miglit take a more active part in school inspection. It was intended that the Chief Inspector should be the co-ordinating officer between the different inspectorates. He would also be the chief reporter to the Minister as: to the value of the work done in the schools. ' Mr. Parr added that he was satisfied that it would be necessary, if we were to improve our grading system, that the senior inspectors should exchange districts for brief periods. Strollers along the Auckland city waterfront on Sunday afternoon were afforded a little diversion from the Sunday afternoon routine of candle-box oratory. The steamer Zealandic. which is tied up at the Queen's Wharf, possesses a band of parts, and yesterday afternoon it gave ( an impromptu performance on the fo'c'sle head to an appreciative audience of several hundreds on the wharf. The instrumentalists performed on concertinas,'tin whistles, a couple of drums improvised from empty casks, and sundry other curious sound producers, and notwithstanding the motley of their rig, which included a medley of naval, military, and police uni-' forms, they contfived a very creditable showing of numerous popular airs, the ■conductor, a. gentleman, in ablazing tunic and a red cap, being something of a martinet for time and with an ear for discord (states the "Star"). When the band felt like resting the vocal accomplishments of several of its members found expression, the crowd proving impartially appreciative of every item, instrumental and vocal.

According to reports furnished to the Minister of Education, weakness in arithmetic is noticeable in our primary schools in certain districts. "I would point out," also remarked the Minister at the conference -of chief inspectors of schools yesterday, "that the inspector's report last year with regard to the teaching of history and geography did not altogether indicate. a satisfactory state of things in our primary schools. I shall be glad to talk over with you the -question of giving British hfstory even more prominence. Most certainly we need a New Zealand text hook with sound instruction on the history of our own country, and I understand that the 'Department will make proposals in this direction. I notice in the schools great difference in the writing. In some it is good, and in others it is fair. This should not be. If it were possible to get good writing in one school under a headmaster who is keen about writing (and this, I find, is generally the determining factor of excellence or otherwise), it should be possible for the school half a mile away to get equally good results."

Although only about six months remains for the definite scrapping if H.M.A.S. Australia, in terms of the Washington Treaty, the exact fate to which this "battle cruiser will be consigned has not been settled by Federal Cabinet. All sorts of remarkable suggestions have been made (says Melbourne "Age"), from housing the unemployed to providing a breakwater. The people of Coff's Harbour-(N.S.W.), for example, have had considerable trouble with their breakwater owing ta rough weather, and have been induced to believe that the massive frame of the cruiser would keap out seas which play havoc with concrete ramparts. There are no shipbreakers in Australia equipped with the machinery used for this purpose in England, and a voyage by the Australia to England would cost £20,000, while the dismantling and breaking operations would cost about another £15,000. Each 12----inch gun would cost about £15, 0000 to remove from the ship and remount at shore batteries. Even then, according to experts, their trajectory as land guns would be unsatisfactory. It seems possible that the guns which kept the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau away from Australia in 1914 might ultimately be offered as souvenirs to local governing authorities, while the hull of the battle cruiser will find a vesting pkco on the sea bed. Sinking *juld be the rno.ob jesnonaisai mjtliod*

A Press Association message from Auckland states that a property in Queen street, between His Majesty's Arcade and the Metropalitan Hotel, with a frontage of 23 feet, with a twostory brick building on 'it, has been gold for £18,500, a little over £804 per foot.

There are still about 1100 uncertificated teachers in New Zealand, according to a statement of the Minister of Education yesterday. The percentage had gone down,, he added, from 34 per cent, to 25 per cent: in his period of office; and the Department ought to improve _ upon that considerably in the next three or four years.

At a meeting held in Petone last evening it was decided to organise a carnival during the Christmas and New Year holidays with the object of boosting Petone. A strong executive was set up to go into the matter and report to a general meeting next week on a proposed programme and the appointment of an organiser.

At an historic gathering of secretaries, chairmen, and members of the road boards of Marlborough, states a Press Association message, formal resolutions were passed expediting the revival of the Counties Act in Marlborough and the passing of the road boards which will be abolished on 31st March. The' election of membfers of the County Council takes place on. 21st November.

A compliment to the teachers in the primary schools was paid by the Minister of Education at a conference of senior school inspectors yesterday. Mr. Parr said that the teachers of New Zealand ai-e showing a praiseworthy zeal and vision in studying educational problems. "They establish committees of investigs' tion, and their reports are always useful even though one may. sometimes disagree," he added. "It is our duty to give a lead. In this respect anyway the teachers show Us rather a good example."

A report presented to the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening stated that coal stocks at the depot had been depleted owing to the strike. It wag hoped to obtain some Taupiri from the State Coal Deport this month. Sales of coal last month realised £126 4b '3d, and the expenditure amounted to £115 12s 2d.. For the five months ending 31st August the receipts had totalled £456 19s 3d, and the expenditure-£442 Is 3d. Owing to the shortage it had become necessary fir the ferry fleet to commence using its standing supply of 70 tons.

Complaint is made by Dr. Herbert that m the great hotels and eating-places the cook troubles less about the vegetables than about other foods. Dr. Herbert told his Health Week audience in the Town Hall last evening that a highlypaid chef generally gave his time to preparing the less healthy nitrogenous foods and left to some understrapper the cooking of the valuable (from * health point of view) vegetables. The understrapper turned out the best part of the meal like a poultice, instead of like, a vegetable, because his main idea wag to cook in a great quantity ol water.

_ Building permits at Eastbourne continue, to show a steady increase in the numbei\of dwellings being erected. At last evening's aneeting of the Borough Council the General Manager submitted a report, which showed that during August permits to the value of £7707 were issued. These included a' Masonic Hall, £1376; bungalow, £1168; bungalow. £1000;. St. Albans i-vicarage,: £1650; bungalow, £915; cottage, ■ £580; and aramerous alterations and addition's. From Ist April to date fortyeight permits have be«n issued to a. total-value.. ,of £18,727» fees* thereon amounting to £45. , . '' . .■

Another important improvement is to be made in the very heart of Dunedin (states the "Star"). Sir Alfred Robin's property, at the corner of Stuart street and the Octagon, has been sold, through M'Coll and Co., to Mr. L. Holden and Mr. and Mrs. G. Stenhouso for £10,000. The proposition is to build on 4,he section, approximately a quarter-acre, 1 an eight-storied hotel, shops, etc. Mr. James Robin, Sir Alfred's father, started his coachbuildirig business on this site in 1865, and subsequently took in, for the purposes of his trade. St. George's Hall, which was one of the important places .of assembly in' early Dunedin, and later on became a highly-popular dancing hall.

A deputation representing the Palmeraton North bacon industry waited on the Hon. J. G. Coates and Mr. B. M'Villy (Eailways Manager) last night regarding the use of scales at pig trucking stations, states a Press Association message. A difficulty has arisen owing to the alleged claim of one company to a prior right to use all scales to the exclusion and inconvenience of other concerns interested. It was alleged that an extortionate annual charge was recently made by ,'the -controlling company for use of the machines, and the opinion was expressed that the Government should take over the control of them. Mr. Coates assured the deputation that no company would b e allowed to monopolise the use of the scales, and said that he would inquire 'into the .matter.

"I am satisfied," said the Minister of Education at a conference of isenior school inspectors yesterday, "that the consolidated school will probably prove the best and most economical method of dealing with the rural education problem, although we have to recognise that in some cases consolidation undoubtedly ■would be more expensive, and might result in very little increase in efficiency. What I desire is to be able to bring the children of a remote district to a central school. I may ask the country to .close down certain schools in order to do this. Some expense may be involved, because we will have to > have motor transport. -It is difficult at times to get a good contract for motor carriage. The alternative is for the Department to own three or four motorcars, operating them themselves. I am not keen about that; I would, prefer to leave it to private enterprise It may be a slightly increased expense, but something will have to be done "

Special reference to the Government irrigation -works in Central Otaco was made by Mr. E . J. Howard. M7P on his return to Christchurch. The Government, he said, had spent a lot of jnoney m irrigation. He had visited the head works of the' Chatto Creek supply the work seemed to him to KaV« b Kn carried out in a very able manner "It is a big undertaking,v said Mr. Howard, 'and one could easily see the possibilities of danger if the scheme was not well superintend^. Already tha land that has received the water is showing siens ! of the want O f gra< 3 b g. If th * j is left ungraded the hollows receive ±oo much and the hills too/ little of the water." This naturally had a tendency to sour the hollows and low-lying l ßn d and one had only to notice the sheep ', and cattle grating on the hills and' avoiding the hollows to realise that souring was already taking place. Then again the carrying of weeds. The Government had reserved twenty links each side of tlio water channel. Along tail reserve land one could note all sorts of weeds growing. These would seed and become a great nuisance to the clean farmer. Then again, if there was a careless farmer near the source of supply, he could bo the mean 3of spreading all sorts of noxious weeds. Water like fire Was a good servant but a bad master! Still, Sir. Howard thought Central Otauo bad » great future ahead of. & ,