NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 105, 4 May 1926, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Maori War Massacre. To-day is the sixty-third anniversary of the massacre of nine members of a party of ten from the 57th Regiment (the "Die-hards") at Taranaki during the Maori wars. Sergeant-Major Bezar, of Wellington, was responsible for the capture of one of the murderers. To Prevent Further Accident. Arising out of the two recent motor accidents at Kelburn viaduct and on Northland road respectively the Wellington Automobile Club executive decided yesterday afternoon to approach the City Council with a view to improvements being effected as a safeguard aganst further mishap. Mr. Holdsworth said he had inspected the scene of the viaduct accident with others, including the Mayor, and they had concluded that the best thing to do was to replace the present palings on tho south side of the bridge with expanded metal, so as to afford drivers of vehicles a view of traffic approaching across the viaduct. Mr. Warburton described the corner at the viaduct as very dangerous, and srjgested the installation of an electrical device to warn traffic of vehicles approaching, otherwise serious accidents were sure to happen in the future. The chairman (Mr. H. Filmer) said there was no doubt that the City Council would see that proper safeguards were established. In regard to the Northland road accident, members were agreed that the road was too narrow in places, and that a request should be made for widening. Security for the Future. The progress being made in permanent road surfacing in and around Wellington was alluded to by Mr. S. G-. Nathan, motorists' representative on the Wellington City and Suburban Highways Board, in addressing the executive of the Wellington Automobile Club yesterday afternoon. He admitted that mistakes had been made in regard to construction work, but the position for the future was doubly secure because every bit of work had to be tested. There should be very little cause for complaint on the score of roads "cracking up" in the future. Mr. Nathan pointed out that the amount of permanent road paving done in Wellington of late was double that of any other local body area in. the Dominion. A Big Block of Flats. The largest block of flats planned in New Zealand is shortly to be erected in Auckland. The building, which it is estimated will cost approximately £100,000, will contain nearly one hundred residential flats planned on the most modern lines and fitted with the latest conveniences and labour-saving devices. -The scheme is being backed by a number of leading Auckland business men, and it is hoped to commence building operations in the course of a few weeks. The land on which the building is to be erected has a double frontage to Waterloo quadiant and Eden crescent, and will face Governmont House grounds. There will be nine stories on the Waterloo quadrant frontage, while, owing to the slope of the. ground, the Eden crescent frontage will bo twelve stories high. The building will be of concrete and brick. "The Bishop is Liable." Humorous reference to a statement that the Bidhop is personally liable under the Compensation Act for compensation to clergymen injured in the course of their work is made in tTie latest issue of the "Church News." "The 'Envoy' recently states that a bombshell was exploded by a member of the local synod, when he pointed out that tho Bishop was personally liable .under the Workers' Compensation Act for compensation to any clergyman injured in the pursuit of his duty" (states the "Church News"). "The Standing Committee was authorised to take steps to protect the Bishop. This opens up an intriguing possibility that some day tho Bey. Athanase Ignotus may drag the Bishop to the Supreme Court to extort a recompense for a wrist broken while cranking Henry on a cold morning. The Bishop in his defence would urge that the reverend plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence in that (a) he had the spark too far advanced, (b) letting his battery run down, (c) using cheap p-trol, and (d) general 'cussednesa.' Farthing damages. Seriously, though the electoral board nominates, as tho Bishop appoints, there may be a theoretical case, but the real employer is the parish. If ever a 'contumacious priest' brought such a case to trial, thero would be some pretty argument. Church-wardens may groan, but it would be a gracious consideration for country vestries at least to insure their clergy against accident." "Tagged" for £58. Items disallowed by the Government Auditor in the financial statement of the Newtown School Committee, totalling £58 17s 2d, included reglazing windows, payments of insurance on furniture, repairs to the school piano, replacements to the first-aid cabinet, repairs to pictures, printing of Anzac Day programmes, replenishing the reference library, supplementary readers (£27 13s), linoleum for the headmaster's room, gas fireplaces, secretary's honorarium, car fares, etc. It was suggested that the Parents' Association keep a separate account, and supply the money for such expenditures as were required by the school. The chairman (Mr. J. W. Salmon) held that the whole of this expenditure was justified by the applicable bylaws. Separate accounts hau been kept until several years ago, when the Education Board induced every committee to reveal its special I accounts, with the present result. A conference between the incoming and outgoing committees was decided upon, and in the meantime the statement, which had been returned only that afternoon, it was stated, after lying for seven weeks in the auditor's hands, could only be received. Changes of Staff. "We are only too pleased to see our teachers make progress," remarked Mr. L. Hennessey, chairman of Te Aro School Committee, last evening, "but a > do think that by transferring to another school and position during the working year of the school they sometimes gain promotion at the expense of the children." Mr. Hennessey remarkc.l that a regulation had been passed to prevent the transfer of teachers from one school to another during the school year, but the spirit of that regulation had been broken by the Education Department itself. Regulation or no regulation, three members of the staff had been transferred, or were transferring, to other schools. The headmaster (Mr. A. M'Kenzie) remarked that one real difficulty in regard to transfers being held to the end of tho year lay in the fact that young women teachers would get married, and even the Education Department would not tackle the task of telling their young ladies that, according to regulation, marriages must lako placo at Christmas time only. Until that could bo done, there would al-1-ays be vacancies and necessary promotions and transfers to fill those vacancies. The interruption of school work caused by transfer of teachers was referred to also by Captain F. A. M;iciniioe. at the Northland School. He moved: "That this meeting of householders strongly disapproves of teachers being taken away from a .school during j the year, which must be to the detriment of the education of the children.1' It was stated by Mr. C. H. Nicholls that no Improvement could be expected until the Act was altered. The motion was car--1 ried.

If It Is Carried— "The City Council is not unmindful of the needs of the outlying districts," remarked Councillor J. Aston at last night's meeting of the Northland School Committee. He said that if the forthcoming reserves loans was carried the council intended to complete the formation of Anderson and Western Parks. Near Westorn Park, also, it was intended to establish a swimming pool. Mr. Aston referred to the success of the recent Northland queen carnival hold to raise funds for the school grounds, and said that any district.which showed such self-reliance iva3 to be complimented. Noisy Motor-cycl«g. "Thero seems to be no attontion paid by the authorities in this city to this particularly obnoxious form of locomotion," remarked Mr. C. A. L. Trcadwell !.': the meeting of the executive of the Wellington Automobile Union yesterday afternoon, referring to noisy motorcycles. The subject under discussion was the nuisance caused by machine-gun-like exhausts. It was pointed out that under the city bylaws silencers must be carried. "These motor-cycles are the most offensive things on the roads," declared another member. It was decided to enter a protest to the city authorities against the non-use of silencers in the city streets. Objection to Hutt Boad Tax. Motorists in the Paraparaumu district object to the Hutt road tax, to which they are liable, on the ground that they derive no benefit from it. At yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Wellington Automobile Club executive a letter was received on behalf of motorists in the district suggesting that the club should confer with the member for Otaki with a view to securing an amendment to the Act exempting motorists on the other side of the Paekakariki Hill from payment of the tax. Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell objected that if that were conceded there would be applications for exemption from "all over the place." "The more people we can keep in so far as the tax is concerned," remariced the chairman (Mr. H. Filmer), ".the better for ourselves." "Let them come and help us to abolish this imposition, and we will help them," declared Mr. Treadwell. It was decided to reply that the executive considered that there was very little chance of the exemption being secured. Bad Effects of Cramping. A note of warning in regard to the danger caused by' the cramping of scholars in small desks was issued by Mr. B. Prows Broad, headmaster at the Kilbirnie School, last evening. Mr. Broad said that recently he went into Standard IV. and found that half the children were uncomfortable in their desks. "Children at that age are growing by inches every day, and they should not be cramped, because it may 1 y the foundations of many troubles," he said. Mr.. A. E. Wells (chairman) said that the school was built in 1884, and he thought that some of the desks were foundation-stones. On one occasion, Standard I. children knelt at their work on account of a shortage of accommodation. That had been remedied since, with the arrival of eighteen desks. More were required, however. The meeting decided to make representations to the Education Board on the matter. Campaign Against Careless Driving. The increasing number of motor-car accidents is occasioning the Council of the Auckland Automobile Association deep concern, and it has been decided by the association to undertako an advertising campaign to impress upon drivers the necessity for checking the gross carelessness with which some motor-cars are driven in the city. The association considers that the majority of careful motorists are likely to bo penalised by irksome bylaws through the fault of a few who exercise very little sense of responsibility when in charge of cars. With a view to preventing the imposition of multifarious restrictions, the association ax>peals to responsible drivers to observe overy rule of the road now operating. Statistics reveal that motor-vehicle accidents are accounting for an average of one death a week in Auckland. In addition, there is a person injured almost every day. Inoculation Against Typhoid. "The Maoris of the Westshore district are being freely inoculated against typhoid, over a thousand having already been treated," states tlie "Hawkes Bay Herald." "The Westshoro residents, like the Maoris, are without a watercarried sewage system, and are dependent for their water supply upon tanks. In the past fortnight there have been twelve cases of typhoid from Westshore, and all residents of that district run the risk of infection. They had been advised to seek inoculation, and a few may have done so. All actually in contact with cases have been compulsorily treated. There is reason to believe that many have not boon inoculated, and the authorities now offer in their own interest that a medical officer of health will treat them free of charge. Those who prefer may arrange privately with their own medical attendant." Increasing Hotel Values. The well-known Auckland publichouse that has stood for many years at the corner of Symonds street and Newton road, the Edinburgh Castle Hotel, has been sold by the liconsee, Mr. S. J. Atkins, to Mr. G. H. S. Foster, licensee of the Star Hotel, Newton, for approximately £40,000, states a Press Association message. The hotel has a frontage of 57ft to Symonds street and 100 ft to Newton road, and holds a prominent position in that busy locality. Mr. Atkins bought the hotel in 1922-23 for £22,000, and the new price gives an indication of the rapid advance in the values of property in Symonds street. Schools Medical Service. The good work done by the Schools Medical Service was referred to at a meeting of householders held at Upper Hutt last night for the purpose of electing a new School Committee. A circular was recoived from the Director of School Hygiene (Dr. Ada Paterson), in which it was stated that the' work of the schools service was inai gurated in 1912, since when one 'million examinations had been carried out. There was now a decrease in physical defects due to the wider knowledge of tho laws of health. The headmaster of the Upper Hutt School (Mr. E. Marryatt) was asked to give his views on the examination of children in that school, and he replied that the parents were al aj i notified of the visit of the doctor, and were encouraged to come witli the children. The examinations wore carried out in complete privacy, and it was his experience that the children were kindiy treated by the nurses, and not at all frightened of the examination. Goitre treatment had been started in the school last year, but if any parent objected to their children taking the goitre pills, lie had only to notify him, and ho would dis- | continue the treatment and inform the .doctor of the course .adopted. The medical cards, said Mr. Marryatt, wpre left in the school, but they wore never 1 -keel at. Tho only fuels he desired to know from tho doctor wcr ; whether a child was inclined to deafness or blindness, so that it could be placed in front of the class, or near the blackboard. Two parents present testified to the good work done by the medical service, one stating that had it not been for the school doctor one of her i boys would now be blind in one eye.

Tree-planting in City Street*. Approximately nine miles of streets in the Auckland City area were planted with trees during the year ended 31st March. Altogether 1100 trees wore planted, and most of them have done exceptionally well, the loss from various causes being under 2 per cent. Provision has been made in the current year's estimates for £2015 to be spent on tree-planting and pruning. School Accommodation at Lyall Bay. In order to assist in accommodating the evor-incroasing number of pupils, one of tho portable rooms which the Education Department supplies throughout the country was erected in the schoolgrounds at Lyall Bay, subsequent to a visit to the school-of the Minister of Education and members of the board. This building proved most useful in its purpose, relieved the pressure on the classrooms, and mado it possible to assemble tho whole school within its own precincts. The establishment of a junior high school in the district has advanced a further stage, but it is considered that ,at least eighteen months must olapso before the doors will be opened. Under this scheme, standards V. and VI. will be transformed from the primary schools, which will have their numbers reduced, and so the accommodation difficulties in Lyall Bay School will be relieved. Irritating Economy. A considerable amount of time has been spent by the Terrace School Committee in negotiations with the Education Board asking that electric light be installed throughout the school. The installation has now been agreed to, and will be proceeded with in the near future, but the board's proposed lighting of the ground floor corridor is not considered to be satisfactory. "The board has at last decided to install electric lighting," said Mr. A. Johnston at the meeting of householders in the Terrace School last evening, "but with its usual niggardliness it wants to cut out two of the lights in a corridor, which is about seventy feet long." He could not understand the board, and it was most irritating to the committee. Rival Codes. With not more than twelve householders present, and three-fourths of them members of the committee, proceedings at the annual meeting at Clyde quay last evening were anything but lively. Only on one point was there any suspicion of contention, and even then the discussion was carried on in a most friendly fashion, speakers almost apologising for the necessity of disagreeing with the only lady present. When the annual report was under review, tho lady suggested that boys attending the school should be given the opportunity of playing Association football as well as Rugby. The suggestion did not meet with the approval of the headmaster (Mr. E. Irvine), who said he thought it would be a mistake to divide their football forces. Another speaker, a man this time, agreed with the lady, remarking that New Zealand appeared to be Eugby mad. Personally, he preferred to watch a game of Soccer, as it was more open and more scientific than Eugby. The chairman said that the new committee would consider the matter. Only One Thing Wrong. Members of the Clyde Quay School Committee are proud of the accomplishments of ex-pupils. As a case in point, reference was made last evening to the fact that Mr. H.G. B. Mason, an expupil of the school, had entered Parliament as member for Eden. Mr. T. Forsyte, M.P., stated that Mr. Mason had been a brilliant pupil at Clyde quay and at Wellington College, and his success was particularly gratifying. "I am sorry that ho is on the wrong side," said Mr. Forsyth, with a twinkle in his eye, "but, even so, it is satisfactory to see men of the calibre of Mr. Mason entering Parliament." Fosters and Propriety. • A protest against certain posters exhibited on hoardings in the city was made by the Eev. J. J. North at the Baptist Tabernacle on Sunday evening, says "The Post's" Auckland correspondent. The speaker said there was one thing to be thankful for, and that was the comparative cleanness of the streets of the four cities in the Dominion. It was good to thinlc of the multitudes of morally clean folk who passed cheerfully down our streets to their work and play, to whom life was sweet, and who were free from sex obsession. Purity, especially of thought, was hard to get and hard to keep, said Mr. North, and it was surely a hateful thing that the hoardings of the city should be constantly suggestive. Theatre managements wanted full houses; they found that the brute nerve was the one that readily throbbed, and they outraged art and morals by their hoardings, and made it difficult to carry on tho fight on which everything turned. It was surely time, added Mr. North, that beautifying societies, art clubs, Totary clubs, and church people of all types cleaned up the mess in the interests of decency and happiness. There had been enough provocations in the last two months to warrant action. A City Council Stable. That the City Council should clean up what may be an Augean stable of its own at Day's Bay was a suggestion made by Captain F. A. Maeindoe at last night's meeting of the Northland householders. Captain Maeindoe alluded to the recent school picnic. Through an oversight formal permission had not been obtained from the City Council for the use of a portion of Williams Park, but on arrival there the caretaker made arrangements for accommodating the party in the laughing gallery. (Laughter.) This was quite all right, said Captain Maeindoe, but it appeared that the laughing gallery was next to a stable, and the consequences were not altogether pleasant. Captain Maeindoe said that he wrote to the City Council on the subject, and received a reply that the committee had been fortunate to get the laughing gallery. (Laughter.) That was all very well, said Captain Maeindoe, but he maintained that a nauseating stable should not be permitted in a City Council picnic ground. Ratana's Book Closes. Last Friday was a great day for the prophet Rataiia and his followers, as it had been freely circulated earlier that 30th April would see the closing of Ratana's famous book, his roll of followers, says tho "Wanganui Chronicle." Those Maoris outside the pale of the beliefs countenanced at Eatana were given warning that, by failing to enrol before the dqjfco mentioned, they would finally lose their prospects of the benefits to be conferred upon followers of tho prophet. There had been rumours that the book was to close earlier, but Friday was definitely chosen as tho last day. Among the Maoris Eatana's supporters, who in the official roll, it is sair], number about 12,000, are now known as "the Morehu,'' a name they adopted themselves. Meaning "the remnants," this word, given a liberal interpretation, means that the Maoris concerned regard themselves as a people disregarded by the world. They have now banded together, and one of their confessed objectives is tho elevation of the status of the Maori race. Wearing their distinctive red, white, and blue emblems, the Morehu come to atana from all parts of New Zealand. The church founded by tho prophet is now, in point of membership, a flourishing institution. It was given legal status some time ago, and the ministers are now authorised to perform the usual rites and formalities undertaken by ministers of religion*

Unblemished Record. A remarkable performance -was recorded at the meeting of householders at Brooklyn last night, when Kathleen Callaghan, who attended the Brooklyn School for seven years and a half without being once late or absent, was presented with a gold medal. Blind Football Enthusiast. Auckland has one of the most remarkable of League football enthusiasts, says "The Post's" correspondent. He is completely blind, yet every Saturday lie is to be seen with a friend at the ground upon which his favourite team is playing. Ho follows the game with tho utmost enthusiasm, his guide leading him up and down the line following tho players. His remarks on the game are given with uncanny certainty, and he applauds or chastises the team according to what they deserve. His sense of hearing and direction are tvcll developed, and to tho ordinary onlooker, it would appear that lie was in possession of his sight. Opposed to Centralisation. "We have indicated our willingness to attend the conference being convened by the war funds branch of the Department of Internal Affairs,'' said Sir James Gunsou, chairman of the Auckland Patriotic Society, when interviewed by an "Auckland Star" representative on Saturday. "We are, however, absolutely opposed to any movement in the way of centralisation. . So far M we are concerned, there seems to be no necessity for it. There has been no overlapping, and the administration has been sound and sufficient. No difficulties exist, so far as Auckland is concerned, and everything is running very smoothly, the fund being administered on a provincial basis. It has to be remembered that the fund at our disposal is made up from subsidiary funds, having for their objec.t the special relief of necessitous cases, especially where a man is drawing an insufficient pension, and those funds were subscribed in Auckland for the benefit of Auckland men." Sir James said he did not care to say more on the subject, pending what was done at the conference. Albatross in Auckland Zoo. Exhausted after a battle with the gale which has been raging on the West Coast, a fine specimen of the wandering albatross was captured on Muriwai Beach on Saturday afternoon by Mr. George Henning and Mr. B. B. Champ-. taloup. The bird was installed in the Zoo yesterday, and, although still ill, it had recovered sufficiently to exhibit so~ie spirit. When found, the albatross was standing on the beach, and was in too weak a condition to make any at-t-mpt to fly. Mr. Henning led it to a motor-car, and it was placed in the back seat with a gun-dog. During the trip to 'Auckland the dog and the bird were the reverse of friendly. When Mr. Henning was conveying the albatross to the Zoo it became active with its beak and attacked the leather at the back of the front seat of the car." The bird is the first of its species in the Zoo. Ita wing spread measures over nine' feet. ■ ■ ; ' 'The Better the Day.'' 'fWhile a Minister of the Crown is supported by ministers of the Gospel, the critics should be silent," said the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, at Auckland on Sunday, when defending his action in consenting to open the new nurses' home at the Auckland Infirmary on a Sunday. .As he spoke Mr. Young indicated the clergymen present, included among whom were Dr. A. W. Averill, Archbishop of New Zealand, and the Bey. B. Watson, Moderator of the Auckland Presbytery. Continuing, Mr. Young said it was only fitting that the building should be opened on a Sunday, for a hospital infirmary and other institutions incidental to tho care of the sick, were practical expressions of that love and service for which the Christian faith stood.