NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 149, 20 December 1929, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

The School Holidays. All primary schools in the Wellington Education Board's district close to-day of 1930 will begin on 3rd February next. J Vocational Guidance. " During the session we have for the first time made an attempt to devise a system by which the aptitudes of pupils might be better investigated and guidance given to them and their parents regarding their future occupation," reported Mr. J. H. Howell, Director of the Technical .College, at the prize-giving ceremony yesterday. "It has not yet Been possible to apply the system to the whole school, and it is 1 doubtful whether it can profitably be ' done to more than a small section uni less a full-time officer can be appoiut- . od; but there can bo no doubt that the . subject is of great importance, and it' the stuff work together and receive the support of employers much good will > result."- ' :

asm Reserve Terms. The use of the Basin Eeserve is to be ranted the Wellington Centre, N.Z.----.A.A., for daylight sports meetings >r the present athletic season subject p the payment af 15 per cent, of the ross gate takings and 50 per cent, of and takings. ongotai College Camp. Forty-four boys from Rongotai Boys' ollege have been in camp at Karapoti. hey went under canvas on Saturday ist, and camp was struck yesterday, iarapoti is on a bend of the Little katarawa River and makes ait ideal imping spot. The weather was not >o kind, but the best was made of le conditions, and a very enjoyable me was spent, many hours being pent in swimming. The principal of io College, Mr. F. M. Renner, visited le camp on Tuesday, and he and Mrs. ;euner were entertained at supper in be evening. Ho complimented the oys on the orderliness and cleanliness f their camp. Mr. J. T. M'Caw, one f the College masters, was in charge £ the camp. jiother Croquet Club Rule. Rules as to the membership of muniipal croquet clubs have given the Reerves Committee of the City Council ome concern, for in this matter it is n extremely difficult thing to please early everyone, let alone everyone. iast evening another proposal was put orwaru, that no person who is a memer of one municipal club shall herefter become a member of any other mnicipal club. •emand for Students. The statement that during the past ear there had been a very great deland for students of the Technical [igh School, so great indeed that more lian 200 pupils- had left to take up posiions, was made by the Director, Mr. . H. Howcll, at the prize-giving cerelouy yesterday. This was a sufficient !i(Heation that the work of the college •as duly appreciated by the industrial nd commercial community. But there fas a danger, continued Mr. Howell, 3st it should bo thought that a short eriod of day training at the Technical lollege was enough to lay a' foundaion for sound work later on in the vening school. It must be understood hat the evening school was not mended for boys and girls under 15 ears of age, and that after 16 was the iroper time for carrying on evening chool courses. From the point of ■iew both of training and of health, loys and girls during the years of .dolescence should, if at all possible, be n a full-time day school and should lot be required to do their studies after hey have already spent their best mergies in employment for eight hours t day. Until the senior free place had >een obtained even in the case of those vho are taking up the skilled trades, t was most desirable that pupils should :ontinue at the day school; and, where hoy are not over 16, they should renain for a. third year. Unsightly Boat Sheds. Some months ago the City Council liscussed the advisability of having jleared away the more unsightly boat sheds and shelters along the Evans Bay foreshore road, but no definite action was taken. Last night, howsver, the council decided that notices should be served on all owners of such aheds and shacks as do not conform with its requirements that the buildings must be demolished by 30th April iiext. Local Body Loans. An Order-in-Couneil in yesterday's "Gazette" notifies that consent has been given to the raising of the following loans by public bodies:—Waiapu Oounty Council, £5000, for workers' dwellings; Woodville County Council £1000, for workman's cottage; Petone Borough Council, £30,000, for watersupply improvement; Hutt County Council, £3525, for No. 19 Main Highways reconstruction; Featherston County Council, £2500, for Bush Gully Bridge, and £500 for Tawaha Rivei protection; New Plymouth Borough Council, £162,000, for drainage purposes; Palmerston North Borough Coun cil, £14,000 for waterworks purposes. Land Settlement Advice. An important part of the Land Laws Amendment Act passed by Parliameni last session related to the setting uj of committees composed of Commission ers of Crown Lands and farmers t< advise the Minister of Lands as to hoti to tackle the problem of land Bettle ment in all its phases in their respee tive areas. A start has been made ii the constitution of the advisory com mittees, and the first three for tin Auckland district are announced. -Tin personnel is as follows:—North Auck land: The Commissioner of Crowi Lands, North Auckland, ex officio; Alf red Faithfull, of Te Ahuahu, farmer and George Singer Black Morrison, o: Maungatapere, farmer. South Auek land No. 1: The Commissioner o: Crown Lands, Auckland, ex officio Hugh Poland, of Paeroa, farmer; an( Walter Frederick Woodward, of Para wei-a, farmer. South Auckland No. 2 The Commissioner of Crown Lands Auckland, ex officio; Herber Manro Martin, of Ngongotaha farmer; and William John Par sons, of Guthrie r Rotorua, farmei Mr. Poland is an ex-member of Parlia ment who represented Ohinemuri ii the Liberal interest for many years. Island at Taranaki Street. Authority was asked by the Bylaw Committee of the City Council las evening for authority enabling ai island refuge to be erected at th. corner of Taranaki and Wakefieli streets in temporary material as ai experiment. In support of th© claus* Councillor M. P. Luckie stressed th desirability of the island, and point ed out that the proposal had receive* the support of experts. He though thatthe matter had not been as full' considered by the council as it had beei by the Bylaws Committee, and tha was why he was bringing it dowi again. The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup said that it was desirable that th islands should be established in Wei lington, but he pointed out that a remi was going forward to the Municipa Association asking the Government t interest itself in the matter, and b protect the council. Wasn't it wis to defer action? he asked. Anothe point was the matter of .expensewhere was the money coming from He suggested that th© clause shoul be taken back, and an estimate b obtained of the cost. After furthe discussion the Mayor's suggestion wa adopted. Last Meeting of tho Year. At the conclusion of last nightl meeting of tho City Council, the laa for this year, councillors, officers, an members of the Press were entertaine at supper by the Mayor, Mr. G. A Troup, and as the meeting was late s the supper was later, but it was a mos happy and enjoyable gathering. Com cillors Luckie, W. H. Bennett, and Sen pie, proposing the toast of the nealt and happiness of Mr. and Mrs. Troui remarked upon the extremely able an successful leadership of the council an the city by Mr. Troup during the pas three years, of Mrs. Troup's quiet bi very effective work, and particular! of the good fellowship which existc between all members of the counci notwithstanding that at times they di fered sharply in their discussions' roun the table. In reply, Mr. Troup warml thanked the councillors for their c operation during three very busy ai progressive years. Councillor R. t Wright proposed the toast of tho of cors, several of the senior officials r plying. The toast of the Press was ah honoured, and the function was clos< by the singing of Auld Lang Syn with hands joined round the tables.

The Real Boss. Delegates to the Wellington Provincial Yacht and' Motor-boat Association were discussing last evening the appointment of two of their number to represent their interests at the Dominion Conference in Auckland at Sanders Cup time. One or two of those nominated were doubtful whether their work would allow them to make the trip, and when tho name of a delegate ( who is a well-known business man was mentioned, the question was asked: "Will your boss let you go?" There i was a round of laughter when, with- h a out hesitation, tho delegate replied: "I don't know whether she will." "Too Much 'do Slow.' " "There is too much of the 'go-slow' policy becoming prevalent in our midst, and if New Zealand is to be great it is to bo largely by means of the hard work wo are putting into it," said tho Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), when speaking to the "young fellows" at the Technical College breaking-up ceremony yesterday. The Mayor urged them to work hard, for they would achieve nothing by standing and looking on; they would not achieve their manhood and womanhood by doing as little as they could. Only by putting their whole heart into their work, by always doing a little bit more than was expected of them (a thing that never went unnoticed) would they lift New Zealand up to the plane she should occupy in the Pacific. There was also character to bo considered. Character was the impression that they were going to make on the world by their personality, and that impression on the hves of others would be either good or bad. He stressed the need when they lett school of taking a stand for uprightness, honesty, and integrity. Suggestion Viewed Favourably. "The regulations for free places recently issued open still wider the door to free education," said Mr. J. H. Howcll,' Director of the Technical College, in his report. "In future pupils will bo allowed to transfer from the primary school to a technical high school if they are /over 14 years, whether they have passed the Sixth Standard or not. It would be to tho advantage of many of these pupils if they made the change as soon as they reach tho ago instead of waiting until the following February, while, owing to the large number that leave to take employment, they could be well accommodated in tho Technical High School during the last part of tho year. It is uneconomical that full use should not be made throughout the year of the Technical College buildings and staff; it would add nothing to the cost to the Department if such pupils transferred, say, in September, while it would give to them, at least three months more of special training in which their aptitudes might be discovered and fostered. When I mentioned the matter to the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. Atmore) at his recent visit, I may say that he viewed the suggestion very favourably." Carillon Broadcast from Hyde Park. A world-wide relay broadcast of a recital upon the Wellington War Memorial Carillon at Hyde Park, London, is expected to take place shortly. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Carillon Society, held last evening, the chairman (Mr. H. D. Bennett) stated that the Hyde Park recitals would commence Sunday next, 22nd December, and arrangements were already in train for a world-wide relay broadcast to suit the convenience of people here. When these negotiations were completed the date and time would be announced. He had had the pleasure that day of hearing the first gramophone record of the Welling War Memorial Carillon, as played by Mr. Clifford Bull, England's foremost carillonneur, at the Newcastle Exhibition. Though previously great difficulty had been experienced in recording carillon music, the same as with the piano, this record was surprisingly good, and'was the finest carillon record he had heard. In making this they appeared to have found some improved method of recording the bell music, and it appeared to be almost perfect. A copy of the record had been presented to the society by Messrs. Charles Begg and Co., and he moved that a special vote of thanks be accorded to that firm for same. The motion was carried. Almost Forgotten Memorial. Councillor W. H. Bennett at last evening's meeting of the City Council remarked that there was at the Basin Reserve a very old and striking memorial, the many-pillared fountain, without inscription of any kind and without meaning to most people. He understood that it had been given to the memory of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, but he was not at all sure. Would the Mayor endeavour to trace its story and to have a proper, inscription placed upon it. Mr. Troup replied that he would be pleased to have inquiries made. "As a"matter of fact," he added, "I have long had it in mind to propose a much more fitting monument to Edward Gibbon Wakefield, , for whatever division of opinion there may be as to him, I think Wellington owes a debt of gratitude to that early pioneer." Rabbit Breeding. An alleged danger through commercial rabbit breeding was brought to the notice of the General Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Wednesday, when a letter was received from the Sheep Owners' Union, asking that the association should not make provision for rabbits at future shows, reports the '•Press." "There is now a slump in rabbit skins, which will make the breeding unprofitable," said Mr. W. H. Nicholson. "It is feared that many breeders will give it up, and, reluctant to kill off the rabbits, will turn them loose. It is highly undesirable that they should be added to the rabbit pest already with us." Mr. T. A. Stephens: "The Chinchillas are mainly affected, and they aren't so bad." "It's all rather a bogy," said Mr. James Deans. "The increased price of rabbit skins has done a lot to get rabbits under, in that it has encouraged trappers and shooters. I move that no action be taken in the matter." The motion was seconded by Mr. N J. O. Coop, and the committee decided not to take any action. Chamois and Thar. "I read in Tuesday's issue that the Arthur's Pass National Park Board of Control wishes to clear the park of animals altogether, writes a correspondent to the Christchurch "Press." This will make the reserve rather a botanical garden than a park. No doubt thero is something to be said for this policy; but it is a defect in scenery to have no animate nature about it. This country has many fine vistas; but they are usually too lifeless. Surely we need not grudge the chamois and thar a place in tho sun at an altitude of 7000 or 8000 feet. Of course the animals must eat something, but in other countries the mountain animals and the mountain flora co-exist for centuries. I do not see why they cannot do the like in this country. Chamois on a mountain are one of the most beautiful Nature sights that anyone could set eyes on. I once saw a young chamois come down a perpendicular bluff. It trotted down the face as unconcernedly as we might cross the street, though there was no foothold that I could see. This was in a model mountain garden. What a sight it must be to see animals like chamois and thar going about the real mountains. I can feel gratitude to the society which introduced them, but cannot understand how anybody can want to get rid of them—at least not on country 7000 or 8000 feet high." "