NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 137, 6 December 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Cinema in Education. The cinema as an organ or agency in education was mentioned by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, when speaking at the. Training College yesterday. "I believe that an appeal to the eye such as the cinema presents is simply invaluable from an. educational point of view," said His Excellency. He hoped the cinema would bo used more and more as a medium of education, and that the Government would encourage its use and provide facilities for it, as it could bo a help in the training of young people, particularly in the matter of domestic and agricultural activities. Points for Teachers. Advice given to students of the Training College yesterday by the Gov-ornor-General covered many points. He urged the students not to discourage a child's questions; any question that was intelligent was worth encouragement, and might be the beginning of a career of which New Zealand and the British Empire might be proud. A proper regard for manual and domestic work might also bo inculcated, and a love of the beautiful could be stimulated in the school. The necessity of speaking and writing pure and accurate English was also impressed upon the students by Lord Bledisloe. "And let me say," said His Excellency, "that nothing has delighted me more than to find in this far outpost of the Empire purer English being spoken than I have met-with even in the Old Country, purer English than in any other Dominion of the British Empire." Taking Him at his Word. When speaking at the Maranui Surf and Life-Saving Club's dinner last night Mr. E. A. Wright, M.P., recalled a General Election when the late Dr. Newman was a candidate for the Wellington East seat. It was a particularly keenly fought contest, and one minute the results would show Dr. Newman leading by a few votes and in the next he would have just missed. When, the time came for congratulatory speeches Dr. Newman was still uncertain as to his fate, and in his few words he said that he did not know whether he was in or out so that all he could do was to ask them to pray for him. After everyone had gone home the- returning officer discovered a parcel of fifty uncounted votes for Dr. Newman, and this assured his election by a majority of thirtyvotes. A few days later the doctor received a bill from one who claimed to be an ardent supporter, with the statement, "To forty-eight hours' praying at Is an hour—£2 Bs." (Laughter.) Maori Dairy Farmers. The remarkable progress made by Maoris who wore engaged in dairy farming on the East Coast between Opotiki and Cape Runaway impressed Itself upon Mr. F. W. Furkert, Engin-eer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department, and chairman of the Main Highways Board, who has returned to Wellington after a tour of the North Island with other members of the board. Mr. Furkcrt said that ho had been surprised to find that the, Natives had mado such progress in two years. In many cases they had had to overcome great difficulties, but members of the board had seen herds controlled by them which would have borne most favourable comparison with the choicest herds in Taranaki. They had taken up the industry with remarkable thoroughness, and in general they showed quite clearly that they were taking the experiment seriously and were determined to build up an industry along modern lines. Mr. Eurkcrt added that in spite of difficulties of getting their cream to Opotiki the settlers were doing excellent work.

Public Works Contracts. The tender of G. L. Bull for £13,133 for the erection of a reinforced concrete post office at Westport lias been passed by the Public Works Department. A contract for the supply of transmission conductors at Arapuni has been secured by the Electric Construction Company, the amount of the tendor being £18,041. H. Bray and Co., £34,902, are the successful tenderers for extensive improvements on the Gis-borne-Opotiki coastal highway. Presents for Children. Children in the hospitals, homes, and orphanages in Wellington and the Hutt Valley will benefit to the extent of about £700 through the efforts of the Wellington Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association. The money, which was raised through the joy night, at the Town Hall, the street appeal, and an art union, will bo used to assist in purchasing Christmas presents for the children. "Cadets Purely Voluntary." The secretary of the No More War Movement in Dunedin has been advised of the receipt by the organisation in Christehnrch of a letter in the following terms from the Minister of Defence- (states the "Otago Daily Times"): "In reply to your letter of 31st October, I have to inform you that for the current training year compulsory military training has been suspended. Service in the secondary school Cadets is therefore on a purely voluntary basis for the time being." Marking Flood Areas. "Should not those city areas which are subject to flooding be marked on town-planning maps as unsuitable for the erection of dwellings, and steps bo taken to prohibit any structure from being- placed there that might adversely affect the free discharge of flood waters'" asked Mr. E. F. Scott, A.M.1.C.E., when addressing the Christchureh branch of the Town Planning . Institute of New Zealand on drainage and town planning. "The earlier these questions are looked into and decided, tho better for the community as a whole, and the less likely there arc to be claims for .compensation -owing to limitation of tho use of th-e land affected." Civic Survey Map. The civic survey map of Christ- ; church, recently forwarded to the Town Planning Board, consists.of 55 sheets, each 26 inches square, including the margins (states "The Press"). The scale as 2J chains to the inch, and the area comprised ii> the city as at present constituted is dealt with. A considerable amount of detailed information is-given, and the different character of the buildings, such as shops, factories, residences, and public buildings is indicated by distinctive colours. Christchureh is understood to be the only city in the Dominion that has compiled its civi-e survey maps from an aerial survey. This method has reduced the cost, and has permitted the work to be done expeditiously.. Cathedral Square. . Agreement has been arrived at regarding the- sites and character of the shelters for waiting- tramway passengers in Cathedral Square, between representatives of the City Council and the Tramway Board (says tho Christchurch. "Press"). Tho details of the agreement are subject to the approval of both bodies. The proposal at first, considered of providing for four shelters in pairs to the north and to the south of the western entrance to tho Cathedral, has been abandoned, and two sites have been .selected, one to the north and the other to the south of th. existing shelter. The eastern end of the shelter which will fa-ce north, is almost in a line with the back of the present structure. Boughly, it will be about 24ft wide and about 50ft in length. The other shelter facing south will be a replica of the one facing north. The site of neither will encroach upon the boundaries of the reserve, which includes the railed-in plot | on which the Godley statue formerly stood. The new shelters, it is understood, will be octagonal in shape, and will be built of Halswell stone, and faced with Oamaru stone. The apportionment of the cost between the City Council and the Tramway Board has been agreed, upon by the representatives of th-e two bodies, and the new shelters are to be erected and ready for use by June next, when, according to the decision of the Supreme Court, the present shelter must bo removed. Other Drivers Take Note. A party of Wellington motorists who took the main road to Wauganui on the up trip nntl decided to give themselves a change of scenery by coming home last evening through the Akatarawa, ran into a bad patch of trouble. Following heavy jain a slip came down across the road in its bush section; the driver missed the warning notice, rounded a bend sharply, and. rammed his car hard into the soft mud and broken rock of the slip. Fortunately for everyone, the car missed boulders and heavy wood, but it was so thoroughly stuck that it had to be dug out. The back tires were ruined by the gruelling given them before the machine was backed out and turned agaia for the main road. Kelburn Viaduct Traffic. A new rule will apply to traffic over the Kelburn viaduct as from Monday morning—two-way traffic under control will be allowed. The rule is being brought ,in as the work of improving tho bad length tof Earoa road near the Northland tunnel will practically close this section to all traffic, and there is no other feasible route. Bed and green, lights, similar to those at Courtenay place and the Bank of New Zealand corner, are being installed, and during busy hours traffic officers will be on duty at either end of the bridge to see that only one line of vehicles is on. the viaduct at once. The new rule must bo properly observed, for though the structure has probably still a very fair margin of safety as regards loading capacity,, its narrowness and bad approaches create clanger. The new viaduct is going ahead satisfactorily, though considerably behind the expected timo-table, and should be opened by about the end of February. The heavy construction work is completed, and the concrete decking is now being laid. - Dean for Auckland. It is quite possible that next year a dean of the Cathedral, of the Auckland Diocese will be appointed (states the "New Zealand Herald"). In the course of his address at St. Mary's Hall on Wednesday, when replying to the speeches of welcome on the- occasion of his return from the Lambeth Conference, Archbishop Averill said he thought it would be a very good thing if they had a dean and at the gathering of the Anglican Diocesan Synod next year ho would ask synod to concur with his nomination for a dean for tho cathedral. Ho was of the opinion that the time was ripe for such an appointment, and he hoped by this time next year they would have a very worthy dean. This announcement was received with warm applause, and the Archbishop added, with a smile, that ho was thankful that it wouid rest with him to make the nomination. He explained that in tho event of the synod not agreeing to his suggestion they would bo as they were. '