NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 145, 16 December 1933, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Bright Christmas Porteutg. Bloom is showing on the sunny side of tho pohulukawas at Courtenay Place, and in a day or two they will be a mass of crimson beauty. Theso blazijig Christmas portents are generally accompanied by thronged footpaths in tho shopping area, and last evening iVaf no oxeeption, many people evidently desiring to get their gift shopping done1 before the shops become too crowded. Finding Jobs. . "You will have noticed what a large proportion of the girls were absent today when they were called for to receive their certificates, and we are rather proud of the fact," said Mr. A. McFadyou, principal of tho Petone Memorial Technical College, at the brcakiug-up ceremony yesterday. "They are away because they have got jobs. It is hard on tho school, but it shows the school is achieving its object, and we aro pleased that the commercial course and the home science course are turning out girls who are being sought fov in business circles." No Opportunity for Engineers. Speaking at the Christchureh Chamber of Commerce luncheon and referring to engineering graduates of Canterbury College, tho president (Mr. A. F. Wright) remarked that a great many students, were not able to find scope for their activities in tholand which had trained them, and they had to find an outlet for their abilities'and energios in other parts of the world, states "The Press." Unfortunately, the engineering profession, which was regarded as an important profession in the Dominion years ago,, had to some extent been encroached upon in that tho Government, through the Public Works Department, had carried out most of the * large engineering works of the Dominion during the last 10 or 15 'years. It was regrettable that it should be s,o, for there was no opportunity for advancement in. New Zealand for students unless, as in a great many eases, they becamo members of the staff of the Public Works Department. They spent large sums of money in training young men but lost them as New Zealand citizens, and through private enterprise not being allowed full sway in tho Dominion they had lost the most valuable products of that important educational institution. Gtiy Fawkes Prank. An escapade by two youths in celebration of Guy: Fawkes Day, which resulted in the townspeople of Inglewood believing that an earthquake had occurred, had a sequal in the Inglewood Magistrate's Court this week, before Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., when Joseph Zimmerman and Alan Paterson were charged with being in unlawful possession of gelignite and with setting an explosive alight in a- public place, states a New Plymouth correspondent: Constable. Longbottom said that Zimmerman took gelignite from his father's shed, and the youths went to Jubilee Park, where they set off three plugs of gelignite. The explosion was teriffic, houses in tho neighbourhood being Tocked by its force. The youths, in explanation, said there had been no attempt to create a disturbance, the gelignite having been used solely for the purpose of celebrating Guy Fawkes's anniversary. The plugs~had been hung from a.branch of a tree and fired by a fuse. The Magistrate said it was evident that it had just been a lighthearted prank, but the fact remained that the youths were in unlawful possession of explosives. He, fined each 30s, with costs, 10s, on the first charge, and convicted and. discharged them on the. second. Occupational Fluctuations. Eemarking that almost every branch of industry in the city and adjacent districts supplied pupils to the school, the principal of the Wellington Technical College (Mr. B. G. Bidling), when presenting his- annual report yesterday, said that the relationship between the numbers enrolled in the various courses did.not change a great deal from year to year, but the depression in industrial activities \ during the last two years had resulted in a slight falling away of enrolments in building and engineering classes. There had. been a compensating increase on the commercial side. Such fluctuations were bound to occur from year to year, but Mr. Bidling thought there need be no fear that students were being forced into work for which they were unsuited because of such temporary fluctuations. Primary School Swimming. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Wellington Primary Schools' Amateur Swimming Association, Mr. B. Kean said that the primary purpose of the association was undoubtedly to teach children to swim, and h^ considered that the greatest work of the organisation had been done through the issuing of the 25yds .swimming proficiency certificates. He doubted the value of such competitions as the Duthie and Coltman Cups and tho Shields Memorial trophies in improving the swimming of more than a few children. The trophies did not make the competitions, he contended; it was rather that they had to be fitted into the events. Hence it would he better if the association returned the trophies to the Wellington Centre, and concentrated on the issuing of certificates to public school children. "The main use of champions," said Mr. Kean, "is to attract a crowd which will pay to see them swim." He explained that his was not the intention to prevent children swimming', as could be seen from his attitude regarding the return of the trophies. It was his main desire to better a cumbersome arrangement by the removal of powers which clouded the real purpose of the association.

Weather provides Work. Tho recent .spell of dry weather has caused the Hutt County Council to employ more men. At yesterday's meeting of the council, the overseer, Mr. H. Dyer, stated th.it tho continued dry weather was having a very damaging effect on the various road surfaces in the county, and extra work had been necessitated to keep them in anything like good condition. Extensive Bridge Repairs. The county overseer, Mr. H. Dyer, reported to yesterday's meeting of the Jlutt County Council that it had been decided to carry out extensive repairs to Whiteman's Bridge, which leads from the Hutt-Waikanaa road to Karapoti. It would be necessary to dismantle a. portion of the structure, he said, and the road would have to be closed to. traffic for some time. The decision to do the work about Christinas time had boon brought about by tho fact that the timber mills would be closed at that time and work in connection with timber export, would bo at a standstill. Intending holiday campers were to be advised not to erect camps in the west side of tho bridge, as access would undoubtedly be cut off for some time' "It has not been found possible to erect a temporary bridge without greaf expense to the council to which it is unable to contribute," he concluded. Musical Students. "The work of our orchestra and choirs is becoming increasingly important," sa j4 the principal of the Wellington Technical College (Mr. B. G. Bidling) in his. annual report yesterday. "The girls' choirs have be.en successful in open competitions, and both choirs and the orchestra have given entertainment to many thousands in local and in broadcast concerts. So virile is this section that it is proposed to extend'its work to tho evening school next session in an endeavour to bridge the gap between school music and tho work of the more mature loca.l associations." Hosing in Horetaunga. At the request of the Upper Hutt Borough Council it was decided at yesterday's meeting of tho Hutt County Council to advise residents in the Herotaunga, riding that the use of hoses for watering gardens-between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. would be prohibited. Use of hoses will be permitted between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., but only when the hose is held in the hand. Councillor S, Blackley stated that the request had beon made owing to pressure in the mains being so low that residents could not fill their house tanks. Another reason was the clanger of fire and thoro being insufficient water pressure to meet such urgent calls. A Splendid Choir. Performances by the choir of Hongotai Boys' College, under the conductorship of one of the masters, Mr. MeCaw, have resulted in it acquiring quite a- reputation, which has been enhanced every time it has appeared in public. Just how pleasing can be the concerted singing of a largo 'number of welltrained boys was demonstrated by this choir at the collego prize-giving ceremony yesterday afternoon. Stationed in tho gallery of the Kilbirnie Kinema Theatre, their rendering of such numbers as "Shcnandoah" was a delight and was deservedly applauded most enthusiastically by the large attendance of parents and friends.