NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1935, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

February's Vital Statistics.

Births in Wellington during February numbered the same as in> February last year, but deaths increased and marriages decreased. The figures are as follows, those in parentheses being for February, 1934: Births 148 (148); deaths, 92 (68); marriage notices, 105 (121), including 22 (34) marriages by the Registrar. He Couldn't Have! An inspector's naive confidence in the all-embracing effect of regulations raised a laugh in the Bylaw Court yesterday afternoon. The inspector was asked by counsel whether he had used a certain technical word in conversation with a defendant, "I didn't use it at all," he asserted positively, "I couldn't have, because it's not in our regulations." Not a Matter q{ Ignominy.' Though • not all motorists subscribe to the view that an occasional fine for a traffic offence is to be cheerfully paid as a sort of extra tax following inevitably on the use of a car, the motoring habit is so widespread that few people regard a breach of the traffic regulations as something to be ashamed of. In the Bylaw Court yesterday afternoon counsel asked that a youthful client, for the sake of his good name, be not convicted but merely required to pay costs for parking a car in a prohibited street, "There's no need for that," replied Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M. "I think as time goes on these particular matters will not be regarded with quite the same degree of ignominy as other offences. In fact, he's in very good company already." The youth was convicted and ordered to pay costs. Channel Islanders Abroad. A full report of the reunion of Channel Islanders resident in New Zealand, held in Wellington last year, is given pride of-place in the "Jersey Weekly Post." It is stated on the authority of Mr. H. P. Mourant, whose father, Mr. J. E. Mourant. is a resident of Havre-dcs-Pas, Jersey, that the meeting was the outcome of an article in the "Evening Post," Wellington. Names of Channel Islanders, native and New Zealand born, who were present at the meeting are given in this record of what is hoped to be an annual reunion. Jersey is now connected with England by air, one and a half hours being occupied by the trip between St. Helier and London and one hour /from St. Aubin's Bay to Portsmouth. The fast steamers take a day for the journey from St. Helier to London, via Weymouth or Southampton. Emergency Medical Service. The chairman of the Wellington Hospital relief committee, Mr. G. Petherick, stated at a meeting of the Hospital Board last evening that he felt sure that under the recently-instituted system of emergency outdoor medical treatment very good service was being rendered. The number of visits for the month of December totalled 122, and the cost was £43 10s. In January the visits numbered 117, the cost being £41 10s. In December there were 89 first visits, 28 second visits, and 5 night visits. During January there were 92 first visits, 23 second visits, and 2 night visits. The new system was working nicely, and would be of value to the community. Wapiti Stalkers. Every year the wapiti in the west coast forest country of Southland attract a number of stalkers, and both overseas and Dominion hunters have already commenced making preparations for the coming season. Several of the hunters have stalked the wapiti on numerous occasions, but this year a new arrival will enter the field. This is Viscount Chaplin, of England, who will arrive in Invercargill this month. He has already made arrangements with an Invercargill sporting firm to establish a base, and two men left early this week for Lake Hankinson, where they will prepare camps and blaze tracks into the wapiti country. A wellknown New Zealand sportsman, Major Wilson, of Bulls, and Mr. H. L. Ellworthy, of T, imam, will go to the Glaisnock Valley early this month, Mr. K. W. Dalrymple will make his sixth stalking excursion, after wapiti this season, and Mr. E. J. Herrick, who shot the first moose taken in New Zealand, will operate in the Dusky Sound district. In addition, a number of Southlanders are reported to be preparing to try their luck. University Year, The 1935 session at.Victoria University College opens on Monday next and marks the commencement of the new University year. The various professors-will meet intending students on Monday and Tuesday next, the first classes commencing on Wednesday. Professor F, F. Miles (pure and applied mathematics), Professor F. L. W. Wood (history), and Professor J. Williams (English and New Zealand law) are fresh appointments to the professorial staff, while Dr. J. T. Campbell has been appointed lecturer in mathematics. Professor Miles was formerly lecturer at the college; Professor Wood comes from Sydney, and Professor Williams from Auckland, Dr. Campbell being formerly on the staff d£ Nelson College. Students will find that the library has been enlarged and that their common-room has been improved.

Bankruptcy Petitions. ■ One petition in bankruptcy (the first lliit; year) was filed in Wellington last month. In February last year two petitions were filed, making three for the first two months. Infectious Diseases Hospital. The infectious diseases hospital o£ the Wellington General Hospital is being renovated at present, and it is expected that 'it will be ready for occupation early in April. Hospital Tennis Courts. Approval of the Minister of Health has been given for placing the cost of three new tennis courts on the estimates of the Wellington Hospital for the coming year. At present there is only one court, which is considered insufficient for providing tennis exercise for the hospital staff. Visit to Wellington Hospital. An invitation is being extended to members of local contributing bodies to visit the Wellington Hospital on Thursday afternoon, March 14. The chairman of the board, Mr. F. Castle, expressed the hope at a meeting of the board last evening that as many representatives as possible of local contributing bodies would be able to accept the invitation, because it was desirable that they should have personal knowledge of the institution, which was partly supported by the local bodies. Alterations to Grand Opera House. The frontage of the Grand Opera House, in Manners Street, is undergoing alterations, which will considerably improve the entrance. The tender of Mr. A. McMillan has been accepted for the work. The space between the two shops is being, made into one broad entrance, with swing doors, a heavy steel girder being inserted above the wide entrance. The reseating of the dress circle and stalls is also to be carried out. The new seats are being made in Chrislchurch. The architect for the alterations is Mr. Llewellyn Williams. Anzac Day. . Primary and secondary schools are being given by the Education Department the option of closing for the week after Easter owing to the following Thursday being Anzac Day. The Hutt Valley High School Board of Governors decided last evening against the suggestion, principally on the ground that members considered it was unwise to bring Anzac Day into the midst of a holiday week. Such a practice would take from the sacredness of the day. It is understood that primary schools will adopt the suggestion of the Department, while the majority of the secondary schools will oppose it. Disease Among Sheep. Facial eczema has made its appearance, among many Gisborne sheep flocks (states a Gisborne correspondent). It was only during the past few days that fiockmasters became aware of the disease, and it has appeared almost simultaneously in most parts of the district. One of the worst features of the epidemic is that no cure is considered practicable on a large scale. When only a few sheep are affected the use of ointment is advised, but with large numbers there is little that can be done, except to put the affected sheep into a bare paddock. After the recent rains there are few paddocks in the district in such a condition. The trouble is believed to be dietetic and is confined almost entirely to- lambs. It has developed so rapidly that some concern is felt and the epidemic of twenty years ago is recalled by many of the older farmers. On that occasion the season was very wet and the disease was most pronounced among ewes. On some farms as many as a third of the ewes died. So far the mortality from the present trouble has been negligible. The malady has developed in many cases with alarming rapidity, lambs which were apparently all right one night being affected the next day., .Definition-of Schoolboy. What is a schoolboy? The question for the purpose of athletic contests was pus to the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association recently. The council ruled that an age limit did not apply and that a schoolboy was one who attended a primary or secondary school. The Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre saw in this ruling an opening for abuse, and the council had before it last night a letter from the centre pn the-subject. The centre pointed out that the bald,definition would be open to abuse, inasmuch as it was possible for a boy to attend a secondary school part time while engaged in earning his living. It suggested that the ruling given by the Director of Education should be incorporated, and with this the, council agreed, -The ruling given by the Director of Education was as follows: "A schoolboy is one who is in full-time attendance at a recognised primary, intermediate, secondary, technical, or district high school. Recognised schools include registered private schools. No boy can be regarded as a schooboy who is permanently engaged in any occupation which precludes his full-time attendance at school."