NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 111, 13 May 1935, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Politics and Place-kicking. Ministers of the Crown are usually regarded as stern,1 forbidding individuals, who are occupied wholly with politics, and the granting—and refusing—of requests involving the expenditure of funds (says She "Grey Star") The Minister of Education (Mr. S. G. Smith) exhibited a glimpse of ,the other side of the picture last week at the Greymouth Technical High School grounds, when he challenged Mr; J O'Brien, M.P., to a place-kicking competition with a couple of footballs. Mr O'Brien failed to make the ball rise, and the Minister had an easy win. Plagne of Mice. ' Lower Hutt would seem' to be badly in need of a Pied Piper. Like the famous town of Hamelin, it is overrun by rodents, only in this case it is not rats but their less formidable relatives,- mice. Whether the recent hot summer has anything to do .with this plague of mice or not—and" a lot of things seem to be laid at the door of that summer—the fact remains that there are mice everywhere, in the garden, in the house, and in the traps One hardware merchant told a "Post" representative that during the last few weeks he has sold more mouse traps than he has ever sold before. That there has been an increase in hysterics amongst" the female part of the population, there is no medical evidence available to prove. Regarded as Intruders. During his address of welcome at Sumner, to the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse a past president of the Methodist Conference, the Rev. Clarence Eaton made reference to the difficulties placed in the way of the Methodists during the period of the early "settlement of Can■terbury, which was intended to be an Anglican settlement - (reports the Christchurch Times"). After one of the first ships, the Cressy,,had left England, it was discovered that some Dissenters were on board. A meet-ing-was immediatelx'held and a resolution to turn back was given careful consideration. Finally the ship proceeded and the Dissenters ultimately landed at Lyttelton. Later some of the early settlers' were horrified to learn that a certain lady amongst them intended to open a Wesleyan day school. This was in some quarters considered unthinkable, but the plan finally triumphed, and a church was built in Durham Street to accommodate two hundred, people at a time when the total population of the city was only four hundred. Old Craft Helped. Various craftsmen in England must have materially from the preparations for the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of their Majesties' accession to the Throne. One section the Jubilee has helped is those who write" illuminated addresses pn vellum. Old-established firms in London which do this work received inquiries from all over Great Britain and the Dominions from towns, municipalities, and societies willing to spend anything from 10 to/ 200', guineas on addresses embodying their affection and loyalty. The illuminating craft goes back to the Middle Ages.. An artist who has worked for 35 years in a 100----year-old London firm said that it is handed down from father to son. ''You cannot learn it," he said, "unless you have a 'flair.' The vellum is stretched on a frame, and the design is sketched on tracing paper and transferred to the vellum. The small work is done with a pen; the bigger with a ' brush in illuminating colours—a water-colour paint that gives a,flat surface. An ordinary illuminated address, costing about 15 guineas, will take about a fortnight's continuous: work. Church Finance—Without Bazaars. Bazaars and similar methods have .been eliminated as a means of raising funds for the maintenance of St. John the Baptist Church at Northcote, which is the oldest on ihe North Shore, having been- established by Bishop Selwyn in 1859 (states the "Star"). Straightout gifts, as freewill offerings to the funds are to be relied on. "Most people hate bazaars,, which mean hard work, great expense to run, and are regarded by many /as undignified and unworthy methods' of financing the church," said the vicar (the Rev. H. L. R. Isherwood) in appealing for the substitution of direct giving, which he believed most people would prefer, and would result in placing the finances on a sound footing. He ■ suggested that, in .addition to continuing the duplex system, a freewill gift be made at the 76th patronal-festival on Sunday, June 23. Parishioners could put by, weekly contributions for the pur-i pose. He also stated that the system I of issuing non-interest-bearing bonds I had resulted in a substantial reduction' of the overdraft, and forecast even better results in the near future, owing to the increasing disposition evident to 'I take up these bonds. In approval of ' the system of parish freewill offerings, he said, Archbishop. Averill had quoted the Biblical phrase: "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God which doth" cost me nothing."

A Slip of the Tongue.

An amusing slip of the tongue was made by Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie, president of Auckland University College, in his address at the graduation ceremony in the Auckland Town Hall (says the "Herald"). In referring to the school of engineering at the college, Mr. Mackenzie said it was "threatened with' distinction," and then quickly added "extinction." There was a burst of laughter. "I trust that finally it will'not be with both, but with the former," Mr. Mackenzie added. New Cargo Liners. . The unusual sight of two new cargo liners, both visiting Wellington for the first time, lying opposite each other, could be seen today, when both the New Zealand. Star and the Durham were in port. The New Zealand Star lay at Glasgow Wharf No. 3, and the Durham at King's Wharf No. 2. so that a fine opportunity was given to compare the two new motor cargo-liners; In many features the ships bear a striking similarity. Each has a sharply raked bow, sweeping lines, a motorship stern, and a single squat funnel. The most notable difference is the New Zealand Star's single mast, which adds to her distinctive appearance. No One Voted* The Chatham Islanders on Wednesday appear to have acted in a manner without precedent in local body elections (states "The Press"). The counties of Akaroa, Wairewa, Mount Herbert,' and Chatham Islands, and the borough of Akaroa together elect ohe member of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. -Two candidates were nominated for this seat, and a progress report only could be obtained on Wednesday evening because the returns from the Chatham Islands were not available. On' Thursday the returning officer received a wireless message from the islands to the effect that no votes had been cast there. The Way to Good Health. "Health is an unconscious action or condition, and the less you think of it the better. Don't think about it or discuss it; just live it." This adyicje was given to the annual meeting of the Christchurch Sunlight League by the chairman (Archbishop Julius) (reports the "Press). "It is many years since I first presided at this meeting. Why I was chosen to preside, Ido not know. I ani not a specialist in health matters; my only qualification is that I have managed to live to a fairly good age. My. ideas on health are these: a reasonable amount of common sense, a growing experience of what is good, the power of refraining from the bad, and avoiding too much appeal toi the doctors."