NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 117, 13 November 1935, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

German Confessional Church.

A resolution, moved by Dr. Lan Fras:er, was passed at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church last night, expressing sympathy and the good will of the church to confessional brethren in Germany, together with a prayer that they might be comforted and blessed by Almighty God. "We are all aware," said Dr. Fraser, "of the difficult times which our brethren ol the church in Germany are at present going through," The church in Germany today, he said, had its back against the wall. For a Rainy Day. ' ■ ' j Although-local cricket has had its fill of wet weather this season, the I "Wellington Cricket Association is not taking a chance on the weather looking kindly upon the visit of the M.C.C. team. The hope is, of course, that there will be three fine days for the visiting team's match at the Basin Reserve next month, but rather than lose what promises to be the best Saturday "gate" of the season the association is taking out a policy for £500 to cover itself against possible loss. That amount will be received only if there are ten or more points of rain between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the Saturday of the match. Trade With U.S.A. The value of New Zealand's export trade with the United States for the first nine months of the current year amounted to £2,086,353, an increase-of £1,042,833 on the figure for the corresponding period of 1934, when the value recorded was £1,043,520, stated the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters) yesterday. Imports from the United States also showed an increase, but not to the same extent as exports. Imports expanded from £2,566,901' for the nine months ended September 30,, 1934, to £3,!!47,865 for the nine months ended September 30, 1935, an increase of £680,064. Presbyterian Colleges. The report of the Board of Education submitted to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon stated that the various Presbyterian colleges were steadily emerging from the period of difficulty brought about by the financial depression. In several cases the number of pupils was approaching the highest previous enrolment. This increase, especially in the boarding section, was affording the best means of relief from the financial anxieties the board of governors had been facing for some time. The number of pupils, it was stated, had increased from 1082 in the previous year to 1210. The Rev. J. G. Dunn (Port Chalmers), who presented the report, said that what their collages wanted most today was not the money of the Presbyterian people, but the influence of the people of the whole Church. The principal of Scots College (Mr. J. R. Sutclifle) and the principal of Queen Margaret College (Miss Wilson) addressed the Assembly on the need of the schools and the Church living in the very closest relationship. Pctune Municipal Building. Advice that it was proposed to ;>»idernise the Petone municipal building was contained in a letter received at the meeting of the Petone and Lower Hut^ Gas Lighting Board last evening from the Petone Borough Council. The board's offices are in the Petone municipal building. The Petone Council's letter stated that it was proposed to replace the present veranda'i with/ a suspended one, remodel the shop fronts, plaster coat the building with coloured cement, and replace' the existing roof and reframe the windows on the south side. The board was asked to notify the Borough Engineer if it desired any alteration. An architect was being engaged. Councillor C. J. Ashton (Lower Hutt) said it was a regrettable business altogether to see two bodies at variance. Instead of having two municipal buildings there should be one big municipal block, and the board could have one big showroom. Mr. R. M. Russell (Lower Hutt) said two showrooms would still be needed. Mr. E. T. E. Hogg (Petone) denied that the two bodies were at variance. Mr. J. Cumming (.Pctone) said that irrespective of amalgamation the Petone municipal building would still have to be modernised, because it was being domv in connection with Jackson Street widening, and buildings had to be brought up to date. Mr. Ashton said that if any showroom had to be improved it should be that at Lower Hut", where it was only a shed. Mr. D. "iV. Campbell expressed the opinion I hat the Petone showroom could be much improved. It was decided to write to the Petone Council about costs of improvements, the board not to be committed.

ISO more jjuw vumtuj. "Lov/ comedy" will have to be excluded from eccentric dancing and humorous elocutionary items at future festivals of the Wellington Competitions Society, declared members at the annual meeting of the society last night. "I do think that as a cultural body," said Mr. F. M. Pinfold, "we should let people know from now on that they can find something that is finer humour. . . .". Mr. Barton Ginger agreed with Mr. Pinfold that i too many people thought humorous | work consisted of low, comedy. Humane Trapping. Little progress in regard to the humane trapping of animals was 'recorded in the annual report of the Wellington Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, presented to the annual meeting last night. Apart from the Lewis snare for rabbits, which was not suitable for New Zealand conditions, no humane devise seemed to be available in Britain. Extensive inquiries had been made in America, and a humane trap, which had been obtained from that country and had been highly praised, was .now being tested for use in catching opossums. An Important Unit. "In time of war New Zealand will depend on the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for the manning of cruisers .and armed merchantmen, for minesweeping and signalling," said Captain the Hon. E. • Drummond, Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, addressing a parade of the Canterbury Division of the reserve (reports "The Press"). "The reserve is a very important unit, an important division of the Royal Navy," he said. Commodore Drummond added that as long as the British fleet was able to destroy or to neutralise the fleet of any foreign power New Zealand need not fear any serious invasion. T.he Dominion was providing for defence in Ihe best way possible by the maintenance of two cruisers. Stranded Blackfish. Numerous people visited, the Tokerau Beach to see a large school of blackfish which was stranded there on Friday evening (states a Kaitaia correspondent). An eye-witness of the occurrence stated that the fish gradually worked inshore, swimming in circles. Seven'swam out to sea after the majority had gone ashore, but they soon came back and were stranded. The fish, numbering nearly 100, are lying packed close together on only about four chains of beach.. About three years ago a number of blackfish were stranded on the beach at the northern end of Doubtless Bay, and the Natives of the surrounding settlements obtained a large supply of oil. Already Maoris have started cutting up the fish now stranded in order to obtain oil. (The word "fish" is a misnomer, as the blackfish is a whale.) "Intimate" Theatre Wanted. "The Concert Chamber seating GOO is just about as much too small as the Town Hall holding more than 2000 is too large," remarked Mr. Will JMason, retiring president of the Wellington Competitions Society at its annual meeting last night in speaking of some of the difficulties involved in the staging of the society's festivals. He thought that ultimately "the interested societies in Wellington would have to unite in erecting a small theatre to hold about 1000 or 1200. He believed such a hall would be a great acquisition. Mr. Barton Ginger, the new president, also expressed the idea that "an "intimate" theatre would be a great help to the society and the city. Though they could fill the Town Hall sometimes they could not always do it, and in any case the Town Hall was not suitable for such shows as competitions, there being great seating and staging difficulties. The stage was a "heartbreak" to managers and performers alike. It was a shame to ask performers, especially the dancers, to use it. New Flats for Christchurch. A block of one acre of land in Salisbury Street near the intersection of Colombo Street, Christchurch, which has lain idle for many years, is shortly to be converted into one of the residential show places of the city, the City Council having granted permission for a block of fourteen fiats cost-1 ing £8000 to be erected on the land' .(states the "Christchurch Star-Sun"). Each of the flats will be of two storeys containing three rooms and a balcony. All the latest improvements in design arid construction will be incorporated i in the building, which will be fire and earthquake resisting. In general I the scheme constitutes a new departure j in flat construction in Christchurch, in that special attention will be paid to the beautification of the land on which the dwellings will be built. The building will be set back 66£t from the street line, leaving approximately half an acre of land, which will be laid out in lawn and gardens. Car shelters, a tennis court, and ample lawn and garden space will be provided at the . rear of the building. A decorative scheme of electric lighting will be incorporated in the layout of the block, making the building attractive at night. The construction work will begin early in the new year.