NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 67, 20 March 1937, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Palm Sunday. Tomorrow, being the Sunday before Easter, is observed in the churches as Palm Sunday. It derives its name from the custom, still observed in the Catholic Church, of blessing palm branches and carrying them in procession in commemoration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In the Western Church Palm Sunday is counted as the first day of Holy Week, and its ceremonies usher in the series of services culminating in those of Good Friday, commemorating the Passion. The ceremonies on Palm Sunday, as celebrated now in the Catholic Church, are divided into (1) the solemn blessing of the palms, (2) the procession, and (3) the Mass. Of the other Churches, the Church of England alone includes Palm Sunday in the Holy Week celebrations. The blessing of the palms and the procession were, however, abolished at the Reformation, and the name "Palm Sunday," though it survives popularly, is not mentioned in the Book ofCommon Prayer. Telephones Very Busy. Under the insurance workers' industrial award the Arbitration Court has granted a 37J hour week for all offices, to be worked between Monday and Friday. The new order came into force this week and this morning all insurance offices were closed. That the public did not realise the position was-shown by the business done—with no one on the other end—over insurance office telephones. They rang and kept on ringing. Seeing the World on Foot. Among the passengers leaving Sydney today for the United Kingdom by the Jervis Bay is the New Zealand Youth Hostel party, who, after attending the Coronation celebrations, are to tramp through the United Kingdom and Europe.1 Pledged to a minimum walking distance of 12 miles per day, carrying a rucksack, the members of this party are to put up at farm houses and other hostelries arranged throughout Europe by the Youth Hostel organisation. Provision of meals and sleeping accommodation is made to bona fide members of the association at the moderate cost of Is each at the hostels operating under their auspices. Air Force Squadrons. The statement by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) that the programme of air force development includes the formation of two new operational squadrons has aroused curiosity among laymen as to how many machines constitute a squadron. The numerical strength of a squadron depends on the size of the aeroplanes. With single-engine machines it is sixteen. In the case of two-engine aeroplanes it is twelve, and when the largest types of machines are used it is eight The new squadrons contemplated by the New Zealand Royal Air Force will be composed of two-engine machines, and will therefore have a strength of twelve aeroplanes. Ancient Canoe Found. Hewn out of a totara trunk and of excellent lines, an old Maori war canoe was recently found on the bank of a small creek running into the Orini River, near Whakatane, states the "Auckland Star." The craft was of the type having carved topsides, stern post, and figurehead, but these ornaments have long since vanished, although the hull still bears the holes, 20 on each side and six at bow and stern, to which the carvings were lashed. The canoer is in a reasonably good state of preservation. It measures 25ft by 4ft, and is obviously of considerable age. Maoris who have inspected it say that it was produced by the old method of burning and chipping. It is hoped to preserve the canoe as a historic relic. Getting on the Safe Side. The secretary of the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board has been requested by the board to inquire into the possibility of making further purchases of copper wire so as to be on the safe side in the event of a further rise. It was mentioned by Mr. T. E. Crosse, chairman of the board, that after recently purchasing £12,000 worth of copper wire, which was secured for £34 a ton, the price jumped to £79 a ton, there having been a considerable amount of speculation in copper at the present time due to rearmament schemes. "At the present time we have enough copper wire in 'stock to last us about twelve months," commented the secretary, "and it is a matter of opinion whether we. should spend £5000 or £7000 more just in case prices rise." Empire Football. The proposal of the Australian Soccer Football Association that the1 English Football Association should call a conference in London of Dominion representatives to discuss football within the Empire was mentioned by Mr. J. A. Milburn at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Football Association last night. That proposal had the sympathy of the N.Z.F.A., he said. He might be a little optimistic in thinking that the conference would take place, but if it did it would be of great benefit to the game throughout the Empire. Mr. Milburn thought it possible for some scheme to be evolved whereby the English Football Association could send teams to the Dominions and receive them from the Dominions in alternate years. That would tend to give the game in the Dominions the popularity it had in England.

Limited Express Late. Owing to fairly heavy van traffic and some minor delays where crossing other trains, the Limited express from Auckland was twenty-one minutes late in reaching Wellington this morning- The special weekend excursion train following the Limited arrived to schedule. School Improvements., With the object of providing a maximum supply of sunlight.and fresh air, a number of schools in the WelJington Education Board's district are being remodelled. At Worser Bay crossventilation has been introduced into all classrooms, and with an adjustment of window-height and floor-space conditions are much improved. At Brooklyn cross-ventilation has also been effected, and the raised gallery floors have been removed. At Island Bay a more comprehensive programme has been undertaken. Cross-ventila-tion is being installed and the windows are being replaced by modern pivot-hung sashes. Three of the classrooms are being replaced by open-air classrooms. . Maori Ballet. It is the intention of M. Leon Woizikowsky, maitre de ballet of Colonel de Basil's Monte Carlo Russian Company, after having studied Maori dances and hakas at Rotorua, to incorporate Maori dancing into a ballet which he proposes to devise, states the "Auckland Star." Besides making a trip to Rotorua, M. Woizikowsky and others from the Russian company were guests at a special display given by pupils of the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls. The ballet master was greatly impressed with the dances, and he remarked especially on the rhythm and plastic movement. However, there was not enough foot action in the Maori dances for the purpose of ballet if production in Europe was to be successful. M. Woizikowsky proposes to use the dances as the basis for a ballet and to incorporate more action. The ballet would retain an essentially Maori character, set to other music with the same rhythm.