LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 17710, 11 July 1921, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“A‘little bit of heaven, a little bit of earth, and a little bit of hell,” is, according to a definition. given by the Rev. J. K. Archer, in the course of an address in Timaru), involved in the ownership of land. A learned professor, he said, bad laid.it down that the■ ownership of land included tiro exclusive right to possession of a portion Of the earth’s surface, to everything below the 'Surface, and to everything above to the centre of the sky. Thus even* an aeroplane was trespassing when it flew oyer a property.

It looks as if New Zealand is about to have another spasm of trouble about coal. This time it is the owners of mines who are looking for it, and not the miners. The owners of the northern mines are reeking a review of wages and conditions, whilst down the south there is actually a slump in the industry. The Reefkm mines have been closed because of an overstocked market. Tins is duo, say, to the importation of foreign coal. What else qould the Government and the public do but import, seeing that the miner failed to keep up supplies last winter? The general public, which for so many years has been the victim alike of owners and miners; will rejoice that at last both are hit by an overstocked market. —‘leliding Star.’

Something in the nature of a “bolt from the bine” occurred in Palmerston North at an early hour on Wednesday morning. A young man streaked through the office of the ‘.Manawatu Times’ like a shot out of a gun, and was followed shortly afterwards by a breathless minion of the law. Visions of a tragedy and a courageous capture flashed through the minds of the literary stuff of the newspaper. but, up till the hour of going to press.' not even a clue to the nocturnal romance could bo discovered. Later it was discovered that tho cause of the _ whole trouble was an amateur production of Romeo and Juliet. -The doings of Romeo had apparently been discovered, and an irate parent had invoked tho aid of the man in blue to put a stop to the performance.

Australians have a good deal to endure from visitors from other countries (writes the Sydney correspondent of Melbourne ‘Argus’). A recent arrival from America, and who was regarded as of some eminence, not only overlooked “our harbor,” hut was even so inconsiderate as to say that he did not see why this 'iote was railed New South Wales. _ Our people have never thought about it wonsly or were likely to bother about it; cut when a stranger within our gates was thus ungracious in hi.s comment, and impolite, ton, in the matter of acknowWptnent of admitted attractions, it stung. Now another caller from the United States (Mr Charles Francis) immediately leaps into pohlk; notice with remarks “both painful free” in regard to appearance of our i iiizcna. In backing up his support of I’-ehibition in America, he, is yood enough t-, assert that ho should “begin the pro’ess of remoulding the alcohol-disfigured hires and bodies of so of the citizens ” Men reading this m the train looked at each other in dumb questioning whether the allegation could Ire true. Authorities travelled, however, are inclined to think that Americans “have nothing on us,” to us© their own language, in the matter of appearance nf citizens in the mass. Mr Francis la the Australian who became .Americanised by nearly fifty years of residence. At a meeting of the St. Hilda Wesley Guild, held last week, "the Rev. B. Met--on presided over a large attendance _ of members. The subject for the evening was an address by Mr T. W. Hemer on ■ The Value of Opposition.’ The speaker treated the subject in a novel and interesting manner. ■He illustrated his remarks by the life of Josiah Wedgwood, who, although beset-with trials and difficulties; yet overcame these and produced the wonderful china which now bears his name. The opposition which he encountered only served to strengthen his character and bring out the best that was in him. After Mr Hemer’s address an interesting discussion took place, many members taking part. ‘ Messrs A. and T. Burt’s annual ball took place in the Art Gallery Hall on Friday night. The . room was tastefully decorated with drapery and festoons of greenery interspersed with colored lights, and presented a pretty spectacle when about 120,couples took the floor .to engage in the Grand March. During the evening a' party of University students made an appearance, and were invited to' supper by Mr W. 0. Burt, after which they engaged in a couple of dances with the rest of the company, at the termination 'of which, giving a rousing cheer 1 and a hearty good night, they- gracefully retired, and the programme .was resumed on orthodox lines. The music supplied by Flint’s Band was much appreciated, and the catering of Mr J. C. Kroon gave every satisfaction. Messrs M’Grath and Emslie were responsible for the decorations. The M.C.s, Messrs Hobbs, Walker, Peterson, and M’Pherson, performed their duties in a very efficient manner, and Mr W. Fail and his committee were unsparing in their efforts to promote the comfort and pleasure of the company.

Most tourists think that the little Maori children of Whakarewarewa. near Rotorua, have nothing to do in life but jump from the bridge and make money by diving for it, says an exchange. But the little dark folic of “ Whaka ” lead a more industrious life when the tourists are not about, and the recent success of their Native school shows that these young people are quite .capable of competing with their fairer brothers and sisters in the matter of scholarship. The Native school near the Maori settlement has won the Makarini scholarship for this year, making the school’s record up to the fifth year in succession. The Makarini scholarship was founded and endowed by Sir Donald M'Lean, and it provides for special educational facilities for one child out of the many hundreds attending the 120 Native schools in New Zealand. Having won the scholarship five years running is therefore a great achievement for the colony of children under Mr Banks, who is head master for the Whakarewarewa School. The children of this school, exclusively Native, of course, hold 140 war loan certificates, which were bought out of their savings. Further, they give 10 per centof their divine money to a charity box, which is drawn on when some outside cause is soliciting support. In addition to the school lessons, agriculture is encouraged. and each boy has a plot of ground for which he is responsible. 'A few months ago it was announced that every child from the Sixth Standard of the year had gained hia or ll6r proficiency certificate. 11 Quito a gloom has been cast over the community ” by the omisfsion of Roberts from the New Zealand Rugby defenders (says the Wellington ‘Evening Post’ editonally). Perhaps we should apologise for this stereotyped funereal introduction to what should ■ not be an obsequial subject; but on second thoughts we are unrepentant, because the psychological condition in street,-tramcar, and railway carriage yesterday was just as we have described it, and did not seem to be in the least, mitigated by Australasia’s big share in the Imperial Conference space, nor even by the retention of the "Ashes.” Judging by the sadness of Wellington, it might have been the passing of Lord Roberts. Wellington, of course, is too well named to be insensitive to military greatness, but Wellington, on its Rugby side, can point to not merely one Roberts, but four, and every one a conqueror. So the eclipse of the fourth of the line—temporary, be it hoped—comes in the guise of a calamity. At the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court Mr Wyvem. Wilson, S.M., commenting on the fact of a witness calling his occupation “a trade,” said that he was pleased to hear reference to “trade,” as the modern tendency seemed to have all occupations termed professions. Only recently a butcher had come before mm claiming that ho “ could cut a pound of, steak with any man in the profession.”