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Evening Star, Issue 20973, 11 December 1931, Page 8

That women outnumber men in our choirs is a common experience in New Zealand, often commented on in Dunedin, the want of balance with men being regretted. Wo need not think that the drawback referred to is peculiar to this part of the world. The programme of a concert by the Westminster Choral Society, conducted by Vincent Thomas this year, Allows that even in London the want of balance is felt. The lists of names on that programme give -72 sopranos, 53 contraltos, 15 tenors, and 22 basses. A blaze in a rubbish heap at Messrs Smith and Smith’s varnish factory, corner of Mason and Richardson •streets, was attended to by the brigade at ;).57 last night. ' No damage was done.

Tho lieariu was concluded in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon of the case in which E. Uowlison was proceeded against by the district registrai of apprentices (Mr G. 11. Lightfoot) on a claim to recover £lO as a penalty for a breach of the Otago Motor Engineering trade apprenticeship order.' The-statement sot out that the alleged breach was that the defendant employed for throe months—Juno, July, and August—James Davidson, an apprentice in respect of whom there was failure ti. execute a contract of apprent coship in writing and registered in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The defence was a denial of any intention or undertaking to apprentice the youth at the time, the evidence adduced including a statement of the boy’s father that he had inquired how the boy wa~ getting on with his work and whether ho would eventually be indentured. The Magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.), reviewed the evidence and said that the department had failed to prove its claim. It was clear from the circumstances of tho fioya engagement that there had been no intention or undertaking to indenture at that time. The claim therefore failed A pleasant function took place at the Girls’ High School yesterday afternoon, when parents and others interested, gathered to see an exhibition of tho work tho girls had done during the year Tho exhibition covered a variety of subjects but the greatest interest was taken in the sewing and handwork sections. The articles consisted of drosses, aprons, trayeloths, cushions, and numerous other things of use in the home The- pupils were encouraged to make their own designs for decorative purposes and somo of them were quite original. Before visiting the exhibition rooms, the parents gathered in the hall where the Lady Principal (Miss M. H. M. King) extended a welcome to them and expressed pleasure that the parents took such a great interest in the work their children were doing.. Mi J J Mallard, chairman of the High Schools Board of Governors, presented a number of sports trophies and prizes won during the year and a short programme of musical items, recitations and a play was given. Arising out of a police raid on strongly fo I tilled and barricaded Chinese premises in Haining street, ‘Wellington, eight Chinese were find a total of £235 yesterday. - Ngli Pong, the occupier, was fined £IOO for allowing his premises to be used for opium smoking and £25 for having prepared opium in his possession. Those found on the premises were fined £ls each. The default was fixed at three months in the case of Ngh Pong and one month in the case of the others, with no time to pay.

i A ninth Chinese, All Joe, was com victed on a charge of giving a bribe of £5 to Senior Sergeant Scott and constable Hodge to induce them to forego their duty and was fined £5. in default 21 days'; The £5 given to tlm police was ordered to bo paid to the Wellington Hospital. Probate has been granted by His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in tho estates of Donald Maclntyre, Oamaru; Mary McDuff, Janefield; Arthur W’illiam Morns Moodie, Dunedin; Catherine Wilson, Milton; Sarah Callander, Mosgiel; and Jane Sutherland, East Taien

j'ho postal authorities advise that the Mataroa which reached Wellington from Southampton on Thursday has eightteen bags ot mail and sixty-one parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail will reach Dunedin this evening. A Blenheim Association message states that what is believed to bo the dominion record for a model aeroplane flight was made last night by W. Gardiner’s model. Competing for the Dix Cup, his twin-pusher typo flew for 61 seconds and covered approximately 365yds. “ If the scheme is on the lines of the proposal that was previously submitted I for one will oppose it,” said Mr J. Wallace (chairman of the Otago Education Board) when, at this morning’s meeting of the board, a telegram was received from the department stating that a. definite scheme for the rationing of work for unemployed teachers had been posted last night. The department expressed the hope that the board would deal with the matter urgently. The chairman remarked that the original proposal was most unfair. It was left to the chairman and Mr J. H. Wilkinson to deal with the matter and decide whether a special mooting of board was necessary, or whether the question could be left over till the January meeting.

A question of the interpretation of a clause of the will of the late Sir George Clifford came before Mr Justice Adams, to-day. The clause affected dealt 'with the testator’s personal estate , and the manner in which his grandchildren should benefit was the main point requiring interpretation. The will was in the testator’s own handwriting, and counsel explained that the effect of tire clause asiit stood was to make an inheritance by any grandchild a matter of chance, though the testator’s intention was plainly different. After legal argument judgment was reserved. —Christchurch Press Association telegram.

Though not formulated as a, competition, a record is being kept showing how tho several postal districts of New Zealand are responding to the appeal to use Health stamps. The latest disclosure on tho subject puts Dunedin in the fifth place. Each week since the sales began on November 1 ■ Wellington has headed the list. Auckland was in second place until in tho week ending December 5 it was passed by Hamilton. Over the whole five weeks Hamilton lies third. Next in order are Christchurch, Dunedin, Timaru, Palmerston North, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Napier, Thames, Invercargill, Gisborne, Nelson, Oamaru, Blenheim, Greymouth, Westport. Up to the present tho North Island claims 72 percent. of tho total sales. Tho South Island has therefore a big leeway to make up. Perhaps this reminder will help Dunedin to wake up to its share of the community responsibility.

The information that tho school proficiency results would be available in a day or two was imparted to the Education Board this morning by the acting senior inspector (Mr A. Bain). Mr Bain said that at tho last meeting of the board ho had intimated that it would bo impossible to get tho results out before tho closing of tho schools, but ho was glad to be able to say now that they would bo available in a day or two. A great amount of detailed work had been necessary, and they were indebted to Mr Bolton and tho office staff for the assistance that had been given. They had also had tho cordial co-operation of tho teachers in tho various districts, and as the preliminary marking had been done with remarkable care a great amount of routine work had been saved. Still, it had been necessary for tho inspectors to work late hours under high pressure. Tho percentage of certificates awarded would be consider ably fewer than for tho last two or three years; however, tho tests set the pupils had - been reasonable, and the cause of tho failures would have to bo sought elsewhere than in the standard of the examinations.

John Overton Smith, a returned soldier with over five years’ service, pleaded guilty in tho Police Court to three charges involving false statements to the pensions department, by which he obtained £lO4 to which bq was not entitled. Tho accused was fined £25 on one charge and was convicted and ordered to pay tho costs on th eother two.—Wellington Press Association telegram. A charge against E. Loftus, secretary of the Ashburton club, of selling liquor contrary to section 146 (2a) of tho Licensing Act wa i heard by Mr OnWalker, S.M. to-day. Tho defendant pleaded not guilty. Tho crown prosecutor said the facts were not disputed. Tho club bar a charter from 1886 when tho district went dry. The club then ceased selling out kept the charter alive by paying annual fee. With the change of the electoral Boundaries in 1929 the club again sold liquor to members only. —Press Association telegram. Save your eyes. Bo wise, and consult W. V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old ago. - [Advt.] A special notice to members, ex-members, and friends of tho Kaikorai Band re a social to-morrow evening and a church para da on Sunday appears in this issue. The benefit concert tendered to Miss Low, who suffered a severe loss through tho recent gale, will bo bold in tho Burns Hall to-morrow night. Tho programme, t a firstclass one, has been arranged by Miss Jhnsio Fraser.