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Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1937, Page 4

One of the commonest needs of thoughtful people to-day is an'adequate philosophy of life, says a correspondent writing in the Times. With its joys and tragedies, its horrors and its nobility, its moments of exaltation, its far more frequently round of petty and pedestrian tasks, life presents itself as a strange aggregate of unrelated factors as something devoid of any clear signficanee. Is there, they ask, any explanation of these so various fragments, is there any scheme of thought which can present life as an intelligible whole? Again, is it possible to discern some bints of an evolutionary process shaping human existence to some end? If so. does any glimpse of such a process remedy that crushing sense of insignificance which often afflicts the individual as he contemplates his own life? This feeling of insignificance, this haunting fear that life, with the hopes and fears, achievements and failures composing it, is indescribably petty, besets the modern man more insistently than i c did his ancestors. Tll ages when this planet, was thought to he the centre of the universe, this country to he the divinely chosen ruler of the world, and each individual citizen to have a direct responsibility toward his country, each life scorned to have a recognisable importance. But to-day man knows his planet to be no more than a speck of cosmic dust. Again—and this truth concerns him more nearly—every social. scientific and political development seems to enhance the importance of the mass and to diminish that of the individual. Not merely the setting of human life, but life itself seems increasingly to Tie mechanised. The feeling grows that each individual is no more than a cog in the machine, and an unlimited number of spare parts are in readiness to replace it. What is the real meaning, the true value of it all ? To these moods, from which thinking mankind suffers notably in this age. religion offers an explanation and a remedy. 1

R.S.A. euchre tournament will be held in the Soldiers’ Hall this evening at 8 o’clock.

The official not’ficafion of winners in the “Money From Home” art union appears in this issue.

Next week-end will be a notable: one for West Coast golfers. Entries already received for the Westland tournament indicate that it will be an unqualified success.

A prevalence of “sleeping sickness” among sheep in the Eketahuna district is reported at present, a number of deaths having occurred after the disease.

The Golf Tournament Ball on Friday promises to eclipse the successes ot previous golf halls. Local club members desiring to invite friends to the ball are requested to obtain invitations for these friends as soon as possible.—Advt

The southerly blow with rain continued last night, there being a heavy downpour in the early hours. '1 his morning there was little improvement, the south-westerly still continuing with showery conditions.

Figures for 11 months of the expert year show that killings of lamb for export have increased over the siin.lar period last year by 391,541 carcases. There has been a decided increase in chilled beef, and frozen beef has also shown a rise. Wethers are lower, bat ewes show an advance.

Takings at the New Zealand amateur boxing championships, held at Grey mouth last week, totalled about £24t). The championships were last held in Greymouth in 1929, when tho gate receipts were £SOO. On that occasion the final night’s takings reached £307.

A reminder is given of the boxing entertainment in the Princess Theatre to-mglit, when a team of 64 contestants from the Marist Bros, school at Greymouth, will give what is described as a most attractive exhibition of the fistic art ■

Preparations are well advanced for the annual ball to be hold ,in Toker’s Hall on Fiiday next in aid of Kaihinu School funds. The lloor is receiving special attention and the Ladies’ ( 0111mittee who will he responsible lor the catering arrangements "ill supply a very dainty home-made supper. Messrs Cook and Ackers will supply the music and there will be four valuable prizes for lucky spot and Monte Carlo.

It is not generally known that Howard Watt, one ol the Springbok Rugby lonvards, was twelfth man for Soutn Africa against the Australian Test team at cricket. He has won fame because of his achievement in bowling 1). G. Bradman, the great Australian batsman—not in a test match. It happened in Chicago. Malloy’s team was on its goodwill tour in America, and Watt, then in Chicago, was called upon to play against Mailoy’s team. He is a fast bowler and got Bradman's wicket, clean bowled. Both Watt and T. A. Harris, the Springbok fly-half, who played an outstanding game for South Africa in the second tost, have been twelfth men for South Africa at cricket.

Fourteen infectious disease cases were notified in Canterbury and two from the West Coast last week, according to the weekly return of tho Medical Officer of Health (Dr. r P. Fletcher Telford). Of the Canterbury cases seven were scarlet fever, and the others comprised two each of diptherm. and septic abortion and one each of tuberculosis, pneumonic influenza, CJici puerperal fever. The only two West Coast cases were tuberculosis. 'There were three deaths from infectious diseases in Canterbury, two being f 1 oil) tuberculosis and. one from pneumonic influenza. The only death from those causes on the West Coast was from tuberculosis.

111 the dispute between the Nelson and Westland Picture Theatre (Front of House) Employees’ Uniton, and the Employers in its district, a complete agreement was arrived at in the Conciliation Council yesterday at Westport. The most vital points of the agreement are an increase in wages (up to 60 per cent in some cases), the increase to come into operation as from Saturday next. 'The agreement also provides for a straight out preference to members of the Union, with the hours from 30 to 44 per week, and double time for certain holidays and Sunday work, as well as seven to ten days’ annual holidays for permanent employees. At the Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth yesterday, George Et-cles, for driving an unlicensed car, was fined £l, with 10/-'costs. For riding an unlighted cycle after sunset, Morgan Daniel Baxter was fined 10/- with 10/costs. Walter Kennedy was charged, as the driver of a motor-car, with failing to report an accident, involv.ng injury to Morgan Daniel Baxter. Defendant was fined £1 and costs. Charged with permitting a horse to wander on tin- main road near Parcvi. on August 7, Mervyn Gage was fined LT and costs. The Magistrate reserve! his decision in which George Gi oolll driving a horse-drawn vehicle, failed to give way to a motor vehicle approach ing an intersection. Samuel Case, grocer, of Kumara, charged that, on August , he drove a motor-truck on High Street, without due care and attention. was lined CI and costs.

Princess Theatre, 7.45 to-night. Come early and secure a good seat, 'lhirtylive contests, 64 ot West Coast’s best amateui's.—Advt.

Hon. M. J. Savage stated at Wellington yesterday that the entire debate on the Imprest Supply Bill, which will come beioro the House this afternoon. will be broadcast.

Roll along to see the spectacular display of boxing, Princess Theatre tonight. Prices: Circle 2s, downstairs Is 6(1, children Is.—Advt.

Jn the Magistrate’s Court, Nelson, Henry Win was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, charged with the theft of a sheep, valued at €1 "10s, the property of Roger Lloyd Win.