NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 175, 27 July 1939, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Clergy in New Eolc The amusing reply of a schoolboy who, when asked which was “the weaker sex,” answered “Tho clergy/ 7 was given by the Rev. W. T. Drake in the course of his address to the Hast.* ings Rotary Club. I’aiflape-National Park Road Closed Tho Taihape to National Park road is closed until further notice. Ten inches of snow is reported one mile north of Hihitahi. Tlito Parapara road to Kaetihi is also closed and the gorges between Horopito and Erua are icy and dangerous. A Distressing Duty. “I wish that somebody had my job when it comes to sentencing prisoners/ 7 said the Hon. Mr. Justice Blair in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North yesterday. “It seems to be the worst and most distressing of tho somewhat multifarious duties of Judges. I have now been a few years on the Bench, but I cannot get used to this business of sentencing prisoners, and never shall. That is not only my experience, but that of every other Judge. 77 Air-minded Judge In au endeavour to cope with an accumulation of .Supremo Court work Mr Justico Nortlicroft has recently made several trips by air in order to save time in travelling. Night sittings of the c6urt have been held in order to facilitate the business. On the latest circuit his Honour flew from Christchurch to Blenheim and from thcro to I Nelson. The court sat at Nelson at night, and on Thursday morning. Tho judge then flew to Christchurch, where there was a car waiting to convey him to Tiraaru, arriving there at 3,45 p.m. on Fridav.

Terrific Lightning Plash Striking near a motor-car as it drove into a hailstorm near Motunui, a few miles north of Waitara, on the Auck-land-Ncw Plymouth main highway, a terrific flash of lightning momentarily cut off the ignition and plunged the car and its four occupants into darkness. They rocoverod after several minutes and otherwise were not affected by tho experience. The incident occurred when a party of South Taranaki business men were returning to Hawera from a visit to the King Country. The journey was particularly trying, numerous slips and wash-outs having been encountered.

Whaling at Tonga Bound for Nukualofa, where he is to supervise operations at the recently established whaling station, Mr Charles Jackson left Russell yesterday. Born at Norfolk Island, Mr Jackson came to New Zealand about 23 years ago, settling, in the Bay of Islands. He is a veteran whaler and was harpooncr on the whaling vessel liananui, which operated from the Whangamumq whaling station for many years. Mr Jackson has had wide whaling experience, having operated all round tho New Zealand coast and as far south as tho Campbell and Macquarrie Islands. He expects to bo away about four months. Stag Visits Nelson A six-pointer stag made a visit to Nelson on Monday and provided some excitement for people who were occupying scats on Church Hill when it ran down one of the and crossed the church steps. Frightened by the attention given to it by spectators, it raced along Nile and Tasman Streets and was eventually captured near Norniauby Bridge, in Bridge Street. The animal was later destroyed by its captor, as it had been badly bitten by a dog. Evidently the stag was driven into the city by dogs, for residents in Brook Street first reported seeing it making its way toward tho city. The “School Journal” Critical comment on the part which the author considers has been played by the “New Zealand School Journal' 7 as a vehicle for propaganda, economic, social, and political, is contained in the latest of the “Studies in Education 77 scries issued by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research. Tho author, Mr. D. K. Jenkins, says it is impossible to determine how far the journal has been used deliberately in this way during the 30 years from 1907 to 1930 (tho period of his investigation), “but by' the facts there can bo no question. 77 The journal is criticised for encouraging an attitude of “uncritical acceptance of things as they are. 77 Safe Driving. “As soon as this rule is enforced by juries the roads will bo very much safer for pedestrians and for drivers/ 7 remarked the Hon. Mr. Justico Blair, in the Palmerston North Supreme Court yesterday, when referring to tho rule that a driver must be able to pull up in hafl the clear distance ahead of him. There were many cases in which this rule was not observed, and the sooner juries enforced tho rule tho sooner would people recognise that they had to observe it. llis Honour pointed out that speed in feet per second was half as much again as miles per hour, 10 miles per hour becoming, as an instance, 13 feet per second. Further, it required halt' a second for mental reaction, the time from the point when a driver recognised that certain action, applying the brakes as an example, was necessary and the time when the brakes were actually applied. Veteran’s Enthusiasm The spirit actuating an imperial Army veteran who is now resident in Auckland, and who is seeking enlistment in the National Reserve, is au object lesson to youthful New Zealanders who aro delaying proffering their services to tho Territorial Forces, states the New Zealand Herald. The veteran first enlisted in tho Regular Army, seven years with the colours and live with tho reserve, but at the end of the seven years he extended his service to do the whole 12 years with the colours. He then re-engaged to serve another nine years and was afterward permitted to continue to complete 2G years regular service. When it was pointed out to him that, in spite uf his undoubted physical well-being, there could be no question but that he was well over tho ago even for the reserve, he had a ready' reply. ‘I am fit/ 7 ho said, “and because 1 am au Englishman I can take advantage of the exchange rate and knock 25 per cent off. I shall be within the age limit