NORFOLK ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14301, 22 February 1910, Page 6

NORFOLK ISLAND.

[from our own correspondent.]

Norfolk Island, February 3. The auxiliary schooner May Howard, Captain Poole, arrived from Auckland last Thursday, and returns to that port this afternoon. The schooner, it is stated, has been chartered to try to open tip a trade with fruit, etc., between Norfolk Island and Auckland, but under present' conditions thero are difficulties' in the way, in that fruit is not so plentiful as it might be, on account of • the exceptionally dry period lately experienced. Later on, however, during the orange season, there will probably be moro doing. .. ' __ '. Tho weather has boon foggy and damp all through last month, and still continues; with copious rain at intervals,, and the grass that before change was completely dried up is now, together with all vegetation, growing luxuriantly, and the grazing stock are assured of good feed for months to come. There has been a plethora of festivities lately. A week or two ago the cable staff gave a very enjoyablo ball at the "quarters," Anson Bay, the guests including the chief magistrate and party, other island officials, and a good sprinkling of Norfolkors. 'Die superintendent, Mr. D. Cuthbert, received the guests as they arrived, and, toj gether with others of the staff, made everybody comfortable. > The Longridgo Tennis Club also gavo a ball in tho new hall to colobrato their victory in the cup contest, tho function taking place on tho evening of tho 20th ult. All the inhabitants of Norfolk Island were there, tho big hall being crowded. There has been besides two very successful concerts, both taking place in the new hall. One was given to augment tho fund to purchase a piano for the hall, and the other to provide means to purchase some athletic gear, the results in both cases being very satisfactory. 7 A marriage is to be celebrated to-morrow morning in the Town Church by Archdeacon Comins between a son of Mr. 11. Menges, tho mission printer, and Agnes, a daughter of Mr. Geo. Nobbs, of Ferny Lane. Last night tho Golf Club gave a complimentary ball to tho chief magistrate and Mrs. Elliot in tho new hall at Longridgo. Besides the chief magistrate and party, the mission was represented by the Bishop and Mrs. Wilson and Archdeacon Culhvick, and the cable service by tho superintendent and Mrs. Cuthbert.

Apropos of the discussion which arose at the last meeting of the Auckland Education Board concerning the alleged excessive working of children in dairying districts, Mr. R. I). Stewart, one of the school inspectors for the Auckland district, made some statements to a Wellington Post reporter a few days ago. " The trouble is not so much a matter of overwork as a case of Want of sleep," Mr. Stewart said. "The need of sleep has a very detrimental effect on tho physical developments. 1 think, that parents, at all events in the Auckland province, are beginning to realise this. The idea of doing the milking work by machinery in the Auckland district is rapidly extending, and that is the greatest, hope I • have so far as-the children ace concerned. There arc, of course, many cases still where the child does not recoive the consideration to which, it is entitled. . Tho real danger is in newlysettled districts, where parents taking up land have not got sufficient capital. The great safeguard is tho pressure of public opinion. In many cases at present the children, if they aro not actually absent from school, get there very lato." .