NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

In the list of candidates who had gained teachers’ certificates, published yesterday, the name of Air Alexander C. Blake (class B) was omitted. The Education Board at its meeting on Tuesday considered a request from the Johnsonville school committee, that the old school should be fitted np for woodwork and cookery classes. The department, however, intimated that it was inadvisable to do this until the train services were more suitable to bring in the children from adjacent schools. The residents of Miki Miki made an application to the Education Board on. Tuesday for a school, and offered an acre of land, together with undressed timber for this purpose. The hom'd, however, considered that an aided school should be started there first, in some room obtained temporarily, and if in a few months’ time it is shown that there is a sufficiently large attendance to justify the erection of a school, the board will take steps to this end. It is estimated that about fifty free place pupils have been shut out of the Wellington Girls’ College this year. owing to lack of accommodation. Some of these have been absorbed by the Normal School and the Technical School, while others have gone back to the primary school for another year’s tuition. With regard to the complaints of certain secondary school teachers, that the proficiency of a number of the free place students is not satisfactory, it la pointed out that it is quite competent for the teachers to put a pupil in a lower class, if he is not qualified for the higher standards. About 70 per cent, of the free place students may bo taken as being proficient. With regard to the remainder, competent authorities consider that the deficiency in qualification might be made up by providing, in the case of girls, say, a course in domestic science, and the boys, some vocational training that will better equip them for the life they intend to follow, rather than shut them out of the secondary course altogether. At the Inspectors’ Conference held in Wellington recently measures were taken to raise the standard of proficiency, in the examination for free places.

A Press Association message states that there have been no shocks ot earthquake in Westport since early on Tuesday, except a slight rumble at 2.30 yesterday morning. The Wellington Harbour Board last night, on the motion of the ehauman, placed on record its deep with the relatives of the late Captain Scott and his party, who wore lost in tho Antarctic. Applications for workers’ homes are said to ho coming m very fie-ely, and tho department is negotiating for the purchase of several blocks of land. Up to tho present about £i>o,ooo has been spent on workers’ homes during tho financial year. Tho steamer Ruahino, duo at Wellington next Tuesday from London, has on board *l5O third-class passengers, of whom 70 arc assisted immigrants. Eighteen wives are rejoining their hmshands in Now Zealand. Tho list includes 25 domestic servants and 10 farmers. Castlopoint’s request to tho Education Board for tho establishment of an aided school has had to be declined, as tho Marino Department has now erected a bridge over tbo Whataki stream (formerly a dangerous crossing), thus enabling tho children to got to tho school, about two or three miles away. A mooting of representatives of sports bodies will be hold at tho council chamber at 8 o’clock this evening to decide on some organised action regarding tho Easter carnival The speakers will bo Messrs C. G. Wilson, M. Luckie A. Paape, R. W. McYilly, and A A, Marryatt. Tho February school for uncertificatcd teachers is now being held at tho Training College, and finishes this week. Tho Education Board proposes to carry on a similar school again next year, and also to hold a Spring school in elementary agriculture for teachers at Masterton in September next. Among measures to bo submitod to tho House by; tho Government next session is a Country Workers’ Accommodation Bill, framed as a result of a conference between tho Secretary for Labour and tho head of the Land Purchase Department. Drafting and general preparation of Ministerial policy measures are said to bo well advanced, bo that when the House meets the Government will bo in a position to submit several important Bills. Tho Civil Service Commissioners are still reported to be bushy engaged on a new classification of the service, and the work is proving to bo an undertaking of’ considerable magnitude. Among administrative improvements sought to bo effected by the commissioners is uniformity of accounts throughout the various departments of tho public service, and a committee of expert accountants is making investigations with this object in view. Public servants are reported to be freely joining the Civil Service Association, tho Wellington branch of which now numbers 600 nieinbers. Th© nood of some official body to safeguard their interests is evidently recognised. The last train from Wellington was hfiif an hour bate on its arrival at Masterton on Tuesday evening (says tho Wairarapa • Ago’’). The delay was occasioned by a rather exciting incident that occurred at Kaitoke. The up train was standing, at tho station, and the down train, following the usual custom, was backing in. By some mischance tho latter train was backed too far, and came into forcible collision with the guard’s van of tho up train. The van was considerably knocked about, and was derailed, while the iron stanchions on tho adjoining car were buckled. Tho passengers in the up train sustained a severe shock. Many of them were thrown down, but fortunately nobody was injured. Tho goods were transferred from the van to a carriage, and the train to Masterton continued its journey without further mishap. An application under the Family Protection Act, 1908, came before his Honor Mr Justice Sim in banco yesterday when Emily Annie Jack, widow of the late Andrew Jack, of Palmerston North, applied for certain benefits other than those devised to her under the will. The defendants were the Public Trustee, executor of the will, Jan Jack, a minor, and nephew of tho deceased, John Jack, of Dunedin, and Elizabeth Chilton, Lily Brantou,' and Mary Wylie, sisters of tho deceased. Mr W. Perry appeared for the applicant, Mr J. W. Macdonald for the Public Trustee (who did not oppose), and Mr T. Neave for Jan Jack (who opposed only so far as his interest in tho estate was concerned). After tho case had been partially hoard it was adjourned at his Honor’s suggestion to see if some arrangement could not be come to. Some complaints have been made regarding delay in erection of tho infants’ school at Kelbume, for which a grant of £4370 appeared on the Estimates last year. ‘The matter was brought under the notice of the Lion. A H. Herdman, as M.P. for the district, who stated to a “Times” reporter yesterday that the Education Department had, on October 23rd last, paid over the sum on the Estimates to tho Wellington Education Board. Tho money was to be used for the erection of tho school, which would be attached to the now training college. The building is to bo in brick, and erected in accordance with plans approved by the Education Department. The grant is intended to cover a proportion of the ground, fencing, and architects’ fees, hut not furniture. The responsibility for delay—if there had been any delay—rested entirely with the Education Board, and the matter was now out of the hands of tho department. Saturday classes for pupil teachers and probationers were approved by the Wellington Education Board at its meeting on Tuesday. Classes in drawing and handwork will be established for probationers at tho Training College on Thursday afternoons and for pupil teachers on Saturdays; by instructors from tho Technical School. Elementary experimental science classes will be carried on by Mr E. K. Lomas, 3d.Sc., at the Training College on Saturdays, and classes in elementary home science (hygiene, physiology, first aid, etc), by Hiss P. C. Kilroe, B.So. Mr E. Howo, instructor in woodwork and cardboard modelling, will conduct classes in woodwork if sufficient inducement offers. Mr Robert Parker will hold classes in singing, also at tho Training College. At Masterton, Mr D. Grant will conduct classes in drawing and handwork at tho District High School, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., and Miss Lazarus will take classes in elementary hygiene and physiology. Mr Robert Parker will also hold singing classes at Masterton later in tho year. One of the objects in establishing classes in experimental- science and elementary homo science is to enable teachers to obtain certificates for practical work, such certificates being necessary under the now syllabus for tho examination and classification of teachers.