NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10545, 23 March 1920, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A visitor from Canada expressed, the opinion that the resources of this Dominion would make it ultimately one of the greatest countries in the wo:#J.

The establishment of a permanent returned soldiers’ club in Wellington will be the most important subject under discussion at a meeung of the executive of the local branch, of the K.'S.A. this evening.

“Trapped rabbits bought in any quantity,” is an advertisement now appearing in the papers. The high prices ruling for rabbit skins in the world’s markets should do a great deal towards helping to abate the nuisance, Which bunny undoubtedly is to the farming community. Councillor Kyle stated at a meeting of the Petone Council last evening that the gas in tho borough was so bad on Sunday night that the congregation in one church could not soe. “That is nothing,’ said Councillor OhurcboUßC, “I was in a bouse to-night and tho householder had to light a match in order to see ithe gas light.

Gisborno (72), Tauranga and Russell (71) were the hottest places in tho Dominion yesterday. Auckland (70 1 was only a degree cooler than Russell. Wanganui showed 66 and New Plymouth 65. Wellington was cooler than most places in tho North Island, the thermometer showing 63. Greymouth (58), Stephen Island (56), and the Bluff (53) s-howed the lowest readings.

Hitherto, industrial organisation in any particular trade has been left mostly to employees. Now, in beta the furniture and the drapery trades. Dominion employers have. decided to appoint organisers. Tiro duties of these men will be to travel round and to endeavour to secure greater co-ordi-nation amongst the employers in their particular trade, so as to better meet the rapidly-changing conditions of trading, labour and the like. •

The “Journal of Public Health” for February shows that Auckland, with a population of 163,410, had 362 cases of diseases notified during January, of which 253 were influenza. Wellington with 107,049 population; had 608 eases notified, of which 543 were influenza. North and South Canterbury combined had only 63 oases notified, and Otago 60. The Waikato, with a population of 56,749, had 193 cases of influenza notified. The number of pneumonic cases shows a decided decline.

Before the Paisley election, and alluding to tho recent declaration of the Lord Chancellor that not one of Mr Asquifh’s party could offer himself for election to any constituency in Britain with the faintest prospect of success. Mr Asquith remarked:—“That is not very encouraging to on© who, like myself, has the temerity, even at this moment, to offer himself as a candidate in Scotland. I think, if I may do so respectfully, I should venture to advise the Lord Chancellor to wait and see.”

A speaker at a Farmers’ Union meeting held at Carterton stated that h© had experimented with specimens •from local lime deposits, and found them of much value. The Carrington supply proved to he 91 per cent, and that from the Mungaraki ranges, 90 per cent. Ho stated that the supply ■was most plentiful in both localities. ‘T cannot over-estimate the value of lime,” commented Mr F. B. Ward, of th© Agricultural Department, who was present at the meeting.

A deputation of Otago *puhlic servants waited on My H. R. Spence, Collector ,of Customs at Dunedin yesterday, to ask if he would be prepared to accept nomination in the event of tho Government providing for a. nominee from tho Public Service for the position of Assistant-Public Service Commissioner. Mr Spence, who has bad long experience in the service, in New Zealand, and was recently on tho staff of the High Commissioner's office, London, has agreed to nomination (writes a Press Association message). A weed that has evidently made considerable headway in a portion* of the Carterton district, was handed to Mr F. B. Ward, of the Department ol Agriculture, for identification at a meeting of the Carterton Farmers’ Union. “Oh, yes, 1 know it,’’ said Mr Ward, “it is spurry, or better Known perhaps, as the ‘Devil weed.’ It is net a weed, you need be afraid of, for being an annual, it is easily killed. Constant cultivation will get rid of it, the main point being not to let it seed,” stated Mr Ward. Which is th© “naughtiest” of all tho foreign nations represented in the United States? Th© fairest record is held by Switzerland. O'nly 0.31 per cent, of the Swiss in the United States have been to prison. Mexico is the bad boy of the family, with 2.3 per cent., or just over one in fifty. Ireland is only a fraction better, 2 per cent,, and Scotland is third from bottom with 1.2 per cent. Following these, each country being better than the last, come Austria, England, and Wales, Canada, France, Italy, Russia, Denmark, and Germany.

Tho winter term at the 'Victoria University College opened yesterday afternoon. A considerable number of students, including a large- proportion of new ones, was in attendance, to meet the professors and JSrange for their different classes. The new students were welcomed bv the chairman of the Professorial Board (Professor Somerville), who told thorn that, while they went to the university primarily to work, they should not overlook the social and sporting sides of university life, which, kept in their prpper perspective, were a very valuable help to the educational effort of tho institution.

A correspondent writes ito the “Times" reaming the fact that three years ago to-day the Hotorua was sunk in flie English Channel. It will be remembered that a, large number of women and children left New Zealand on route to England by the ill-fated vessel., Happily they arrived safely before the vossol was sunk and so averted what might have been a terrible tragedy. The ship arrived safely at Plymouth, and after discharging her passengers and mails left for London. Shortly after- passing “Start Point,” she was struck by a torpedo'just aft the engine-room. The steamer filled rapidly, and sank in about a quarter of an hour, stern , first. There was just time to lower the boats, which was a very difficult operation owing to the heavy sea that, was running and the fact that the ship was listing. Tho crow, after rowing about for several hours, wore eventually picked up hy two patrol boats. A T>utoh vessel came up hut was not allowed to rescue anyone. Later, a question was asked in Parliament as to whether the pn>i •‘■‘srine which fi r °d tV- tq-pMo at the Potorua was hiding behind tho Dutchman.

The Be tone Council is to meet dele gates representing the Rugby Union. Association Football Union, and League (Rugby) Union, ou Friday evening for the purpose of allotting football grounds for the season.

An incident which is fully described in another column, teas responsible for the delay of the Mokoia, with the Parliamentary party on board at Suva. *The vessel. eventually got away for Auckland at 1 o’clock yesterday morning.

A sum of £SO has been voted by the Lower Hutt_ Borough Council towards tho fund being raised by the Reception Committee that has in hand the organising of 'the reproduction of the landing of tho early settlers at Petone —one of the, functions in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales

The director of the Technical College (Mr J. H. Howell) reported at last night’s • meeting of the Board of Governors that the city librarian had kindly arranged to supply the Technical High School with a valuable lending library of some 500 volumes. “I ani sure (stated the director) that this will prove to be a great boon to the pupils and will be much appreciated.’’

In order that facilities may be provided for instruction in engineering science, the Board of Governors of, the Wellington Technical College has suspended the classes in needlework and ’dressmaking until the new college buildings are available, the large room in us? for these subjects being adapted as a laboratory for mechanics, physics, electricity and magnetism, electric light and power.

The Board of Governors of Wellington Technical College has decided to close the special day classes in shorthand and typewriting which have been carried on for many years as a separate part of the institution. ,In future all girls wishing instruction in these subjects during the day will be required to take the Technical High School course, which includes sound training in English and home science.

In Arabia, a plant is called the laughing plant, because its seeds produce effects similar to those caused by lavrgning gas. The natives dry the seeds and reduce 'them to powder, a small dose of which has curious effects. It causes the soberest person to dance and laugh excitedly and to make a fool of himself for nearly an hour. By this time exhaustion sets in and he falls asleep, to wake up after several hours with no recollection of his antics.

In submitting to the Board of Governors of the Technical College last night a return showing the total enrolment of students in the various classes, together with the average attendance at each, the director, Mr J. H. Howell, states that “the latter- figures are in many cases disappointing; hut it is hoped that the arrangement of fees on an annual basis, which the board has decided to adopt for next year, will result in the encouragement of students to take longer courses and thus do better work than is possible for those who enrol 'only for a short period.’’

Ait a special meeting of the Petone Council, held last evening, .Councillor Tovey said he was not in favour of the ratepayers money being expended in entertaining the Prince of •Wales. Any money allocated by the council should be spent in the interests of _ the ratepayers, but he had no. objection to tho Early Settlers’ Association receiving a grant towards its funds to help • to make towards the success of its function on theJ?etone beach. The Mayor CMr J. W. MoEwnp) stated, with some heat, that he did not desire to accuse Councillor Tovey of disloyalty, hut it looked very much like it. The yot of our future King was an historical event and it behoved the citizens of Petone to entertain him in a fitting and proper manner.

The. adoption of special school colours for the .Wellington Technical College ■was recommended to the Board of Governors last night by the director (.Mr J. H. Howell). “I do not know (said the director! that any special colours have been formally agreed to by the hoard, but it has been the practice for the boys to wear black caps with gold braid and a badge of three separate letters, The cap is by no means distinctive, since black and gold, being the provincial colours and of Welling!-ton-Boys’ and Girls’ Colleges, are utilised in several school caps, and it is not possible for our pupils'to be readily distinguished. I would suggest that brown and gold he taken as our colours, and that- a monogram combining the letters W.T.C. bo designed suitable, for embroidery.” The board approved the suggestion that school colours be adopted, and the choice of colours and of a monogram was left to the director and Mr H. M. Gore, a member of the board.