NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11190, 21 April 1922, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The head of a Wanganui drapery firm, commenting on the Easter business to a “Herald” representative, Stated that for a few weeks prior,'to the holidays trade had been quiet. However, during last week it livened up, and he was> pleased to state that trade had been particularly good in all departments.

“It’s rather an extraordinary thing, but nearly a third of the unemployment comes from Taranaki and Wanganui remarked the Minister for Public Works at Wanganui. “Dairying and sheep-raising have been hit the hardest,” suggested Mr Glenn- The Minister added that of 218 men put on last week, 45 came from the districts mentioned.

A Bombay message to the London, papers state's that philatelists will bo interested in an announcement made by the postmaster in charge of the Prince of Wales’s'camp to the effect that arrangements have boon made to supply collectors with a set of Indian stamps of all values stamped with the postmark in use in the Prince of Wales’s camp. The stamps range from 8 pics (J) to 1 rupee (Is 4d). The full set may be had for 3 rupees 12 anas 0 pies, os OJd, normal rate of exchange.

The blackguards who fell in the war wore blessed by the Bishop of Southampton at the unveiling of a memorial window in the Clayesinoore School Chapol in Winchester. “There is a good deal of humbug sunk and preached in connection with war memorials,” the Bishop said. “I have known memorial services where all the hymns were about saints. But wliat about the blackguards who fell in the war, for me? I want to give thanks to them also. Do you export me to call them saints for such an occasion ? We know for a fact that many who fell in the war,’some>whom we were very fond of, were far from being saints, but we want to put up their names just the same, and give thanks to them with the rest.”

An unusual experience befell a Mount Albert resident in the city on Thursday, states the Auckland “Herald.” When transacting business in a hank he found a cheque for over £7O lying on the floor. He took it to the firm which had issued it, and without any questions being, aslred, and although he had no previous dealings with the firm, was handed the full amount in oash. He then explained hpw the cheque came into liis possession. Inquiries were made in the office, and he wns informed that the cheque had been, lost by the pqrson to whom it had been issued; the firm had been notified, and payment had been stopped at the bank. Instructions, however, had not been given to the office staff. The finder was cordially thanked.

A good example of the regeneration of Scots fir trees is reported to he sepn at Mr R. O. Duncan’s G-Iyn Wye station, in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough. This plantation woe started some fifty years ago by a Frenchman, Count do la Pasture, and the parent trees are growing in a strip approximately two chains wide by ten chains long. The prevailing wind, which comes from the west, lias been responsible for most of the 'natural regeneration apparent here, having apparently scattered tho seed to a considerable distanoe in the lee of the plantation. The Soots fir has spread to a greater extent than the other trees, which comprise Douglas fir, Siika and white spruce, and sugar pine (Pinna Lambertfna). Some very' fine specimens of these trees are in the original strip, which this early pioneer evidently planted for a windbreak.

The Eastern Hutt school committee Would like to 6ee the system of appointing teachers so reformed that the transferring of teachers from one school to another bo done during the Jong holidays, and at no other time. “We have net been so unfortunate this year as last,” tho report says, “but since the holidays there havo been some changes in the staff! Just as . tho children become used to the teacher in the olass to which they have just been promoted, the board decides that he must be sent elsewhere, and a strange teacher introduces himself to the children, and there as then a mark-time till they know each other. Children now only in standard 3 have had! 14 different teachers in their short school life at our school. We try to 'believe .that these changes ore done in the interest of education, hut it is a great strain on our faith in the 'powers that be.’ ”

The -number of proficiency certificates gained in the school at the last examination was by far and away the lowest the history of the school (says the Eastern Hutt -school committee), and was solely due to the difficult papers in English -and arithmetic, A matter that needs rectifying is the giving of different papers in the different sohools. Some -are reasonable and others are much too difficult. In, other words, candidates for. admission to the same secondary schools are given different tests of their fitness to enter those schools, We believe that this anomaly has" this year, and also in previous vears. had it* victims in the children, who are thereby put back a year in their studies, though they are really in many oases more capable than others who are now -attending college. The latter were fortunate in having set them papers that were reasonable in their proficiency examination,. ’

There was a large number of visitors to Otaki during Easter week, .and tho accommodation was severely taxed.

The Wairarapa District Poultry Fai. mere’ Association’s eggs are realising 2s 9d per dozen wholesale in Wellington.

Since 1915, 57 houses have been erected in the Wairarapa by tho Government Housing Department, 49 at Masterton, five at Carterton, two at Eketahuna, and one at Featherston.

Mr Hoskin. while walking on the sandhills to tho north of the Otaki beach, found a skull and several bones —probably the remains of a native youtl who has been dead for many yearf.

“Tram-lines outside tho thicklypopulated areas in the cities of Great llritain have been torn up in favour of a train service.”-—Mr Mitchell, M.P., to Hutt Valley residents last evening.

“Some people tell us that we don’t need more people. I say that we Bhall never develop our resources until wo have five or six times the population wo have to-day.”—Mr C. M. Luke to tho Hutt Progress League last evening.

“I think the time is coming mighty soon when you will need a tram service in this "beautiful valley,’’ said Mr C. M. Luke to the'-Hutt Valley Progress League last evening. Tho speaker considered that such a service, convenient and at short intervals, would effectively replace a cumbercome train service.

Regarding the death of 10/1832 Frank Oliver Hampton, who -was killed at Ngahauranga on the 19th inst., tho War Accounts and Records Office state that he will be buried to-day (Friday), 21st inst. The cortege will leave Morris’s mortuary chapel, Taranaki street, at 2 p.m., and the funeral is timed for 2.30 p.m. at Karori cemetery.

“I believe that it is the duty of every man to do his best, whether he is in public life or out of it, for the district that ho lives in and the country in which he is horn. Wo are too inclined to leave these matters to -.those in office, and then criticise them,” ' remarked Sir G. Mitchell, M,P.,,at the Lower Hutt last evening-

Mr V. E. Donald, of Masterton has returned from his annual deer-stalking visit to -Southland. Mr Donald’ and his young -daughter, Miss Margaret Donald, had some excellent sport, and got between them Eix heads, including one of 17 points, , two of 14, two of 13, and one of 10. ’ Of these, the two 13’s and the ten fell to the rifle of Miss Donald, who was stalking for the first time this season.

A young man employed by Mr A. H. Brintnell, contractor, at the headworks of the Moroa water-race (Wairarapa), had » narrow escape frem drowning. He was crossing the Waiohiue river with a three-horse team in a dray, when the whole outfit was owept down the stream. The cries of the driver attracted the attention of workers nearby, who quickly procured a ropo, and threty it out to the man, who attached it to liis body, and was dragged to the bank in a halfdrowning condition. The threo ho race were drowned.’ Further . evidence of the high reputation which New Zealand butter has gained in other countries thorugh the rapid extension of its overseas markets is contained in a lotter from a lady resident of St. John’s, Newfoundland, to a friend in Auckland. “Just imagine 1” she writes, “we* have been using New Zealand butter at our table all the winter. It is delicious, and we all enjoy it very much. It is sold here at 43 cents a pound. This is the first time we have ever had it here, and everyone speakß very highly of it."

Fully 2000 Maoris are under canvaa at Ratann’s homestead, according to a Wanganui advice. It is stated that a’ proposal is to be made that Katana should extend his ministrations to tho pakeha. Although little has been heard lately concerning Ratana, quite a large number of sick Maoris have been seeking help from him, and in almost every case, it is said, cures by faith have eventuated. It is reported that a covenant to discard tohungas,' withcraft, and evil ways, particularly intemperance, has been signed by over 700 Maoris.

A suggestion for the improvement of the method of conducting the community singing meetings has been made to the controlling committee by an enthusiastic correspondent. His idea is to make the leader’s work easier and more effective by stationing sub-leaders ,at strategic points in tho body and gallery of the hall. He ouggests that these sub-leaders should take their cue from the man on the platform and keep the people in their i-eepeotive localities warmed 'up. “It seems to me that something like this ia necessary,” he wrote, “especially in a large hall where the leader is a good distance away from a large proportion, of the audience—or rather choristers. ”

The Wedretary. of the community singing movement in Wellington has received many congratulatory messages from citizens concerning the success of the inaugural “sings” at tho Town Hall. Amongst the correspondence read at the meeting; of the controlling committee last evening was a letter from Mr .Frank Goldberg, who referred enthusiastically to last Wednesday’s huge gathering. “The community singing in the Town Hall to-day,” he wrote, “was an eyeopenor to me, and I wish to congratulate the committee most heartily on tho very fine achievement that must surely create a record iu the development of tthe community singing in Wellington. I have travelled extensively in Europe and America, and have seen many inspiring eights in the way of enthusiastic gatherings, but never before have I hajd just such an experience as to-day’s ‘sing/-, If this movement doesn’t have a wonderflul effect Upon the citizen® of Wellington and make them take more interest in the city, I will be very much mistaken-”