NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11293, 19 August 1922, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

During the exhibition billiards match between H. W. Stevenson and W. Abotomey, the former made 14 threefigure breaks, including one over 300 and one over 200. The 14 breaks totalled 2445, or an average of 174.66. In order to meet the increasing demands on the boys’ department in the Y.M.C.A., a number of important alterations have taken place in the boys’ division, by means of which a larger number of boys will be able to be bandied and more efficient work done. When complete, the boys’ department will be one of the most ,up to date in the Dominion. Every user of the telephone is familiar with the twisted and knotted condition of the receiver cord after a few days’ use. The officials also know that this produces most of the breakages of the fine wires which cause trouble. A Palmerston North business man, who is also a mechanic, has asked the “Manaw.atu Times” to offer the telephone department a simple, effective and inexpensive remedy. It is either to use plaited instead of twisted cord, or to enclose at in a hollow spiral of fine flexible wire. Something of a sea lawyer must have been the irate fireman at Lyttelton, when he sent his mate to the police station to bring two policemen to put him through the acid test for insobriety. When the breathless “mate” arrived at the police station, two representatives of the “long arm of the law” rushed, with more than the “oustomed tread” to the liner to be greeted with the following (evidently from a product of the Emerald Isle): “This ’ere bally officer (hie) accuses me of bein’ so drunk as to be unfit for duty. I want yous gentlemen to step aboard (hio) and put me through whatever test yez may think proper 1”During the course of the conference of representatives of educational bodies with the Director of Education in Dunedin, Miss King (principal of the Otago Girls’ Higih School) said she deprecated mixed schools for girls over twelve. She had noticed that girts who came to the High School after being under the control of men teachers and under the treatment of men teachers had not been wisely treated. Every possible endeavour should be made to have boys taught by men and girls taught by women. Mr. R. A. Gaughley pointed out that girls and boys were taught together in the primary schools, were separated at the secondary schools, and were again brought together at the university. An opinion that the matriculation examination is available to students of too tender years was expressed by the Director of Education (Mr J, Caughley) in the course of a lecture in Dunedin. “Take a lad of sixteen years,” said Mr Gaughley; “will anyone say that he is sufficiently matured, that his outlook is broad enough, that he has read sufficiently widely and deeply for him to avail himself of the facilities for education—old enough to ensure that he will be able to understand what his professor as a professor should teach? If the matriculation examination ceased to he a utility examination, and became the qualification for entrance to the University, as was intended, the age could he raised by one or two years with great advantage.’* An incident which happened during the exhibition billiards match between Stevenson and Abotomy shows what simple things will disturb a player in making a stroke. A looal enthusiast, , who had on several occasions timed the breaks, was occupying a seat at the top end of the table in one line with baulk. In the break of 297 Stevenson was in hand and was about to play the red loser, wanting the three for the 300. Out came the watch, _ the front flew open, and the bright inside of the case reflected the light straight to Stevenson’s eyes just as he was striking, causing him to deflect ever so slightly, but enough to make his hall touch the corner of the pocket instead of going down. The owner of the watch afterwards asked Stevenson how he came to break down at a simple loser in which were all the elements of a much bigger break. He knows now. Don’t, wear gaudy socks next time you seek the seclusion of the Bankruptcy Court. A bankrupt with very few assets and a doleful tale was being cross-examined by counsel for one of the creditors (states the Auckland “Star”). “I would ask you, Mr Fisher, are those the kind of Books that should he worn by a man coming into this court and asking for protection t" This unexpected and unconventional appeal fell like a “throw-down” on the somewhat peaceful atmosphere. Casting his optics on the_ bankrupt’s foot adornments, the Official Assignee had to admit that they did verge on the flamboyant. “But,” suggested the bankrupt’s solicitor, with a note ol insinuation in his voice, “perhaps he got them at a job-line sale.” “They don’t look the kind you pick up at suoh sales,” countered the legal man who appeared for the man who wanted his money.

The postal authorities have received advice from Sydney that the Moeralsi left at noon on the 17th instant for Auckland. She carries 47 bags of mails from Australia, 240 from United Kingdom, and 19 parcel receptacles for Wellington. Replying in Parliament yesterday to a question by Mr G. Witty (Riccarton), the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) said that nothing definite has yet been decided with regard to the electrification of the Lyttelton tunnel. The committee which has been taking evidence in connection with the inquiry into the causes, etc., of venereal diseases returns to Wellington to-day. Mr 0. J. Drake, secretary to the Board of Health, accompanied thenf to the Auckland inquiry, where several witnesses were heard. The committee proceeds south shortly. There was a glut of fish in the fish market yesterday, and about half of it had to go into the freezers. Among the consignments received were 564 groper, about 400 hake, 20 sacks from the French Pass, and 20 sacks from Blenheim. Only about half was sold at auction, at prices from 3jd to 4d per lb. “Awful piffle about playing a mouth organ and other instruments and singing doggerel like ‘Little Brown Jug,’ '* was the comment of the chief inspector at a meeting of the Education Board at Wanganui, when an application was received from visiting musical instructors for permission to give free music lessons in the schools. It was decided to refuse permission. Mr W. A. Smith, secretary of the Fishermen’s Association, yesterday informed a “Times” reporter that there were 700 cases of fish in the freezer, each containing an Average of over 1001 b weight, or a total well over 70,0001 bin weight. If the retailers would be content with less profit there would be much more fish sold, and the cheap meat prices are telling against fish consumption. It is generally believed that the British meat firm of Vest-ys, which has for some time been operating actively in the Wairarapa in the purchase of both bullock and cow beef, is filling a considerable navy or army contract. Though the prices given are not high, the purchases have relieved farmers of a considerable number of animals which they can well do without. Bullocks are said to have been fetching 17s 6d per lOOlbs and upwards to about £l, and cows somewhere in the vicinity of 15s per 1001 b. The old tramway lines which are now being taken up in Courtenay place are the last of the original electric tram lines laid down in 1903. The old tram lines are sold as girders for use in building construction work, and are also cut and used as girders on which to build the new lines. Extensive renewals have been made at Kilbiraie during the last few days, and the work of replacing the old rails at the sharp turn near the Kilbirnde stop has been accomplished with exceptional speed, with little or no dislocation of traffic. Now that all the returns are coming to hand, remarked a dairy factory official to a “Manawatu Standard” reporter recently, it is evident that the average price obtained for cheese throughout last season by dairy factories who consigned the whole of their output to England was 7Jd f.o.b. Wellington. Indeed, ■it is questionable whether any company which went in for straight-out consigning the whole time, with no local sales whatsoever, did any better than this price, which is equivalent to a shade under Is 3d per lb of butter-fat. Comment, which can hardly be called flattering, was made at the Supreme Court at New Plymouth by a witness anent the methods of farming employed by the early settlers. Speaking of the condition of a farm on the Egmont road, he said that for about 35 years it had been worked on the principle of all early settlers —take everything out and put nothing hack. “They had learnt their mistake," added the witness, “though some haven’t learnt it yet.” As he admitted having been a farmer in that district since 1871, it is presumed that he knows something of the early days of dairy farming. At the meeting of the New Zealand Football Association on Thursday night it was stated that football was only provided for 200 out oF 700 boys at Wellington College, yet consent had not been obtained to some of the boys being allowed to play soccer, as thero is no master who can take charge of the game. A member said that there was a master who was willing to teach the boys, and that as a result of the refusal to allow the soccer code to be followed in the college, a parents’ association was being formed, with a view to further action being taken. The description of a drink of which one of the witnesses had partaken provided some amusement in the Supreme Court in Christchurch. What sort was it? asked counsel. “A Wanganui—(laughter—not a pint 'but something like it,” said witness. “You’re sure it wasn’t an, Oamaru ?” rejoined counsel. In the laughter which followed witness was heard to continue the geographical dissertation by stating that the drink could best be described as a Christchurch one. Another _w. loess made a rather amazing lightning calculation. —“I had one drink when we met in the Square, and one later that makes four.” A rather curious state of affairs was brought about at the Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch, when OhiefDetectdve A. Cameron asked for a charge to be amended from being “idle and disorderly'’ to read “rogue and vagabond.” The magistrate, Mr Wyvern Wilson, said the information could not be amended as the accused was to be charged with a different offence. The information would be dismissed for want of prosecution, and a new one could be laid. Accused then left the dock and walked outside. Some time later counsel far the defence, Mr O. S. Thomas, protested to the magistrate that the man had been arrested again in the precincts of the court. The magistrate held, however, that he would take no notice of what happened outside the court, and dismissed the protest. The confectionery industry in New Zealand, shared in to a considerable extent by Dunedin, is one of the enterprises that seems to be quite established. During the war, the imported supply being diminished, New Zealanders had to take our own product, and in that way they found out that the goods made in the Dominion can hold their own for quality. Dunedin manufacturers seem to think that the Hon. W. Downie Steward; acted wisely in prompting a reasonable instead of a prohibitive tariff on confectionery. Australia has practioally said that she will not permit the British-made goods to come in, and in answer to that declaration throe or four big British firms have combined, and will spend, it is said, half a miUiou or more in setting up a hug© factory in Hobart. That is a form of competition which does not threaten hero.

Goldfish numbering 500,000 are imported into England every year, most of them coming from Italy, where the breeding is a big industry. Before Mr H. W. Stevenson left for Wanganui on Thursday he said that the hardest thing he had to learn in billiards was to acquire the art of sitting down while his opponent was in possession of the table. This applies, of course, particularly to big breaks. To-day is the tenth anniversary of the death of the late Thomas George Maoarthy, whose magnificent bequest to educational and charitable institutions in the provincial district of Wellington is so well known. To date the institutions referred to have benefited to the extent of £54,922 under the provisions of the will. “What has the Beautifying Society got to do with it?” remarked a member at a meeting of the Wanganui Education Board, when it was 6tated that the society objected to the removal of the pine trees on the Queen’s Park School site. “They consider that they own all the trees in Wanganui,” replied one of the members. The honorary chief guide of the Tararuas Tramping Club gave an illustrated lecture on some of the scenic beauties of New Zealand, particularly those of the West Coast district, to the pupils of the Girls’ High School on Thursday evening. A repeat of the lecture is to be given at Trentham on Tuesday under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A. Three jurymen iaitecl to respond to their names when called on at the Supreme Court, New Plymouth, and were fined by His Honour Mr Justice Chapman. Later the offenders put in an appearance, and explained that they had been misdirected as to the hour at .which they were to be present. His' Honour said the time Dad been clearly stated in court, but he would remit the fines imposed. Mr Tame Horomona (“Tom Solomon”) and his aunt, Mrs Ngamare Heta, of the Chatham Islands, who attended the Maori hui at Tuahiwi, are the sole surviving members of the Moriori race, the original inhabitants of New Zealand. Mr Horomona stated to a Christchurch reporter that, as far as he is aware, he and his aunt are the only full-blooded Morioris living. His children and those of his aunt are half-castes. He is very similar- in appearance to a full-blooded Maori. At the Wellington Girls’ College on Thursday afternoon, by the kindness of the Y.M.C.A., very interesting pictures of Westland were shown from the college cinematograph. These included scenes of the Otira Gorge, Franz Josef Glacier, and surrounding iceoqvered mountains. The beautiful slides, most of them coloured, were from photographs taken by Dr Teikleman, of Hokitika. Mr Vosseler described each picture, and the performance, which lasted for an hour, was much appreciated by the staff and pupils. An unusual question cropped up in court at Eltham in a commission case; The negotiations concerning a purchase had been begun in the office of defending counsel, and he wished to cross-exam-ie his chief clerk on the facts. His Worship said there was just a question of legal privilege or right to divulge secrets of the office. He con- ! sidered that nothing should be divulged without the consent of the principal. The cross-examination was then continued. The death-rates per 1000 in the four principal urban areas in the month of July were as follow: —Auckland, .86; Wellington, .86; Christchurch, .89; Dunedin, 1.13. The number of births registered during July in the four principal urban areas in the Dominion totalled 761, and the deaths numbered 410. Forty-five of the deaths were of children under five years of age, thirtythree being under one year of age. The deaths of nine persons Over the age of 90 years occurred during the month. An amusing incident happened on a city tramcar a little while ago. A very stout Maori boarded an already full car, and was in a rather genial frame of mind so that he could not stand very steadily in the gangway. The conductor told him he could not be allowed to stand in the gangway like that and must get off at the next stop. The bell was rung and the car stopped at the next corner before Courtenay place, but quite unexpectedly the Maori, with a smile, took the conductor’s faoe between his hands and gave him a resounding kiss. “Kia Ora,” he said, as he sedately dismounted, and the passengers roared, while the conductor blushed to the roots of his hair, but laughed with them. Reorganisation is proceeding at the Y.M.C.A. with the faea of giving members greater control in the general activities and in working out the association’s policy. The controlling factor is a cabinet of eight of the leading voluntary workers from each of the younger men’s departments—lß to 21 years—and the older men, representative of the various committees of the institution. ‘This gives each individual' member a personal interest in all phases of the association’s work. A Somewhat similar form of control has been in operation at Christchurch Y.M.C.A. for some months past, and has operated very successfully. Some structural alterations havd been made in conformity with the scheme, and at the opening banquet of the younger men’s department oni Tuesday the details will be further outlined.