NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26933, 19 November 1948, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Break-up Ceremonies

New members of the Otago University staff will be the speakers at the annual break-up ceremonies of high schools in Dunedin, arrangements for which were approved by the Otago High Schools’ Board yesterday. Professor R. R. Nimmo will give an address at the Otago Girls' High School function in the Concert Chamber or December 9 at 8 p.m.; Professor R. M. Gabriel at the King’s High School on December 10, at 2.30 p.m.; and the vicc-chancelor of the University, Dr R. S. Aitken, at Otago Boys’ High School on December 10 at 8 p.m.

“ Conscience Money ” The receipt of small sums of “ conscience money ” is not unknown to public bodies, but it was a new experience for the Otago Harbour Board this month. Notification of the receipt of £1 “conscience money" was given in the chief executive officer’s report at last evening’s meeting of the board. Royal Visit Subsdiy

The Finance Committee of the City Council has received advice from the Department of Internal Affairs that a subsidy on a £ for £ basis will be granted on net expenditure incurred in connection with the royal visit in March. The maximum amount of subsidy mat will be available to the council, however, is limited to £2400.

Traffic Conference A conference of chairmen of civic transport committees and chief traffic inspectors, at which the Dunedin City Council was represented, was held in Auckland about a month ago at the invitation of the Auckland City Council. An invitation has now been extended to all cities controlling their own traffic to attend a further conference in Dunedin next year.

Early Bible Printing Two pages from the third dated Bible, printed in 1472, have been given to the Dunedin Public Library Association by Mr A. H. Reed, of Dunedin. The pages represent one of the earliest pieces of printing in New Zealand, and will be added to the “ Reed Collection” at the Library. The Library Committee of the City Council has sent Mr Reed a special letter of thanks for his gift. Child Attacked by Rat

Attacked by a rat while asleep m the early hours of the morning, an 18-months-old baby of Mr and Mrs G. R. Norris (Gisborne) suffered a painful injury to the index finger of the right hand. The rat’s teeth penetrated to the bone and tore out a piece of flesh. Earlier in the night the child’s father was awakened by a rat walking over his body. Before he had time to brush it off, it scratched him under the eye.

Portrait of Rector It was the intention of the association to present to the King’s High School a portrait in oils of the first rector, Mr D. S. Chisholm, stated a letter from the King’s High School Parents’ Association received by the Otago High Schools’ Board at its monthly meeting yesterday. The association was granted the use of the school’s assembly hall on December 2 to make the presentation.

Honour for Pianist The young Wanganui pianist, Colin Horsley, who is studying in Britain, was recently honoured by being invited to play to Queen Mary, the Princess Royal, and the Marquis and the Marchioness of Carisbrooke, according to information contained in a letter received in Wanganui. On December 4 he is billed to play three concertos at a concert in the Royal Albert Hall and in January he will go to Paris and Brussels.

Testing of Vehicles The report of the chief traffic inspector, Mr E. H. Barrett, to the General Committee of the City Council shows that October was a particularly busy month at the council’s motor testing station at Anderson’s Bay road. During the month. 1760 warrants of fitness were issued compared with 1234 in September. The committee has accepted with regret the resignation of the supervisor at the station, Mr J. C. Williamson. Seasonal Work.

No leave will be granted this year to pupils attending schools under the jurisdiction of the Otago High Schools’ Board to help with seasonal work on farms. This course was decided on by the board yesterday when it reaffirmed a decision made in 1947 that, as war conditions no longer applied, pupils would not be allowed to leave Before the end of the term. Exceptions would be made if boys were going to their homes and then only if their parents could show that the boys’ help was essential.

New Swimming Baths The City Council had been quietly looking for the site of a proposed new municipal swimming baths for some time, the Mayor, Sir Donald Cameron, told the Junior Chamber of Commerce last night. The baths, which were badly needed, would be of Olympic measurements and had been delayed by the war and labour and material shortages. The money to build was not now the problem—it was a suitable site, and as soon as one was available and labour and materials were more easily obtained, the project would be begun, Sir Donald said. Repair of Roads

Members of the Automobile Association, Otago, would be pleased to know that the Ministry of Works was employing private plant in the repair of recent damage by slips and washouts to the Makarora road, the president of the association. Mr G. W. Ferens, told the Daily Times yesterday. At a recent meeting of the executive of the association, reference was made to the need for the Ministry of Works to employ private plant to expedite necessary undertakings. Mr Ferens said yesterday that further private plant was available in Central Otago and it was hoped the Ministry of Works would also make use of this to accelerate the repair of the damage done during the recent heavy rainfall. Interchange ofvTeachers

In an effort to promote school teacher exchanges throughout the Empire, Mr P. H. B. Lyon, a former headmaster of Rugby School, is travelling around the world by air. Ho is at present on a seven weeks’ visit to New Zealand. Private schools arranged exchanges through headmasters’ conferences, while the League of the Empire arranged Government school exchanges, said Mr Lyon in an interview. The scheme of teacher exchange was a valuable means of broadening teachers’ knowledge and experience. Mr Lyon, who was headmaster of Rugby for 17 years, retired from the post last July. After visiting the main centres in the North and South Islands he will fly to Australia, and will return to England next March.