NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 28

NEWS IN BRIEF.

John James Kelly was fined £SO at Taumarunui for keeping liquor for sale and for bringing liquor in without a label. In the Wellington Court, Samuel Crossley, a cafe keeper, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment on each ol two charges of sty grog-selling. A fire was discovered at Wellington in a vessel's bunkers, but it was extinguished by tho officers and crew after an hour and a-half of strenuous work. The managers of the Dunedin Technical School have decided to ask the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to state definitely whether it is prepared to sell the hospital site, acquired on Pine Hill, which it was suggested would serve the purpose of the proposed classes in agriculture. For breaches of the Licensing Act as rocaids liquor for a no-license area, irank Roach, of tho Post Office Hotel Pahiatua. , was fined £5; and William Sullivan (who obtained liquor) was fined £3. Norman Allen Wilton, shearer, for failing to register as required by the Military Act, was fined £2, with costs. Tho annual- festival of the Anglican Diocesan branches of the Girls' Friendly Society was held at Bishopsgrovo on the Bth inst., when members were entertained at afternoon tea and the beautiful grounds thrown open to them. The active members now number 218. A pleasant afternoon was brought to a close by a hearty vote of thanks and cheers to the Primate and Mrs Nevill. , , _ "It seems ridiculous that the Government has done nothing to help research work, was the statement made by Mr J. Loudon at tho social held by the Dunedin Ironmasters' Association. Mr Loudon went on to say that when the Government was asked to assist in that direction a paltry £250 was placed on the Estimates. In Australia it was suggested that £500,000 be. placed on the Estimates. At the monthly meeting of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand a letter was received from "C. E.," Southland, enclosing a cheque for £IOO as a first instalment towards the support of a missionary for a year or two. It was resolved to thank the donor. Professor Hewitson said that an officer and his wife resident in Canterburyhad promised to contribute £llO a year for . several years towards the salary of a woman missionary in China. At a meeting composed of members of the Bruoe County Council, the Mayor of Kaitangata, Messrs Lee (Kaitangata Coal Co.), Cheeseman (Taratu Coal Co.), and some 30 representative settlers, it w-as decided to form a River and Drainage Board to deal with the protection and drainage of lands liable to damage by flood within the Matau, Kaitangata, and Lakes drainage district. The following were appointed a committee: —Messrs Cairns (Mayor of Kaitangata), G. Aitchison, D. Bryce, P. M'Skimming, Thos. Parker, D. Boyd, and O. Anderson. A memorial tablet to the late Mr Richardson, the Otago Education Board's ohief inspector, was unveiled on tho 13th inst. at the break-up of tho Training College, Dunedin. Mr J. Nelson, president of the Otago Educational Institute, having referred in feeling terms «o the value of the services sundered by Mr Richardson to the cause of education, the tablet was unveiled by Mr E. T. Fleming, chairman Otago Education oard. The tablet bears the following inscription:—"ln memory of Charles R. D. Richardson, B.A. Died Bth February, 1917. For 40 years lid faithful service for education in Otago as pupil teacher, student, teacher, and senior inspector of schools. ' Poverty was alleged to be the cause of a m»*ried woman appearing at tht Dunedin Police Court on the 11th inst. charged with the theft of a pair of sandals valued at 10s 9d. The accused entered the premises of James Simon, and after her departure a pair of sandals was missing. Next day her son went to the shop and desired to change tho sandals for a larger pair. It was stated the husband" was addicted to drink, and-did not adequately support his wife and children. She was -convicted and ordered to come--up for sentence when called on, to bo under the supervision of Mr F. G. Cumming, who would endeavour to make the husband realise his responsibilities.

Our attention has been drawn to a small but very efficient and useful local invention that is intended to be attached to the top plate between a cooking- range and the chimney. The inventor called it the S.S.S.S., as he claims that it eliminates smoke, smells, steam, and is, therefore, a sanitary ventilator. As it draws in air from the room when open, it acts as an efficient damper, thus saving coal by allowing a firo to smoulder till needed. Exhausting air as it does, it takes ar.y fatty deposits that a*» annoying when frying, etc. Exhausting «moke, it clears the atmosphere winen the room is full of smokers. Messrs R B. Donniston and Co. are the local agents. The post office at Matakanui has boon closed without warning of any kind, thus completely isolating Matakanui for telegraph and telephone communication. As lar as we (Alexandra Herald) can learn the facta appear that the young lady who has charge of the post office, and has the responsibility of u letter office, money order and telegraph office, was requested by the department to nccept reduced remuneration for her services, Yv'e are informed she receives £4O a year just now, and the department wirh to reduce this payment. The lwly refused, and, without public notice or warning, the department immediately closed tho post office Such curt treatment is fchameftil, showing no regard for the requirements and convenience of the public whatsoever. Tho Hon. J. A. Hartan, Minister of Education, states that arrangements are being made to give uncertificated untrained teachers instruction in methods of teaching, etc.. in observation schools, or a model country school within an ordinary school. Those schools would bo under tho ehartro of a trained assistant teacher, specially skilled" in management. The untrained teacher would attend for several weeks, and would go out to small schools with a properly prepared time-table and plan of work. At the meeting of tho Dtmedin City Council on the 13th inst., Cr Bradley's notice of motion having for its object tho assisting of the Returned Soldiers' Association to get ;> building site on which to erect a hostel for returned soldiers was ruled out of order by the Mayor. Leave was refused to amend the notice of motion by substituting one to set up a committee to go into the question as to what was the best thing the city could do to assist the Returned Soldiers' Association.