NEWS IN BRIEF.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 34

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Inspectors have been appointed ill Palmerston North to see that the drivers of all cars entering the town possess drivers’ licenses. “All visitors to New Zealand,” said Mr J. Caughley (Director of Education) recently, “are surprised at the clean streets and amazed at the state of efficiency and civic pride that is established. They would be a credit to any town on the other side of the world.” Subject to the approval of the Government, which is generally merely a formal matter, the Jubilee Institute for the Blind at Parnell will receive £SOOO and the Knox Home for Incurables at West Tamaki will receive £3OOO from the Auckland Savings Bank. These munificent gifts were announced by the president at the annual meeting of the bank. During the past 20 years the bank has jects, and to-day’s gifts bring the total to £BB,OOO.

A valuable gift of scientific volumes, chieflv astronomical, has been received at the Kelburn Observatory, Wellington, from the British Admiralty through the offices of Dr L. J. Comrie, a New Zealander who is attached to his Majesty's Nautical Almanac Office, London. They form an appreciated addition to the astronomical library in New Zealand.

It is announced that the broadcasting stations at Auckland and Christchurch will be completed by June 30. All the material is on the way or is to be shipped at once. A proportion of the license fees paid to the company has been expended entirely on preparing programmes, so that further delays on tnis account will be avoided. A representative meeting of citizens and school committees, held at Masterton on Wednesday evening, after hearing the junior high school proposal propounded by Mr J. Caughley, Director of Education, decided by a large majority to assure the Minister of Education that if a junior high school were established in this district the proposal would receive the support of the community. In a letter to a friend in Masterton, Mr Henry Preston reported that he had had an exceptionally busy time dehorning cattle in Waikato, where he expected to be engaged for some considerable time (says the Age). He had been all through the King Country, and from Waikato expected to work through to the far north. For two or three seasons past Swedish timber has been imported into New Zealand m large quantities for butter-box making, because of the discrepancy in price compared to the white pine, but several complaints were received from agents In England to the effect that the butter arriving in foreign boxes was tainted. This has led to investigations, and the Forestry Department has been studying the position for some time past. “Education, 1 think, in the. university sphere,” said Sir James I’arr at Auckland the other day, “is going to receive more attention and support in the future than it has ever had.” He referred to the commission that ha 3 issued a report (reports the Auckland Star), and said he was glad the University Senate had adopted 75 per cent, of the commission’s report. Tho time was coming when each university would be an independent and autonomous institution.

It is well understood that county ratepayers whose rates remain unpaid to within 10 days of the date fixed for the county election are disqualified from voting at such election (says the Southland Times). It is not generally known, however, that by a provision in the Electric Power Board’s Act, 1925, the ratepayers in counties are disqualified from voting at the election of representatives to the Power Board if their Power Board rates are not fully paid up 10 days before the date fixed for the Power Board elections. In the classrooms at Tawhero School are various mottoes and illustrations for the benefit of the plastic mind (says the Wanganui Chronicle). An appropriate one is in regard to the common house fly. A picture shows a big business-like fly, and undern Ah the text: “Straight from the rubbish heap I come. I never wash my feet. Then on the table clean £ crawl upon the things you eat.” Mr F. Carson (the Kaitangata representative on the Otago Power Board) stated at a function in Balclutha on Wednesday night last that there was plenty of coal available at Kaitangata for an electric plant, and it was a pity that the people had not used it for that purpose 20 years ago. These coal plants were very economical, and were coming into use largely in America and elsewhere. Because the name of the post office at Edendale, Auckland, was sometimes confused with that of Edendale, Southland, the chief postmaster wrote to the Mount Albert Borough Council suggesting that the name be altered. It was desired to give the council an opportunity to suggest a suitable name. Members were of the opinion that the Edendale district was quite well known (reports the Auckland Star), and it was decided to reply that the council could not approve of the suggectpd change. With the approach of winter and the resultant slack period, the Imlay Freezing Works is dispensing with the services of some of its workers, 100 men haying been put off since Easter (says Wanganui Herald). The works are killing between 2000 and 3000 beasts daily, this being about half the number killed during the rush season. Killing for export is still in progress, and will continue until the end of May, after which meat for local consumption only will be prepared “ The slums in England and Scotland are terrible, and I don’t think higher wages are going to eliminate them.” This remark was made by Mr A. Halligan. who has just returned from a trip abroad, vvhen speaking to Wanganui City councillors at a recent meeting. He added that they did not want slums in New Zealand, and for that reason he particularly urged that strict attention be given to the question of sanitation in this country.

A Maori hoanga, or grinding stone, which has been in the possession of Mr W. B. Smith, farmer, of Warea. for some years, has been presented by the owner to the Now Plymouth Museum. The stone was found on the farm property. It is about 12 inches in length, and has four flat sides, each of which has been workea to a very smooth and even surface, indicating extensive use. The stone is nearly black, and is believed to have oome originally from Otago, as there is precticall.v no stone of this character in Taranaki. Such stones were used by the Natives for shap* ing their weapons.