ROUND ABOUT WELLINGTON

Otago Witness, Issue 3769, 8 June 1926, Page 34

ROUND ABOUT WELLINGTON

By

Pencarrow.

(SPBOtAtixT Written fob the Witness.) June 3. A series of attractive lecture recitals is being held by Miss Valerie Corliss, L.R.A.M., during the coming winter months beginning on June 16, dealing particularly with the works of Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, and modern English and French composers, and, later on, with the works of modern Russian and Spanish composers. The lectures should be exceedingly interesting to those who attend them. Wellington prides herself on being the home of a Cambridge “blue”—Russell Young, the well-known tennis player, who went up to Cambridge in April, where six weeks later he was awarded his full “blue” for lawn tennis. Here is another New Zealander who has made his mark in sport at Home. We heartily congratulate him. It is interesting to note how manv young New Zealanders make themselves prominent in various branches of sport. We in Wellington take a special interest in R. A. Rose’s enterprise. Though he is not a Wellington boy—he comes from Masterton, which is not far off—he has done much of his running here. To think of tackling such a world’s wonder as Nurmi! But Rose has done such good times on grass tracks, that it is possible he may do something sensational on cinder paths. It is to be hoped that Nurmi’s accident is not serious enough to interfere with running. It must not be forgotten that Grimmett hails from New Zealand. The report, so long awaited, of the commission on the alleged Northland tunnel, has come to light at last. The general opinion is that if the city has lost much money in the tunnel, it has its money’s worth in 'the report. Besides pointing out that a safe and efficient cutting could have been made for* onethird of the money spent, the commissioners say, “We consider the tunnel to be defective in construction in the whole; we consider the construction faulty throughout.” Again they say, “We are of opinion that the design is defective.” They refer to several officials as responsible, and finally remark on the want of co-ordi-nation in the engineering department. They seem to have fairly boxed the compass. The council has not caught its breath yet, and has passed a temporising resolution, the gist of which is that no action should be taken at present. One wonders how many more Augean stables might be brought to view if these commissioners were turned loose on several other much criticised undertakings. W ellington is blessed with a new cabaret, the old Adelphi having opened the first session in its new rooms In Hannah’s Buildings, Cuba street. It is described as Wellington’s first attempt at a real cabaret. The decorations are exceedingly beautiful, while the floor, the music, trie well furnished lounge, and the perfectly appointed cloak rooms, are ail that can be desired by even the most exacting of patrons. To-day the new Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright, will make bis first official visit *out of Wellington since his appointment. His destination is to be Auckland, where he is going to inspect various schools. The ex-Minister of Education and his wife, Sir James and Lady Parr, were welcomed to London by Sir James and Lady Allen last week-end. Wellington has lately welcomed four lady teachers, who had come out from London to Sidney bv the s.s. Runic, on exchange to New Zealand for twelve months. One of them, Miss A. L. Hurst, who comes from an infant school near Tottenham, London, is an exponent of the eurythmic system of infant teaching, and is to teach in the Wellington district. The others, Miss D. G. Garrett, also from Tottenham, and the Misses G. and V. Watson, who come from schools at Hammersmith and Fulham, are also infant teachers, and all four were entertained at afternoon tea a few days ago by Mrs M. M’Kenzie and various lady members of the education staff, when the ne\y teachers were given a warm welcome. It is to be hoped that they will enjoy their visit to the Dominion, and doubless their stay will be a profitable one for the schools in which they are to work. The exchange system for teachers appears to be more successful, affording to teachers in all countries opportunities of travelling and of gaining wider experience in their work.

The question of the Hill street tramway is giving rise to much heated discussion. The idea originally was that of shortening the way to Karori. In practice, it appears that such a scheme is unsound. Councillor H. D. Bennett is firmly convinced that the City Council will be acting unwisely if it persists in going forward with the construction of tramway tracks over Hill street partly on account of the stiffly graded hill. Those of us who have our residences in Hill street are particularly interested in the discussion, and are anxiously awaiting the final decision. Those Wellington people who are l|v forested in Grew art, are lucky in having

the opportunity to attend a series of twelve lectures of a popular character on the subject, to be delivered weekly at Victoria College by Professor Rankine Brown, Proffessor of Classics, and Vicechancllor of the University. These lectures, fully illustrated by lantern slides, should be most interesting and instructive. The funds for the war memorial carillon appear to be swelling rapidly. Further offers of bells have been received. Various cheques have been handed in for the purchase of a bell for the mercantile marine, to whose memory it is to t>e specially dedicated, as a tribute to its loyalty during the Great War, when iis men lost their lives in thousands and were never even mentioned in the “Roll of Honour.” Those who complain of the amount of hill climbing necessary to those who live in Wellington, should pay attention to the remark oK Captain Cowan made at the civic reception to the visiting Indian Army hockey team. “Those of us who came from the Himalayas,” he says, “thought that we were the only people who had hills to climb to get to their homes, but since coming to Wellington, we have found out our mistake.” He added that he was very grateful to Wellington’s hills, in view of training for to-day’s match. An interesting picture exhibition has ben held in Wellington during the last few days in the lounge at Kirkcaldies, Lambton Quay. The exhibition has been arranged by Mr E. Murray Fuller, and is one well worth visiting, for it displays pictures representative of the best work of some of the most notable English, French, and New Zealand artists, among them, S. J. Lamorna Birch, R.W.S., W. Lee Hankey, R.E.R.1., Sydney L. Thompson, A. Heaton Cooper, R.W.A., and many other prominent exhibitors.