TOPICS OF THE TIMES.

Southland Times, Issue 22486, 22 January 1935, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES.

The Irish Language. The efforts of the Irish Free State Government to further the Irish language in its territory are described by the Dublin corespondent of the Sunday Times. At present, he writes, onethird of the 14,000 teachers have the bilingual certificate. The intention always has been to make Irish sooner or later the sole medium of instruction, but until recently this has not been possible. Now English is not even permitted in infant classes where there is a competent Irish teacher, and it _is only optional in Standard L The instructions further add that a new programme is being prepared in English less ambitious than that hitherto in operation. Henceforth few, if any, children up to the age of seven—and comparatively few up to the age of nine—will hear a word of English during school hours. In the higher standards also teachers and managers will be encouraged to teach through the medium of Irish. There is already quite a number of schools where English is only spoken or heard as a foreign language, like French and German would be in any English public school. It has been ruled that a school where no Irish is taught is not a qualified school and does not comply with the School Attendance Acts. Strong testimony Is given both for and against the results of the system, and a stage has now been reached when trained psychologists should be called in to investigate and report. The situation would be paralleled if, say, in London, more than half the children up to the age of 14 had to leam and think during school hours in a language quite as foreign to their nature and understanding as Russian or Hindustani. New and Old Architecture.

Reviewing an international exhibition' of contemporary architecture, lately held in London, Professor C. H. Reilly, of Liverpool University, says that one striking thing is the international character of modem architectural expression. “At a glance it is difficult to guess the country of origin of most of the buildings, except, perhaps, the British. They are more easy to distinguish, not so much because the new buildings have any distinctively national character, save perhaps the domestic ones, but because the majority of those shown are not yet in the modern manner. With the trappings of the traditional styles about them they look among their neighbours in the exhibition extraordinarily old-fash-ioned. The new Northern Ireland Houses of Parliament are an example; so is the new Freemasons’ headquarters in London, costing £1,000,000 and erected as a war memorial. Both seem already to belong to an older order and a drearier century. The other outstanding impression will be, I think, that this exciting modern world into which we are entering will for some time yet be a highly disconcerting one. Tire contrasts will be too sudden. Until our cities are planned and zoned far more thoroughly, these modern buildings will be bad neighbours not only to the older ones but to themselves. There is no basis at present of order in the buildings themselves such as the old classical columns, real or implied, provided. We shall for a time apparently be back in the disorder of the medieval city, but with heavier and more powerful forms threatening us on all sides, unless, indeed, town-planning provides the corrective by segregating the main types.”

Bombs on Battleships. In the considered opinion of the highest officers of the Fleet Air Arm, states the naval correspondent of the Morning Post, all the battleships of the British Navy which have been fitted with extra deck armour during the last few years—as most of them have—are virtually impervious to air bombing attacks. The deck armour fitted to the majority of our capital ships can be penetrated only by the 20001 b. bomb. This bomb is practically discounted as a naval weapon, since it cannot be carried by aircraft operating from aircraft carriers. It could, of course, he used against the fleet by shore-based aircraft if the fleet were within striking distance of a shore aerodrome. This, however, is not regarded as a very serious danger owing to the limited radius of action of machines carrying such heavy bombs, particularly when one considers that the aircraft must find the fleet before dropping its bomb. Moreover, machines can carry only one such bomb, and the chances of hitting with the first bomb are not considered by experts to be materially greater than the chances of hitting with the first shot of a long-range bombardment. “Diving bombing” from a height of a few hundred feet increases accuracy of aim, but much reduces the destructiveness of a bomb in the event of a hit. Torpedo-carrying aeroplanes must fly low to drop their torpedoes, and thus are vulnerable to anti-aircraft gunfire. The under-water protection of battleships, moreover, is now very effective.

At the Gore abattoirs during December 24 cows,’los bullocks and heifers, four calves, 339 sheep and 219 lambs were slaughtered.

In the Police Court yesterday morning before Mr E. C. Levvey, SM., Herbert S. Leary pleaded guilty to driving a motor cycle to the danger of the public in Elies road, and to failing to nave the machine equipped with a silencer. Traffic Inspector Stopford said that Leary was travelling at 40 miles an hour over the intersection of Tweed street and Elies road. Defendant was fined £2 with costs on the first charge, and on the second charge was convicted and discharged.

Last evening the Dominion Meteorologist issued the following information.—An intense westerly depression, the last of the present series, has been crossing the Dominion to-day. Forecast: Winds westerly at first in and north of Cook Strait, but south-wester-lies soon prevailing generally; moderate to strong, and of gale force in many places, but decreasing to-morrow. Seas in New Zealand waters heavy in Taranaki Bight and Foveaux Strait, and elsewhere rough. Eastern Tasman Sea: Strong but decreasing south-westerly winds: seas rough. Weather squally and changeable, with showers in most districts, some heavy falls being likely, and thunder in places. Temperatures becoming cooler everywhere. Conditions improving rapidly, however, after the southerly change.

Yesterday morning in the Police Court before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., William Alfred Dawson for disobedience of a maintenance order was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payment of arrears.

A columbarium, or building having many small niches for the reception of urns containing ashes from cremations, will be completed at the Karori Cemetery, Wellington, shortly. The building is of brick and concrete, constructed in open court style, the walls containing the niches for the glazed pottery urns. It stands behinds the crematorium and Chapel. Work was begun on the building in September last.

About 200 men are still employed at the Waitaki hydro-electric works, where much work still remains to be done. This number includes the permanent staff. At night the township is still a blaze of light which gives little indication that its former glory has departed. But daylight shows that many stores have the “closed” sign. Community life still, however, goes on. Golf is played on a nine-hole course, tennis is popular, and there are moving picture shows once a week or so in the Y.M.C.A. hall

In connection with the medical scheme run by the Invercargill Branch of the Southland Provincial Relief Workers’ Organization, the medical secretary (Mr W. Keane) stated yesterday that all financial members were requested to call at the Town Hall for the issues of new prescription books. In pursuance with a resolution passed by a general meeting of the Invercargill Branch it was decided that all members of the medical scheme must be financial members of their organization. The current quarter ended this month and the new books would be issued the first week in February. On and after February 1 the old prescription books would not be accepted by doctors or chemists available under the scheme.

When he attended the church service at the Christchurch Cathedral on Sunday morning his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester used a Bible which is said to have an interesting association with the English Royal family. In 1842 Queen Victoria presented this Bible to a Miss Hannah Hobbs, who is believed to have been a domestic at the Royal Palace. The Bible bears an inscription on the front cover indicating that the gift was from her Majesty, and inside is written Miss Hobbs’s name and the signature of the Queen’s Lord Chamberlain. The Bible was brought to New Zealand by relatives of Miss Hobbs, and was lent to the Cathedral for the use of King George when he attended divine service while visiting Christchurch as the Duke of York. The use of the Bible by Prince Henry, one of the King’s sons, has forged another link in this interesting chain of associations.

The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) is taking his position as Native Minister and Minister for the Cook Islands very seriously (states the Press). He said on Saturday that he intended to visit some of the native settlements in the North Island this week, and that he was doing his best to introduce order into the affairs of the Native Department. He was also considering the possibility of encouraging the natives of the Cook Islands to produce and market their fruit in a more satisfactory manner. The island oranges, he said, although different in type from those imported from Australia, had many points in their favour, and there should be a good market for them in New Zealand if the growers shipped them in good order. The Cook Island plantations had suffered recently from disease and old growth, but if the people could be brought to use scientific methods and improve their output, they would find the New Zealand consumer actively sympathetic. Mr Forbes regretted that the remoteness of the island group made it difficult for him, as Minister, to visit them.

The master bakers of the city wish it to be made known that as Wednesday is being observed generally as a picnic day, people are advised to prepare accordingly. Fresh bread will be available first thing on Thursday morning.—Advt.

Girls’ Black Italian Bloomers, all sizes 1/-; also in S.S.W. and S.W. sizes at 1/6; Black Cashmere Gym Length Hose, 2/6 and 2/11 at WICKS’ LTD., Cash Drapers, Invercargill and Gore.— Advt.

PRINTS that will not fade, discolour, or lose their first day brilliance. That’s the kind we make. GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist, 125 Dee Street. —Advt.

Ladies! Have your new frock or coat made at Miss Noble’s, Dee street. All classes of dressmaking, renovations and alterations at reasonable prices.—Advt.

SNAPSHOTS that are pictures. Brown, The Chemist, will produce the best possible results. GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist, 125‘Dee Street.— Advt.

Practically every Home in Southland receives one of Thomson, Beattie’s 8page Sale Circulars to-day. 13,500 copies of this interesting booklet, full from cover to cover with genuine Bargains, should be read by all.—Advt.

Big bargains at Carter’s Stock Reducing Sale. Men’s Pyjamas 4/5, dress shirts 3/11, collars 6d; work shirts 3/6 and 3/11, guaranteed wear. Fancy Socks half price 1/-; boys’ super quality school hose 2/6, all sizes, Technical and High Schol included. See advertisement Front Page.—Advt.

There is nothing my lady wears that is so much appreciated as Furs. The gift of gifts, there is nothing looks better, wears better and gives that added charm as furs do, and they are to be bought cheaply these days. We have the finest selection of quality goods in Southland at prices in keeping with the times. The Mutual Fur Co., Tay street.—Advt.

FlLMS—Bring them to Brown, The Chemist, and get better results. Bright, snappy prints. That’s the kind we make. Prices right too. GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist, 125 Dee Street.—Advt.