GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1920, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS.

At a social function in Invercargill one speaker said that the aggregation of land had gone up in Southland a good deal of late years, and pointed to a district in which he had resided some twenty-five years ago as an instance. At the time, he said, a considerable number of children went to the school, but there were now so few that a girl teacher comprised the staff. The holdings had been enlarged with the result that the quantity of produce obtained from the land was not equal to that of twenty-five years ago, though, of course, the value was much greater. A well-known British journalist, A. G. Gardiner, in writing of the late Lord John Fisher, gives many of his quaint and forcible sayings. He will point to a map, adds the writer, and show the crushing geographical supremacy of Britain. And then, warming to his theme: "Do you know there are five keys to the world? The Straits of Dover, the Straits of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, the Straits of Malacca, and the Cape of Good Hope. And every one of these keys we hold. Are't we the Lost Tribes?" and again: "When England is a real democracy there will be nothing like her under Heaven, and then everyone will see that we arp the Lost Tribes of Israel. Of course, we are!" Tepid baths are/ being recognised in our cities as being most essential, and are contributing in no small degree ,to the improved physical condition of young people, as well as giving middleaged and elderly folk opportunities to have a daily swim. Wellington has tepid baths already, and next week some big water ' polo matches are to be played, in addition to championship swimming events being swum off. Greater Wellington, however, realising 'more than ever the immense value, of tepid bath! to I 'community, has approved of a loan of over £20,000 to allow for the purchase of a site and erection of new up-to-date tepid baths. Australian papers just to hand refer to a dispute which has arisen 'between Mr. H. Verbrugghen, director of the Sydney Conservatorinm of Music and conductor of the New South Wftles State Orchestra- .The Government hold that Mr. Verbrugghen's first duties are to his touring other States with the Orchestra. In his reply to the N.S. Wales treasurer, Mr. Verbrugghen says: "As to the Conservatorhnn, it was no mere experiment. I eame here with definite ideas, which were put into practice from the day it opened. I devoted all my time and energy to it, to .the exclusion of my holidays and social relaxation, and to the detriment of my health Now the institution works smoothly. Everyone knows his work," and aims at one definite object, and I think I am no longer called upon to to be its slave, and can afford to be indeed its director. What' the Conservatorium requires of me now is guidance, not professional work, and if I thought the orchestral tours would, interfere with my efficiency as director I would not undertake them. I have never neglected my duty; on the contrary, and I do not see why I should be suspected of doing so now." It will interest New Zealander3 in general, and Wanganul people in particular, to hear that Mr. Haydn Beck has been appointed deputy leader of the Orchestra. As a result of the protest entered.by Felton and subsequently withdrawn, Barry, the English sculler, refused to accept a cheque for £IOOO, covering the stakes, which he won in connection with the world's championship on the Parramatta. Barry, although pressed to do so, absolutely refused to accept the money- "I will not take'this money in Australia," he remarked. "I am going to show the people that I didn't come out here for money. You can send it to the Daily Mail, London." The stakeholder asked Barry if he would kindly give him written authority to send the cheque to the Daily Maii, London, but beyond repeating that he would not accept it in Australia ; and that it could go to the Daily Mail, Barry refused- to comply with the request. "It is possible that upon reflection you may change your mind," said the stakeholder. '"No, no," said Barry, "I never change my mind; and I won't change my mind. Money/is nothing to me. Why, Igo to the races and- have £2OO, £SOO or £IOOO on a horse. Why should I worry about money?". So the money still lies in the bank awaiting Barry's acceptance.