LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1929, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Dixon Banner for school sports has been awarded to the Eltham B team on the decision of the committee that the 220 yards race for boys under 12 was won by R. Jenkins, of the Eltham B team. When the race was wrongly awarded to C. Walker, Eltham A, a controversy arose with Alanaia as to the winning of the banner. “Teachers generally. welcome the fact that the standard of attainment for the proficiency examination has been raised,” said Mr. D. P. Evans, headmaster of the Central School at tlie break-, ing-up ceremony yesterday. “In past years pupils were granted certificates without being proficient in their work. This year a higher standard was required for exemption, with the result that a larger proportion -of pupils had to face the final examination.” In order to travel along the foreshore in certain parts of the-Manukau Harbour, farmers find it necessary to leave their homes at certain states of the tide as early as three o’clock in the morning. This statement was made at a meeting ’of the Auckland Harbour Board this week, when it was. decided to build a wharf at Big Bay at an tabiweted cost of £6QO on condition that the Franklin County Council agreed to dedicate a road and to contribute £lOO towards the cost. . It was stated that the wharf would be a boon to settlers.

‘’While the late Bishop Cleary was opposed to secular education, we must admire him for the actiori .he took in seeing that the children of his own denomination- were educated,” said Mr. A. Burns, chairman of’ the” Auckland Education Board, at a meeting of the board this week. "The way Bishop. Cleary had money supplied arid erected schools must excite the admiration' of all who are interesting in seeing children educated,” added Mr. Burns. “The. Dominion has lost an excellent citizen, and he was a worthy champion of his Church.”

It is not a common practice for people to keep cash shop dockets, except for a short period after the purchase, but a case has occnrfcd in Gisborne which proves to be the exception.. A firm of drapers recently conducted an oldest docket contest in order to ascertain its oldest customer.. Hundreds of dockets were received, the oldest of which dated back to May 2, 1891. Another ,docket also bore a date of 38 years back; .In return each woman will receive a- prize of £2 2s, and a third prize of 16s 6d has been awarded to the holder of a docket dated August, 1594. According to Mr. F. W. Gamble, headmaster . of "the *Mount Albert Grammar School, ’ there is an increased ' demand for boy labour. In his annual report at the prize-giving ceremony, Mr, Gamblesaid that a considerable exodus of boys occurred before the completion of the year. A total of 56 had . been definitely placed from the school. Other secondary schools, he understood, had had similar experiences. While the lower birth-rate during the war period might be responsible for the better adjustment of the supply and demand, there was good foundation for the belief-that in tlie future there would be little difficulty found in placing all available boys. When the balance between positions and boys had been permanently established, however, there, would still remain Hie task of educating, employers and parents as to the undesirability of terminating a boy’s studies before the end of the year. , The Melbourne’s travelling gear is all new and fresh from the makers. Prices on suit cases, attache cases, hat boxes and trunks have all been carefully adjusted so ag. to give the best, possible value consistent. with good quality. Everything is marked in plain figures. • Notice is drawn to an . advertisement in this issue: -wherein particulars of- Miss Wemyss- (“Eli.«e”') sale' appear.

. "You people have a country here you can ‘brag’ about,” remarked an American visitor, when conversing with a Manawatu Evening Standard representative. “It seems to me like one big park or an extensive golf course.” Covering just tw© years a controversy in the Southland Times over “Sabbath” and "Sunday” observance has established a record in newspaper discussions in New Zealand. . The argument was confined to two principals and these between them wrote 203 letters, w’hich occupied 59yd lin of printed columns. This length of matter represents 148,750 w T ords, many more than are required for a popular novel. A Napier motorist who has returned from a visit to Taupo told a pressman that the sight of the broom -in flower in the various spots around-.the town; ship was worth going a long way to see. “It has spread all ; over the 'countryside,” he said, “and in future I can see tourists going to Taupo to see the broom just, as in England people go - to Bushy. Park to. see the chestnuts or to Kew Gardens to see the bluebells." ■" A decision to reduce by 10 per cent, the prize-money to be paid to success-' ful competitors in the show recently held at Hamilton was made at a meet--ing of the committee of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The secretary presented a balance-sheet showing the. loss on the last show to be £154. When this was shown on the annual balance-sheet, together with depreciation, the deficit would be £323. “In all the tea years I have been at First Church,” said’ the Rev. J. Lawson Robinson, at a meeting of the Southland Presbytery this week, •“I have been absent from the pulpit on only one occasion through ill-health, and then I could have preached -quite well, but the. session would not hear of it. Whether -I should attribute my good health to the care my wife has taken of me or the Southland climate £ do ( not know? A playette written and produced by a sixth standard pupil of the Napier Central School, Miss Hilary Gifford, was performed at the school before a good attendance of pupils and parents, the proceeds going towards the funds of the school library. The playette, which is entitled “The Forged Will,” is reported to have been a most creditable effort on the part of Miss Gifford, its plot being most original, while its production was most charmingly done.. The whole work was done by her unassisted.

A clever piece of crochet work was recently completed by Mrs. W. 11. Wright, of Ness Street, Invercargill. The design represents the Royal Coat of Arms, with its accompanying mottoes clearly defined. The crochet, work has been mounted on royal blue with a border of lace, 1 and has been purchased by Mr. James Price, president of the Southland A.' and P. Association, who, in accordance with the wish of Mrs. Wright, is forwarding it to their Excellencies Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fergusson. A well-known constable, when doing, the rounds of his beat the other night, provided an amusing incident, states the Napier Daily Telegraph. Mr. A. M. Ellis, photographer, was taking a flashlight photograph of the interior of aztoilet salon in Emerson Street, in which a group of ladies was assembled. A constable, seeing the flash of the calcium light as it flared up evidently thought the building was on fire, and broke in the glass door in order to investigate. His surprise at seeing what was happening, and the consternation of those inside, who probably pictured a burglarious entry, may both be better imagined than described.

The fact that under the new regulations a primary school pupil cbuld be admitted for free tuition to the New Plymouth amalgamated secondary schools on competency certificates was mentioned by Mr. D. P. Evans, headmaster, at the breaking-up ceremony of the Central ’School yesterday. In addition, he said, a child over 14 years of age who had gained neither the proficiency nor competency certificate could enter certain types of post-primary schools under limitations as to the course to be taken. For further information on this subject he strongly recommended parents to peruse the vocational guidance pamphlet, “Careers,” issued by the Education Department. There they would gain much knowledge about different types of post-primary schools, and would receive valuable guidance regarding the choice of careers for children leaving the primary or entering the secondary or technical schools.

A grazing farm hear Tahora is advertised for sale by the Lands Department in this issue. The usual easy terms of finance can be arranged.