Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21156, 1 October 1938, Page 8

Local and General News

Cough That Broke a Rib Curious accidents occur from day to day in all parts of the world. One of the most curious, and I perhaps as rare as any, occurred recently in Wellington when a man, in coughing, broke a rib. He had been suffering from influenza, which left him with a hacking cough. It was during one of these violent spells of coughing that a rib was broken. His medical adviser said that he had never heard of such an occurrence before. Particularly Popular “Like other young ladies, school teachers get parried,” declared Hon. P. Fraser, Minister o Education, when speaking in Palmerston North thi 7eek. He added that the marriage rate wa/ increasing amongst women teachers and the figures for the first six months of the present year were double the figures of the same six months of previous years. “And, without letting you into any secrets, the marriages of domestic science teachers seem to be particularly popular,” he stated. A Course in Courtesy “For two pins I would crack you. You are hiding behind the majesty of the law. Take off your uniform and I will fight you now.” said an 18-year-old youth, when stopped by a traffic inspector, according to evidence given by the inspector concerned when the vouth appeared in the Children’s Court at Gisborne on charges of using threatening language and driving wltnont a license and without due care and attention The magistrate (Mr E. L. Walton) adjourned the three charges until October 26 on the condition ths' the youth attended a course of courtesy and civility by the traffic inspector who stopped him. Vital Statistics There were two fewer births registered at Timaru in September this year compared with September, 1937, the figures being 13 males and 20 females this year and 17 males and 18 females last year For the quarter the total this year was 92 while for the corresponding period last year it was 110. Deaths totalled 21 for the month of September (25 last year; and for the quarter 85 (63 last year). Marriages in September numbered 21 (18) and for the quarter 43 (58). Marriages at the registry office during September numbered four (3) and during the quarter seven (6). Mission Ship Departs Much enthusiasm from a large number of clergy and laity, marked the departure from Auckland shortly before mid-day yesterday of the Melanesian mission steamer Southern Cross, which left for the New Hebrides after spending a month at Auckland for survey and overhaul. The Bishop of Melanesia, who went with the vessel, conducted a dismissal service from the deck shortly before the departure. The ship's staff and crew gathered around the bishop and the clergy and laity on the wharf joined in prayers and a hymn. It is expected that the Southern Cross will arrive at Vila on October 7. She will not revisit Auckland until 1940, when it is proposed that she should be here for the Centennial. The Old School Tie “This old school tie is a form of snobberysnobbery at its best, but nevertheless snobbery,” said Mr Julius Hogben, In an address delivered to members of the Auckland Creditmen’s Club. The old school tie was an artificial idea of proving superiority, In examining to what extent that tradition had extended in New Zealand, It was found that traditions in the Dominion could not be very old, but they could be very artificial. One tradition impressed upon boys all the time at school was the idea to “play the game, sink your Individuality, it is the school that matters.” They then went out into the world to seek to make as much money as they could in the world. “The old school tie has entered not only into the life of old boys of schools but has affected Hitler with that false Aryan tradition,” said the speaker. “He has endeavoured to inculcate into his people that the one thing that matters is military prowess and strength. It is a false tradition and a wicked idea. They are worshipped like this old school tie business.” Modern Life and the Maori “There is no doubt the young Maori is fast losing his beautiful and expressive language, but the action taken by Mr Rang! Marumaru in endeavouring to have the Maori tongue taught in schools to the Maori children Is most commendable, and deserves the hearty support of all his race and, too, the cooperation of we Europeans,” said Mr Gregor McGregor, of Wanganui, in an interview. Mr McGregor, is one of the few remaining settlers on the Wanganui River familiar with the old-school Maori. “It is, however, unfortunately late in the day, as since our advent the whare whanga, or ancient Maori school, is now long a thing of the past,” said Mr McGregor. “It was in this school, a hard one, that the old Maori taught the younger men their genealogies, rehearsed to them the various wars and the reasons for them, the tribal land boundaries, and the use of their weapons. They were also taught manners, more particularly as they affected the behaviour of the young people in the presence of distinguished visitors.