LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20043, 4 September 1920, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The mission steamer Southern Gross arrived at Auckland yesterday from her round of the New Hebrides, Banks Island and Solomon Islands. The voyage was uneventful. Tho vessel will bo docked at Auckland before sailing again this month. Air J. Young, curator of the Christchurch Public Gardens, recently sent a collection of seeds of New Zealand plants to the Agricultural Department at Cairo. He lias received a reply from Air T. IV. Brown, director of the Giza branch, stating that the seeds arrived in excellent condition, and that packets of seeds of the Lebbek and of Genista monosperma have been sent in return. The claims of the “ Fight tho Famine Fund” were put before tho Canterbury Education Board yesterday by a deputation consisting of the Yen Archdeacon Haggitt and Air "W. H. Rose, The deputation asked for permission to issue a circular to children of the third, fourth and fifth standards in schools throughout North Canterbury, and to send a letter to each of the head teachers asking them to take the matter of contributions in hand and send the money to the treasurer of the fund. The board granted the request. Incidental allowances were under consideration by the Canterbury Education Board yesterday. The School Committees’ Association wrote asking the board that tho matter of salaries paid to caretakers of public schools might be given careful consideration, and brought under the notice of the Education Department,, with a view to the Department taking immediate measures to overcome the difficulty. It was decided that a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs K, 11. Andrews, A. Pevcrill, 0. S. Thompson and E. W. Armitage, should go into the matter of caretakers and caretakers’ houses, with power to approach the Department, and in the event of satisfaction not being obtained to devise a scheme for erecting these houses, and report to the board. Letters received from the Rangiora School Committee complaining of tho method adopted by the medical officers when examining the children and recommending the appointment of dentists and doctors to visit country centres at stated periods; also that medical lectures be given in the various school districts once a year to mothers concerning health matters were mentioned in the rqport of the Appointments Committee to the Education Board yesterday. _ While agreeing to forward copies of tho letters to the Department, the committee had pointed out that tho Department was doing all it oould to meet the ncods of children _as regards medical and dental attention and that there was no doubt that as soon as dentists and doctors were available in sufficient numbers the desired services would bo given. That a special model country school should be established, under the supervision of the principal of the Normal Training College, was decided by a combined meeting of the Normal School and tho Appointments Committee of the Canterbury Education Board, and the recommendation was approved by the board yesterday. A suggestion that application should bo made to the Elmwood School Committee for the use of the room formerly used for temporary accommodation, for the purpose of establishing a model country school on tile linns laid down in tho Department’s memorandum, was received from the Senior Inspector, after consultation with tho principal of the Normal School, The recommendation was approved by the combined meeting, provided that the chairman of the Normal School Committee and the principal were satisfied that the building was suitable for the purpose. Few cities in the world are better endowed with a water-supply, both in quality and quantity, than‘is Christchurch. The summer maximum consumption irora the high-pressure system is about three million gallons dailv, and an enormous quantity is also made available by rams and other householders’ resources. The main pumping station of tho city’s supply, at the foot of tho hills, makes available the maximum requirements, but in order to bare supplementary supplies in the northern and eastern parts of the city, pumping stations are to ho placed at the corner of Office Hoad, and at a site, not yet definitely chosen, near the junction of Worcester Street and Stanmore Road. Each will bo capable of pumping a million gallons daily, and m the event of n temporary stoppage at the main puniping station, should be able to cope with ordinary district requirements. AVnrk is in operation now by Office Road, where three nine-inch wells are to be sunk, and a connection made with tho twelve-inch main pipe running along Papanui Road. The fine athletic appearance of the boys representing the Christchurch Boys’ High School in Rugby football at Dunedin on Thursday excited much favourable comment. The “ 0)1 ago Daily Times ” says that in view of the very decisive defeat they inflicted on the Dunedin boys some information about the sports system followed in the Christchurch school is of interest. In theory Rugby is compulsory there and tho Association game is not played at nil. A large number of grounds is available, but there is a shortage of the necessary coaches, and lienee it works out in practice that while there is strong moral suasion brought to bear boys need play only if thev want to. lliey nearly all do. For tlio past five seasons, in order to give the younger hoys plenty of games, \\ cclucsdav competitions have been arranged among Hie five secondary schools in Christchurch. Last year and this rear ihere were played in two grades. The result is that the Boys’ High School has had six fifteens in regular competition work and as a matter of fact they have been remarkably successful all ‘round this season. Air A. W. Stewart, who is in charge of the visiting team, attributes this success largely to the system that is followed. There are roughly speaking seven practices kept going in tho school, each one including two fifteens and emergencies. These practices are all coached consistently, and all this is possible because ample grounds are available. The lack of the Otago school in comparison is evident. There are not the same competitions for it'to enter into, nor are there the ground* available for practices. Hundreds of Christchurch citizens have been cured by Dr Fellows Pile Cones when every other known remedy has failed. Price 3s Gd box, from chemists, or direct. Leasby and Co., chemists (opp. Ballantyne’s). There ia a distinctive quality ip our wedding groups and portraits that makes them worthy as a record of tho happiest time of vour life. Steffana Webb, Petersen’s Build’ngs, 252, Hum Street. ’Phone 1989. For rapid and efficient work in the garden, Wheel Hoes have become necessary. The best, though it is the lowest in price, is the “ True Temper,” prices 21s. Obtainable from Hastie Bull and Pickering, 113, Cashel St. i Ladies know them to have no equal. Alartin’s Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all Chemists and Stores throughout Australasia. X