COUNTRY NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16906, 4 December 1922, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS.

(Special to the “ Star.”) ASHBURTON. 'The Hampstead School held its annual excursion to L'imaiu on Saturday. 'A lien the tiain. left Ashburton heavy rain. was falling, but the excursionists were undaunted, more so because of the- report that it was fine in s the southern town. This proved to be the case, as later reports showed. The excursionists and their parents and friends numbered about 900. A very welcome min was experienced in Ashburton on Friday night and on Saturday morning. A total of 93 points was registered at the Domain weatherstation for the twenty-four hours ended at 9 a.m. on Saturday. taken at the weather station in the Ashburton. Domain show that rain fell on thirteen days in November, amounting to three inches thirteen points, the fall on November o providing the largest daily amount, ninetyeight points being registered, In November of last year only seventy-five points fell. On only three days did the sun Ja.i tc shine, on November .11, and 24, the total hours of sunshine being HKH hours, eight and tbree-quai ter hours le&s than the previous month

damaged to the extent of about £3O, and was insured for £4OO in the Lon don and Lancashire office. “GET ON THE LAND.” ‘‘Get on to land."’ was the advice given by the Prime Minister to workers at Otira whose employment would cease with the opening of the tunnel. The country was making a wonderful recov ery from its troubles, anil the future of the man on the land would be much brighter. He was satisfied that any man would succeed if he had grit- and applied himself to work. There were wonderful possibilities on the Coast, where the land was some of the best in New Zealand. “ When you fellows get over the tunnel, get twelve acres of this land, and you will be independent. Get on to the land and make homes for yourselves."’ SCHOOL MEDAL AWARDS. Tb© "Bevilacqna medals, presented to Catbolic schoolS by the late Air .Bevi - lacqua. were won this year as follows ; - Alarist Brothers’ School—Master Fred Bayley (winner) I. Master Greanev 2 and Master Anisy 3. Convent School Miss Kathleen Newman (winner) 1. Aliss J. Blanchfield 2 and Miss G. Orr 3. The award is based on the highest number of marks in Standard VI. PROPAGANDA IN SCHOOLS. “ Should children be employed as media for the spreading of propaganda P” This question agitated the minds of members of the Grey mouth District High School Committee last night. The secretary picked up a circular from the rector’s desk, setting forth the amount of money spent on amusements, drink, the totalisato:* etc., and asking if £3,500.000 wag too much to spend on the education of about 250,000 future men and women of the country. Some members thought that these circulars, published by the Teachers’ Institute, were forwarded to the school without authority. The chairman inquired of the rector and was informed that the circulars certainly had been issued by the Teachers’ Institute, but their distribution by the school children had the sanction of the Canterbury Education Board. “ Well, that is all right,” said several members. “ s:o long as we know by whose authority they are circulated.” NEW MINES INSPECTOR. Air J. A. C. Bayne, general manager of the Paparoa mine, has been appointed Inspecting Engineer of Mines and Chief Inspector of Coal Alines Mr Bayne has been in the Dominion for about eleven years, nine and a half of which lie has spent as manager of the Paparoa mine. He was for some time with the "Westport Coal Company. He received his technical training at the Royal Technical College and Glasgow University. He gained a thorough practical experience in Scottish collieries before coming to New Zealand, and spent four years in India. ATr Bayne, who is well known in mining circles, and who has many friends on the West Coast, takes up his new duties in February. WEST COAST PROSPECTS. An optimistic view of the future of the Coast was expressed by the Prime AI iu is ter in an interview with a AVest Coast reporter. Ho expressed the greatest sympathy with the men at Blackball. The Government could not do everything at once, but the situation would have to be investigated, and with that object he was arranging for the Under-'Secretary of Alines (Air A\\ R. Kimbell) to come to the Coast. Air Rimbell arrived last night. Asked if the Government would consider a proposal to transmit Australian mails through Greymouth, All Massey said that he was not in a position to make n statement. In any case, if t-lie service was to be feasible there must be an assurance that mails could go through at an advertised, day and hour. There was no doubt, that if vessels such a., the Ulimaroa could be brought to Greymouth the service would be quite feasible. He noticed with a great deal of pleasure the prosperous condition of farms in the southern part of the province. An arrangement made by the Government, to take this season’s dairy produce through the tunnel should do a lot of good.