General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 179, 1 August 1933, Page 9

General News

Sadly Disillusioned. During the service in one of the Greymouth churches recently the presiding clergyman stated that he had found lying in one of the pews what appeared at first sight to be a small gold pencil (reports the Grey River Argus). Whilst handling it and wondering to whom it belonged he noticed an engraving on it, which he at. once thought would be the name of the owner. On closer examination he discovered the words “kiss proof” and also found the article was not a gold pencil but a lipstick. As he held the toilette requisite up to the view of the congregation, ho remarked that he had still a lot to learn regarding the “ways of women! ’’ Heavy Frost. Whilst traversing the road between Alossburu and The Key recently a party of travellers en route to Lake Te Anau noticed a somewhat peculiar phenomenon (says the Southland Daily News). Frosts have recently been fairly heavy in most parts of Southland, but not so much as they apparently have been in the area referred to. In many respects the frost which covered the telephone lines, fences and clumps of tussock grass was exceptionally white and glistening and on the lines and fences was quite an inch thick. No doubt the absence of sun in the valley had been mainly responsible, while on the return journey ift the evening the fog on this portion of the road was so dense that progress was impeded and driving was attended with a great deal of risk, especially with a heavy vehicle. Witness in Prisoners’ Room. Amusement is invariably caused in the Police Court when persons other than those accused attempt, unwittingly, to enter the prisoners’ room instead of leaving the Court through the door opening on to the public corridors, says the New Zealand Herald. Generally they are forestalled by constables, but a witness in a civil action on Thursday stayed in the prisoners’ room for half an hour. When witnesses were asked to leave the Court, the man immediately passed through the wrong door, which was closed by a spectator, who no doubt, considered he was helpful. The incident passed unnoticed by Court officials until the witness was called to give evidence, A Freak Blue Cod. An interesting and unusual coloured blue cod was caught last week by Mr. Hottcn, a fisherman, of the launch ATizpah, at Taiori Mouth, Otago, and was sent to Mr. David H. Graham, who is carrying out research work on the fishing industry. Mr Graham states that the usual colours of the blue cod are dark green or blue on the back and sides, with a greyish white under-sur-face. This specimen has the usual colour on the back and extends to half the sides only, the rest of the sides and under-surface being of a distinct sulphur yellow. A retailer on the fish market, referred to the fish as “having the yellow jaundice!” A microscopical examination by Air. Graham showed an unduly largo abundance of yellow chromatophores (pigment cells) on the under skin, with the absence of irridoc.ytcs (guanin granules) on the upper surface. The absence of the iridescent granules thus gave a free dsplay to the yellow pigment cells. Governor-General Praised. High praise of the community service, work and duties performed by Lord and Lady Bledisloc was voiced by Air. A. ,T. Hutchinson when speaking at the ceremony in connection with the laying of the foundation stone of the home for the aged at the Jubilee Institute for the Blind “The knowledge and understanding of our difficulties, and the ability with which his Excellencv advise us upon so many and varied subjects are most remarkcable,” ho said. “ I venture to say that you could search the Empire from end to end, even the English speaking world, and vou would not find a more capable, thoughtful, and broad-minded gentleman. His Excellency has studied the needs of this Dominion, he understands our ditlicultios, and he has given us his consid orod opinions, his best service and his best advice,—and his best is of the Empire’s Rost. If we, on our part, accept. and follow that advice, prosperity will return. • ’ Meeting Obligations. Apt. parallels were cited by the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Bledisloc, in impressing members of the New Zealand Crcditnicn’s Association and Club, Auckland, on Wednesday, with the necessity for the prompt fulfilment of contractual obligations, states the New Zealand Herald. “Seemingly innocuous habits may develop in a highly-civi-lised community among its more fash ionablc and carefree elements, which may operate an injustice to others and become anti-social,” said His Excel lenry. “Thus the entry into a place of entertainment of late comers—once common among fashionable folk in Lon don—may interfere materially with t'ae enjoyment of those whose train of thought, or physical comfort is th.is rudely interrupted. The arrival Io minutes late at a dinner party may mean Io the other guests lukewarm soup or a leathery omelette. (Liugh tor.) Excessive speed in a city thoroughfare on the part of an ardent motorist may involve injury to the nerves, if not to the limbs, of humble pedestrians, or thoughtless delay in keeping an appointment may result in dislocation of the day’s business and

monetary loss to one who relies upon its punctual fulfilment and is kept waiting So it is with customers who are dila tory in meeting their commercial obligations.”

Rationing of Teachers. “After eighteen months’ expe-ienc? of the system of rationing teaehcri 1 am more than ever convinced that our early criticism is justified,” stated *be report submitted by the headmaster, Air. L J. Furrie, to Tuesday night s meeting of the Stratford School Committee. “Now that the rationing of appointments has been long e'nougu in operation to reveal its weaknesses, I hope some constructive thought will be applied towards the improvement of a scheme which, all with agree, was introduced as a temporary expedient to meet a difficult situation. School committees as the direct representatives of the parents will, I am sure, carefully watch the situation and assist in bringing about a much-needed improvement.” The chairman, Air. Aforrisson,, supported the Taranaki Education Board’s attitude in deciding to seek some other method of employing all teachers in Taranaki. The rationing of teachers, he contended, would have a serious detrimental effect on the children, especially if a method of changing the staff every few weeks were employed (reports the Taranaki Daily News). Not only would the pupils suffer but a grave injustice would also be done the rationed teachers, who during the years of study and training had been forced to considerable expense to enable them to become qualified teacncrs. It was resolved that a letter be forwarded to the board, expressing the committee 's support in the matter.