GENERAL ITEMS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13751, 26 April 1918, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS

One would hardly credit this, hut it is true Western Star, Riverton). A local boy,, on active service in France, while watching German prisoners passing by, was greeted with the salutation: "VVhat-ho, how's Tuatapere?" Glancing in the direction of the voice, he was astonished to recognise a German with wTiom he had worked in the hush out west. • * • • »

The quiet town of Palmerston was stirred last week by the marriage of

two old-age pensioners well-known in . the district (says the Otago Daily Times). The bride was a lively little , spinster of 68 summers and the bridegroom a\\ idower of 75. The marriage was celebrated by the local Presbyterian minister, and so much interest .was taken in the event that a committee had been formed l>eforehand to arrange for the celebration of the occasion in fitting style. •,• » * ■

The vagaries of the gale included an incident which sounds almost incredible, hut it nevertheless true (says the Christchurch Press). At the corner of Colombo street and .Moorhouse avenue a man's hat blew off; it was carried along by the wind right past a passing tram, and a youth who was a passenger reached out and caught it. The owner of the hat was running after the tram, and the catcher leaned out and pitched the hat toward.-; the man, who was some distance behind. The gale sent the hat spinning along in the air towards its owner, who made a leap and caught it in his left hand. The much-travelled hat had actually gone 100 yards or so in the air and never once touched earth. • ■ • • •

An unusual procedure was adopted by a witness in the Napier Supreme Court .- t the present session, says the Hawke's Bay Herald. He was explaining a system of entries in a cash book and on the Judge asking to see the book, the witness hastily seized the book, walked round the back and up the steps to the "bench" and explained the matters to His Honor's satisfaction, after which he serenely resumed his place in the Court. The incident •s probably unprecedented, as it is a

recognised rule that an official of the Court must explain or hand any document to the Judge.

Some interesting figures as to the size of classes in the public schools were given at the meeting called by the New Zealand Educational Institute to discuss educational matters that Deeded urgent, reform (says the Post) One speaker pointed out that in 14 city and suburb.n schools there were five classes in which one teacher had HO or more children to teach; four in which then- were 75 to 80 on the roll; six with 70 to 75: 11 with Go to 70: and 22 with CO to G5 children. And young women had to grapple with such enormous odds—sixtv children or more t teach in a cl iss. In regard t>i soace. ',') classes in 1 ! schools, or two classes in each school, had less than what is "filled the minimum floor-space of ten feet; six had the ban- minimum; and In had more than the 'rare minimum.