HOME LESSONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20184, 3 May 1937, Page 6

HOME LESSONS.

Home lessons for primary school children for to-morrow will be found on page 2.

Muddy Highway. —The wet weather during the week-end made conditions on the Hamilton—Morrinsvllle Road very unpleasant for motorists. Where the Improvements are being made the road has turned to mud in various plaoes and several small cars experienced difficulty In negotiating these spots.

Shale Oil Fields —Mr G. F. Davis. chairman of the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Company, Limited, states that he has plans well prepared for the development of the shale oil field at Nevvnes, New South Wales, but that he is unable to discuss them fully before a further exchange of information with the Governments concerned.

Lower School Rolls. —The serious position revealed by the decline In school rolls, which is attributed to the falling birth-rate, was emphasised at the annual meeting of the Southland Education Board. Members suggested various other causee, but It was generally agreed that the birth-rate was largely responsible for falling rolls.

Property Deal.— A property deal Involving £11,500 Is reported In Auckland, Messrs E. Le Roy, Limited, having acquired the old Haymarket at that figure from Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons. The new owners Intend to reconstruct the existing building to provide 27,000 ft. of floor space at a cost of over £SOOO, and they hoped to occupy the new premises in January, 1939.

Need of Newspaper Advertising. —At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Little Theatre Society, at which a loss on the year’s working was reported, Mr S. G. Locke, referring to the society’s last production, criticised the policy of refraining from newspaper advertising. He contended that it had been foolish to save money in that direction. The chairman agreed that the production of any play should have publicity at all costs.

Business and Pleasure —When saying good-bye to the Hon. W. Lee Martfn and Mi's Martin, after the opening of the new school at Pukekapia on Saturday, Mr E. Huckle, secretary of the School Committee, remarked that he hoped the Minister would have a look at the surface of the road on his way back to Huntly and perhaps see if it were not possible to have it tarsealed. “If you have any good duckshooting on your lagoons round here you might persuade Boh Semple to come up and have a look at it,” replied the Minister, amid laughter.

The Latest Model. —“ Familiarity breeds contempt," and that the converse is just as true is evidenced by the interest that pupils of the school at Pukekapia tako in the fittings of their new quarters. The new school, which was opened on Saturday last by the Hon. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, is finished with the most modern fittings, including “streamlined" chromium water taps and a “fountain" hygienic drinking-tap. Miss E. Sheriff, who is in charge of the school, told a Waikato Times reporter that she had had great difficulty in getting the children away from the taps, the like of which most of them had not seen before.

Domlnlon’B Upward Trend— “l want to quote figures to Illustrate the fact that the country is in a beter position than a year or two ago, though we all feel that, of course," said the actingPrime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, when opening the Wellington Coronation Show on Saturday night. Exports during the 12 months ended March 31, Mr Fraser said, amounted in value to £60,235,000, compared with £49.676,000 in the 12 months ended March 31, 193,6. Imports amounted, in the, 12 months ended March 31. to £47,621,000, and to £37,440,000 in Ihe previous 12 months. Savings hank business was another indication of the trend of progress. Deposits for the year ended March 31 were £30.677.000 and withdrawals £27.042,000. The amount standing at the credit of savings bank depositors at March 31. 1936. was £52.916.000, With Interest on March 31, 1937. amounting to £1.514.000 the total of deposits was £58,065,000, an increase of £5,149,000 fn«« tho iq months.