LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21836, 17 September 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Appeal for the Blind The sum of £l2 11s was raised at the Waikato Combined Breeders’ bull sale yesterday, toward the funds of the Institute for the Blind. Rationing of Fuel Fuel is to be rationed along the whole eastern seaboard of the United States and in 13 States in the Middle West. It is hoped to cut down consumption by 25 per cent. Despicable Theft In Hamilton A collection box for the Jubilee Institute for the IJlind at Auckland has disappeared from the public part of the office of the Checker Cab Company in Hamilton. This is a particularly despicable type of theft. Beefless Days In Australia Australia will soon have two beefless days a week. Power has been gazetted for the necessary proclamation to be made and it will be exercised shortly. The order will not apply to the fighting services. Burns to Leg Burns to the right leg were suffered by Doreen Jean Hebley, aged 12. of Springdale, when she inadvertently spilt a kettle of boiling water. The girl, who is the daughter of Mr D. Hebley, of Springdale, was admitted to the Waikato Hospital. Stipends Of Clergy The Auckland Anglican Diocesan Synod passed an amending bill to increase the minimum stipend to be paid to the vicar of a parish from £350 to £385 a year, and to provide that all parochial clergy, including curates, should receive 27 days holiday leave each year. Discovery of New Zealand Steps are being taken by the Government for a suitable observance at the end of this year of the tercentenary of the discovery of New Zealand on December 13, 1642, by Abel Tasman. Although the functions to be held to mark the occasion necessarily will be affected by wartime conditions, it is understood that arrangements fairly comprehensive in their nature are being made. Maori Prisoner of War “To the Society, please pardon my poor scribbling, but all the hopes are that anyone should kindly receive this poor note as it leaves this poor prisoner waiting for an answer. I may be a stranger to you by name, but during this position we are with you all at home, —Yours, etc.” The foregoing was a quaint postcard message addressed to the Red Cross Society, Hamilton, from a Maori soldier who is in a prison camp in Germany. Standard Of Spelling In a discussion on the standard of spelling in schools at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board Mr J. Patterson said that ordinary spelling was atrocious at most schools. He thought the introduction of the phonetic system was largely to blame for the deterioration. Mr M. Priestley said that although he had been out of touch with children for some time he considered their spelling should be improved, because they were now encouraged to read 40 or 50 good books a year, against one or two in former years.- The senior inspector, Mr H. McChesney, said a portion of the time formerly devoted to spelling was now given to subjects which were considered more important.