General News.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19175, 5 December 1927, Page 8

General News.

The annual fete at the Somerfiold School, to raise funds for the school picnic and for prizes, was held ou Saturday nfternoon, there being a good attendance of children and parents. The Municipal Band was in attendance. In view of the fact that their study was broken by war service and tlmt' their efficiency was above the average, fivo returned'soldiers in the employ ot the Auckland Education Board as teachers are to be granted perpetual certificates. It was stated at the last meeting of the Board that tho men had not gained certificates. Recently a blue heron has been seen on the foreshore in tho vicinity ot Portobello, and another in the estuary at tho Waikouaiti river. These birds are becoming very scarce ; nnd people are warned against shooting or interfering with them in any way, as herons are on tho list of birds absolutely protected. About 1-30 people travelled by motorcar or on the Railway Department's electric car to Motukarara to attend tho Canterbury Commercial Travellers' Association's annual picnic. During the day a number of sports events were contested,' the prizes Tbeing distributed by Mrs G. Watson, wife of the president of the Association. The Government is issuing Post Offico Certificates for £l, £lO, and £IOO denominations, repayable in one, two, or five years, obtainable at any Post Offico Money Order Office within the Dominion. The interest on the investment works out at 4J per cent., 5 per cent., and 5i per cent, on the purchase price, according to the currency desired. Fivo thousand pounds were handed on behalf of the Auckland Clergy Pension Fund Board on March 31st last to a broker to invest in bonds. He failed to deliver them, and the Synod was informed that the Board had received from the Official Assignee from the estate only 2s 6d in the £, with possible further dividends.—"Church News." A motor-cyclist met with a surprising adventure at Diamond Harbour yesterday morning. In a side-car outfit he- descended tho track from in front of Godley House. Turning sharply at the bottom he was confronted by a flight of concrete steps, instead of a continuation of the track as he expected. It was too late to pull up, and the driver was forced to drive down the steps, to tho consternation of a number of onlookers. Motor and sidecar made a rapid, if uncomfortable de scent, and arrived at the bottom quite unharmed. Bright lights which appeared in the sky near Tiritiri Island on Wednesday evening were watched with interest by people in Auckland, many of whom were under the impression that they were caused by a severe electrical disturbance. It transpired that the flares were rockets sent up by the warships Dunedin and Diomede, which had been carrying out gunnery exercises in hnuraki Gulf since Monday. The rockets illuminated the northern horizon for several minutes, and masters of vessels which were in the vicinity at the time state that the night was temporarily transformed into day. An indication of the strong feeling against German products that still exists in some quarters was given at a special meeting of the Mount Eden Presbyterian congregation. The subject under discussion was a locallymade organ which is at present installed in the church on trial. _ The_ instrument has been giving satisfaction, but someone discovered that it was equipped with a blower of German manufacture. The maker used this because ho considered it the best blower available. A full discussion resulted in a decision to keep tho organ but to instruct the committee concerned to arrange for the installation of an English blower in place of the German one. The extra expense involved will be £2O, and the whole organ is costing about £4OO.

We are .very pleased to be able to give a very welcome piece of news to the clergy concerning Christ's College fees, says the "Church News." At a recent meeting of the Governors it was decided that in future, so far as tht> funds of the college permit, the sons of clergy in the diocese will be admitted on payment of one-third instead of one-half the usual fees. This will come as a special boon to the country clergy, whose sons may now be educated at the college at a cost to their parents of approximately £4O, which, considering the nature of a boy's appetite, represents little more than the cost of feeding him for three terms 1 The clergy will be grateful for this concession, enabling those with boys to educate to give them an advantage difficult to finance on the average stipend. At the Opawa State School on Friday afternoon last, his -Worship the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) being present, and with him on the platform Mr T. W. West (chairman of the Opawa School Committee), and Mr C. D. Allard, headmaster, a presentation was made to the Rev. H. Williams, vicar of Opawa, of a handsome study chair in recognition of his association with the school for twenty years. Mr West made the presentation and spoke in high terms of appreciation of the vicar's work and influence in the school. He said he thought it must be a unique record in the history of the State schools of Canterbury that a vicar should have visited a State school for twenty years to impart religious instruction to the children. The headmaster, Mr Allard, also expressed his great appreciation of Mr Williams' work, and added that for the last seven years he had taken classes unfailingly four times a week. The Mayor said that if all the Ministers were like-minded and showed the same zeal and devotion there need be no controversy on tho question of the Bible-in-schools. Owners of small-sized flocks are in- ' vited to see the latest in Shearing Plants. Tho Cooper "Ideal" Plant, one or two stands, is a first-class outfit, simple, reliable, and low in cost of upkeep. If you have electrio power or an engine, this will fulfil your requirements. Mason, Struthers, and Co., Ltd. -U Undoubtedly the young people of today have every opportunity when one considers tho usefulness and instructiveness of Radio. It is certain that a Crystal Set is the most advantageous Xmas Present for 1927. Complete Crystal Sets, Headphones, Aerial Wire, and Insulators can be bought for 30s at J. I. Smail, Electrical and Radio Engineer, Carey's Buildings, 734 Colombo stroet, Christchurch; —0 Beforo buying a Hay Sweop bo sure you see our improved rear hitch folding pattern, reducible in two minutes from thirteen and a half feet to nino feet. The only important improvement made in hay sweeps in tho last twenty years. P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Tuam street, Christchurch. —0