LOCAL AND GENREAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 18 December 1916, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENREAL

English, via Su?z, and Australian mials are on board the Rivcrma, which is duo this ereniijff.

j J xc ®^ ellc y Governor has l received' the following cable message from •Lord Lausdowno:—"Please accept and communicate to all concerned our most gratoful thanks for the magnificent contribution from the Dominion in response to 'Our Day' appeal." Iho hospital ship Mabeno is due at Auckland early on Tuesday. ■ Quite recently tho Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hananj issued amended regulations to make it less easy for children of poor ability and low attainments to enter secondary schools as free place pupils, Referring to this matter at tho break up of the Wellington Girls' College ls'st week, Mr. Hanan quoted in justification of his policy the following passago from a special report by Dr. Don, now a school inspector in Otago, and formerly rector of Waitaki Boys' High School:I here are too many cases v/licro a boy of average or below average ability —tho boy who most needs careful training—is nob giving tho State anything like a fair return for tbo largo sum spent in giving bim a smattering of secondary school work."

In certain court proceedings in Auckland last week, reiorenco was r<_ade to an agitation that had been carried cn for tlio removal from Auckland of SubInspector M'llveney, on account, so it was said, of his religion. In ovidcnce it was stated that Mr. Jlannan bad written to Dr. M'Jfab about it. Soma people have the impression that tlie Mr. Hannau mentioned was tlio Hon. J. A. JLlanan (Minister of Education)! This is not so. The Minister informed a Dominion reporter on Saturday tl.at he had no knowledge whatever of the matter, and that ho'had certainly writton no letter to Dr. M'Nab r.ltnit it. Presumably the Mr. Hannan mentioned was some resident of Auckland.

A very proud record of patriotic service is that of the family of a l'aumaranui settler, who has six sons cn active Hcrvice— livo with the N.Z.E.F., and one with tho Australians. ■ The Defence Minister, hearing of the family and their good record, wroto to the father a congratulatory letter. Jn due course tho father acknowledged tho letter with thanks, and informed Mr. Allen that his only son remaining in New Zealand, his second von in age, bad volunteered first of all, hut bad been rejected because, he, had lost. one. eye. Seven sons, and all had offered their services!

Base Rccords Office advise that 19,380 Lce.-Corpl. Poata, 11th Maori Reinforcements, died in Auckland Hospital on Wednesday .morning* tho cause of death being cerebro-spinal mcniugitis.

Soft Ml Hats in latest shades and shapes in great variety, Sb. 6d. to 325. 6d„ at Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manuel's Street.—Advt.

Tho patriotic funds havo received r ;, u PP° rfc from tllfl pupils of the Girls College. AI the prize-giving coromony in tho Town Hall Concert Chamber the Principal (Miss M'Loan) stated that tho toial sum collccked by the pupils during tho war was £1032, which announcement was received with loud applause.

A strange yacht, 3Sft. in length, arrived at tlio AVclluigton Boat Harbour oil Saturday evoning. The vessel was ■tlio Whito feather from tho Chatham Islands, /which she loft on Monday last. The Now Zealand coast was sighted oil Friday, tlio voyago tluis occupying fivo days. Light weather was experienced until off Capo Palliser, N'heu a. .south-east wiiul was run into. Mie White Feather is in charge of Captain Jl'Lean. wlio is visiting New Zealand on a business and plcasuro trip.

"A Soldier's Sister" has forwarded to this office an amount of 10s. towards a fund for munitions. We havo had pleasure in handing this amount to the Government authorities. '

The National Committer of tho "V.M.C.A. have just, been advised from Homo that the following huts have been erected and aro Jiow open:— Alcaroa and Banks Peninsula, Wairarapa', Wairarapa-Hunterviile District, Maunder Memorial, Wanganui. It is not possible to give locations. Now Zealand secretaries aro in charge.

Shortly after noon oil Saturday the G.P.O. Swimming Club season w'ns opened at the Te Aro Baths. Mr. AV. R. Morris, Secretary of the G.P.0., in opening tho season apologised for tho absence ot the. Hon; Dr. M'Nab, Postmaster-General, who was to' have opened the season, but who had been detained owing to a Cabinet meeting. Mr. Morris also remarked that the club was very much depleted in numbers this year owing to members going to the war. He wished those who were away a safe return. The opening race of the season was then held, there being twelve starters. The race was one of 50 yards. The winner was J. O'Connor ; second, G. Gray (scratch); third, F. Smith: fourth, M. Walkley. Al6o started: J. F. W. Tobin, J. H. Stevenson,. M. P. Hartstonge, J. Williams, H. G. Scott, A. V. Knap, G. T. Aicus^S. H. Thompson, and J. Robertson. Time, 32 l-ssec. .«■

An interesting announcement was made by Sir. J. 0. Shorland, chairman of the Island' Bay School Committee,'at the breaking-up ceremony. By the efforts of the School Committee the Education Board and the member for the district, a piece of ground of area one and four-fifths acres has been added to the school playing ground 1 . It is suggested that the name of this new playground be Victory Park.

'A. deep knowledge of the Irish language is not necessarily possessed by every Irishman abeent from the land of his birth, although it will be recalled that the Prime Minister coquetted with the Welsh tongue during liis visit to Great Britain (says the ■ Melbourne "Age"). The fact has . just been 1 brought home to Senator Lynch, Minister' of Works. With memories, possibly, of such euphonious names as Ballybunnion, Ballyboy, Ballymagooly, and many others, the Minister found, himself momentarily puzzled recently by a word in a letter which be .received from an admirer. The writer, after expressing his pleasure at _ Senator Lynch's elevation to Ministerial rank, concluded with the word, "Hoo-bally-ray." "Ah," said the senator to himseif, "an old Irish word, which I ought to know—possibly a greeting." It was not for some time, be confessed recently, that it dawned upon bim that the strange-looking word was not Irish, but comparatively good Australian.

The Railway Department notifies that it is arranging a special passenger train for Dunedin to leave Christcburch at 12.5 p.m. on Sunday, December 24, after connecting with Saturday's ferry steamer from Wellington..

A great attraction to hundreds of little p,irls at the Belgian. Fair on Saturday was an art union for a beautiful doll's house. Many 9. child hoped for the dwelling for her host doll, hut none more so than one tot of seven summers, who persuaded hor mother to ''just wait and she would -win the prize." So she waited and waited until at last, when most little, girls were ahed, the winner was announced far and wide across the ground by megaphone.. Then she had her reward, for 10l .the megaphonist lifted her for the plaudits of the crowd. She had been waiting by the ballot box a wear.v while, ever hopeful< and to-day dolly is snug and happy in her new home.

Soldiers' letters are not infrequently love missives, and- these, like the rest, have to pass through the hand of the ccnsor. Sometimes—not often—the censor comes across a written proposal of marriage made by a soldier who has failed to screw his courage to the sticking place until after he has got aboard the transport. At the session of the. National Council of Women in. Molbourne Mr. W. F. Greenwood told an amusing story of an experience he had on his trip to Egypt. Coming across a proposal of marriage in duo of the soldiers' letters handed to him for revieiy, he commonted on it to the O.C.j who . advised him not to pass it. But as there was nothing in the regulations prohibiting such a matter, he decided to let it go. As 110 went through that day's budget, however, 110 could not escape that proposal. He seemed to come across that letter again and again. At last he cried, "This letter is haunting me." Closer investigation proved that that soldier had written twenty proposals of marriage to twenty different girls 1 "Ladies," urged Mr. Greenwood, "don't- accept a proposal of marriage from a soldier sent in a letter! Wait until he returns and does the business on liis knees in the orthodox fashion."

Tho Auckland quota for tho 25th Reinforcements, which was completed on the voluntary system on Tuesday, was made up as follows -.—Single men, 209; married, -15; widowers, 3; d'.vorced men, 3.

The. question of a • schoolmaster'a rights .cropped >up at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Saturday,' before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M. (states the '■Sun"). The case was one in which Holland Thrclkold and Sidney Alfred Clark instituted cross actions Jrr assault. It was stated that tho parties were neighbours, and that in consequenco of a small daughter of Thrclkcld sitting on'the dividing fence between the properties, Clark, who was a n'aster at tho West Christchurch School, called the child into his room at the. school, and after reprimanding her for Iter action, shook her. Tho father, Thrclkcld, retaliated by assaulting Clark. The Magistrate, in convicting 'I'trclkeld, and lining him 10s., and costs, remarked iliat Clark appeared to havo exceeded bis rights as a school teacher.

For tho first limo for many months no enlistments were recorded at. the Christchurch Recruiting Office on Friday.

A remarkable record for school attendance is held b,v a pupil of the Napier High School, H. M. Fisk, who has not missed a half-day during bis leu years' schooling. Eight years were spent at the Port School and two at tho Napier High School. At Friday's meeting of tho Hawko's Bay Education Board it was dccided (says tho "Herald") lo frame a letter of appreciation of bis attendance and forward it to Mastor Fisk.

You drink lea because you want a delicious and refreshing beverage. When buying tea, therefore, select a bvand that possesses tho most delicious flavour and l-efreshing qualities—Desert Gold Tea. Popular opinion places Desert Gold ahead of all other leas. Buy the 2s. grade. Another popular grade at Is. lOd.-Advl.

Of tho many attractions at tho Belgian Christmas Fair at Kilbiruio Parkon Saturday, tho open-air singing by tho Hatailai Mule Choir was a novelty pleasing in cffect and harmony. Tho singing added to the enjoyment of tho evening; arresting for a brief space tho buzz of many voices and,the insistent cries of vociferous stall-holders.

The Auckland shipping olficc3 (accordto the ''Star") .report a serious difficulty in obtaining men to mail the ships trading to and from the port. During tho past week, several important steamers have been delayed in departing, in some cases by tbe want of several men. Tho Tarawcra, which was to fiavo sailed for southern ports early on Tuesday afternoon, was delayed for three hours while tho local agents searched tho town for one man. . The most important steamer which has arrived for some weeks—the MaKlira— was held up for some hours while the looal police searched the hotels for the firemen who had arrived in the VO ?? C L men failed to report at sailing time, and no others could be obtained to take their places. .

Somo commotion arose at Christchurch railway station recently. Two Gormans, one. of whom is well known in Christchurch, displayed a keen interest 1 in a small case that had arrived from Wellington, consigned to one of them through a carrying company. Tho case was about to be opened up for tbe purpose of ascertaining whether the contents of it had been damaged, and a number of men gathered round. When the package waß opened it was fouud to contain a very skilfully ir'aae model of the German raider Emden. The modol was fitted with electric batteries and wirei, bo that it could be illuminated by night, and it boldly bore the German eagle and the Einden's name. Lying on top of it was a sheet of foolscap, on. which there was some writing, but one of the Germans hastily whipped this up and crushed it into his pocket before anyone else could read it. The upper works of tho model had been damaged in transit,, and cne of the Germans voiced his sorrow at. this. "It would be a good job if the model were broken like the Emden was after the Sydney caught her," was the prompt remark of one of the bystanders, or words to that cffect. Hie other men gathered round hoped that the German_ would make a rejoinder that would give them an excuse for forcibly expressing their disapproval of such indiscreet- flaunting of German' arrogance. But apparently a glance at the faces round him convinced the German that discretion was the better part of valour, and he refrained from replying. Later, in answering official inquiries, one of tho Germans stated that the model had been made by an interned I alien on Somes Island, from whom he j had purchased it for a few pounds.