LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2957, 21 December 1916, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The postal authorities advise that tho mails which left New Zealand on .November 10, via San Francisco, arrived in London on December IS.

_ Peter Eraser, well known in labour circles, was last evening: arrested on a charge of publishine'a seditious'utterance.

A Gazette Extraordinary published last night contains a proclamation making bank notes legal tender until June 30, 1917. „ The period fixed by the last similar proclamation expires en December 31 next.

The Canterbury College Board of Governors yesterday decided that tho board would not appeal on lehalf of members of its service who might be drawn in the military service ballot unless under specially exceptional circumstances, and in such cases only temporary exemption would be applied for. With respect to employees called up by ballot, tho board decided to pay half salary while on active service.— Press Association.

An interesting feature of the numerous appeals heard by the Military Service Board at Dunedin yesterday, says a Press Association telegram from Dunedin, was a statement by Dr. Ferguson, dean of the Medical School, as to the doarth of doctors. He appealed on bohalf of thre-o medical students. In the couise of his evidence, he said there was much unrest among medical students over the linger of scorn being pointed at them for shirking. Many of them had been told to remain at. home, and do their duty by fitting themsolves for medical work. He was of opinion, and was 6upported by Sur-geon-General Henderson, that medical students as potential officers were more valuable here than in the trenches. The civilian aspect had to be considered. Over 200 doctors had gone. Five wore wanted monthly, and unless students remained for qualification the position would be a serious one. One student was exempted, and the other two cases wore adjourned for a month for further information.

, Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co. submitted to auction yesterday a property well known in Wellington, Sayes Court, Aurora Terrace, for many years the home of the late E. W. Mills and his family. The land has a frontage of 205 ft. to Aurora Terrace, and a varying depth of 100 to 132 ft., partly to Clifton Terrace. The house contains 17 Tooms,_wjth staff accommodation in an out-building. The -property was knocked down to Mr. C. A. Briggs for the sum of £5000.

It was reported by the chairman of the Harbour Board last evening that so far no' date had been arranged for the proposed conference between representatives of the board, the shipping companies, and the Watorsido Workers' Union, regarding regulations of ships and hulks.

The Wairarapa Patriotic Funds have now reached over £135,000.

The Christchurch City Council last night passed the following motion:— "That this council emphatically protests against the proposed exploitation of the community by the wheat producers and merchants, and strongly urges the Government to take active steps to protect the people by commandeering the whole wheat crop at a reasonable price."—Press Association.

At the executive meeting of the Belgian Children's Christmas Fund, held last evening, the returns of tho twoday carnival on Friday and Saturday were announced, and subject to the final balance of tho accounts, there should bo £2500 available to provide for tho Christmas of the Belgian children who have suffered, and are suffering, so severely. The sum of £200 will be cabled to London to-day as a first instalment, and the balance on Saturday morning. Included in the total is a sum of £600, donated from Tub Dominion Belgian Belief Fund, by the local executive. Further details of the amounts contributed by each district will be available on Saturday. The result is exceedingly satisfactoi-y and reflects great credit on the residents of the eastern suburbs who organised and conducted tho fair.

Recont visitors to the Urewera Country found that the Maoris were provided with practically no oducational facilities at all. _ At Te Whaiti a school had boen established, but about u year or more ago the schoolmaster was accepted for active servieo and Mio school was closed, so that there were some thirty children tbcTC receiving no schooling. At Buataliuna thore ivero fully 150 children in tho same condition, and there were numbers of children in the smaller pas growing up without educational advantages.

Mr. D. A. Even, national treasurer of the- Y.M.C.A., yesterday cabled £2500 for the Trench Comforts Eund. This is money received during the past week for Christmas and other comforts for .New Zealand soldiers.

Victor Edgar Segal appeared in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning on four informations, of selling jewellery to which a false trade description waß applied. The descriptions in respect of which, the accused was charged were "sterling silver," "sterling silver plate salts," "solid gold stamped filled bracelets now from 7b. Gd.," "solid gold brooches, English hall-marked, real stones, from 7s. 6d." On tho application of Mr. 0. C. Mazengarb, who appeared for the defendant, an'adjournment till January 24 was granted.

"Tile coal-mines in Vancouver, which ought to bo in the hands of tho British, are controlled by Americans," said Mr. 0. C. M'Millan, who returned by the Malcura to Auckland. "This is tho result of the fact that large properties of this kind, of enormous value, were over-capitalised in London in the first instance, and consequently did hot pay dividends. As' purely speculative concerns they were sold to Americans at very low rates. They are now yielding rich dividends, and the Canadians are simply hewers of wood and drawers of water to the Americans." Mr. M'Millan attributed this state of affairs to the ultra-caution of the Canadians, and also complained bitterly that Americans who crossed the border were given tho fullest and freest British privileges, whilst Canadians who migrated south were, harassed by all kinds of restrictions.'.

New regulations that tho Minister of Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) has under consideration are designed to effect some improvements in the primary education system. The Minister is not 'contemplating any drastic changes at the present juncture, but ho states that ha wishes to make provision for a wider and moro defihite course in English, for a moro practical course in spelling, and £or the placing of added emphasis on the essential subjects, with a consequent subordination of subsidiary subjects. This scheme involves the issuing of directions to teachers and inspectors, and the preparation, of model lessons for tho use of inexperienced teachers, whoso numbers have been increased of late owing to tho shortage of skilled teachers brought about by the war. Tho Minister and his officers have givou a great deal of time to these matters, and tho improvements and modifications thoy propose are likely to be widely approved. In tho Court yesterday morning, Thomas Docksey appeared before Mr: L. G. tteid, S.M., on four charges of forgery and one of obtaining money by false protonces. The police stated that the accused, who was a soldier in Feathorston Camp, had overstayed his leave, and had apparently indulged in a drinking bout. In committing the offences with which ho was'charged, he had obtained a total amount in money of £48 13s. 6d., and also two wristlet watches. One watch had been recovered. The evidence for the prosecution was heard, and the accused pleaded guilty. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Constable William Fitzgerald, who was admitted to the Hospital on Tuesday evening, suffering from wounds about the head, was last evening reported to be progressing as well as could be expected. No fears were entertained for serious complications.

'J:ho attention of the Minister of I)e----l'enoe was recently drawn by Air. C. T. Talbot, M.i'., to tho inconvenience caused by tho holding of Territorial camps and parades, particularly during the busy time, in country districts. It was urged that tho scarcity of efficient farm labour made it desirable to discontinue auy military duties olkcr than those directly m connection with the training of the Expeditionary Forces, and the question was asked if tho abovo mentioned camps and parades could be allowed to lapso for tL'oitime boing. Tbo Minister has replied to Mr. Talbot as follows (says an exchange): —"In reply to your letter, I have to inform you that it is the policy of the Department to interfere as little as possible with tho employers of labour, and• especially so during, the present tiine. In order that no hardship may fall on employers, it has been decided that workers who belong to the Territorial Force may do their training with units other than those to which they belong. This means that they can practically select their own time for going into camp. In all cases where, undue hardship occurs a member of tho Forces may obtain exemption from personal service by giving fourteen days' notice to tho officer commanding his unit, and at the oxpiration of that period making written application to the nearest Magistrate, t can quite realise that a certain amount of inconvenience exists at the present time, but it falls on all alike, and the best that is possible to suit everyone is being done."

The action, of the Sydney Returned Soldiers' Association in promoting the formation of a Returned Soldiers' Corps for active service again was the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association in Christchurch. A motion to the effect that the formation of such a corps be approved was moved and seconded. In the discussion that followed it was raade clear that, while those present were in full sympathy with the action of the Sydney Association as an effort to counteract the effect of the humiliating result of the referendum on the question of compulsory service, and to show that there was still some of the right spirit left in Australia, they felt that the returned soldiers should not go to the front again until the whole of the men in the First Division cf tho Now Zealand Expeditionary Reserve lias been sent. An amendment to that effect was carried unanimously. The opinion was expressed by the mover of the motion that returned soldiers should not have to go on service with forced men.

According to the "Otago Daily Times," the Mayor of Dunedm (Mr. J. J. Clark) and Mr. Lewin (town clerk) have teen engaged for somo time on a scheme which, they believe, should result in a considerable saving to the city. The idea is to initiate a scheme whereby the council's firs insurance business will be carried on by . the council itself. The insurance fund would be founded by taking a sufficiently large sum from the renowal fund, and it would be built up, of course, by the different trading departments paying in the premiums which are at present paid to the various insurance companies. It is considered that tho fund would quickly become self-supporting, and would finally so grow that the departments would ba -required to pay in only a very small premium—or none at all —as the years progress. The total fire premiums now paid by the council amount to well over £1000 per annum.

A number of questions of administrative detail were submitted to the Minister of Education (the lion. J. A. Hanan) yesterday by a deputation from tho Wellington -Educational Beard. Their most important request was that a main normal school at kelburn should be erected, sufficiently largo to accommodate all the children of ago in that neighbourhood. Mr. Hanan promised to give the request consideration, but ho indicated also that the most uigent need from tho point of view cf the Department was the establishment of a training collego at Christchurch.

Soft Pelt Hats m latest shades and shapes in great variety, Bs. 6d. to 325. 6d., at Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt.

No more clothes destroyed with the constant rub-rnb-rub. sinco "No Rubbing Laundry Help" docs (be washing without rubbiiiK or injury. This we guarantee, William Campbell, Ltd.—Advt,

By six votes to five the Canterbury College Board of Governors pursed the following resolution, (says a Press Association telegram):—"This board regrets the fact that the Board of Studies recommends the elimination of Latin from the list of compulsory subjects for the B.A. degree, and would i>sk Senate to retain the subject as compulsory for the said degree."

The "Buffalo" system of juvenile libraries, which is to be established in Auckland, is described as one whereby from a modern juvenile section at the Public Library the various city schools will bo supplied with Those books will, constitute school libraries, which from time to time will bo oxchanged and supplemented. The system aims at securing the co-operation of teachers with the public library in the circulation of books suitable for boys and girls. Any public school in the city subject to Government inspection may apply to the city librarian for a school library. A collection of books adapted to the requirements of the school is then sent to the teachers, no cliarge being made beyond the_ actual cost of carriage. The, library is used for a certain period, and may then be exchanged for another collection of books. The advantages claimed for the system over an indiscriminate, circulation of juvenile books from the central and branch libraries is the fact that it saves duplication of libraries, brings the books within easy reach of the children, and gives the teachers supervision over juvenile reading.

Complaints have been made -from time to time in different parts of the Dominion that the product of the primary schools of to-day does not come up to the standard in tho principal subjects of study attained by the boys and girls of some years ago, and it is contended by many who take an interest iu education that the syllabus contains too many subjects, while others again the instruction is not as thorough as formerly, the time available being insufficient to properly cover each subject. 'Die Minister of Education (Hon. .T. A. Hanan) has been giving considerable attention to tho matter, and is issuing regulations and instructions with the object of improving present conditions.' The Minister purposes making provision for a wider nnd more definite course in English, for a more practical course In spelling, for more emphasis on the essential subjects, and a consequent subordination of subsidiary subjects. -He also intends arranging for complete model schemes of work to bo drawn up for the lise of inexperienced- teachers, and for directions tn be issued to teachers and inspectors with the object of improvement in instruction, inspection, and cyamination. It is not tlie present irtoiition of the Minister to make a general rc--1 modelling of the syllabus, "cr of the, system of inspection. What he is desirous of doing.isto level up some of the weak places which have become evident in many quarters and otherwise make instruction in primary 'schools more thorough.