LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 181, 27 April 1920, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Th§ Right Hon. the Prime Minister has written to tho Secretary of tho New Zealand Club expressing hit) regret at not being able to be present; at the luncheon to Sir James Allen next Wednesday. Mr, Massey has written:—"l much rogrpt that, owing to engagements connected with tho visit of tho, Prince of Wales it is possible for 1110 to be present nnd assist in doing honour to. my ablo nnd esteemed colleague. I hopo that the function, 0110 of (he !ast which Sir James Allen will take part, in before leaving New Zealand to assume the important duties of High Commissioner, will bo very pleasant and successful."

Information has been received' by the Secretary to tho Treasury from the Iliyh Commissioner that the official price of gold on.April 21 was Xo is. 9tl. per ounce. "Shipments," the cablegram added, "principally South America, Straits Settlenmnts, and India." The price has b«on dropping gradually during the past two months. On February 28 it was 1225. 4d. per ounce; on March 1, 121s. 9d.: March 2. 119s. Gd.j March it, 1205.; March 4, 1195.; March G, 114s. Gil.; until a little while ago'it stood at 110s. 3d. It is still abnormally high, but this last fall of ss. Gd. per ounce is expected ultimately to have a slight reflex action in improving the rate of exchange. '

Tho erection- in Wellington of a permanent cenotaph in marble, to take "the place of tho present, temporary obelisk, was suggested by 'Mr. W. 11. Foster at last night's meeting of the Educational Institute ( Mr. Poster moved that tho branch initiate a movement whereby, by dint of co-operation among th» various educational bodies in the district, including the 'Roman Catholic Federation, a fund sufficient for the- purpose might be raised entirely by tho school children of Wellington district-. The motion was carried, Mr. Foster's proposal being warmly commended by members.'

A slight dislocation was caused in the suburban railway service last evening through tho engine of the G. 45 train' bound from Lower Ilutt to Lambton breaking dowft about one mile north of Ngahauranga. The 7.4-5 train from Hutt, also bound for Lambton, rendered'assistance by, upon reaching Ngaliaurfinsa, "pushinif" tlio train into Lambton, arriving there at about 8.20. Consequently the 7.30 train froni Petone was subjected to a considerable delay, and arrived at Lamhton forty minutes late of its scheduled time.

The number of male candidates for teaching work in our Stato s.chools ia visibly diminishing. 'Tho Roseneath School Committee, in its annual report, says: "Your committee view with apprehension the falling-oil' of males entering tho teaching profession. This result is attributed to the more attractive re- . numeration offered in other callings. If tliQ serious position arising from the lack of malo teachers ia to bo retrieved, it will bo necessary to materially roviso tho salary scales at presont operating in this department of tho Public Service."

The annual report of the Lower Hutfc Borough Engineer (Mr. K A. Gumbley), submitted to the council last night, showed that the past year lias been n record year as far as the issuo of buildin? pormits was concerned.- Taking the yprs front tho year 1911-12, and excepting the year just ended, in any ono year, the largest sum representing the valuo of permits granted was .£21,882 10s. in tho year.' 1916-17.- Last year (1918-19) the amount was '£11,102. The mean amount per year for the yenrs from 1911 to 191!) was £13,185, For the year just ended, the valuo of building permits granted totalled .£36,456 ss, These permit returned'the sum of .-C99 153. in fees. Nearly three times the number of dwellings had been built during tho year just ond'ed over tho preceding year, which showed that the bqroujih , was progressing solidly and rapidly.

Dr. C.' E. Adams, in his lecture on Saturday night, referred to the casual origin of the famous Lick Observatory. Lick was an American, who desired to build on h'is estate some kind of memorial to himself and liis wife. Fortunately lie was persuaded by a friend with hu interest in astronomy to devote his money to an object which would g'ive him a real title to be held in memory, and the observatory was the result. Dr. Adams referred <to the scope in the scientific world -for gifts of this kind, and to tho fact that many wealthy people are ignorant of any socially useful object to which they can devote their surplus wealth.

A case of interest to employers and workers will, como before the Appeal Court to-day. It. is a case stated by Mr. JnStice Stringer, and the question involved is whether the Arbitration Court, liad power to grant hotel workers one full day's holiday in each week where tho number of persons ordinarily eninloyed was less than five, in view of the provisions of sections 5 and 8 of tho Shops and Offices Act, 1910, ;and sections 8 and 9 of the! Act of 1913.

The secretary of To Aro School Commits tecently asked tho 'Wellington Automobile Club if that body was prepared to erect sign posts (it the school entrance warning motorists that a school was in the immediate vicinity. The secretary reported to the committee of tho club Inst week that. Mr. W, TT. Morton, City Ki'hineer. had already been interviewed by deligates from the club on this subject, and had agreed to erect notice boards near schools tVouehout Wellington, as he preferred such boards to be of a uniform diameter. The committee deeded. to send a ropv of the letter to Mr. Morion. and ask if lie was takinc action in the matter.

Wo nro advised that tho Into Dr. T\ T . Kington Pyffe's deirrees were bestowed at tho Cambridge University (not London. as has been stated), and that, he •walked St. George's, not Guy's 3Tnonit.nl. According to tho terms of tho will tho funeral will-be a quiet motor one Tho body is to be crematcd.

On tho underground electric railways in London an ingenious method is adopted for giving resilience to tho track. Tho sleepers are supported for a distaneo of about 3ft. Bin. at the centro, tho end of tho s'.ccper forming cantilevers. . Tills arrangement provides a kind of "spring" which serves tho same purpose as rubber tyres on/ a hard road, and thus makes the,'running of tho trains very easy.

Tho Eosenoath School Commit too has a friend who is a friend indeed. In tho annual report of tho eommitteo tho Arm of Messrs. W. .T. Giuulin and Sons is thanked for keeping both schools provided with cool during the winter. Tho committee lias received an assurance that tho firm will not see the scholars cold this winter.

The Lower Hutt and Pctoiie Borough Councils last night decided to tako no action respecting the resolution of the GMiorne Borough Council, asking tho Government to pass legislation' during tho next session, of Parliament jnving municipal oounoilft f powotf to dft&l in commorcial enterprises,

A Press Association tolegram from Auckland states that Mrs. Annie E. lleldfc, aged 62, collapsed in Devonport Methodist Church on Sunday. She was carried on to the lawn, and died in I'er husband's arms.

Mr. Albert lledshaw, of Napier, but now in the United States, is thus referred to ir. a recent issue of the "Chicago Herald":—"An unusual musical treat was offered the students in the recital, given by Mr. Albert liedshaw, of Ndpier, New Zealand, at the High School Auditorium. Mr I?edshaw displays perfect command of his instrument, has a sure and powerful touch in chords and passages requiring depth and resonanco of tone, nn<l shows wonderful dexterity of finger in the gliding runs, turns, and trills in the moro intricate movements. His interpretation and technique are excellent. Mr. liedshaw. is booked for a recital in CWieago on April 20, and New York April 25, after which he leaves immediately for New Zealand to visit his parents, Mr. mid Mrs. J. Eodsluw, of Napier," '3tr. Eedshaw intends to make a concert, tour of New Zealand.

Tho Borough Councils of PHono and Lower Hutt each received notice last night from the A?rini]hiral Denarbnent that prickly «nenr had '.-vn nf'ded fo the third schedule of the Noxious We'd* Act.

Interesting suggestions were embodied In the following motion tabled by Miss Acheson at last night's meeting of the Wellington branch of the N.Z. Educational Institute: "That, in tho opinion of tho branch, greater facilities should bo 'xtended to teachers in .tho direction of (1) Seeing schools in .'their own country; (2) awarding travelling scholarships to promising young teachers; (3) holding out tho hope that after a period of service a teacher will bo entitled to extended leave of absence to gather fresh inspiration from other lands." The motion was adopted..

Th • .preparation of adequate sports grounds at Salisbury Terrace, so favourably situated with regnrd to the now site, is a mutter of vital concern to us (pays Mr. J. H. Howell, director of tho Wellington Training College, in. his report to the Board of Governors); and past and present members of the college must be anxious to obtain success of the soliemo which is now on foot by getting speci:il funds for laying down these playing fields as a memorial of tho visit of the Prince of Wales. It will nmke all tho difference to the life of tho .college if such grounds are readily available'.

While a herd of 70 Polled Angus bullocks wag being- driven along tho Hutt Road near Ngahauranga early yesterday morning, to the freezing: works, a number of the cattle took fright at a passing train and stampeded in the direction of Pctone. Two drovers gavo chaso and overtook tlioin at tho crossing opposite the Grand National Hotel, but they took to the railway line and in this way reached Lower Hutt, Here a lively scene ensued. Some of the cattle were safely penned in a paddock, but several which were still at large took charge of the roads in the vicinity of the station and assailed the drovers and pedestrians who were in the streets. Several people were frightened by the beasts but no one was hurt, and the animals; were ultimately driven 'into the fields in the neighbourhood of Alicetown to, await the approach of night when they were taken out to complete their journey to the slaughterhouse.. 4