LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 189, 6 May 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tho Government Statistician has been directed to collect statistics of industrial manufacture in tho Dominion for the year ended March 31.

Masters of oversea vessels are warned by tho Marine Department that a small percentage of drifting mines are known to exist in a water-logged condition, a fraction of which may bo dangerous. Thii typo of mino is hard,to see, so the keeping of a good lookout is enjoined on manners.

Major W. A. G. Penlington, Director of Vocational Training, states that f ho attendances of soldiers in hospital at curatlvs and vocational classes during tho month of March, 1020, were 28,285. Since April, 1919, attendances have increased steadily at the average rate of 2000 per month. The. total to data is 229.856. This is made up by the four military districts as follows: Wellington 77,097; Auckland, 61,385; Canterbury, 63,319 i Otago, 27,455.

The Union Company's offices will bo opon between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. to-dny and to-morrow. _ Tho ticket box on the Ferry Wharf will open at 7 p.m. on both, days for Itlio issue of tickets for the ferry steamers.

Tho petty officers and warrant officers of the Jienown will bo the gueste of the J. C. Williamson Co. at this evening's performance of "Lightnin," a't the Grahd Opera House.

Tho Graduates' Association, the Students' Association, and tho greater' body of the students of Victoria University College aro busily engaged in making preparations for tho reunion and cappin-,- functions which take place on Weducstlay, Thursday and Friday of next week. Tho purpose of the reunion is not only to commemorate the 21st anniversary of tho opening of tho college, but also to bring together as many of tho past students as possible, alid it is anticipated that these will bo comi ing from "almost every part of New Zealand. On Thursday morning there will bo an opening ceremony at Victoria College, where the Governor-Gen-eral will, lay a stone in the new college wing now under construction, in memory of thc-So 'students who lost their lives in the war. At noon tho capping procession will start, and in tho afternoon at 3.30 tho graduation ceremony will take placo in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. On this and on the prtcediug evening th© nhnual capping extravuijanza (this year styled "Tho Dogs") will bo staged at the Grand Opera House. Friday will bo mainly dovotcd to athletic contests of various lands between teams representing past and present students. Tennis matches will bo played on tho college courts, while athletic sports and hockey, basket ball and football matches will take placo on Kelburn Park, In tho evening th? grand finale will be Supplied by tho capping and reunion ball in the Town Hall.

The Early Settlers' Association held a big reunion at Dustin's rooms, Cuba Street, last night. T|jjb visit of tho Princo of Wales has brought many pioneers of the <10's and 50's in to Wellington, and they renewed their friendship with thoso early settlers who had remained in town. Many members attended in tho fancy dress which they will V'ear in tho pageant at Petone, and the meeting was consequently more realistic of the early days than any previous reunions. After the members had seen the Princo go by a very enjoyable programme of music, etc., was indulged in, and tho ladies served suppor. Several anecdotes of the early days of Wellington were recounted.

Tho Education Department has had somo saddening experience in the building of teachers' residences which have proved after somo time to be needless. It happens sometimes that after a school has been established and a rteidenco erected for tho teacher tho character of a district changes a, great deal, as it may do in ten years, and . the attendance at the school falls off to such an extent that a married teacher is not required for it. In this caso the residence may remain empty. A return, called for by tho new Miniate" of Education recently disclosed tho fact that there art) in Now Zealand lliG teachers' residences in tho country not at present occupied by teachers. Somo of thoso houses aro vacant, and somo of them are tenanted. The proportion of these empty residences is greater in the South Island. In view of these experiences tho Department has not ,in recent years listened to build houses for teachers in places wliero there seemed to be a risk that they would nob bo used, but the need for houseß has now become acute, and boards Wero I finding it increasingly difficult to induco teachers to go into places where there, was no residence. Mr. Parr said ji'M- I terday that the Department proposed to begin ft building programme in a modest woy, with JialT-R-do7.cn houses for married teachers who could not | find accommodation in the. back-block areas. An interesting experiment also was boing tried with small movablo houses for tho accommodation of singlo teachers, especially femalo singlo teachera in remote districts. Often it vas found impossible to got lady teachers to go to certain districts because of tho lack of suitable boaTd. It is to meot such cases that these movablehouses are to bo tried. They will consist of two rooms merely, and they will bo built on wheels or runners, so that in tho event of the school attendance falling a great deal, or the attendance rising sufficiently to warrant the appointment of a married teacher, and the erection of a new house,of a permanent character, the house on wheels may bo taken to another plaoe i wliero it may bo more needed. The idea at present was that tho movable house to", say, a lady teacher should bo lo- ' cated alongside a farmer's residence, or, ! say, a committeeman's houso, in order j that tho teacher might have somo protection, and yet might have at tho same time some privacy and comfort. This was not always possible under existing circumstances in remote die- , triots. i