LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 46, 18 November 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Government has arranged that the Tutanekai shall leave Wellington at noan to-day for Auckland, whence tho steamer will proceed on an. extensive search for tlie missing schooner Jubilee. 11; is feared that there is small chance now of the schooner being founds but the Tutanekai will visit any islanjls to which survivors might have made tlleir way. The Jubilee was bound' from Auckland to Niue Island and had seventeen persons aboard.

Gambling, according to the report of the Life and Work Committee, which was tabled at yesterday's sitting of tho Presbyterian Assembly, is a very widespread vice. "It abounds," runs the report, "in offices and in connection with our sports. Capitalist and workman forget. their disputes in the rush to snatch .dividends at tho rear of the totalisator. During the year the totalisator investments amounted to ..£8,797,700. Generosity between man and mail is diminished bv the irrcedv determination to get something by chance and for nothing. Very little is being done to create a conscience among boys and girls against the ovil. Very much is l)eing done to irroduce a nation of gamblers. The Education Department should be appealed to in the interest, of having suitable articles against the vice published in the "School Journal." In our Sunday schools special attention should be given to the subject. No other causo in this land is more injurious to the ideals of the Church.'

A large piece was cut out of n window in Pascoe's jewellery shop at Hamilton on Tuesday night, and a few articles were removed. Another window was scratched, and it will le necessary to .replace both. Several other windows of business premises in the town have been badly scratched.—Press Assn.

Mr. S. W. D. Foster, formerly ,?ecretarv to the Hon. Dr. Pomare, was met on 'Tuesday by his fellow private secretaries, who congratulated liirn upon Ins marriage and his appointment as secretary to the Administrator of Cook Islands. On behalf of the secretaries, Mr. F. D. Thomson, C.M.G., .presented Mr. Foster with a silver entree di6lr, accompanying the gift with an expression of the good wishes of tlie secretarial corps. Mr. Foster will leave by the Tofua to commence his new duties in Rarotonga. It was decided by, the Education Hoard yesterday: "That owing to tho great difficulty in obtaining satisfactory accommodation for a portion of tho students of tliie Training College, and subject to satisfactory financial arrangements with the Education Department, the board agree to tho temporary use only of the building on. lot 10, Chfton Terrace, as an overflow hostel, and that the matter of overhaul mid furnishing be left in the kinds of the chairman and principal." The chairman (Mr. T. Forsyth) said that he did not think the building lent itself to thfe purposes of a hostel, but they would Rave a. look at it. The building in question is a large house immediately at the back of the Terrace School, formerly the -residence of the late Mr. G. V. Shannon and Mr. Henry Blundell.

The question of divorce was referred to in the following terms afc the Praibytsrian General Assembly yesterday in the report of the Life and Work Committee"Considering the numerous applications for divorce since the closo of the war, and considering further that a large proportion of- these is due to the supreme offence against the marriage relation. Oil's committee recommends that on a given date all our ministers should preach on Die Christian view of marriage. Tho question of divorce as understood in law and tlie attitude of the Church to the snine should be- the subject of special study on the part of a committee 6et up by the Assembly."

• Mr. Clinrle9 F. Timing. of Cleveland, Ohio, president of the Wcster/i Hcservo University and Adclbert College, and a distinguished American educationist, is ni present on a visit to New Zealand. J[r. Thwing graduated nt Hnvard and the Andover Theological Seminary. In 1917 lie received tlie degree of Doctor of Literature from the University of Pennsylvania.' He was ordained to the Congregational ministry in 1879, and in 1890 became president of the Western Reserve University. He has been secretary of the Camegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and president of the 'Intercollegiate Peace Association, bfeides holding other high posts in tho educational world. Ho has written numerous works - dealing with education, particularly the history and progress of higher education in the United States. In New Zealand hei is making special inquiries into the Dominion system of education.

At yesterday's meeting of'the Education Board it was decided; after the reading of a letter from the New Zealand Educational Institute, to urge tho Department to grant' increases in salary to relieving teachers from April 1, instead of November 1. Mr; E. A. Wright, M.P.. said that the relieving teachers had not been treated as well as the permanent ones, and as they were a necessity it was hardly faix that they were not more adequately remunerated for their services.

Tho latest mail contains further news of good performances by George Davidson, the New Zealand champion sprinter. At the London Athletic"Club's autumn meeting at Stamford Bridge he ran i,i tho 100 yards handicap, receiving half a yard from the scratch man, W. A. Hiil, of the Surrey Qlub. Tho rnco was won by ft competitor who received SJ yards' handicap; time, D 4-ssec. Davidson finished third, about yards behind the winner. In tho 100 yards Invitation. Davidson again started off the half-yard mark. He put on a very strong finishing spurt and won by half a yard. The resuit was as follows:—tr. Davidson (New Zealand), lyd., 1; P.'Mnwby (Stirrer A.C., ivd.. 2: H. M. Deelcy (Fmchley H.), Jyd., 3- W. A 4. Hill (Surrey A.C.), scr., 4; A. 0. E. Smith (Surrey A.C.). 31yds., 5. Time, lOsec. Davidson also 'took part in a meeting of the Surrey Club, of which ho is an honorary member. Ho was one of a relay team which.easily secured a victorv. At a meeting of the Molinari Athletic CJub, put up a fine pei-formanto in the 220 yd?.' flat. W. A. Hill and i'. Mawby. also took part. Although at tho bend the New Zealand champion was baulked accidentally by the Surrey men, mid hnd to, slacken speed, he succeeded in outpacing Hill in the sh-aieht. and won -in good style by about a vard. The time, 22 4-ssec., was very coo'd considering the deadness of the tmck and the check Davidson rcceivcd. Davidlain mi inert another victory at an even--8? meeting of the Homo Hill Athletic Club, when lie won a 200 yds. handicap. Ho bad to give away 35yds., and had the outside running, and then won by a yard.

"Starvation is the awful monument fast being sculptured by the hand, of dentil iu thousands .of towns and villages nf Europe, where millions of children ar« starving and dying," stated the London "Times" weekly edition, of June !}• "They are in daily, hourly peril It is not a threatened calamity, but a frightful and active tragedy that 19 being enacted now-minute by minute, wen as vnu read. Thousands have died m the rmit-few weeks, <wd thousands more urn Sow on the point of death. Bach new death is another hammer-blow upon the sculptor's chisel fashioning this infamous memorial to'the caJToiffness' of a eivihsntion thai allows such things to be. fahall „e in Great Britain permit our oold nlqotllMS to become a bv-word and a tradition nmonest our neighbours? Shall wo let Zs" wrotohod little ones suffer the.pangs of a slow, agonising death because we are apathctie to help? The P eo P'» nt Great Britain are proving now that they aTO not deaf to tho cry of little children [or help-

The annual district rifle meoting will probably bo held during February next. The date and place where it is to be hid have not been decided yet,' but will bs notified •hortty.

The following, according to Group Headquarters, is tho reorganisation and amalgamation of Senior Cadet companies in Group 5:—32/33 Company, to bo known a* 32 Company, Thorndon and Karori; 39/10 Company to be known as 39 Company, South Wellington.

Interesting details of the conditions in Franco nro given by Mdlle. Soubeirnn, who has just returned to Australia, having completed her work in connection with tho administration of funds'of the FrenchAustralian League (states nn exchange). "The French people aro showing a wonderful spirit," said Mdlle. Souhoirau. "All through tho country ono notes the gradual building up of (ho broken lands, and tho faint but true indication of tho France that was befo'o the war. Tho country is still very poor, as Germany has not yot paid any of the money she owos to us. Tho Government in helping all it can, but ilio low exchequer, and the uncertainly concerning ftiluro revenue, make it difficult to work upon any studied plan. Tho basis of its system for reconstruction is the promotion of its agriciiltural porsuits, and tho re-estab-lishment of tho poople on their farms and vineyards. Thoso in command reasoned that it was better, with Ilio small amount of money available, to spend it In this way rather than to build un tho homes of the pouplc. Houses could not mnko money; but ti el da of grain could make money, and with that money tho peoplo could soon rebuild their homes, and provido thcniHolves with a source of income at tho same lime."

. Tho old Anglican ChurA at Mnknra, which lias been in use for lifly-four years, is to give place to a now ferro-concrcte building, for which Jilans have been prepared. and ii contract let. It is hoped that tho foundation-Mono will Ito laid by the Bishop of Wellington next, month, and the work of erection a'ill thereafter lit* pushed on with as quickly as possible, The church, which will sliuid on a line, commanding site, .has been planned on the Old English stylo with lancet windows and sptre.

Mrs. Grant, a AVoolston resident, was found drowned in tho Heuthcoto Jtivcr yesterday afternoon—Prets Asm.

. After a retirement or over two Hours, tho jury in (lie Schultz divorce case, which has been occupying Mr. Justice Kalmond and a jury of 12 for two days in the Suprouie Court, decided yesterday in favour of the respondent. The was ono m which Signuiml Schultz was proceeded against, by Lydia Schultz on tho ground of adultery. Publication of evidence .was forbidden by the Judge. Air. P. W. Jackson appeared for the petitioner, and Mr. Croker for the respondent.

The Rev. Tulloch Yuille and'the liev. "o*lll Paterson, both delegates to 'the Presbyterian General Assembly, arrived in Wellington, yesterday morning. The Kev. Tulloch Yuille is the ncwly-acqitired minister of Knox Church, Dunodiu, having recent arrived from Australia to take over that chiirgo. The ltov. John Paterson is minister in charge of St. Paul's, Christchurch. Sir. Yuille is to preach at St. Andrew's Church, Artcraft Theatre, on Sunday morning next, while Sir. PatBison will preach at the evening 6crvice.

Mr. G. Loudon, a member of the Education Board, beliovos in motion pictures its an educational forco with children, provided that they nro tho right ones. At tho board yesterday ho said that it was alt very well to state that they only gave ileeting impressions, but what else vbs anything in life. If students went to a lecture, tlicy were not expccteil to learn tho wholo of it; they simply gathered 'tho gist of it, and' that helped them along to a clearer unde&tandiug of the subject. So it wa3 with pictures. What they did was to convey nn impres' sion to the brain, and such garnering meant knowledge. He was not ashamed to say that he gained a good deal of knowledge and pleasure from attending picture shows. A member: "Would you take children to them ajilf" Mr. London: "Oh, I don't say that. But thero are many pictures that have an educational value.'

According to the Government census, in the South Island there are 112,363 Presbyterians. The total under pastoral care, however, leaves more than 40 per cent, unaccounted for. In the North Island there are 116,173 Presbyterians, leaving a little over 50 per cent, unknown to the Church. Commenting on this, tho Statistical Committee of the General Assembly, at yesterday's meeting of that body, reported as follows: — "Thus it • happens that little short of. half the Presbyterians ill' New Zealand nro beyond the Church's ken. There is therefore, scoDe for enterprise. Unquestionably thera are many inaccesible as yet in tho bunk districts of tho' North Island, and it may be even the South.. And yet. if it be any consolation to know,' of all the denominations in New Zealand, Government statistics 6how the largest numerical ftttendance at church is JPrcsbvterian. One of the other denominations. though showing numerically not far from - 200,000 stronger than the Presbyterian, has nearly GOOO fewer in attendance. Hut is difficult, to get at church attendance, as even with a third added to the largest attended service, it does not account for tho frosh attendants at tho other service."

A circular from tho Education Department' read at yesterday's meeting of 'tho Wellington Education Board asked for an expression of opinion of the practicability or otheriviso of bringing the mngio lantern into general use iu. the schools of New Zoaland. The circular' pointed out that the geographical prints, in the schools might well be supplemented by means oT the lantern, the suggestion being that slides largely scientific should be chosen by an oiucial of the Department or of tho buurd. nnd that they should bo interchanged by the schools. The slides ahd the lantern, it was fur*«er suggested, might ue used' out of school hours for social an/1 educational purposes among the adults of the district. The board decided to leave the matter to the Department.

A gold medal has, says Group Orders, been presented by Mr. W. C. Crane to Corporal J. C. Bolt, winner of the Irmr Memorial Prize for )919-20. This 3i.c.0. was considered the most efficiont out of approximately 8500 n.c.o.'s and Senior Cadets.

The offices of tho Education Board are to be closed for holiday at tho yearend from December 18 to January 8, inclusive.

Tho Minister Education (Mr. Parr) is in communication with ihe training colleges regarding tho proposed 50 per cent, increase in tho number of now students next year. .This increase is a part of the effort that the Education Department is ma.king to overcome the shortage of qualified teachers. The scheme will involve tho use of temporary quarters at Auckland nnd somo other centres where tho present accommodation is inadequate. Some extra ■ building has-been authorised at Chrietcliurch and is now in progress.

The long-standing caso Brought by ttie Natives of the Arawa tribo Til respect to tho disputed titles to the beds of Lukes Eotbrua and lfotoili has reached another 6tage (states the "Mew Zealand Herald"). Negotiations for a settlement have been in progress for sonio time, and it is hoped that the9o will be advaucod at, a meeting of representatives of the parties to be held next month. Tho llotonia and Rotoiti eases aro test cases, as the same conditions apply to some 13 other tafew in different parts of tho North Island. One of the principal contentions raisvi In support, of the .Maoris' claim is lhat unfler tho terms of.the Treaty of Wattangi tho Nativos- were Assured of tho centinucu possession of their lakes. The application for nil •' Investigation of the titlo to tho land forming the beds of .Lakes liotorua ani Sotolti was lilod as far back as April, 1913, but it was not until October, 1018, that tho case ifai brought before the Native Land Court. The hearing of tbo claim was then com. nWnced at llotoruu before tho lato Judgo Wilson. In tho following month, when fiio epidemic of inliuonza wasat its height, the proceedings were adjourned for a week to enable Judge Wilson to visit Whakatnne, wliero, unfartumtcly he e<mtractcd intjuenja, to which he Ruccumhed. At that time tho lato Chief Judge, Mr. Jackson Palmer, was seriously ill, and in consequence thero was a fhortago of Judges, and a consequent delay in the resumption of the hoaring.

Tho Tnumaninui Borough Council, at n. meeting last night, received Messrs. Hay and Vicltermnn's reports 011 the four hydro-electric power and lighting schemes in tho Wanganui and Whakapapa Rivers. It was resolved to adopt the Wanganui number ono proposal, to cost JMI.OOO. A poll of ratepayers will be taken at the earliest moment) to sanction the loan. The site is half a jnilo from Piriaka on tho Main Trunk.— Press Assn.

At & meeting of the Weetport Borough Council last night, it was resolved, with one dissentient, that the election for boriugh councillors and borough member of tho Hospital nnd Charitable AidBoard at ordinary elections in future should he held under the proportional representation system.—Press Assn,

At yesterday's session of the Presbyterian General Assembly statistics were submitted showing that ministers received in stipend a total of .£<10,981, which; after deducting sundry, amounts for nnnuities and salaries to assistants, yielded an average of J!279 12s. Id. The 109 northern charges paid J;2!),908, which, witli similar reductions, averaged J.'27-i 9a. 6d. A considerable number of bonuses were paid to ministers, and if transport and bonuses were included as part of. stipend, then tlio average worked out at X 238 10s. in t.lin North Island and i! 290 Is. !)<!. in the South Island. The avc-rago stipend paid to home missioners was .£l3B 10s.

Tho hearing of a claim for rescission of contract in a city property snlo wan commenced in tho Supremo Court: yesterday before His Honour Mr. Justico Salniond. The case was one in which Isabella Cairns (Mr. 0. C. Mawngarb) proceeded agoinst \V. H. Frost, of Wellington (Mr. J. Scott), on' the ground of misrepresentation, alleging that a house, tho floor of which had been said to bo free of lx>rer worms, had later l>cen found to bo infested with tho pest. Tlio case >rill bo further heard to-ilay. Mr. T. Bloodworth will represent the Auckland trades unions at the Arbitration Court when the new bonus is dis* cussod.—l J ross Assn.

Tho Lyall Bay School Commit.too has inaugurated a novel idea in tho form of an egg day. Each scholar is to take one or moro eggs to the school on November 21), and these eggs will be forwarded to tho Children's Hospital for tho patients, Tho annual school picnic is fixed for Thursday, December 2.

At about nine o'clock last night a littlo excitement was caused in. town by tho loud and continued blowing of one of tho whistles of a vessel in port. Tlio cajiso of tho disturbance, which caused tho Fire Brigade and numerous persons to ring the tolls office, was tho steamer 'Huia, berthed at the Railway Wharf. The Huia blew her whistle prior to going astern, but something happened, and it was found impossible to switch it off for some time.