LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 30, 29 October 1921, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The "Postal authorities have received advice from Sydney that the Marama left for Wellington on October 27. She carried tl bags of mails and 32 parcel receptacles for Wellington from Australia, and 86 bags of mails from places beyond Australia. The quarterly criminal sessions of the Supreme "Court will be begun on Monday. A lengthy list is set down for hearing. Mr. G. Bolt, the pilot of the Walsh flying-boat, which has been entrained north for repairs at Kohimarama, left for Auckland yesterday. Mr. Bolt says that the planes were considerably damaged in the overturning accident in last Monday’s storm. He was afraid that the flying-boat as far as the planes were concerned would) practically have to be rebuilt. It was Mr. Walsh’s intention to send the seaplane back to Wellington, in which case he would probably arrange- for shed accommodation in Evans Bay or elsewhere. The risk of leaving such a craft out in bad weather in Wellington was too great to run.

"Let me call your attention to the returned soldiers’ exhibit," said the Primo Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey), when opening the exhibition of New Zealand manufactured goods at the Town Hall on Thursday. He explained that tho articles were made by incapacitated soldiers —men who had responded to tho Empire’s call in the hour of peril, and had become disabled. “The work turned out by these boys is marvellous,'’ he added, "and I hope everyone will view this splendid exhibit.”

If the weather holds fine throughout the North Island to-day the aeroplane D.H.9. (of the New Zealand Aero Transport) will attempt to fly from Auckland to Timaru in the one day. Should the conditions be favourable an early start will be made from Auckland this morning, the tanks will Ire replenished at Hawera, arid the machine should arrive at Trantham just before 11 a.m. Permission lias been obtained from the Wellington Racing Club to land on the course, so that racegoers, who are early on the scene, wall - witness the landing. After a brief interval the journey to Timaru Will be continued. The pilot and passengers are the same as those who made tho northern .trip.

"In many cases fhe 'School J ournal’ is being used, ns tho chief reader,” states the Minister of Education in his report for the year 1920. It is issued in throe parts, suited to the varying capacities of tho pupils in Standards I to VI inclusive. and is supplied free to all public schools. Native schools, special schools, and other institutions more or less under the Department's control or supervision. To a very large number of private schools it is supplied et cost price, with the result that over 16,000 copies ot -the "School, Journal” are purchased monthly Of the last issue of the "School Journal” for the year 1920 th- number of copies printed was:—Part 1, 85.3&U, Part 11, 63,300; Port 111, 52,250; total, 180 900. These numbers show an increase of 5700 over those of the previous year. Under section 159 of the Education Act subsidies of £1 for £1 are payable on voluntary contributions for many school- purposes prescribed by regulation. Tho total amount approved as subsidies in connection with public schools for the financial year ending March 31 last was £10,003, a figure showincr each year a substantial increase, end indicating that school committees are becoming more fully aware that any efforts thev may make in the direction ot providing funds for improving their schools and grounds are recognised by the payment of a Government subsidy. By this moans many schools have been enabled to carry out desirable .work# somewhat beyond their own unaided efforts, and the provision of the. Act has served. « an excellent stimulus to self-help. Horn Um “al report, of the Minister of Education. “Champagne parties are being held by our young people in Dunedin night after Xt.” Thte was the statement made by the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt at a Young Citizens' League meeting in Dunlin states an exchange. It a startling statement all things sidered, and a reporter asked Mr. Pratr if ha would amplify it. ever, declined to gay anything further. The reporter then interviewed a prominent social worker. He; knew nothing of "champagne parties, but ea d there could .be no question as to thincrease in drinking on the “ women, especially young recent years. This was in the form of "nipping” at intervals during the day, much on the lines that a good many men adopt. . The modern girl, he elated also acquired the habit of taking a bottle” with-her jvhen she went weekending.” This habit .coincided with the increase in cigarette smoking girls and women. -As for organised drinking parties, this social worker was not aware that there was anything of the kind among women. Another social worker approached on the subiect merelj remarked. "Absolute moonshine.

The question of . the placing of a light on the Three Kings, which, was taken actively by New Zealand shipmasters seven years ago, is being kept in view, states the "Herald.” A meeting of masters and officers will bo held on Holiday nt Auckland for the purpose of receiving the report'of the committee which was appointed some time ago, . and to decide what future action shall be taken.. An irate old gentleman, after listening to an attack on the Governments financial and taxation methods by the Hon G. W. Russell at a meeting in Auckland, got up and stamped .out of the room, says the "Herald.” When he got near the door he turned toward the candidate, exclaiming, 3<”i're "W. Russell, you’re wrong. Wait until Mr. Massey comes, up. He will shut you up every time.” As the interrupter was . descending the stairs Mr. Russell replied, ."You’re a bad prophet, adding that if the departing gentleman set out to earn his living by means of prophecy he would be about ns valuable ns a halfcrown palmist. At the close of the mcident, Mr. Russell again referred to the incident, saying, he could excuse his friend Zachariah,” whose outburst he put down to party feeling. "But when 1 get Into Parliament," said Mr. Russell, "he will 'be one of the first to come and ask me to do things for him. Pickpockets are operating all over the Dominion, according to reports that are coming through from police headquarters in the different cities and towns. At the Auckland trots a number of losses were reported, states the "Star.” It is the belief of the police that there is, at present, an invasion of more or less expert ''dips” from Sydney and other centres overseas, as the results of their operations in many cases, leave no doubt that they have learned their methods in a hard school, and developed their skill by greater experience than would be possible in New Zealand. On several recent occasions men have been arrested on susyicion of being “hooks,” as pickpockets are aptly described by the local detectives, and sometimes it is very difficult to trace their antecedents. One party questioned by the police the other day gave a name, but remarkably little' more. There were no brands upon his clothes, no marks of identifications at all. Ho had a largo roll of money, but would not state where he was staying or where his home wao. "Hm-m-m, all money and no clothes, eh?" said the detective. "You can put it that way if you wish,” was the reply.

A collection of nine native spears from the South Sea, Islands has been presented io the Newtown Museum. These spears were secured by tho late Captain A. S. Moys when trading to the Islands some years ago, and to was his wish that they be presented to the Newtown Museum after his death... .

Following on a judgment of the Supreme Court decided that all sellers of meat must take out a meat vendor’s license, Messrs. Townsend and Paul have applied to the City Council for such a license. Inquiry among the local auctioneers as to the effect of the judgment goes to show that several of the firms have, for the past fifteen years, Been breaking the law without knowing it, by selling fresh pork. No protest has during that long period of time been raised as tho retail butcher were the buyers, but as soon as they commenced to sell mutton and beef the city authorities were prompted to take action. Now all knew where they stood. It is stated that under the judgment all grocers who sell sausages and bacon will have to take out. a meat vendor’s license, and every fish-shop proprietor who sells rabbits also.

' The results of the Masterton Competitions Society’s essay competition for children attending primary schools were annokn&ed to-day, the prizes being won in the ' following order Lizzie McComish, Jessie Finlayson and Stanley Bowen. All the prize-winners are Masterton children. The subject of the essay was "Loyalty." - "It is, in my opinion, quite feasible to inaugurate a daily passenger service by aeroplane from Bluff to Auckland, said Mr. R. L. Wigley, managing director of the New Zealand Aero Transport Company, who arrived in Auckland' on Tuesday' by aqroplane from Invercargill. He said that the DH9 machine, in which they had flown, was a 1917 model, and the later commercial aeroplanes were Tighter anU faster. On this occasion they could not risk adverse weather conditions because the ground was new, but with an organised service and landing places at intervals, and with adequate maps, fhe pilots could make the flight in any weather. There were at present twenty-four regular passenger aeroplane services in England and the Continent, with seven companies running a regular service across the Channel The fares worked out at about £l2 for -five hours flying, and on this basis the trip from Auckland to Invercargill would cost about £25, and would be accomplished in under eight hours.

It is probable that Australian oaismdn will visit New Zealand in the near future. The annual report of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association states that special races were arranged for Australian crews by the Marlborough and Wanganui Associations last season, but. unfortunately, owing to “the inter-State championships being held later on. the invitation could not be accepted'. An invitation to compete at the Australian Henley, at Melbourne this month (October), was received by the N.Z.A.R.A.. but could not bo accepted. It is hoped, however, that something mav be done this season, and that Australians may be seen competing in the Dominion, or vice versa, very soon. The Prime Minister made some further reference in the House of Representatives to the work of the Imperial Conference, in reply to a question put by Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South). Question and answer both covered old ground) to some extent. Mr. Massey said that the Conference did not consider the problems of land defence. It discussed navel defence and made some decisions. The amount of the naval expenditure and tho allocation were not decided. The opinion of the Conference had been that the United Kingdom, the Dominions, and Ind-ia should contribute to the cost of naval defence. Some of the Crown colonies probably would contribute voluntarily, but that would rest with them. The Dominions would decide the amount of their own contributions. He had said he was but© New Zealand would contribute its share. The basis of allocation had not been settled. Contributions according to population mi’ht seem an obvious arrangement, bni as a matter of fact some Dominions did not think they were as much concerned in naval defence as the others. No fewer than 52 former pupils of the Wellington Girls’ College appeared in the list of successful Victoria College students published this week. Vera Reader, who was a pupil in 1912.. gained the Sir George Grey Scholarship for science research, and passed first class in the theory of physics, and first class in advanced' chemistry. First-clas? passes were also obtained by the following Doreen Brillana (advanced mathematics), Eileen Adams (advanced chemistry), Hilda Heine (chemistry, medical organic chemistry, advanced! English and Ger-men). Una Clarke (history), and Majorie Cfrrr (Latin and oral French).