LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Value of Technical Training. The future development and prosperity of New Zealand will be largely in the hands of those technieally trained," said the Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P., at the Napier Boys' High Schooi yesterday afternoon when he said he was glad to hear a statement by the board chairman that three-fifths of th» boys had taken technical coursesi New Education Bill. "There is a new education Bill to come before Parliament in the present session. and I trust that the lesson of the New Education Fellowship conference will be incorporated in it, pumping new life-blood into our educational system," said the Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P., at the Napier Boys' High Schoo1 prize-giving yesterdny afternoon. Summer Naval Uniforms. For the first time in eight or niiie years naval ratings on the New Zealand station are now pcrmitted to wear summer uniforms while ashore. The white uniforms of the officens and seanien. and the light lchaki drill of the mari'nes, have attracted considerable attention in Auckland, while the coolness of the outfits bas been much appreciated by the men. School Cyclists. At yesterday 's meeting of the Hawke's Bay Education Board in Napier, it was decided that, in the next circular to teachers, the board recommend a restriction on the riding of bicycles to school by pupils who live close to the school. "Beside the fact that they are a menace on the road it is better for them physically if they walk," declared the chairman. Mr G. A. Maddison. Westport Star Goes Out. After 71 years of continuov* pubfieation in Westport, the Times and Star went out of existence this week and was replaced with the first issue of-the Buller Times, published by the private , company that purchased the business a few weeks ago from Messrs Tyrrel and Company. Tho business was founded by Mr John Tyrrel. The new newspaper is considerably altered in form. The Fruit Speeial "The speeial fruit traiu to Wellington in the evenings will not start tomorrow at any rate," said Mr J. P. Cassidy, stationmaster at Hastings, this morning, when questioned regarding the possible date of the reintroduction of this train, which services orchardists and produce growers. "I have received po official advice regarding the matter as yet, though it seems possible that it will be running before Christmas. " he added. Summer Solstice. Next Wediiesday will be marked by the summer solstice, when the sun will attain its greatest southern declination. Officially next Wednesday will be the first day of summer but most people are of the opinion that it has already arrived. Although the summer solstice comes on Decetnber 22, the hottest period of the year is usually about the iniddle of January, this being due to the fact that it takes some time for the solar heat to cause the highest tempsrature in the earth. Strange Freight Curiosity was caused by the arrival in Napier yesterday afternoon of a light English car of modern design, with its bonnet and motor mangled almost beyond recognition, as freight on a transport truck from Taupo. Enquiries unearthed the faets that, at about 3 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, the owner, Dr. E. C. Grant, of Gisborne, and Mrs Grant, had been driving back from National Park in the direction of Tokaanu when the steering arra had broken and the car had hit a bridge. Bolh occupauts were slightly hurt. Holiday Eush. The holiday rush set in at the Hastings railway station this morning, when the first contingent of the holidaymakers, comprising rapsfly women and children, departed for the south. The train was a long one, consisting of two engines. eight carriages and two luggage vans, and there were not many vacant seats when it departed from Hastings. It is anticipated that for the next two weeks all the expresses and mail trains to and from Napier will be of about the same length, as heavy bookings have been recorded. Shot Sitting Hare. Counsel in the Waipukurau Magistrate 'a Court in a civil claim was trying to prove that the defendant, in the excitement of trying to shoot a hare, had used more force than normal on the bolt of a rifle, tho breaking of which was the cause of the claim. Plaintiff had stated that a friend had had a shot at a hare and missed. Defendant then fired and missed, too. While he was reloadiug his rifle ihe bolt broke. Counsel for the defence lod carefully up to his final question. "Now you p'articularly wanted to get that hare," he said, "you were most anxioua not lo miss it, and therefore, I submit that in your excitement you perhaps used a little more pressure than was necessary. You had to be quick so that the the hare wouldn't run away. didn't you?" "Oh, no," replied the plaintiff, a youth of 17. ' ' The hare was squatting." "Do you mean to tell me you shot at a sitting hare?" asked counsel incredulously. "Oh yes," caine the calm reply. "Well yon're no sportsman, " said counsel as he sat down without gaining his point.