LOCAL & GENERAL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 October 1913, Page 2

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Cabled items and telegrams appear on page -I to-day; also two articles, entitled "Pastoral News'' and " 'Hard Citizens' at Court."

Tho ordinary fortnightly meeting of Levin School Committee was held last evening, Mr E. S. Lancaster in the chair. There also were present the Rev. A. C. Randerson anil Messrs T. Broome, E. Henderson, J. Sniellie, E. 0. Smith, T. Dawson, and A. Sims (lion, secretary). Mr Sims reported 1 lint he had made inquiries ol the Levin railway stationmaster concerning a railway trip in connection with .the school picnic. He was informed that it would bp necessary to give a guarantee of <£22 L'is 4<l for a special train, and if anything beyond that sum was realised in fares the money still would go to the Railway l)e----partnient. The fares to Packakariki from Levin would be lid per head for children under 15; teacheis and scholars from 15 to 22, Is Oil each: for parents and other adults, 2s each. (The ordinary fare is 5s Sd per lieadj. The respective figures for a Plimmerton trip would be Is Id, Is I.od and

2s (id, respectively. Working on ;i basis of 450 children, (lie trip was likely to cost about £'2-' i, and wilh (Ik; expenses of catering and oilier needs added tlie tola I would be brought up to about. t'oo. A sliorl discussion followed, and Mr I (1 . U .Smith expressed an opinion that if (lie train trip were held the children should bring their o*\vn rci'icslimcnts. Mr Broome thought (be trip at £00 would be dear at tin; money, and Mr Dawson ac<|i;icsced in this. Mr Henderson advocated that an effort bo made to raise further funds, by means of a concert or a picture show. It was decided that a committee be set up to make arrangements for the entertainment, the committee lo consist of Messrs Lancaster, Sims and Henderson. It was further decided that a ballot. be taken amongst the parents of pupils, as to whether the picnic should (1) be held in Levin, with the accompaniment of sports and refreshnunits, or C?) tnkr the form oj a trip by I rain , the pupils lo bi uig their own refreshments.

Levin Chamber of Commerce meeting- stands postponed until Tuesday in next week.

Some day there will be lie Smiths and no Harrises in Parliament, says the Tiniaru Post. That will be when parly government is abolished. When that glad day conies statesmen like Sir Joseph Ward bo subjected no longer to the venomous attacks of the spitol'nl little creatures of the party system.

Says the Buller .Miner (Westport) 'Bob' Seiuple lectured last Sunday on 'Revolutionary Socialism.' The hall was that full that you couldn't see the people for seats.'" He did a little better at .Runanga, where about fifty went to hear him. But he seems to have lost, the maua there that lie once enjoyed. At any rate, the air of the place seems to be no" lor.ger wholesome to him, for his sojourns are usually short, however sweet they may be. The '.Runanga people seem to be now a little more self-conscious than class-conscious that we have heard so much about, and that is a healthy sign." The first monster public clock keeping time in accordance with (he new French computation has just been unveiled in the tower of the Saint Lazare railway terminus The peculiarity of this timepiece is I hat if has two separate dials, which change places automatically on the strokes of midnight and midday. The first is numbered from zero to twelve, and the second from thirteen to twentyfour. Even logically-minded people who objected to the suppression of either zero or twenty-four o'clock in the ordinary doublefigured dials can find no objection to the Saint Lazare clock. Five minutes before midnight will be as they wish to have it, "'five minutes to twenty-four," and live minutes after midnight, "'live minutes past zero." In to-day's second edition of 'd!he Chronicle will appear a report of Levin School Committer's discussion and condemnation of "the rural course" at the local High School. Apropos of this, tin,- following pronouncement was read at last night's meeting of the council by the Rev. A. C. Randerson, who mentioned that eleven householders of the (own of Levin had signed it that afternoon, and that none to whom it was submitted had refused to sign it. The pronouncement ran: ''We, the undersigned householders of the district served by Levin District High School, ai*e of opinion that the system of education now obtaining in the High School, and known as (he ''rural cdurse," is extremely unsatisfactory. We consider that it is practically useless to the children of parents who wish such instruction for their girls and boys ;is shall fit them for professional and business life, such pupils being unable to get at the school any preparation of a definite kind for University examinations. We also hold thai for such as are desirous of becoming fanners, the course is utterly inadequate for any effective r»nd. We arc therefore convinced that an agitation should be set on foot to remedy these deficiencies, and' se( (he High School system on a more definite and comprehensive basis.'' The latest egg story from the Waimarino ('ounty ('all concerns the Raetihi i'ost (lilice. The efficiency of iVcw Zealand's postal system (remarks the Call) is uuij versally recognised. Si ill, though I it accommodatingly conveys and j delivers, in addition to the every- | day articles of use, endless "risks" 1 such as fish, fruit, game and eggs, ii must have its reasonable limits. The last limit, we believe, arrived at Raeliln post office (his morning. H was Egg just Egg! The contents of that hamper were sorted with the aid of fire-longs, and from out the glued-up chaos a perspiring and indignant staff fished a half-kerosene tin. From I his tangible supposition worked out a likely theory, viz.. Half a kerosene tin filled with "fresh laid," each carH'uily wrapped in paper; the tin securely caulkeddown by placing a piece of paper on top; the whole wrapped in brown paper, labelled, and r<>nsigned. The consignor is either a practical joker or has unbounded faith in Providence. A railway journey, nine miles by coach, and several prize "sittings" were churned to a fine consistency. True, it was addressed to Murium, which is somewhere out beyond the rural delivery, but the paik-horse stage will not be required, unless it be that some of the calamity was salvaged in bottles. Sonic letters miraculously escaped, but the papers had to be tediously torn apart and identified. The mail-bag has been hung out to dry, order has been restored in the office, and the staff is gradually regaining its accustomed tranquility. ■ Ardent rosegrowers-who need a simple and elfedive spray for destroying (he Creeii Fly and other pests so prevalent jnsl now will find Cirengol by far the best. (Jan be prepared in a minute, and a shilling tube makes 'JO gallons. Obtainable from C. S. Keedwell, Dispensing Chemist. Advt.

The opening of the season for Levin Lawn Tennis Club will be held on Saturday next. Levin School Committee is "hard up" this month. In consequence of the falling-oil: in the schoolchildren's attendances, due to the epidemic of measles, the capitation allowances to the committee have fallen by several pounds sterling in the aggregate.

Mr 11. Leger, of Weraroa, is sending a pen. of his Leghorn pullets to Missouri, U.S.A., where they will compete in an egg-laying contest spread over a period of twelve months. Anyone interested in the subject may see the birds at the Levin railway station on Thursday morning, up to 9 (/clock.

A report on the work done at Levin District High School was submitted to the school committee last night. The report was supplied by Air T. 11. Gill, one of lli" inspectors to the Wellington Edueation .Hoard. It touched interestingly upon the degrees and allocations of tuition, at the school, giving special praise to the science, but mentioning that in certain details (here was room for a greater degree of neatness in handwriting. All in all, however; the report was coimnendai < t L'V. "RLEASLN'C WARES AIiE iIALE sold:" And There are thousands of citizens who willingly testify to the wonderful efficacy of Tonking's Linseed Emulsion for coughs, colds, mlluonza, etc. Instant relief follows lirst dose. Chemists and stores Ts Gd, 2s 6d, Is (id. Advt.