DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1923, Page 2

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by ITLEGIIAPIi —FEll PRESS ASSOCIATION.] A DARING BURGLARY. WELLINGTON, May 18. A daring burglary took place late last week at the premises of .1. I{. McKenzie, fancy goods importer, in Cuba Street, and lias been followed by the discovery that the intruders made good their escape with goods to the approximate value of £2flo sterling. The stolen articles consist mostly of gold and silver watches and bangles, ..Iso safety razors. The burglars gained an entrance .to tile shop by forcing the lock of the hack door which had been secured the previous evening. No arrests have so far been made.

EMPIRE EXHIBITION. WELLINGTON, May 18. Hon. IV. F. Massey states tho Government intends to appoint a manager to look after New Zealand interests at the British Empire Exhibition.

K A IKOT'R A’S ItAINFALL. CHRISTCHURCH. May 17. Mr T. Harlo, observer at the meteorologcal station. Hapuku, Kaikoura, sends the following figures of the rainfall from May 4th. to lOtli. incidentally remarking that on Sunday night. May Gtli. 11 inches fell in 12 hours Date Inches Mav 4th 48 Mnv sth. 2.00 Mav 6th 13r ” Mav 7th 10-31 May Bth -82 Mav Oth 43 May 10th 4!) Total for 7 days ... 28.00 INTER-SCHOOLS CONTESTS. WELLINGTON, May 17. A meeting to-day of the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Association, under the chairmanship of Mr T. Cresswell, principal of Wellington College, passed a< motion disapproving of the Moascar Cup, Empire Shield, Riddiford Cup and Jellicoe Cup. or any other inter-school competitions for trophies, as they wore thought not to be in the best interests of the schools as a whole. Mr Milner, principal of the Waitaki High School, pouted out that the competition for tile Moascar Cup had approached a gladiatorial display and inferred that this had been encouraged by “certain lxidles in fostering the sport in order to improve their position or their finances.” . . There, was a strong body o! opinion on the other side, it being urged that this was no business of the conference, and that in any case, the schools would disregard the decision. The motion, which also was to the effect that the contests should he abandoned, was carried by 10 votes to 10. male delegates only voting.

EDUCATIONAL. WELLINGTON. May 18. Among the subjeos dealt with at one of the numerous educational conferences this week, was the system of teaching mathematics. Mr Newton (Director of Wanganui Technical College) read a paper strongly condemning it, contending the application of mathematics to science should replace much of the useless lumber of the present svllabus. He spoke of some of the text books used as monstrosities. His views met with support, and a committee was appointed to report at next conference. Tire Matriculation system also again met with condemnation. Mr Mild, of Feilding asked if nothing could he done to get rid of this bug-bear. It was impossible at the present to educate children owing to the fetish of matriculation. Could nothing he done to get rid of this old man of the sea, or had they to submit to him riding them to death. No resolution, however, was passed,