NEWS AND NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1924, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES.

Manuka or Pigeon Island, as it has been hitherto known, will in future he known a.s Harwich Island.

About .C 17.000 is still wanted to finance the Dunedin Soldiers’ Memorial, but it is under.stocd that there is every probability of the work being started shortly after the holidays.

There were 31 deaths from external causes in the Dominion during November. These included eight cases of drowning, two on railways, mid two by automobile. There were eight suicides among the number;

A ttii. a visitor to the Featherston howling green for many years. has again put in an appearanee this year (says the “W’airmapa Age”). The bird is seen almost daily, and is comparatively tame.

“We would need 2039 to 3333 coolies mi the farms at Omona to deal with the weeds." declared Councillor D. AlcAVilthmn County (relates the “Taranaki |jam: at the last meeting of the Klthmn County Council (relates the “Taranaki News”), when discussing the subject of noxious weeds.

Speaking of the unusually good dairy production of the current season, Mr W. M. Singleton, director of the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture. told a “Taranaki Herald” representative that he did not over remember having seen the pastures throughout the North Island looking better than at present.

During the course of his address on “Vilamines” at the Palmerston North Rotnrv Club on Monday. Air J. AY. Top--1 iss deprecated, in the interests of health of New Zealand’s children, the importation of hundreds of tons of margarine from Great Hritaiu and its sale in the Hominion (at something like fourpenee per pound cheaper than butter). His informant was a proniilient. Christchurch merchant.—‘‘Alannuatu Times.”

The age of a county horse was the subject of tin amusing reference at the meeting of the l’ohangina County Council on Saturday (says the “M.mawatu Standard”). A complaint about the animal being on the roads was under review when Councillor Howell asked: '‘How old is the horse.” The reply of the engineer. Air AYatson. “that he was only about 22 years old,” caused, councillors to smile. Councillor Howell added that he had heard the aged mount could only travel about “a mile an hour.”

The president of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Air A. T. Davies, lias just received through the Prime Minister, Air AY. F. Massey, to whom they were sent from Paris, a number of bronze medallions struck for presentation to those who competed in the 1921 Olympic Games. The medallion is a weighty piece of metal about two incites in diameter, bearing on one side a group depicting a winged figure crowning Hie successful contestants with tin* wreath <if victory. On the reverse side is shown a glimpse of the towers nf Paris and underneath the inscription: All I. Olympiade. Paris, 1921.’’

A young Native not long ago appeared at the Police Court at AA’hakatane and presented what he took to he a summons (states the “ Press”). The Court officials, however, did not remember having taken proceedings against this individual, so they examined the document and found that it had never been issued from the local Court. The young Native had a companion who was inclined towards practical joking, and the latter had conceived (lie idea of sending the document to his friend, perhaps without thinking of the consequences to himself. His Native friend. however, took the matter more seriously and duly appeared at the Court, only In he told to go home. The final and most serious act in the remedy occurred a lew ilavs ago. when the manufacturer of the document was lined Ids. and 21s costs for issuing, an imitation of a judicial process.

Speaking at the 'annual break-up ol AleGlashau College in Dunedin. Air Colin Gilray made relerenie to the matriculation examinations (states the "Star”). Hoys, he said, thought they were quite ready for (he university when they had passed the matriculation examination. Only in name, however, was it a matriculation examination. According to the university calendar it was an examination to test people after four years’ secondary training. It would he much better, lie considered, if hoys stayed at school for another two years after they passed the matriculation examination, lie was quite sure that he had the professors of the university at his hack "lien lie said a liov would he wise it he staved at school for at least one year, if not two years, alter he passed matriculation if he expected to benefit bv university work.

•• I believe that, next to the pulpit, the Press is the most influential instrument in the community.” said the Bov. Tullock Yuille at the meeting of the Council of Christian Congregations (reports the Dunedin "Star”). Ho nut the pulpit first because in tho one we got the host of the population—he thought the most intelligent part—before tho pulpits;, and instructed them. The Press had. peihaps, a wider influence, but no deeper. “ We sometimes tilt at them and abuse them, hut that is for their own good, and we cannot work well without the heartv support of the newspapers. roue-hided the speaker. The Rev. Bellhouse endorsed Mr Yuille’s remarks.

The principal of John MeGlashnii College (Mr Colin Gilroy) mentioned in the course of hu remarns at '*■ breaking up ceremony (reports tin Dunedin “Star”), fhat they helietcd i„ darning at the college. A maze had been given bv Miss A\ alhu-o 11 be ' j in- mistress) for tho most helplnl hot in the dancing class Anrop.s these remarks .the Rev. J. Kilpa'n.k l- 1 stated that the question of was not discussed at the recent 1 •s----bvteriaii General Assembly M h.it■ « diseiissed was whether funds should be ....cliurclies l»v 11 Kilpatrick raised a laugh by adding that none of them was old emmg allow in.voiie to say that his i aio days were done.