DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1925, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

I.BY TELEGBiPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION KDT'CATIOXAL PROPOSAL. WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. Speaking at the hiyinp; of the four elation stone of tlic Hutt Valley Hig School, the Minister of Education (Si James Parr) outlined an important do partnrc in the educational system o the country as affecting the inter-re lationship between primary and se condary schools. “In the near fu hire.” he said, “the Department o [ Education will have to face a seriou,' problem in New Zealand. Tt lias beer the general thing for children to commence their high school career at tin age of 14 years. Nowhere else in the world is that so. In every oihei country, the primary school course is brought to' a close at 12 years, and High School commences from that ago. That is the proper age to join a high school. If then the child goes on with the junior scholarship, and leaves at the age of 15 years, it leaves with a much lß'tter education than under the existing New Zealand system, where the primary course is prolonged and the child going in at the age of 14 I years spends only one year at a high •school. Others will of course, go on Irom fifteen to eighteen years at a secondary school, send hoys and girls who intend to remain at school until that age to a secondary school at the age of eleven to twelve years. That is what is being done all over the world to-dav. Our present system has borne excellent results, largely owing to the high intelligence of the children of this country, hut it is not the system generally accepted as being in the best interests of the child. “There is no use,” continued the Minister, “in going on as we are. It is my duty, as Minister for Education, to tell you how improvements may he effected. Possibly next year, a reform will he brought about that those who intend to remain at school until the age of seventeen or eighteen, will join a high school at eleven or twelve. It is not a thing that can he brought alwut in a day, hut. having recognised the principle, we v. ill .gradually bring about a change, which will he lor the betterment of the children. CLERK'S THKKT. CIIRISTCinriU 11, August 2(5. In the Magistrate’s Court, to-day. Noel Mark Power, aged 27. married, formerly a clerk in Hie Public Works Department, admitted the theft of ffi.'lo 111.-, of Government moneys. He was committed tor sentence. Accused said that if the Auditor said to stole LV2O os Id he would not disnite it.

EMPIRE PRESS DELEGATES. WELL!XGTOX. August 2(>. hi prnposi iil; the health of the Rmpire Press l'nion delegates at a dinner to-night, Sir G. Fenwick said it had heen a, great pleasure to meet ana in laird and Lady Hurnhant and the other niemhers of the Idtiijiiro Press ( nion. whom he had first seen sixteen years ago. lie extended to them all. im Incline; the accompanying delegation, a very hearty welcome on the part of the Xevr Zealand press. They laid had most cordial receptions at the other places visited and the impressions left on their minds had heen deep and lasting. ||e then spoke of the coniine; conference in Melbourne. It had a business side, hub this was transcended by its Empire importance. It was of some moment that the owners and editors of the press of Ihe Motherland should learn something at first hand of life in the Dominions. He expressed the belief that these visits would more and more hind the Kmpire together. and cause a still liner appreciation of New Zealand’s unswerving loyalty and determination to stand by the Old Country in her trials. It was vital to the interests id the Kmpire that I lie Moll terla ml and Donii n ions should work closely together, and there was no surer way than by recognising the press ns one of the great factors to this end. DISKSEI) lIOTTI.K DAXGER. .\KI.SOX, August . While playing in a shed with other children yesterday Ihisil Stelwell, aged three, son of Herman .Stelwell, of Riwaka, swallowed a .substance from an old jam jar found there and became ill and died early this morning. I) ISt> I; REPLY HOKSK CHARGE. ACC K'KAXI), August 27. The four women from Sydney arrested on Saturdnv last, charged with keeping 11 brothel and assisting therein were remanded till August .‘list on the payment of costs and on the understanding they return to Australia. A Ill’RG LA ICS HACK. WAXG AX Cl, August 27. A burglar entered the premises of I{. .McSkimmiug last evening and stole over I'llH) sterling worth of suit lengths, lie gained entrance by the hack door. The goods were removed by a motor-car. The burglar left foot prints. A simlar burglary occurred at Feildgins. TO SALVAGE A SCHOONER. GISRORXE, August 27. A salvage party has arrived from Auckland and are going to Waikokopi to endeavour to salvage the stranded schooner. War Lord, under the direction of W. J. I.owe. who considers the prospects excellent. A TirCXDERBOLT. lit. EX HEIM. August 27. The narrow escapes of some Marlborough residents during a phenomenal thunderstorm on Tuesday afternoon arc almost insigniliciat when contrasted with the awe insniring experience of William Wick ad family who reside in old Renwick road. A thunderbolt hurst with shattering report within a chain of the house which was idled with dust, smoke and line ashes. Wick and a friend were standing on the hack verandah of the house watching the electrical display. which lit tin the sky with forked lightning, when they saw a large hall of fire drop from the clouds. Tr fell with incredible sneed and hurst with a mar when some fifteen or twenty fed from the ground wrapping the whole house in an electrical flame and filling the vernudalt with such dense columns of smoke, dust and tine particles of ash that the startled inhabitants of the house who all rushed to the verandah could not see one another. ]!lick. son of W illiam Wick had even a more startling experience, from which he has not vet fully recovered. He was feeding the horses when the thunderbolt hurst within two chains of where he was standing. The concussion was so great that Wick was thrown to his knees, while a yellow flame wrapped itself around his legs. On recovering .his wits he raced hack to the house where Mrs Wick and the other members of the family were in a state of collapse. A search of the vicinity lias heen made but there is no sign' of anv solid substance embedded in the ground. Wick considers it wonderful that the house was not shattered to pieces or at least set on fire.