DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1926, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] BRITISH BOWLERS. MATCH AT WELLINGTON. AVELLINGTON, Feb. 8. The British bowlers met with a cordial reception and had a delightful afternoon at the Victoria Club’s gieen, where, after being welcomed by Air S. AI. Stone, president of the centre, and Mr J. S. Keith, president of the Victoria Club, they played a match against- sonic of tho Wellington clubs, Island Bay, Victoria, AVellington and Kelburn. There was a large attendance of spectators, who thoroughly enjoed the eccentricities of the visiting bowlers, who wore in high spirits. To tlio satisfaction of all the players, tho visitors secured a substantial victory by 173 points to 138. Afterwards tho. visitors were entertained. POAVER LINE BREAKS. UNDER LOAD OF STARLINGS AUCKLAND, Feb. 8. The Thames A r alley Power Board recently communicated to the electrical branch of tho Public Works Department the curious fact of the weight of birds, causing an electric wire to break at AVaitoa.

The Department, in replying, asked : “Does this mean that a large number of birds settled on the wire? If there is evidence that the weight of birds settling on the wire had caused it to break. I think this would be well worth recording, but it seems to mo more likely that the birds would fly off as •soon as the wind caused the wire to swing.” Tlie Power Board’s engineer said that this instance was witnessed by one of the Board’s troublemen, who saw that particular section of wire laden with starlings, which, when the line broke, flew away. Afr Grace, a member of the Board, stated lie had noticed the wires at one place black with starlings.

LYTTELTON RAILWAY. AVELLINGTON, Feb. 8. A further inquiry of the Prime Minister regarding the date of the Government's publication of the report by Messrs Merz and Af’Clellan on the electrification of the Cliristchurch-Lyttel-ton railway was made by a representative of the “Lyttelton Times,” who found that the matter is still in the hands of tho Railway Board of Control. “The Board will put forward its views for my consideration,” explained Mr Coate.s, “and after this stage is reached we will probably discuss questions involved with certain representatives of Christchurch and Canterbury. No doubt, after that it will be made public. There arc one or two points wy? wish to raise with those who have an interest in the matter in Can. tei bury. 4 boy have taken groat interest in the proposals, and we are prepared to work with them and hear their views on the report and our proposals.”

POWER. BOARD LOAN. AUCKLAND, Feb. !). 'The Auckland Electric Power Board is making arrangements for tho raising locally of a loan of £OO,OOO. representing ten per cent, of the original loan of £OOO,OOO which the Board is empowered under the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1913, to raise as a supplementary loan. Tbo loan is lieing taken up by tlie Bank of Xew Zealand; with power to place tho debentures in either Xew Zealand or Australia.

It is proposed to raise £45.000 of the loan by issue of debontur.se bearing interest at the rate of ojj per cent, and ol the denomination of £SOO, maturing in June, 1940. The loan represents part of the money required for the completion of the Board’s undertaking.

BIBLE TRAINING COLLEGE. AUCKLAND, Feb. 9

Plans have recently been drawn and accepted for a proposed College in Mountain Hoad for the New Zealand Bible Training Institute. The new premises, which will accommodate about 00 students, are expected to cost between £II,OOO and £12.000, and it is hoped that the building will commence within Hie present year. The institute was founded four years ago, and is controlled by a Board of Directors composed of city business men of various denominations. If has for its object tbe training of young men and women for Christian service at home and abroad. Graduates of tbe Institutes are already working in foreign fields, such as China, India, and South America, and a number have settled in the ministry in New Zealand. The honorary principal of the new institute, the cost of which will be subscribed hv voluntary contributions, is Rev. J. \V. Kemp, of the Baptist Tabernacle, and the Superintendent Mr C. J. Rolls. Tuition will he free, a e noniinnl figure being charged for board.

K DFCATION CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. A conference of representatives of University Colleges. Education Boards and principals of training colleges, opened to day to consider tile relationship of professors of education and their colleges; the establishment of training colleges for secondary teachers; the training of teachers in technical subjects, and also other matteis subject to training colleges. The Minister of Education addressed the Conference, which will draw up recommendations to the Government.