DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TELEGRAM! —I*ER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

AUSTRALIAN WARSHIPS SAII AUCKLAND. Alarcli 23

On the eve of the departure of the Australian squadron from New Zealand waters, Commodore \\ ardle. pays a warm tribute to the hospitality ot New Zealanders, not only at Auckland, hut throughout the whole Dominion. .He points out that tho value of combined naval exercises for the sole purposes of which the Australian vessels crossed the Tasman. He says he will take back with him many ambassadors for New Zealand among the ships’ companvs. Ho pays a tribute to the courtesy extended by Air Hislop. l.nderSecrctarv of Internal Adairs, who lepresontod the Government during the visit. The officers and men great ly npprcciatcd the opportunity of going to Rotorua. It. is clear that the Australians have enjoyed their shore leave everywhere to the full.

JUNIOR. HIGH SCHOOL FOR BLENHEIM

B LIENHEIM. March 23.

Complying with the expressed wish of the meeting. Sir -las Parr. .Minister for Education, made refercnco to the .Junior High School system In the course of his reply to a civic welcome here last evening at the Council Chambers. Th.-> Almister very forcibly recommended Hie adoption of the system. In a following short discussion, lb gathering showed entire unanimity in passing a resolution that- a. Junior High School he established at an early date.

Sir James Parr traversed in a'ii interesting manner, facts about the Junior High Schools, which have already been made familiar. The new system he said, meant reducing the wastage of the pupils’ time and energies, and it resulted in a hotter product of education It offered a wide variety or courses ami by providing for manual work it -enabled even “dull Turns” to enjoy school life and benefit. In considering the introduction of the now system the child must he the one to lie considered. Junior High Schools were he believed, in the children’s interests, and their adoption should not ho barred because n School Committee might ho shorn of a little dignity, 'and so oil. Ho must insist most emphatically that the children's interests must come first, before tho Government, Ministers, Boards, Committees, or teachers. Practically■ every country in tlie world had adopted the intermediate system, and could New Zealand say they were all wrong, and she alone was right? He added : “Tf you take my advice, you won’t waste a. minute’s time arguing about it. You will grip it with both hands. That, however, is a matter for you to decide. I am not doing anything one way or the other. However, I told ATr Girling that if you desired the new system, I would make it the final act of my administration to bring it about for you."

The meeting unanimously decided that it did want, the .system at the eailiest possible opportunity.

FIRE BRIGADE FOR. WATROA AVAIBOA, Alarcli 21

A largely attended public meeting last night decided lo form a Fire Brigade. The recently formed Fin? Board also derided to acquire a suitaide site for the election of a fire station, and pttrehasi- lire lighting appliances. (’apt. Hugo, of Wellington, addressed the meeting and was a> corded a hearty vote of thanks for hiinteresting address, and useful information. It was furtlii'f decided to request a magisterial inquiry into tho circumstances of the last two fires, as the opinion was freely expressed that a firebug was about.

DROUGHT ENDED. HASTINGS, .March 24. (food drenching rains visited the district- this morning, marking the break of a long period .of dry weather.

FOOTBALL TROPHIES DAMAGED RLE.MIEIAi. Alarch 24.

A live roomed House owned by E. l.eese and occupied by A. AL Connolly, was partially gutted by fire early this morning. There was insurance ol £450 on the bouse in tlie State Office and £209 on the furniture and effects in tho Hartford Office. The contents included the senior championship cup and the seven-a-side shield, which are the property of the Afarlhorough Rugby Union and these were damaged. Mr Connolly is a well-known Rugby rep.

JOY-RIDER GAOLED. WELLINGTON. March 24

John Reynold Smith, a salesman, aged 20, was seen speeding at various places in an unlawfully borrowed ear yesterday. He was pursued by the police m a taxi and arrested. 'Jo-day In. was sentenced to one month bard labour for being in charge of a car while drunk, was lined L'l and costs for having no driver’s license, and reminded ineligible for a license for une year, and on a charge of unlawful conversion was ordered to make good auv damage Lo the ear.

BEER BOTTLES. WELLINGTON. March 24. By the judgment ol Justice Alpers in the Supreme Court action against a Petonc brewer the principle was affirmed that beer bottles are not sold with tig. contents. Defendant accepted an injttncion restraining him fi’oni using bottles with a blown in trademark of the plaint ill’ companies.

A FATAL ENDING . PALMERSTON N.. March 24

Maurice Stewart (18) who was picked up in an unconscious state on Rangitikei line on Monday evening by a passing motorist, having apparently been knocked off bis bicycle by a motor vehicle, succumbed to bis injuries in the hospital vestereve witlniut regaining i onsciousness.

MAORI HUI. GISBORNE. March 24. Accounts of the Maori hui at Tikitiki last month, now completed, show £."1,385 was collected. HAURAKI PLAINS LAND. THAMES, March 24. The first sale of land for over two years on Hauraki Plains lias just been completed, 109 acres near Turin being purchased by a buyer from Wairnrapa, who toured the "bole area to find a place that suited him. Fanners are unwilling to sell owing to the splendid future of this fertile district. The price as a going eone.Tn. was £-15 per acre. It is estimated the price of the land alone was C4O per acre.

INTER-ISLAND PHONE SERVICE. BLENHEIM, March 23. The work of laying the new Cook Strait Cable, which is to afford telephonic communication between the North and South Islands, was commenced in the most favourable conditions. The Government steamer Tutaneki (pressed into service as a i cable ship) steamed into position ! about half a mile from tlie shore at the entrance to Blind River, and paid out over her stern the shore end of the cable, which is of much heavier construction than the main portion of the great artery. As the cable reached the water, it was buoyed up at every fifty feet by barrels, so that it floated along the surface of the water like a creat sea serpent. M lien sufficient bad been paid out to reach the shore, the floating rable was towed to the beach bv a motor boat, a surface boat carrying tliP great rope of wires through the light surf, where a rope was attached and tho cable was dragged up on tho beaejh by two teams of four

'horses. Tho end of the cable was made fast to a heavy log. sunk about six feet deep into the sand, and this will serve as the mooring until a permanent anchor can be constructed. The whole work of bringing the cable ashore and anchoring it occupied rather less than an hour mid a half, and the arrangements were so perfectly thought out and so well executed that tho job was carried out without tho slightest hitch. The weather was perfect, itn’d the landing is described by the officeils ns tlie l>est yet effected on the New Zealand coast.