The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1929. ANTARCTIC ROMANCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1929. ANTARCTIC ROMANCE.

COMMAND UK i.YI'.D SOOIIIS t() IjO investing his tour of the Antaictica with a i rush romance clay by day. Wireless has brought the cold, cheerless South Polar region very near to the rest of the world. The wonderful organisation of this remarkable expedition appears Lj be proceeding according to schedule. I he steamers connect and link up as a matter of course. The aeroplanes circle the upper regions, and “talk” over the air to New York. The crews are busy day liv day where a day is a full 21 hours, in all sorts ol tasks. There is adventure on the ice and in the icy waters. The strange Jisli of the sea make a new sport , and the job is often to elude the more dangerous rather tnan to secure a great catch. The dog teams are cared for with especial'care, and “calling” on a neighbouring ship their menu is added to v.itli some choice seal meat, so choice that the aroma pervades the whole silent waste. But, for the sake of the dogs, this inconvenience is endured by the all sacrificing crew. The men lit themselves to their unusual conditions in a fine spirit. More adventurous spirits are on their way, so that the age of adventure is far from passing, and the spirit of adventure docs not draw any color line, for a negro, who would not be denied, is now cn route for the remote region, there to participate in tli© privilege of serving Commander Byrd. Byrd is certainly a man among men. lie has infected his followers with a line spirit. It is said he is a great hero with the youth of America, and that love can well be understood. 'J’lie ebronicier of tbo deeds done in the is nth in telling his story, recounts how Byrd leads always, lie ventures and takes the lead, surely a horn leader. Byrd is a writer of hoys’ stories. What a fresh inspiration he will have from this expedition which calls him to now lands and novel scenes. Scon the waning days will pass into long nights. Tim expedition will then have to curtail its activities. But in the interim all use appears to be made of nature’s prodigal. iLy with daylight. Nothing appears to he left undone in the preparations for Lhe wintry vigil. -\lav the expedition have a very happy issue. So far the goings and comings of the explorers have been wonderfully free from accident. 'fbe strange perils which must beset such a venture, are happily not seriously in evidence. It is a great story which is being unfo’ded, and once more emphasises the old adage that peace hath her victories no less renowned than war. These are the times promising for the completer victories of peace, when war may lie no more, or at least less exacting. It is a happy coincidence that at such a time a great peaceful victory is being accomplished towards the- South Pole where man is once again triumphing o\or the perils and powers of nature.

Spkaktng on llic much discussed question of raising the standard of the n atriciilation examination, or of abolishing it altogether, Mr T. 13. Strong. Director of Education, at a meeting oi the New Zealand University Council, at Dunedin last week, contended that the position was not in the hands of tin Kducation Department or of the council. hut in tire hands of employers, who demanded the passing of matriculation in, ii condition of employment. lie thought a solution of the problem could he found hv the university Council itself, by abolishing the examination altogether. 'I hat was the only cure that he could see ior the present stination, because as long as the examination existed they could not prevent employers using the passing of the examination lor their own purposes. fSo far as the possibility of employers using some other standard to enable candidates for employment to secure positions was concerned, that already existed, as the' Kducation Department issued a Lower Leaving certificate, winch was used very rarely indeed. The only solution was for the matriculation examination to he abandoned gether. and tor a certificate to Ik* awarded by principals and inspectors that would lie more satisfactory than the present system. Those who were |Vmiliar with the marking of examination papers, said Mr Strong, knew how much was dependent on chance. No matter how much examiners tried to secure an equality in the standard of marking, that standard could not lie obtained, and the only certain way ot deciding the matter was to depend on the recommendation of a teacher or principal of high standing oil the working of a candidate throughout tT year. Mr F. Milner, rector of the V, nitaki Boys’ High School, sail* he thought the position could not ho exaggerated, as they wore suffering considerably from.tile fact that in their secondary school curricula they had not .sufficient latitude' and elasticity. Tt seemed porlcctly ridiculous that the matriculation examination should he allowed to dominate the forming of their curriculum. He regretted that the matter had been referred back to the Academic Board in toto, as it was liigli time they took some steps to pi event the matriculation examination from monpolising the framing of the educational programme for secondary schools. It was finally decided that the Entrance Board be requested to devise some scheme which will enable the university to conduct the univorsty entrance examination solely as a university entrance examination.

Miss M. Parlitt, teacher of elocution, will resume teaching at St. Andrew’s Mall on Saturday, Oth. February. The monthly meeting of the Westland Acclimatisation Society will be ...an 10-moirow evening. .Mr and .Mrs T. Y. Soddon and family return home to Greymouth to-morrow after an extended stay at Fastboiirne. Mr and Mrs J. S. Dawes, of Auckland, are at present in Christchurch, and will be visiting Hokitika next week.' The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) was in humorous mood when we I oiuing the visiting swimmers to Wellington on Saturday. “It is a wonderful thing to be a good swimmer. “1 was overlxiard when I was six years of age, in Foveaux Strait. I managed to swim half a boat length—else you might have had someone else here" Today, representing New Zealand. There was quite a humorous incident in Napier the other afternoon, when the driver of one of the municipal trams, noticing a sixpenny piece lying glinting in the sunlight on the track in front of him, took his car over it, and then stopped and walked back to retrieve the coin, much to the amazement of hks passengers, who did not realise the reason for the sudden stop (relates tile “Telegraph;.” The annual R-ceftoli district school excursion to Hokitika will take place on Monday next, 11th. February, the date having been advanced from the 13th. on account of the early advent of Lent. The train will leave Reefton at 7.15 a.in. and arrive in Hokitika at 10.55, where hot water, tea, sugar, and milk will bo provided for the excursionists at Cass Square. 'Jlic train will leave Hokitika on return at 5.50, arriving at Heefton at 9.‘15 and at inangalma Junction at 10.50. Amateur wireless men, and in particular those with short-wave sets, arc looking forward to the proposed journey to England by Squadron-Leader Kingston! Smith and liis companions. The set aboard the airship, according to private advice from Sydney, has not been at all altered from the trans-Tasman flight and signals .should he audible most of the bay during the evenings. \n Australian company lias thoroughly overhauled the set and it should he in splendid working order for the flight. Thirty-three cases of infectious disease were notified to the-Medical Officer for Health for the week ending noon on .Monday. They were all in Canterbury. the West Coast being free. There were twenty-three cases of scarlet fever, two of diptheria, three of tuberculosis, •me of pneumonia, two of food poisoning, one of lethargic encephalitis, and one of septic abortion. There were three deaths, two from tuberculosis and one of septic abortion. Of the twentythree scarlet fever cages, nine wer in the metropolitan area. Special value in fountain pens, writin sets, pen and pencil sets, in strong boxes and pencil cases procurable at Yamill's Novelty Depot, llevell St.— Advt. A start was made on Monday morning in running the goods trains between Christchurch ami Hcatheote with electric locomotives. The power has not yet been switched on in the tunnel, and it was necessary ill the case of each train for a steam engine to be attached, as well as the electric locomotive. Hie electric engines pulled the trains as far n-s Heathcotc, where they were detached. the steam engines going oh with the trains to Lyttelton. On the first goods train down there was a load oi -|(H) tons and the electric engine pullon tliis easily. The second train took 3::() tons and again there was no trouble with the locomotive. At the monthly meeting of the Hokitika Library Committee last evening there were present .Messrs Evans (chair), Dull’, and Niven. Apology was made for the absence of several memhers out of town. The accounts tortile month C 27 8s 7d wore recommended for payment. Some interesting ic lies were received for the museum room. Mrs i). Wilson 'forwarded an old style revolver with bayonet attached. Mr A. Cowie sent a Register of ’hipping published in 137-1 which coil; tained a list of the vessels trading to Hokitika in those (lavs. Dr Toiclu.v maiin presented the I l eak bowl of a small tree, representing the loot of a horse. The gifts were received with thanks. The Librarian reported the unauthorised removal o'f newspapers and magazines from the reading and magazine rooms. It was resolved to advise the police and take steps Co check this illicit practice. Hear it ! It’s a scream and quite the funniest record of the year. Me can t print the right title, but when you see people humming and smiling at the same time you'll know it’s “Good Morning Mum”—procurable at Yarrall’s.—Advt. Traced aprons make quite a nice gift to.your friends. Children’s, ladies’ or maids’ sizes now on hand at Paterson’s.—Advt. Now arriving 200 half eases apricots, peaches, plums, and tomatoes. lhe instructions from the shippers are to sell' at lowest market prices.—Paterson Michel and Co. Ltd., Hokitika. ’Phone 2.—Advt. Hoys’ English Wool Jerseys in navy, brown and grey 5s lid now 4s 6(1 at McKay’s Great Deduction Sale.—Advt. Men’s Deal Fngi Shirts 21s now 12s 6<1,-Cotton Fngi Shirts 14s 6tl now Os lid at McKay’s Great Reduction Sale.—Advt.

The Lyttelton Social 01 db excursion to Grcymojuth and Hokitika takes place on Saturday next, the train arriving about 1.30 p.m. and leaving Hokitika at 8.10 p.m. ’The Hokitika Swimming Carnival announced for to-morrow (Thursday) evening has been cancelled until a later date owing to the coolness of the atmo-sphere-and'the water being too cold for the comfort of swimmers. Although the Swimming Carnival to t he held to-morrow night has been postponed, the dancing public will ho pleased to know that the dance will be held just the same. The Black Hand Orchestra will supply the music, the dance starting, at 8.30 p.m. in the All Saints’ Hall. Admission-'gents Is fid; 1 ladies Is.—Advt. ■ : - » ' The Hokitika district schools excursion took place to Lake Mahinapua today. Last night the conditions were very unpromising, there being heavy rain falling at intervals. Towards morning the weather cleared, and though cloudy, improved as the morning wore on, and the sun was shining brightly when the train lelt. There was an exceptionally large number df holiday makers under the special weather conditions. The train return-* to Hokitika at 7.35 p.m. There were about 850 passengers from Hokitika. • i ■ Special Hosiery Bargains, artificial silk hose, twelve shades. Usual price 4s Gd, special sale price 2s lid. Three Belles Showerproof Hose, ten shades—usual price 5s 6d, special price 3s lid. Schroder and Co.—Advx. Good summer drinks for children. Nothing better than Trellis Brand Orange Cordial—the new orange drink. All stores.—Advt. Leather-canvas school bags for boys ;uid girls, procurable at Yarrall’s Novelty Depot at lowest prices. Call and inspect.—Advt.