DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1930, Page 5

DOMINION ITEMS.

HONOUR CONFERRED.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, November 21

Mr A. G. Butchers, M.A., L.C.8., M.Ed., who is the author of the muchdiscussed books, “Young New Zealand, ” “After Standard Six—What?” and “Education in New Zealand,” has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. No doubt this may be taken as a counter to much of the adverse criticism levelled at Mr Butchers.

UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES,

WANGANUI, November 21

Hon. Mr Smith, Minister of Labour, announced this evening that the unemployed figures for the week ended on Monday last showed an increase of 33(5 as compared with the previous week. The total for the four centres with those of the previous week in parentheses, are: ■ Auckland 2132 (2023), Wellington 1057 (901), Christchurch 1018 (1072), Dunedin 436 (461).

SAMOA,

A NEW SECRETARY.

WELLINGTON, November 21

Applications ate being called by the Government for the position of SeCretai'y of Native .Affairs in Western Samoa. Tin's position lms been held for some time by Air F. G. Lewls, wl- - was engaged in missionary work, and who proposes to return .to it in the near future. The new Secretary is to be responsible .direct to the Administrator for the control of Native affairs. .

SUN SPOTS.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 22.

Observations made at Kelburn yesterday afternoon revealed there is at present a temporary revival on solar activity. There are four groups of sunspots, numbering. forty-three spots in all, now visible pn the sun’s disc. Mr .1. .L. Thomsen,, director of the solar section N.Z., Astronomical Society, states it must, not be inferred, that the weather . or any other natural phenomenon will be affected by the increase in solar activity, .as the sun does not affect one. particular locality but the whole world.

Topographical features. of the earth’s surface and general meteorological conditions already , prevailing will nearly always cancel out a local effect.

The popular belief generally takes it for granted, that a sunspot means' bad weather, but there is no foundation for this idea.

KILLED BY TRAIN. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. .22

Albert Horsley, a mercantile marine cadet off the steamer Canadian. Construction, was killed at Christchurch railway station yesterday evening through falling between the carriages of n moving train, His home is in Montreal. Horsley was endeavouring to catch a train for Lyttelton when he slipped.