The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1917.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 November 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1917.

THE BRITISH VICTORY. Heartening news comes from the West front to-day. Th« famous Hindenburg line has at last broken under the irresistible pressure that has been exerted by the British armies at this point. Not only is the news confirmed by Sir Douglas Haig but the Germans admit a British advance. Early messages stated the manufacturing city of Turcoing had been captured and this indicated a vie" tory of vast importance involving the evacuation of Lille and the liberation of a wide industrial area of France from the invader. Later cables gave the correct name as Marcoing and made it clear that the British high coinmand have launched their latest stroke in Picardy. A n earlv effect will be to draw off enemy reserves from Italy, and, it may be hoped, give some velief on that hnrdpressed front, where a stupendous struggle is just opening with Venice as the objective. I But the fruits of this great feat of i arms will not only be material and military. The Hindenburg line was boasted ot by the German war lords as an impregnable barrier across the path of the Allies in the West, ana its smashing demonstrates finally the superiority of British strategy and fighting power, and must therefore j affect the confidence of the enemy ! in a very marked degree. Com ! biiied with the defeat of the Turks ' in Palestine to-day's war news : stands out in splendid relief

against the doleful reports trom Russia and Italy, and proves that Britain has not yet lost her old genius for war nor Britons their traditional valour and endurance.

As the result of ita vigorous representations to the Wellington Education (Board, the Levin School Committee 'has been successful in getting satisfactory replues to its requests for increased accommodation to meet the needs of a steadily growing attendance. The following letter was received from the Board secretary at Tuesday's meeting of the Committee: "In 'reference to your letter of October 25, and previous correspondence, I am directed to say that, taking into consideration the efforts of your Committee in relation to septic tank and also the fact that you draw your senior scholar attendance from considerable distances, the Board has now undertaken to provide as soon as arrangements can be made, an extension of sixteen bicycle stalls. The Board is discussing with the Department tho necessity for increased accommodation and I hope to be in a position to communicate with your completed when the negotiations are completed." Mr Thomson, the eha'raian reported thiat he had forwarded to the Board the Inspectors' report on the need for moTO. accommodation.

A Sydney cable says the cricketer Cotter, (Australia's fast bowler) has been killed in action.

On Mr Thomson's motion the Levin School Committee, at its last meeting passed a vote of sympathy with Mr J. Smellie, an old member of the committee, in his recent bereavement.

There are many tons of printing paper lying in Montreal waiting for shipment to New Zealand, but there is no shipping available. Some of the smaller papers in Now Zealand are now be/ng driven into sore straits for lack of paper. One newspaper was recently printed on green jobbing paper.

The sense of a recent County Council report was- somewhali altered by the transposition of a. line in the chairman's remarks on roadmaking. Or. Monk stated that pit metal could be used to advantage if they were going to scarify thg roads before rolling it in, biif: if the roads were not going to he scarified, crushed boulders—hard metal—was the proper material. Cr Monk also desires it made clear that the interest on overdraft paid by the County Council for the first half of the current year was £2 Bs.

Attention is directed to an advertise, ment calling upon every alien to make application for registration in fahe prescribed form, under the "Registration of Aliens Act, 1917," not later than December Ist next. Forms of application may be procured at every police station in New Zealand. /The penary for failing to register is £50, therefore aliens should take care to fulfil the conditions imposed.

During his civic welcome to the Methodist Synod delegates on Tuesday evening the Mayor made reference to the Methodist habit of moving Ministers. He said to the average man it di.d not appear to be quite as it should be. Referring to Rev W. H. E. Abbey, Mr Blenbhorn said they had hardly had time to make his personal acquaintance and learn to love and admire his character before he was taken away from them.

3>r. Bryson drew attention at last meeting of the Borough Council to an anomaly in ( Jie naming of some 'Levin streets. York and Essex streets, he pointed out, extended on each side of the railway line and there was nothing to indicate in which direction the house one was looking for was d'.tuat. e<l He suggesting adding the wordis "East" or "West" as the case might be so that it would be easy to find the location sought for. The suggestion was approved and referredl to the Borough overseer for attention.

Excellent reports on the 'Levin School -were read at the meeting of the school committeei on Tuesday evening. The Secretary to the Board wrote stat. ing that the Inspector after his recent visit, ,«poke in favourable terms of the general progress in all departments of the school. Reporting on the secondary classes at the District High' School

'-e Inspectors say: "While the proprogramme is based chiefly on the requirements of the Department's rural

rse, provftriaa u made for those pupils' who intend to go on to matriculation. The case of such of these as have completed two years of the rural programme dioe.s not present much difficulty, but with the juniors the extra subjects (Latin and Mathematics) entail considerable extra work on teacher and pupils. The instruction, moreover, is largely given after | ordinary school hours, and the result so far as Latin is concerned is only fair. The general standard of the work shows improvement on that of last year. The pupils in their practical and laboratory work are under capable direction and show (earnestness and intelligent zeal. In English the scheme of study of historical novels in well conceived and the results are goodi. The discipline and control are commended in both rooms. Some of the programmes, more especially in science and geography and history, have only just been completed, and no time has as yet been available ' for revision. Making due allowance for this fact, the papers in these subjects and in matematics were satisfactory, while in English, arithmetic .met book-keeping the papers were commendable." On the motion of Messrs iHoldaway and Broome it was decided That the committee'- appreciation be conveyed to the headmaster andi staff upon the very favourable report of the (Inspector.

""We are, very proud of our little town," said 1 the Mayor in extending a. welcome to the delegates to the Methodist' Synod on Tuesday evening.' "We do not go so far as to ray: 'See Levin and did' But we will Bay: 'See Levin and live—there!' Laughter and applause greeted the Mayor's lit/Jo joke.

A copy of ';he Christmas number of the Auckland Weekly 'News is to hand from Mrs R. E. Lucas, newsagent, of Levin. It is as usual, a fine specimen of th printer's art, splendidly illustrated, and containing a special plate in colours entitled "The Soldier's Return."

A very worthy movement has been set afoot in Wellington for tho purjpcra of providing a fund: to provide a(=sistance for nurses who, 'through sickness, old age or necessity may require help. In recognition of the very valuable and self-sacrificing rendered by New Zealand' nurses during the war—andt of which this district has had such a shining example in Sister Lewis, it ia felt that no more fitting memorial to their patriotic spirit could; be established than the creation of .1 fund to provide for them in their time of need. The suggestion will commend itself to most people. One of tile chief fundraiVlng agencies is a proposed Rose Day, to be held "in Wellington on 'December 7th. under iibo auspices of the Rose and Carnation . Club, which is foregoing its annual Bhow this year. A strong committeois already at work and it ia suggested that a centre like (Levin can ■ assist, very simply and effectively by supplying part of th© flower-! i';hat will be sold on behalf of the fund. Floweirs of all descriptions will be welcome, roses especially so, and it id hoped that a largo sum will be raised for this deserving cause. : Local residents able and willing to help, are apked to bear this appeal in mind until further particulars are available regarding the matter.

The Levin School 'Committee received, a Jetter at Tuesday night's meeting from the Rev." Henry Braddock, honorary miseiorier, Auckland', applying for leave to give moral and religious instruction, outside school hours, to children whose parents would permit 'their attendance. The writer stated he was wording by direct sanction of the Education ; Board and under clause 49 of the Education Board Act of 19(14, which give the committee full power, independent' of teachers and Board, to either grant the Nelson system or leave the instruction outside all usual hourp. He wished to give eight talks of twenty, minutes each on Scriptural and' moral subjects, the chief aim being ,- to turn out God-foarf.'ng high-principled . ..citizens some day." He represented no Society and was not seeking to introduce "the thin end of the wedge," but simply to carry out the principle of voluntary aid, which was the. principal plank of the Niational Schools Defence League. In 1917, 42 schools, with 5000 children, aggregating 35,000 . attendances, were present at these addresses, and the opinions of several headmasters favourable to the system, also Mr Caughtey, Assistant Director of Education, were enclosed. The committee discussed the letter at .-omr* length and decided unanimously that the letter be received, but no action be taken.