FAITH IN THE PLODDERS.

Shannon News, 24 January 1923, Page 4

FAITH IN THE PLODDERS.

MR PARR'S ADVICE TO BOYS

"And now Avhat shall I say to you boys-who have not won prizes?' Well, I am not going to be cross with you, for I won- very few myself when I was at the Grammar School." Thus the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister for Education, prefaced his remarks to the boys whose names did not appear in the prize list at the first annual prize-giving of the Mount Albert Grammar School. After alluding to his failure in mathematical subjects as a boy, Mr Parr said that his experience in life, his observation, went to show one thing very clearly, and that was that the boy who had brains plus force of character would never be stopped in his progress; he could go as far as he liked in life. If he had to choose, he would rather have the reliable steady, hard-working, plodding boy than fthe boy who possessed mere brilliancy of intellect without application or force of character. "Believe me," continued Mr Parr, "the boy who can be depended upon to tell the truth when the truth has to be stated in somewhat awkward circumstances, the boy who sticks to his mate when he is in a tight corner, the boy who is not ashamed to do the right thing, the boy who can be relied upon as a straight, square fellow —that is the boy who is going to win out in life." If nature had not given all boys brilliant brains, he concluded, they had perhaps been given the more solid qualities, that would tell just as much, if not more, in life's struggle.

Mr W. Thomson, late stationmaster at Levin, and now of Palmerston, is at present on a month's furlough. He expects to visit Auckland, Rotorua. and Wairarapa districts.

The party of students which the Tararuas last week-end stressed the necessity for some recognised tracks from West Peak to Mount Field, and suggest that a light wire be run across and supported. This would last a couple of years at least, and would be a welcome guide in a mist. The few guide sticks now in use are observable at no greater distance than 20 yards. If a wire were used as suggested it the track which would in itself be a sufficient guide in any weather. The supply of milk to the Dalefield factoiy has fallen off considerably, duo, it is stated, to over-stocking of tho farms. A much-desired feature has this year been , introduced by some of the Rotorua motor companies, who have instituted cheap hour trips round the town, and its environs in the evenings. The innovation is evidently appreciated, and satisfactory patronage has resulted. A certain amount . of. price cutting is going on in the transport line there just now, and competition is very keen. Hotels and' boarding houses are full of visitors.

A Press message from Dunedin states that Andrew Johnson, one of the two men who reported to the police recently badly burned by acid, appeared at Court charged with breaking and entering a warehouse with intent to commit crime. Chief Detective Bishop stated that the man used a jar of 'sulphuric acid to burst in the office door. The jar exploded, and accused was only just discharged from the hospital, where the other man was still a patient. Johnson was remanded for a week.

A tall, well-set-up seaman, who rather fancied he was a boxer, received the surprise of his life the other evening when he refused to obey the commands of the second officer of the Kini, to which vessel he belonged (states the Napier Telegraph). The second officer, who in stature is about half as tall as the seaman, ordered the man aboard chip. The seaman used unseemly language, and refused to move, whereupon the officer went into action, and in a very shot time a badly bruised and very surprised "boxer" crawled on to his ship.