HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 312, 18 December 1936, Page 3

HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Very Quick Work. Hardly had arrangements been decided upon for Monday’s pi’oclamation ceremony from the steps of Parliament Buildings when Public works lorries were on the scene with the timber for the large platform required and the whole work was completed early on Friday afternoon, even to a series of flagpoles along the front of the grounds. The reason for this expedition was that with a five-day’ week Saturday work would have involved double pay, thus a surprised public saw one of the smartest pieces of construction work ever done by a public department.

A Noble Professor. Regret that more boys were not entering the teaching profession, was expressed by Mr M. H. Oram, chairman of the Palmerston North High School Board of Governors, when speaking at the breaking-up ceremony of the Boys’ High School recently. There was no more noble profession, he said. The proper education of democracy was in the hands of the teaching profession for which there were now greater facilities.

Preservation of Native Bush. Preservation of areas of native bush \on the Napier-Taupo road is recognised by the Minister in charge of Scenery Preservation, the Hon F. Langston'e, as being very important, but in reply to a request from the Napier Chamber of Commerce he says that funds are not, available at present. The letter from the Minister asked if something could be done by’ residents of Hawkes Bay either by private subscription or ■through local bodies and other organisations. He promised to keep the chamber informed of any developments.

Bible In Schools Movement ■ ‘‘Very .good progress is being made with the Bible in schools movement under the Nelson system, and teachers are increasingly taking advantage Of facilities given to them for Bible instruction. in schools,” said the Rev Murray A. Gow, in a report to the Auckland Presbytery. The Bible in Schools League had been doing some very constructive work, and in Wanganui schools was opening with pray’er on foui - days in the week and giving half an hour to religious instruction on the fifth. "Altogether,” said Mr Gow, “it seems a very hopeful outlook that religious instruction will increase in the State schools and the Nelson system will be established on a much firmer footing as part and parcel of the education system.”

GLEANINGS OF DOMINION NEWS.

Desire to Learn Trades. Now that there is legislative provision for special conditions being made by' the Minister for Labour for the training of adult, apprentices, many inquiries are being received by the Auckland; placement service from young men anxious to leave the ranks' of the unskilled and learn trades. One married man of ,32 years of age with a wife and four children intimated that he was prepared to be indentured for three years to a trade at sustenance rates of pay, so keen was he to become a skilled worker.

Moa Bones Found. An almost complete skeleton of a moa has been unearthed on the coast about 100 miles from Napier by' Dr K. E. Crompton, of Havelock North. Dr Crompton does not wish to disclose the position at which the bones were fodnd, as he is of the opinion that a number of other intei esting discoveries may yet be made, and he does not wish the locality to be disturbed. Dr Crompton said that he believed the ones he had found would form an almost complete skeleton, but it was hard to say yet as the remains were still being sorted out. Simultaneously with the discovery of the moa bones Dr Crompton found a large piece of fossilised moa’s leg, which had now become a solid piece of rock. He regards' the find as an extremely rare one.

Visiting the Governor. A brother-in-law of the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, LieutenantColonel G. H. J. Skeflingion-Smyth, D. 5.0., arrived at Wellington by' the Rangitane from London last evening and will be the guest of His Excellency at Government House. He was accompanied by LieutenantColonel E. F. Morrison-Bell, 0.8. E., ■who will also be staying at Government House. Lieutenant-Colonel Skefiington-Smyth has a distinguished army record dating back to 1895. He served in the South African campaign in 1899-1900, including Belmont, Modder River, Magersfontein, the relief of Kimberley, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and Wittebergen. He was wounded at Quaggasfontein. Besides being mentioned in dispatches he received the Queen’s medal with six claps and the D.S.O. He again saw service in tt the Great War, when he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and was again mentioned in dispatches. lie finally retired in 1923.

‘‘No Scotland, No British Empire.” “I suppose I am speaking mainly to Presbyterians,” said Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., when opening a garden party at Springburn, Mid-Canterbury, “and I sometimes think that if there had been no Scotland there would have been no British Empire. Presbyterianism was founded under great difficulties, and resulted in a sturdy independence. The easy conditions and pleasures of our way of living may now throw up a set of mind not inducive to the progress of Presbyterianism in its old sense. But the old faith and conventions —fdr instance, those affecting man and woman—are something that cannot be ignored, or our social structure, which has been built on the law of God, goes by the board. So let us hold on'with both hands to the old conventions, for religion is necessary for the good health of the State.”