Specifications for Town “Clerk.”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1938, Page 4

Specifications for Town “Clerk.”

The unfortunate effects of a typist’s error were related in a story told against himself by the Town Clerk of Invercargill (Mr W. F. Sturman) at the luncheon of the Invercargill Rotary Club. When he was Town Clerk of Petone the corporation installed an electric town clock, and the specifications for the clock were prepared in the Town Clerk’s office. From habit, the typist substituted “town clerk” for “town clock,” with very unfortunate effects, for the specifications then provided that the town “clerk” should have a dial not less than six feet in diameter and hands three feet long, fixed in certain positions, and actuated by electric impulses. Boxing Vicar. One of the most entertaining contests in the Pungarehu boxing tournament recently was the exhibition match between the Rev E. L. B. Gribble, vicar of Okato, who is instructor to the Coastal Boxing Club, and B. Maddern, Hawera, former New Zealand flyweight champion. Failure of one boxer to pass the doctor saw the vicar step into the breach, merely divesting himself of his coat and donning the gloves. The pair gave a delightful exhibition of clever boxing. The vicar, who towered over his small opponent, did not attempt to take advantage of his extra weight and size, and his speed and cleverness clearly demonstrated to the spectators his ability. The bout was not without its humorous side, notably when the flyweight slipped between his opponent’s legs to avoid danger and again at the close of the bout when he picked up his heavyweight opponent and gracefully carried him to his corner.

Historic Relic. A historic piece of rock, the identification of wlych by Sir Albert Ellis led to the establishment of the Nauru and Ocean Island phosphate industries, has been placed on exhibition in the geology hall at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The director (Mr Gilbert Archey) reported at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum that opportunity had been taken to make a general display of the phosphate rocks of the islands. Praise for Scholarship. “I was speaking to Professor E.'V. Gordon, of Manchester, who examines the New Zealand University papers in English, and he said that the work from New Zealand was of a very high standard,” said Professor F. Sinclaire, professor of English at Canterbury University College, during an interview on his return from abroad. “He assured me that the work was quite up to the standard of that of the English universities and better than that of some of the provincial universities.”

Standards in Industry. The obvious waste which arose from lack of standards in industry, resulting in the manufacture of a superfluous diversity of types of goods and duplication of stocks, was evident in this country, states the annual report of the New Zealand Standards Institute. In all plans prepared by the Bureau of Industry, consideration had therefore been given to the question of standards, and it was pleasing to report that the interests concerned had been quick to recognise the benefits to be derived from the application of the standards principle. Consequently, a number of industries were, making every endeavour to formulate satisfactory standards.