LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Portfolio of Spelling. When a boy at the Wairarapa College break-up last night was being presented with a prize for spelling by the Minister of Education, the Hon P. Fraser, the Minister remarked: “You must be a clever fellow, I would like to have you in my office.” Immediately the boy replied: “We 1 !, Sir, why not create a new portfolio?” “That’s one on me.” laughingly replied the Minister. A New Berry. Some splendid specimens of a new berry, propagated in California, have oeen grown in Masterton by Mr G. W. Hallam, of York Street. The berry is a raspberry, logan, blackberry cross and those grown by Mr Hallam are of large size and of good, rich flavour and very juicy It is evident that considerable progress is being made in improving the general qualities of this tasty class of berry.

Remarkable Bowling Performance.

A remarkable performance for a bowler in a cricket match was that of Vartha (Northcote), who took all the wickets in the second innings of Cyclone in a third grade B match of the Christchurch Suburban Cricket Association's competitions. One after another Cyclone’s wickets fell cheaply until Vartha had the excellent bowling average of 10 wickets for 22 runs. Vartha also bowled well for Northcote in Cyclone’s first innings, his figures being five for 20. Centennial Maori Pa.

Maoris in the South Island are launching a scheme to erect a model Maori pa as a centennial memorial, and it was suggested that Little Hagley Park, Christchurch, would be a suitable location for the pa. Mr Te Ari Pitama wrote to the Christchurch Domains Board suggesting the park as the site for the pa, but the gardens and parks committee of the board reported to the board that it had made an inspection and did not consider the area at all suitable for the purpose. The board adopted the committee's recommendation that the request be refused.

Damage by Lightning. When lightning struck the residence of Mr and Mrs M. S. G. Monk in South Karori Road, Wellington, yesterday, Mrs Monk had a fortunate escape from serious injury. She was standing, alongthe radio set when the house was struck and received a slight burn on the neck. The radio set was shattered. Another residence struck was that of Mr J. V. Fahey, next to the Roman Catholic Church in the Main Road, Karori. Mr and Mrs Fahey and family were in bed when they heard what they described as a terrific noise from the breakfast room. When they went to the room they found that a wall plug had been shattered and the parts shot over the room, which was filled with smoke from a burnt wire. The wallpaper was scorched. All the electrical equipment was blown out.

Shortage of Teachers. The acute shortage of teachers experienced in the Hawke’s Bay Education Board’s district throughout the year was referred to by the chairman. Mr G. A. Maddison, in his report tc the board yesterday. “Some schools had been very unfortunate in the number of staff changes,” said Mr Maddison. “The contributory causes have been unavoidable. —the inability of the board to secure teachers to fill positions permanently, and the absence of many teachers because of the measles epidemic. “A new salary scale has been introduced which, it is claimed, will bring about greater stability of school staffs and also improve the staffing of country schools. The changeover to the new scheme has meant quite a number of staff changes, and it is apparent that it will take a year or two for the scheme to settle down. I have no doubt, however, that after the settling down period the advantages claimed for the new scheme will be apparent.” j Fine Scholastic Record. The family of Mr and Mrs F. J. Sheppard, Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North, have established a scholastic record which is probably unequalled in the Dominion. Seven of a family of nine who have outstanding scholastic achievements to their credit have been dux of their secondary schools and a brother and sister this year carried off dual honours at Palmerston North Boys and Girls’ High Schools, Fred Sheppard being dux literatum and Margaret Sheppard receiving the dux award. Dr E. A. Sheppard, Ph.D (London), M.A., now in Melbourne, was dux of the Girls' High School about 12 years ago and her sister, Miss Lulu Sheppard, 8.A., was dux a year or two later; thelatter is now on the staff of the Commercial Broadcasting Service in Wellington. Dux honours were also secur-' ed by Miss Lorna Sheppard, 8.A., whe is a member of Waitakj Girls’ High School teaching staff, and by Miss Una Sheppard, who was dux in 1935 and has just left training college.