Boer War peace observed

The Peace of Vereeniging was signed 21 years ago, terminating, to the joy of the Empire, the Boer War. Yesterday marked the anniversary of the peace, and in celebration, or rather in commemoration, a service was held in the afternoon in the shadow of the monument in the Oval that stands an enduring reminder of the men whose names it bears — the names of those men from Otago who made the supreme sacrifice in the war. It was fitting that the service should have been held at the monument, and it was also fitting that it should not have been a service of exultation, but one, short and impressive, in memory of the fallen.

Three Mile Hill blocked

The Otago Motor Club has forwarded the following note re the "black" bridge: The bridge over the Silverstream at the North Taieri is closed for all traffic owing to the approaches being washed away. Motorists’ attention is called to this, as many cars have had to turn back after reaching the bridge.

Pruning season underway

Roxburgh: Fruitgrowers are busy with winter work, and pruning has commenced in most of the orchards. After the experience of the past season, when it appeared as if the district had reached the point of overproduction, and when it was evident also that there was an undue proportion of second grade fruit, growers will no doubt endeavour by judicious use of the pruning shears to limit the yield and produce better fruit. This, combined with the thinning in the spring, should prevent an overplus of inferior fruit.

Education in 2023

The education of their children is costing the people of New Zealand £2,000,000 yearly in salaries to teachers, inspectors, and officials. The Minister of Education is not at all perturbed, however, over an increase of 150 percent in the cost of education in the last 10 years, and most zealous educationists consider the outlay paltry enough in comparison with what they would like it to be. Is the product of the primary school today as satisfactory as the product of 20 or 30 years ago? "The answer," says the Minister, "is that on the whole we have made progress." This is not a very confident or satisfying assurance. Perhaps a hundred years hence his successor will also be repeating the formula — "on the whole we have made progress." — editorial

Time is money; be brief

The average length of telephone conversations is less than most people would suppose. In Dunedin it works out at one and a-half minutes. The average length of "toll" calls is only three and a-half minutes, though it is quite a common thing for businessmen to run up an account of £1 for one talk.

And it actually was

Auckland, June 3: The Governor-General has despatched the following telegram for communication to the King on the occasion of His Majesty s birthday: "On behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand, I beg to tender to your Majesty the most respectful congratulations and good wishes on the occasion of your birthday, and the renewed assurance of the unwavering loyalty and devotion of your Majesty’s New Zealand subjects to the throne and the Empire." — ODT, 4.6.1923

Compiled by Peter Dowden