Britain’s finest boys for NZ

British public-school graduates, recruited as farm trainee migrants by the NZ government, chum up with New Zealand naval ratings aboard their ship en-route for New Zealand. — Otago Witness, 15.4.1924

In pursuance of the new migration scheme of sending public schoolboys to New Zealand, 10 boys have been chosen to sail by the Awara on March 20. Two of these are from the Birkenhead School, and one each from Taunton, Latimer, Stonyhurst, St Edmund’s (Canterbury), Reigate, Clarence School (Weston-super-Mare), Lowestoft and Paradise House. One is a baronet’s son.

A time for devotion . . .

To the editor: Sir, On Armistice Day a pause of two minutes is made at 11am to commemorate the death of those who gave their lives for the Empire in the Great War. I do not know if anyone has yet suggested a similar pause at 3pm on Good Friday to commemorate the death of the Saviour of the world. That would be something; but of course the whole day should be sacred, and would be in any but a pagan country. If Anzac Day can be declared holy, very largely at the instigation of returned soldiers, there should be enough Christians here to secure decent observance of the most solemn day of the year. — I am, etc, H.O. Fenton, Andersons Bay

. . . but not in schools

At the annual meeting of householders at Waitati, a discussion arose on the proposed Bible-in-schools Bill, the opinion being expressed that the present system of secular education should be strictly adhered to. The following resolution was carried: “That this meeting of householders of Waitati strongly protests against the proposed Bible-in-schools Bill.”

Closed to Easter traffic

Advice has been received from the Public Works Department to the effect that the repairs to the Manuka Gorge bridges are being carried out, but that the bridges will not be available for Easter holiday traffic. It is anticipated that repairs will not be completed for some weeks.

Tech’s new facilities for girls

The completion of the King Edward Technical College by the erection of the G.M. Thomson wing provides at the girls’ end of the building special science rooms for the home science department, which now consists of the following separate rooms: Cookery demonstration, cookery practice, laundry work, pupils’ dining-room, model kitchen and corresponding dining-room, dress-making, needlework and millinery, elementary science lecture room, balance room and science laboratory. In this connection, it is worth noting the increasing number of girls entering for the domestic course rather than for the commercial.

Piped central heating for school

At yesterday’s meeting of the Otago Education Board a deputation consisting of Messrs Hudson and Chisholm waited on the board to urge that the heating of the Sawyers’ Bay School be proceeded with immediately. The architect (Mr J. Rodger) explained that it had been decided to heat the school by the hot water circulating system. This would be the first school in Otago to be heated by this system. The total cost would be £200. Mr Hudson said the committee was prepared to pay £70 towards the cost.