The Lady Principal had reported that it would materially assist in the teaching of domestic science if mathematics was not a compulsory subject for matriculation. The committee recommended the board to communicate with the Senate of the New Zealand University suggesting that the subject of mathematics be made optional in the matriculation examination for girls.
It was decided that a copy of the report be forwarded to the Minister of Education.
Further, ''That the board is of opinion that the decision of the Senate that every girl shall, as a condition of sitting for the matriculation examination, present a certificate that she has taken a course in domestic science, be not brought into operation prior to 1920, so that students may be allowed to complete their course preparatory to matriculation on the conditions under which they commenced it. This is also necessary in the interests of those schools who are now about to introduce domestic science.''
Family commitment
A remarkable instance of family service came before the Military Appeal Board at Invercargill on Wednesday. The appellant was a young bushman. He was supporting his aged parents and sisters.
His father was 73 years of age, and his mother recently had one leg amputated at the thigh, as well as all the toes of the remaining foot, as the result of a burning accident. Appellant's only four brothers had voluntarily gone to the front.
Two of them had been killed, and one wounded four times, but he and the fourth brother were still at the front. Appellant himself had enlisted with the Main Body, and been turned down. Now, through one of his forefingers poisoning, he required to have it amputated.
Centenarian
On the 24th inst. Mr W.E. Fortescue, of Cullensville, Mahakipawa, will attain his 100th birthday. Mr Fortescue, who is still hale and hearty and in possession of his faculties, has been 77 years in New Zealand, having arrived at Port Nicholson (then called Britannia) on January 4, 1840. There are very few living to-day in any part of the world who can say they have lived under six reigning sovereigns, but Mr Fortescue can lay claim to this unique record.
He was born in 1817, and was thus a subject of George III for three years, and remembers in succession the passing away of George IV., William IV., Victoria, and Edward VII. Judging his present robust state of health, Mr Fortescue is good for some years yet.
Australian railway
Of the total length of the Australian transcontinental railway between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie - 1051 miles, 946 miles have been completed, leaving 105 miles of track still to be laid. It is expected that the first through train will be run about the end of August.
- ODT, 18.5.1917.
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