Recalcitrant parents sought

The traffic bridge at Cromwell, with the temporary railway station in the left background. -...
The traffic bridge at Cromwell, with the temporary railway station in the left background. - Otago Witness, 20.8.1919.
The war has been responsible for many extraordinary happenings, and one with most unusual features cropped up in Wellington last week (says the Dominion).

In short, a baby has arrived from England and its parents cannot be traced. Whilst in England a certain member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force married, and the soldier returned to France. On his arrival back in England he found he was a happy father, and subsequently the child was placed in an orphanage during the time this soldier and wife were travelling.

At a later date the soldier was informed at short notice that he was to proceed to New Zealand, and he and his wife proceeded on the voyage without the child. On arrival here they communicated with the Home authorities, asking them to forward the child by the next boat.

This was accordingly arranged, and the infant in arms duly arrived in Wellington recently in charge of a ''Digger''. The latter expected to be met by the mother and father of the child, but his anticipations were not realised.

He at once communicated with the responsible authorities, who are now anxious to locate the parents of the child.

Country teacher shortage

The complaint that an undue proportion of less capable and uncertificated teachers are sent to country schools was made by several country members of the Auckland Education Board on Tuesday evening.

The chairman (Mr E. C. Banks) explained that since the outbreak of war increasing difficulty had been experienced in staffing schools, with the result that the board was now short of 30 or 40 teachers.

''And now,'' concluded the chairman, ''the soldiers are coming back and marrying our lady teachers.''

Mrs F. E Baume stated that there were at present 180 teachers at the Training College, who, with the male teachers returning from active service, promised better staffing for schools in the near future.

Successful RSA ball

The third annual ball of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Assocation was held in the Art Gallery Hall last evening, and the occasion passed off with great eclat. A strong and energetic committee, consisting of Dr Harrison (president), Messrs Woods, Stewart, M'Nish, Murray, and Laing (secretary), had all the arrangements well in hand, and everything possible had been done to make as great a success of this ball as of the two previous ones.

The weather was fortunately fine, and about 240 couples took the floor for the 20 odd dances which comprised the programme.

The hall was crowded, but not to discomfort, and it was evident that all were there to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The catering was in the hands of Mrs Winter, and excellent music was supplied by the Band of the 4th Regiment and Messrs Yates and Beath's Orchestra. Several members of the Women's Patriotic Assocation were present, as were also several senior officers.

Resourceful horse owner

There is at least one racehorse owner who has overcome the train difficulty to Christchurch without walking his horse there (says the Waimate Times).

He hired a motor lorry from an Oamaru livery stable keeper, and on this erected a horse box and set off on a non-stop run to Christchurch. The contrivance may not be as steady as a railway horse box, but with careful driving it should answer the purpose. 

-ODT, 14.8.1919.

COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ

 

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