The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1885. School Committees.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1437, 23 January 1885, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1885. School Committees.

On Monday next every householder is called on to perform a truly important duty ; one affecting the welfare of his children and children’s children, as well as the private prosperity of each individual, the public position and the political credit of New Zealand. If any law had been passed that restricted the control of the education of our children to a tenth part of the householders of the colony, how loudly and justly should we have complained. And yet it has hitherto been, not only accasionally but generally, the practice to do worse than that, and to leave the election of all the officers to work our education system to a few dozen individuals, who happen to feel some interest in the matter, or who may have an axe of their own to grind, an interest in some paid officer, or who have been casually invited 'or induced to “ look in ”to the little assembly. How often do we hear that “it is only the election of a School Committee !” Let us reflect for a moment what that means. It is the only opportunity you have during the year to give practical effect to your views and wishes on the highly important subject of education. The local School Committee you are now called on to elect will virtually appoint or dismiss your teachers; will make your public schools a credit or disgrace to your locality; will make your children more or less fit to bear their part in the world; will elect the Board of Education, and through it, all the executive officers who are to make the system a success or a failure. Is all this not worth a few hours attention from you on Monday next, even though you have no children ? Can it be 'a matter of indifference to you as a colonist ? Can you feel that you have done your duty as a citizen, if you will not give one hour in the year to such a very practical public question ? But, as important as this subject must be at all times and to every part of the colony, therearespecialcircumstances surrounding it just now that call for very special attention from the householders of this

locality. Those who have read the correspondence that has for a long time passed between the South Canterbury Board of Education and the Ashburton School Committee, who remember the conflict between the Headmaster, the Headmistress, and the Committee, who have noted the evidence taken at the public inquiry into that unseemly dispute, and those who have been alarmed by the opinion expressed by the joint inspectors as to the present condition of our Ashburton schools in their last report, will recognise the importance of electing a Committee fit for their work, alive to the importance of public education, and composed of men with souls above the petty, parly, and even sectarian squabbles that have created for us such an unfavorable reputation. The salaries that are paid to the teachers in the Ashburton Public School are sufficient to command the services of thoroughly efficient officers, able and willing to produce results'very different to those displayed by the recent examination. What we want is a Committee that will see that we secure value for the money expended, and who, without any personal feeling either for or against any particular teacher, will root out every disturbing element and insist upon having a staff of teachers who will pull systematically and harmoniously lo-

gether, in promoting the intellectual and moral progress of the children committed to their charge. Such a Committee is not likely to be elected if the matter is left to a few busybodies, or to a few individuals excited by, or interested in, the late deplorable bickering. Every householder, but especially every parent, who has a child at ihe school should feel that he is distinctly wanting in his duty as a citizen or a parent, if he does not actively interest himself in the really important election that will take place next Monday evening. Although the School

Committee have expressed the nselves as satisfied with the master’s “ explanation,” the very fact of the joint inspector’s report being so condemnatory of the school, and its officers, is sure to lead to an active interest being taken in the coming election by those who are interested in the continuance of the present unsatisfactory condition of the school. We do not assume that the headmaster or any other individual is responsible for the deplorable state of affairs revealed by the late examination ; but its existence is indisputable, and we hope to see a strong muster on Monday evening of those who are primarily interested in our public reputation, in the public well being, or in the progress and efficiency of their own children. We cannot conclude without an appeal to our readers against another danger that threatens our education system. A seat on a School Committee brings no pecuniary profit and very little glory, whilst the position is often disgraced by being held by men little worthy of any public trust. Hence the increasing danger that good men will not accept the office. This only offers another strong reason why a position so really important should be made respectable by the more general and united action and interest of all true friends of education in every annual election. Let the householders show that they are prepared to trust good men, and good men only, with their educational interests, and good men will not hesitate to accept the position. No man should feel that an office is not honorable, which gives him an opportunity to lift up the future electors of the colony; to protect the well-being of present, as well as of coming generations, and to prove that New Zealand is ripe for institutions, which can only be successful when the people who possess all the power are prepared to rule with diligence as well as with public spirit and intelligence.

The system of ministerial itinerary,' which is one of the distinguishing features of the Wesleyan commission, will entail this year a change in the superintendency of the Ashburton circuit. The Rev. O. H. Standage, who has labored with much devotedness and no small amount of success in this district during the past triennium, loaves Ashburton in April next. At present his successor is not definitely known, but from a telegram received from Dunedin by the circuit stewards, we learn that the Rev W. Kirk (at present in charge of the Richmond circuit) one of the senior and highly esteemed ministers of the Wesleyan body in the colony, is down for Ashburton on the station sheet at its first reading.

A trotting match has been arranged to take place this evening at South Kakaia between the local horses Midge and Maggie, and a considerable amount of speculation as to the result has been indulged in.

Yesterday, through the kindness of W. Allen, a trial of reapers and binders took place on the Acton Estate, Rakaia. Ihe crop cut was a very heavy one of oats, which would run over 50 bushels per acre. There wore eight McCormick’s wire binders, one Osborne’s self-binding harvester (twine), and a Samuelson'a low delivery twine binder at work. The Osborne did good work, turning out wellmade sheaves, and seemingly was of light draught, and promise! in the course <>f time to become a favorite with the local farmers. The Samuelson machine did

not work smartly, as many sheaves were left untied, and the others were so slack that they would not bear handling. The agent in charge stated that his twine was not good enough to stand the tension required. A considerable number of farmers and others were present, and the general opinion appeared to be favorable to the McCormick machine.

The annual meeting of the Ashburton Rifle Volunteers will be held at the Arcade Chambers on Friday, 30;h instant, at 8 p.m., to receive a statement of accounts, and to elect a Committee. There was a large and thoroughly representative gathering at the Commercial Hotel last evening to bid Mr S S. Revana farewell, prior to his departure for Waimato. Mr Quill vent to great trouble apd expense in providing a moat sumptuoua repast, and his efforts appeared to be high y appreciated by those present. The gathering was u most enjoyable one, and the company did not separate till a late hour, A full report appears in another column.

Daring the hearing of Dolman v Harrison, at the conclusion of the case for the (-lain tiff, Mr Bad delay referred the learned counsel to the case Beswell v Christie, 1 Cowper’s reports, page 395, which, he said, seemed to be exactly cn all fours with the present case, judging from the plaintiff's own statement. In this case plaintiff instructed defendant, an auctioneer, to sell his gelding, and not to let it go under LIS. Defendant sold it for the highest amount bid LG 16s 6i. Lord Mansfield considered it a fraud on the public owners buying their own goods, they should go to the best real bidder. It was contended the auctioneer should have obeyed instructions, as plaintiff otherwise would not have left his horse, and instructions of this nature were given at all auction sales, and therefore were not a fraud on the public. Against this it was urged that it would have been a fraud ups>n the sale if the auctioneer had bid or provided some one to puff, and therefore the action could not be maintained. Instructions not to let a horse go under a certain sum implies that there will i e bidding under that sum. The basis of all dealings should be on good faith, and bidding of this kind would be unfair and therefore not -allowed. If the owner, as was done in the celebrated case of Lord Ashbourne, bad inserted in the conditions that he would bid the Ll 3, or had instructed the auctioneer to do so, the case would have been quite different. The nature of a sale by auction that the goods go to the highest real bidder unless such instructions are given. Late this afternoon we received through

Reuter’s Agency the following additional particulars of the British victory at Abukla Wells :—The official telegram from Lord Wolseley states that on Saturday last the British column under Colonel

Stewart inflicted a complete defeat on ten thousand Maddites, occupying a position at Abukla Wells, between Cakdul and Metemel. Colonel Stewart leaving the

camels and baggage at the camp advanced in a square, the whole force being on f«ot. He outflanked the enemy, who charged bravely under a witheringfire, and succeeded in penetrating the loft of the equate. The British were admirably steady, and maintained a hand to hand fight with the rebels, who at length were driven off completely defeated. If there are any of the settlers in the Ashburton township and County, possessing the organ nailed by phrenologists “ Music,” they will be untrue to themselves if they fail to gratify that organ by being present to-night at the entertainment given by Remenyl, the greatest violinist of the age. The writer has had the pleasure of listening to most of the celebrated violin players who have fljurished during the past twenty-five years, and while allowing to them all as deserving the credit that has been paid to them, feels that the bay wreath as a performer must be accorded to Remenyi. New Zealanders up to the date of Remenyi’s visit have been pleased to look upon Wilhelmj as exhibiting the highest point of perfection in violin playing yet placed before them. In this they are perfectly correct. The writer will not dare to take even a single leaf from Wilhemj’s laurel crown in comparing him with the master of the “ King of Instruments,” who is to perform to-night, for Wilhemj is a man in a thousand, but though he can do with the violin what not three or four other men in the world can do on the same instrument, Remenyi is one of those three or four, and he adds to his playing a

power which Wilhelmj does not possess in

even a tenth part of the intensity in which it centres in Remenyi. That power is

the ability co work his own soul into the souls of those who listen to him, and carry with a sort of magnetic force, his hearers with him. Those who heard Wilhelmj “ could not choose but hear,” and would have been less than human ; but to such as may have the opportunity of listening to Remenyi a new experience is awaiting. The music he will pour from the strings of his grand instrument will wind itself around their heartstrings, the simple homage of listening and admiring will dwarf before the higher and holier feeling of love begotten of the special God given gift of genius possessed by the player. Listeners to Remenyi must hear, must admire, and must love the player. To-night his programme will be a grand one but, stepping aside from the conventionalities of present day musical genius, he is sot above playing down to the musical taste of those in his audience less gified or less cultivated. Hence some of the sweetest national melodies of Scotland will come from the master strings of the great violinist. Remenyi brings with him a brilliant soprano ia Miss Downing and a superior tenor in Mr Himmer, while a pianist well-known to fame will bo found in Mr Luokstone. Wells’ “Rou;h on Corns.”— Ask for

Wells’ Rough on Corns,” Quick relief, complete, permanent cure. , Corns, warts, bun.ogs, The N.Z. Drug Co., General Agents. I indigestion and Inver Complaints.—-For these complaints Baxter’s Compound Quinine Pills have proved a specific, acting powerfully on the liver and mildly on the stomach. Sold everywhere, or post free from J. Baxter, Chemist, Christchurch, for 19 or 44 stamps.