The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3597, 22 January 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1883.

Bishop Mohan's entrance into pronounced political life is not to be wondered at. He is none the less a bishop because, he is a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives. He desires to enter Parliament for the attainment of a particular object, and that object is one that is essentially Catholic. As a member of the House lie hopes to bring together and straighten the scattered and weakly forces of the denominational party. He feels that it is necessary to the powerful advocacy of the views of that party that there should be a leader whose zeal, learning, and social position would command respect. There is no section of Protestants in the House from whom such a one can be selected, yet there arc numerous Protestants who arc dissatisfied with what they arc pleased to term the '" Godless" system of education that has been established. Bishop Moran believes he can count upon the support of those men. The Catholics in Parliament are too few to obtain "justice for the Catholics." It needs a persuasive orator and a powerful advocate to paint the wrongs and urge the claims of denominationalists in the matter of State education. A majority of members have been returned to Parliament pledged to maintain the free and secular system of education, but there is some reason for believing that many amongst them are denominatioualists at heart," but have not the courage of their convictions. There is room for missionary work in the lobbies ; there is a splendid pulpit m the House. There is a field for labor in Parliament that no bishop need despise, and in which he may be more useful iii what he believes tobethecauseof true religion than if he abstained from politics. However much, we may differ from the views that Bishop Moran holds as a test of true Catholicism, one cannot but admire his courage and zeal in springing forward at this juncture iv the cause of his coreligionists in particular and of denominationalists in general. In offering himself as a candidate for the representation of the Peninsula he opposes Mr Donnelly, himself a,Catholic ; he also opposes Mr Larnach, ■who would support what is called the "Bible in schools." He opposes Mr Donnelly because when that gentleman came out as a candidate he declared himself an opponent of the Bill introduced by Mr Pykc. In his published address Bishop Moran says of that Bill that, though extremely meagre in its provisions, it nevertheless "proclaimed and embodied the just and equitable principle that men who educate their own children should not bo compelled to pay for the free education of well-to-do people's children; that Catholics, for example, and nil others who build and support schools of their own, are entitled to, at least, aid for their schools from the taxes which they pay ; and that it is a monstrous injustice to compel them to pay for the free education of other people's children, and refuse them aid from their own monies for their own schools. This is the principle against which Mr Donnelly declares he would have voted, and will vote, if returned to Parliament." The Bishop then justifies his opposition to Mr Larnach in those words: — "Mr Larnach, the other candidate, is in favour of introducing Bible reading into the public schorls, and this, according to his speech, is the only change he would be disposed to make. All the other provisions of the present system of education, so far as he is concerned, arc to remain unchanged. He wishes to bring back the old Otago system, under which Catholic children were frequently compelled to read the authorised version of the Scriptures, and in not a few instances to remain outside shivering in the cold and rain whilst the teacher and his Bible reading scholars were comfortably seated within around the fire provided by a. generous public—Catholic and Protestant. And to this old Otago system would be then superadded compulsion, not merely by the influence of the teacher and the terror of Ids cane, but by law. Mr Larnach, then, is the advocate of a system of education under which Catholic children, in districts when; there are no Catholic schools, woidd be compelled to attend Bible-reading schools, and left to the tender mercies of bigots of every denomination, who, as hitherto, might be certain of the support of their respective committees." On all other questions Bishop Moran is a Liberal. He is in favor of free trade, and opposed to the alienation of large blocks of land to individuals or companies. If the Bishop should go to the poll the real contest will be between him and Mr Larnach ; against his own bishop Mr Donnelly stands no chance.

The aunualhigglcdy-piggledy, facetiously termed School Committee elections, takes place at half-past seven o'clock this evening, It is to be hoped that better pains will be taken this year than have ! hitherto been shown to raise r the proceedings above the character of a farce. The electors are by the Act confined to householders of the school district; but it has often happened that " all sorts and conditions of men," as well as boys, attend an election, and 'iii the indiscriminate distribution of voting papers —sometimes blank sheets of note paper— record thcir'votes. As each elector is entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of tho committee to, be elected, a judicious course of plumping by half-a-dozen friends of one candidate will usually' sec'uro the desired return. The election takes place in the school-room of each district. No candidates for election have :bepn nomiiuitcd, but sometime previously a few gentlemen desirous of being ' oif the committee have quietly gone, round aiidj solicited support. It is considered rather advisable to keep the names dark for Icar of untoward circmnstances capsizing the arrangements. Ai'fcr the outgoing .courmitteo. has- given an account of its stewardship tho atmosphere of the crowded room almost un-

bearable, and' a good" many householders are,glad-to retire ■ into fresh air. Their places are quickly taken by persons who are not entitled to vote, and' who have been waiting an opportunity to enter the room. At this stage of the proceedings the chairman calls upon the electors to ballot for a new committee, and bundles of blank sheets of paper are given out to perspiring individuals, who' hastily distribute them amongst the crowd. The papers are filled up with the names of seven persons, or with a less number, as may suit the tactics of the voter, who uses his knee as a writing desk, or the broad shoulders of the person iv front of him, or the wall of the room. The papers find their way back to the chairman, scrutineers are appointed, and by midnight it is found out who have been elected. Year after year attention has been called to the absurdity of the system, but the Legislature has not thought fit to amend it, and we presume the farce will be repeated to-night throughout the school districts of the colony, with the unsatisfactory result that lias almost invariably attended it.

Mr Archibald Forbes de l; vers his first lecture this evening, the subject chosen being " Experiences of a AVar Correspondent." A hot westerly breeze and a fierce sun yesterday made one of the warmest days experienced in Napier during this summer. In the sun the thermometer registered 140 degrees, and in the shade 94 degrees. Today the heat has been very little less, but, owing to a slight breeze from the eastward, the weather has not been quite so oppressive. The number of nominations for assisted passages received by the Immigration Officer at Napier during the month of January, and which will be forwarded by the outgoing mail, is 19, equal to adults. The nominations include three married families (nine souls), two single men, and eight single women, the nationalities being English 11, Irish 7, and Scotch 1. AYe have received samples of Woods' Australian Rough Diary or Scribbling Journal, pulilished by JohnAVoodsand Co., of Bridgestreet, Sydney. These journals are of various sizes,' and after the well-known pattern of Letts'. AVoods' diaries, however, contain an excellent map of New South AYalcs, the Customs tariffs of the colonies of Australasia, and other useful information. It is reported that the Hon. Mr Dick has lost, all the memoranda he took of the matters laid before him during his visit to Napier. If there be any intention on the part of the Government to repair the mischief done to the town by the encroachments on public streets by the railway, all the information Mr Dick can want may be supplied by the local railway department. Perhaps Mr Dick does not want to know anything more about the hospital, and in the matter of Corporation offices there is not much to be said just a.t present. The following advertisement taken from an Adelaide paper may prove interesting to those of our "City Fathers" who have faith in conbination of offices :—" Town of Laura.—Applications will be received up to Tuesday, December 20th, for the combined office of town clerk, treasurer, health officer, surveyor, overseer of roads, clerk of works, valuator, park lands ranger, inspector of weights and measures, registrar of dogs, curator of cemetery, and issuer of licenses. Salary £130 per annum." They evidently believe iv general utility men in South Australia. A running match for .£lO a-sido, between Messrs Delanoy and Dean, iv heats, came off last Saturday, and resulted in a victory for the former. Delanoy was in grand form, and ran in splendid style. The distances were 100, 300, and 410 yards. The choice of the event to be run first having been tossed for by the competitors, and Delanoy winning, he chose the 300 yards. In this event he scored a win, Dean's show being very small. The second toss was also won'by Delanoy, who chose the 100 yards. Mr Co'e, who acted as starter, got the competitors away in fair stylo, but Delancy again proved too good for Dean, and won as he liked. AYe believe a good deal of money was lost and won on the match. Not as many candidates as were expected presented themselves to-day for examination for certificates under the Education. Department. There is a rule of the Education Board by which schools having an average attendance of over thirty must have certificated teachers. The rule has not been strictly enforced, which is a manifest injustice to those who have studied and passed examination for a certificate. Of the candidates now up for examination there are four ex-pupil teachers from the Napier school, namely, Miss Reid, Miss Monteith, Miss Harrison, and Miss Corbin ; one from Taradalc school, Miss Frame, and one from Gisborne, Miss Morgan. The uncertificated teachers for examination are Misses Smith, Evers, Hamlin, Bedingneld, Howard, Brown, audAVard. Messrs Stanley and Darbyshirc's juvenile opera. boufPe and pantomime company are due here by the steamer from the North on Saturday next, and will open at the Theatre Royal the same evening in "11.M.5. Pinafore." Air Farmer, advance agent, announces popular prices for the season, and has also arranged, for the eouveniecc of families, to issue season tickets, transferable, at, reduced rates. The Gisborne Standard, referring to the opening performance of the troupe in Poverty Bay on Thursday night last, says: — "The audience shoVed that they fully appreciated the excellent performing of the children, if wo may judge by the hearty outbursts of applause which frequently greeted the efforts of the juveniles. After the performance there was one general opinion only, and that, was that it was splendid and a pronounced success. There seemed to be something really wonderful in the manner ill which the fresh young voices of the performers filled such a large hall with such excellent effect. The rendition of the wellknown operatic satire, 11.M.5. Pinafore, on Thursday night gave an excellent idea of the singing and artistic of the children under Air Stanley's charge ; and it is not difficult to imagine the regular craze they excited in Melbourne amongst the habitues of the Bijou Theatre. The ram fair on AVednesday will present some features that have not been so prominently observable at our annual sales of stud sheep. The numbers advertised for sales arenot as numerous as they were last year, but the quality of thestockis, probably, superior to anything that has been previously offered. The lesson lias been learnt that it is no use sending culls to the fair at Hastings; hence the falling off in the numbers to be submitted to auction, and the increased superiority of the character of the sheep. A. 2>orusal of our advertising columns will assure those interested in the subject, that more than usual attention has been paid to the selection of the animals for this market. From outside this district, sheep have been forwarded from the flocks of Messrs J. B. Sutton (luvercargill), P. C. Threlkeld (Canterbury), J. Reid (Omaru), M. Holmes (Oa'maru), and Douglas, Bros. (AVaikato). Selections from (he above-named flocks have been received by Mr M. R. Miller, and are reported by good judges to be specially suitable. In addition to these MiMiller has numerous' drafts from the stud flocks of Messrs Royse and Anderson, T. Tanner, Stokes Bros., F. II Drawer, D. Gollan, P. Dolbel, J. Anderson, and Meinertzhageu and "Moore. Messrs Hoadley, Lyon and Co. will also oiler for sale carefully selected rams from the justly celebrated flocks of Messrs T. Tanner, F. Sutton (Southland), R. P. AVilliams, Hon. H. R. Russell, J. N. AVilliams, J. Chambers, AY. Douglas, F. and AY. Nelson, H. L. Donnelly, and E. I). Collisou. For the convenience of buyers arrangements have been made by Messrs Hoadley, Lyon and Co. for special trains between Napier and Hastings, the time-fable for which is published in another column. ; The Union Steam Shipping Company have issued the following programme of the excursion to the AVest Coast Sounds for this summer:—Tho Tarawera will leave Port Chalmers at I p.m. on AVednesday, the 7th February, and proceed direct, to Preservation Inlet, where she will arrive on Thursday, the Bth, at 2 p.m., and anchor for the night in Cuttle Cove. On Friday, the 9th, she will leave Cuttle Cove at 9 a.m., and after passing Preservation Inlet, will pro- ! ceed to Chalky Inlet, anchoring there for the night. On Saturday, tho 10th, a start will be made for Dusky Sound at 9 a.m., to the head of which the steamer will proceed, and from there f.6, Wet [ Jacket .Arm, where she will remain for the night. On Sunday, the'l lth, the steamer will leave for Breaksea Sound, from 'which she will proceed to .visit Doubtfidahclßradshaw Sounds, ' ahc'hpring for the night iii;'. Shoal Cove,) at thelieadof the'latter.' On Monday, the 12th, a,start will be made at" 9 a.m., the j Tarawera proceeding down Bradshaw Sound, I

and passing through Thompson and Charles Sounds, and thence to Caswell I Sound, at the head of which she will-anchor' for the night. On Tuesday, 13th, : the steamer will visit George Sound, spending the greater portion of the clay there, and will afterwards proceed to Bligh Sound, at the head of which she will remain the night. At daylight on-Wednesday,--the 14th, a start will be made for Milford Sound, and on arrival there the steamer will proceed slowly up to Freshwater Basin, \when every opportunity will be given to excursionists to become acquainted with the wonders of this remarkable spot. The steamer will probably remain in Milford Sound until the morning of Thursday, 15th, arriving at Bluff Harbor next day, and at Port Chalmers early on Saturday morning. Should circumstances prove favorable, a short stay will bo made at Port AVilliam, Stewart's Island, on Friday, ICth February. Quinine is an alkaloid found in the bark of trees belonging to the Cinchona or Peruvian bark family, and is one of the most valuable febrifuges and antiperiodies known to medical science; while incorporated with iron tincture it has no equal as a tonic. Pure quinine and iron may be obtained put up in bottles of any size to suit customers at Professor Moore's Medical Hall, Waipawa. —Advt. Thousands of both sexes who woidd shudder at the thought of tasting the adulterated liquors in common use take AVolfe's Schnapps medicinally as a remedy for debility, indigestion, and all ailments. — [Advt.]