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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3674, 24 April 1883, Page 2

the value of the instructions imparted. Under the head of Drawing, the Inspector adds; —"A system of payment by results woidd also enable the Board, to make grants to such schools as efficiently teach one or more of the class subjects outside tho standards. For the want of some such system, the teaching of class subjects— drawing, singing, needlework, drill, and elementary science—languishes. Of these subjects free-hand drawing is most widely taught, but the instruction is not often given intelligently, although the work of a teacher is much simplified by the excellent books now published for use in State schools, at twopence each. The mere inspection of drawing-books, like the mere inspection of prepared needlework, is often delusive ; because the examiner does not know how much of the work has been done by the teacher, or Avhat amount of assistance the pupil has received. I therefore propose, with the sanction of the Board, arranging for a special annual examination in drawing, to take place on a fixed day in all schools in which drawing is taught. The results will be announced as passes in Grade I. or Grade 11., freehand outline work; and lists can be published of successful candidates, with the names of tho schools in which they were taught."

The Hope of Napier and the Rose of Sharon (Waipawa) Reehabite Tents have been registered under the Friendly Societies Act. Professor Hugo, the well-known physiognomist, lectured at Waipawa last evening, and had a fair audience. He gives another lecture this evening at the same place. This evening Bishop Selwyn will deliver an address on " The Melanesian Mission " in St. John's schoolroom, commencing at 8 o'clock. There will bo no charge made for admission. Messrs W. C. Smith, W. L. Newman, Peter Gow, A. Jones, and H. Wilding, being the only persons nominated, have been declared elected as members of the Waipukurau Road Board for the ensuing year. There arc 137 names on the Defaulters' List of tho borough, being S3 less than last year. During the last three weeks close upon £2000 has been paid to the Receiver of Rates by persons who held back to tho last moment. It is reported that the widow of the lato Mr Ben Smith is about to institute proceedings against the Government for the recovery of damages for the loss of her husband, who, it will be remembered, was run over by a train while crossing the Waipawa river on tho railway bridge. A member of the late General Synod, writing as a correspondent to the Nelson Evening Mail from Napier, describes St. John's Church as " one of the nicest wooden churches he has seen." The choir, he proceeds to say, " consists of 35 surpliced men and boys, and everything is well done." Very great inconvenience is now being caused through the Government absolutely prohibiting persons walking across the railway bridges at Waipawa aud Waipukurau. Owing to the wetness of the season the Tuki Tuki and Waipawa rivers have been exceptionally high for this time of year, and the use of the raihvay bridges for* foot traffic was found of groat convenience. It is to be hoped the contractors for the construction of the footways will lose no time over their work. Despite the .bad weather there was a very successful practice last evening of tho orchestral music for the forthcoming concert in aid of fluids for the suppoi't of the orphan children at the Convent. So far as we can judge this concert bids fair to surpass the one given in August last, both as regards the music itself and the production thereof. The management arc determined to do all in their power to bring the concert to a successful issue,, aud we may look forward to a musical treat. A meeting of the AVaipawa County Hospital Committee was held at Waipukurau on Friday afternoon last, the members 2)rosent being Messrs Smith, Bibby, Dillon, and Wilding. The balance-sheet was presented, whish showed that the receipts for the quarter ending March 31 amounted to £633 15s 9d, the expenditure during the same period being £516 17s 2d. The average number of indoor patients for tho quarter was ten, and their daily cost averaged £5 lis. The hospital has at present a balance in the bank of £330 7s Sd, and have liabilities outstanding to the amount of £370. Dr. Grabham, the inspector of Hospitals, -visited the hospital last week, and expressed himself pleased with the hospital and its management. It was decided to have the walls of the hospital distempered at an early date. An adjourned meeting of those interested iii holding a race meeting at Waipukurau way held at Waipukurau on Saturday afternoon last. It was decided to hold a race meeting on the ground offered by H. Gaisford, Esq. The following were elected a committee to cany out all arrangements :—Messrs H. Gaisford (president), 11. J. Baker (starter), R. Monteith (clerk of the scales), A. Jones, jun. (clerk of the course), and G. Ravenhill (lion. sec.). It was resolved that the programme be as follows:—Hurdle Race, Hack Hurdles, Maiden Plate, Waipukurau Handicap, Welter Handicap, Hack Race, and Consolation Handicap. A number of subscriptions have been promised, and the committee hope to be able to give a good sum as jirize money for the various events to be run. It was not decided as to when the meeting should bo held. A marriage in high life took place at St. Mark's, Rcmuera,on Wednesday last (says the Observer of the 21st instant), when Miss Henrietta T. Russell, step-sister of tho Hon. T. Russell, C.M.G., was united in marriage to Mr T. J. Brassey, agent for the New Zealand Insurance Company at Napier. The marriage ceremony was administered by tho Yon. Arch. Pritt. The bridesmaids were Miss Agnes Russell, Miss M. Puckey, Miss Alice Whewall, and the sister of the bridegroom, and they were tastefully attired in pink and blue. Messrs G. N. Pierce and T. Barstow officiated as best men. The bride, who was given away by the Hon. T. Russell, was charmingly attired in cream satin, with trimmings to match. The bridal procession consisted of ten carriages. Tho wedding breakfast took place at the residence of J. B. Russell, Esq., Epsom, where a dance was held in the evening, at which fifty couples were present. Tho happy couple go to the Thames to spend their honeymoon. It may be remembered that some timo back Mr'Sheehan wrote a long letter to the papers concerning some remarks made by Mr Mills, M.P., whose reply is thus quoted by the Thames Advertiser : —"I am much obliged to you for sending me the newspaper. I had already rceeived several copies of other papers, 'giving Sheehan's letters and comments thereon. I need hardly say that all his personalities are beneath my notice, and all the ' facts' arc lies. I never travelled anywhere at his expense, and never partook of even a bit of bread of his providing. The only occasion on which I had the misfortune to travel with him was in a public conveyance, paying my own fare, from Ohinemutu to a tfotf/l at Ngao, and there saw him making some seven' or eight Maori women drunk with whiskey. They were dancing round him, and he* was talking to them in Maori. Afterwards, on our return home, he packed the inside of the coach with Maori girls, with whom he seemed to be on very familiar terms. I was myself on the box, and fortunately for me, saw nothing- of the man afterwards." From a perusal of the Education Report for 1882 we observe that the inspectors have this year made a change in the method of recording- the results of examinations. "In the four highest standards a pupil can pass in seven subjects, and pupils who pass in seven or six of these subjects arc reckoned to pass the standard, while those who pass in five subjects or in fewer are marked as failing in their standard. But of some who so fail some may have passed in five subjects and come near the passing points, while others- may have passed in one or two subjects. It is but just that a numorical estimate of a school's condition sliould take note of these minor differences and allow them such weight as they are entitled to. To do this it was decided to substitute a return of the per centage of passes in subjects for the per centage of passes in standards." The adoption of this plan has '' made it necessary to abandon the practice of reckoning half passes, and to record definitely for each subject a pass or a failure. One consequence of the change has been a slight reduction iv the per centage of passes in several of the standards. In effect the requirements for the standard pass have been slightly raised : but if fewer passes in standards have been gained, the successful pupils have shown a higher degree of merit."

An exchange remarks:—"The brutal impudence of the wretched being Carey is proved by the fact that he was among the first to send a letter of condolence to Miss Burke, the sister of the man whom he had helped to assassinate." Signor Nobili, the well-known theatrical agent, writes to a friend in Christehurch that it is more than probable that the Italian Opera Company, now playing in Melbourne, will pay New Zealand a visit very shortly. Miss Emilie Melville and an Opera Bouffe Company will also leave for here in about six months. Their repertoire includes, besides "Bocaccio," "Madame Angot," etc., the new opera of _" Manola," which has been so successful in England and elsewhere. Miss Melville comes under the auspices of Mr A. T. Dunning. With reference to the growth of jute iv New Zealand, the Canterbury AVeokly Press says:—"Doubtless the plant would thrive admirably hi tho North Island and inthe warmer portions of Canterbury. It is a plant easy of culture, it comes to maturity is about "three months, and yields something like 20001b of fibre per acre, worth about £20 per acre. It will, however, only thrive on the best lands. AYe should like to see the plant tried in various parts of the colony, as a test, before entering largely into its growth." Captain Doile, commanding Alessrs Johnston and Co.'s steamer Go-Ahead, evidently knows how to help himself out of a difficulty, remarks the New Zealand Times of the 18th instant. His last trip from AVanganui being protracted by bad weather, the engineer reported that coal was running short, and it was therefore deemed advisable to anchor in Ohau Bay. Instead of waiting for the arrival of a supply of the ordinary fuel, or a change of wind which would enable him to reach port, he calmly manned a boat, went ashore, and cut a. sufficient quantity of wood to serve his purpose, and then resumed his voyage. Those who saw the worthy skipper and the engineer alternately wielding the axe and carrying wood to the boat say that the spectacle was highly interesting. "All hands had tho satisfaction of being half way to the harbor before the vessel Avhieh Avas'to relieve them was sighted. Onehundredaud seventy thousand Chinese die annually from the use of opium, and as many of the Anglo-Saxon race from dysr pepsia, brought "on by the abuse of liquor, tobacco, and quack medicines._ Many people dig their graves with their teeth ; more die from bacl drink than starvation. By using only the pure teas sold by Professor Aloore, of the Medical Hall, AVaipawa, made up in lib packets, and sold at 2s, 2s Od, and 3s each, sturdy health and long life may both be secured.—[Advt.] Knowing its absolute purity, its powerfully invigorative and corrective action, and its value as au anti-dyspeptic and diuretic, it is no wonder that physicians so frequently prescribe AVoli_ s Schnapps.-— [Advt.]