The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1881.

Dunstan Times, Issue 978, 14 January 1881, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1881.

Beneat.lilheru.le of men ektihely justM PEK is MIQHTIEK than </IfHWORD

At the sitti’ri!' of the Land Bur I helil on We lues lay the sth instant, Mr S 11. Turton requested the B >ard to reconsider its resolution of the 9lh ultimo with reference to the application of J. Smith and others for valuation for improvements on sections I and 2, Block 111, Bamrockhurn township —lt was decide f to offer Section 1, block fff, at auction, with a valuation for hnildinq (hereon of 1,1091 provided the ; approval of the Governor is obtained. The 1 Board resolved to issue a license! to Charles Peake,to occupy the quarter-hero’ 'section, Bannockburn town -bin. Upon which a house stands, under section 142 of the Lanl Acf. at a yearly rental of L 3.

On Thursday tho 13th instant a violent shock of oarthquade was experienced at about the hour of a quarter past 1 o’clock, at Clyde. Tho direction was N.E. and 8. W. Tho shock was accompanied with a great up heaving of tho earth, which was only momentary. There was no repetition. TbeChatto Creek hotel had a narrow escape from being burned down on Monday morning last through the lining of tho kitjhing taking fire. To the fact of the lining being white washed is to bo ascribed the little damage done. Wo cannot too strongly recommend the use of the whitewash brash on all canvass or calico linings, more especially where there is a possibility of them firing from contact with stove pipes. We have to acknowledge tile receipt from the Government printer of a batch of Parliamentary pipers, embracing voluminous reports on the harbors of New Zealand by Sir John Coode, and extracts from a compilation of the legendary history of the Maoncs, and other papers. J. W. J irdan, firmerly clerk in the Legislative Council, was found dead outside the Railway Hotel, at the Lower Hutt, Wellington, oirthe morning of the Bth inst. Jordan was last seen alive last night at, the bold, when he was under tbe influence of liguor. The landlord had him put. to bed, and locked the door of the room It is sop posed that Jordan attempts I to get out of the window, when he fell and was killel, his neck being broken. The decease 1 recently receive', 1.700, and had been drinking heavily of late. 11 is reported, in gossip amongst the few persons taking any interest in matters political (says the New Zealand Times), that one of the chief events of next session will be the withdrawal of the tax on the beer, and the imposition of school fees. That is to say, an attempt will be made to have two things done, and if the Ministry do notyield, and work with these who lea l the movement, then the Government will he opposed on th-se points. The interests connected with the heer tax are powerful, and they are prepared to play a strong hand next session. The whole beer interest, it is thought, will be secured for the proposal to reimpose school fees, seein« that the removal of the tax depends upon it. There will be num Tons and powerful auxiliaries, in the shape of the Catholic party, who are against tho system, the Bihle-m-schoola party, and those who are opposed to the State paying for the education of the young.

The Auckland Star, alluding to rumours of foul play at the late race meeting, gays ; —“ Bookmakers and their horses are obtaining the supremacy in the New Zealand racing world. Their rule is becoming quite absolute. The national pastime - once followe I for the sake of sport—is fast degenerating into a low scramble for public money. Book-making assumes an undesirable phase when the ‘ talent’ own or have control of the best horses. How much more is the disgust felt at the disquieting reports which have fl late 1 so often on the public ear—that certain bookmakers, horseowners, and bandicappeis have indentical interests, the end an I aim of which has been to fleece the general public. If anile were laid down that horses should start or no bet, there would be a little chance for confiding investors. The racing atmosphere is very tainted, and a moral thunderstorm is required to c’oar the air. At how many meetings has money been taken on horses 1 hat were either crippled or were known to he non starters by those who took the money ? And, if so, is not this downriuht robbery ? In order to discourage jobbery and corruption most stringent rules should bo laid down for the protection of the outside public.”

We invite a solution of the following puzz'e from our readers Three-fou'tbs of a cross and a circle complete ; two semicircles and a perpendicular meet ; angle, triangle, stand on two feit ; two semicircles and a circle complete.

There is an article on Elementary Education in Germany in the Pall Mall Gazette We (Bruce Herald) quote the following 11 Those whom 1 saw had been half a year in the school ; yet they bad learned in that time to read simple words of two syllables, both written and printo 1, to repeat some easy ver.si g, to write their letters, large and atna'l, and to add, subtract, and divi 1e *n figures between 1 and 20” In the best German E'ementary Schools, a pnnil when six months there, cannot read words longer than two syllables ! Wo are, rehab’ y informed that there is an ex-teneber in Milton who has taught children of five years, within two months, to read words of four and five syPabVs, to recite the poems cf Scott and Burns, to write stories from memory, and to work the first four rules of arithmetic either mentally, on the slate, or on paper. The teacher referre I to “scorned deligh’s and lived laborious days,” .and wasted much midnight od in anticipating the wants of bis pupils ; but because he refuse 1 to work on the seventh dav lie f onnd it difficult to agree with the highly cultivat’d intellects which governed some of onr country School Committees Wo thoroughly .agree with the retren-b----ment policy of the Hall Government. Wo .are not slavish followers, however, and we never agreed with the discharge of cx inspector Mallard', on the ground of some unwise official form. Kfiidency should never be lost sight of. In the E location Department, as well as in the Police Service in the carrying out of the details of the system, some glaring wrongs have been committed We lately heard that some of our best teachers in Otago had been ignored owinc to some caprice on the pait of an Inspector. Jenny Nyc and Fish t's Company have 1 O'-m delighting the inhabit.ants of Centra! Otago daring the past holidays In their I circuit they have include 1 N. as coy. St. ! Bath.an’g, Tinkers, Blacks, Alexandra, I Clyde, and Cromwell, and before visiting

other spheres Lakes Wanaka and Wakatip triU bo visited by them. On Monday and Tuesday last they were at Alexandra, and fairly carrioil all before them by storm, every effort being met with a perfect hurricane of applause. On Wednesday and last (Thursday) evenings the company appeared on the Clyde boards, and by their acting firmly established themselves as general favorites. Jenny Nye is the most versatile actress we have had for years’ past np country, while Mr Fisher is the most voluble. Wo feel we cannot say ton much in their favor. I lift if we omitted saying that Jenny Nye and her company have been the means of affording np-country residents with really legitimate amusement, we feel wo should be failing in our duty. The leading characters are, as a matter of course, Jenny Nye and Mr Fisher. The next in or'er order are Miss Vivian, Mr Hooper, and a young lady whoso name did not transpire, and each in their separate part most ably assisted their o.onf tSres. The pantomime produced by tbe Company, was a special treat to the youngsters especially, and in the groupings of the Columbines and and Harlequin they were fairly successful. They make no secret of the sact ; that they have done well wherever they have been, we can mdy wish them a continuance of fheir good Wtune, and hope to have the pleasure of seeing them again next Christmas with, if possible ,a stronger company. We have been requested by the Auctioneer to draw attention to the sale of cattle, horses, fc , at Ida Valley, on Wednesday, the 2fdh inst.