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Dunstan Times, Issue 1221, 24 July 1885, Page 2

The Cromwell Jockey Club have decided on holding their Spring meeting on Friday, October 2nd, the value of stakes nob to exceed LI 10.

Ada Mantua ia again before the public on the Hawabury (N.S.W.) Handicap, to be run on the ISch September. Full particulars are to be found in our advertising columns. We have again to thank Ada for her promptness in forwarding to this Journal the names of her chief prize takers also the committee at her last drawing on the Grand National Steeplechase. The committee, comprising as it does gentlemen of the learned and other professions and others of good repute including representatives from the leading news papers in Zaw Zealand, should be a guarantee of the fairness of everything in connection with this, “Adas” latest success. The first prize, value L 292 Bs, went to an Hotelkeeper at Ksefton ; the 2nd L 146 4s to a Post Office Official at Christchurch; and the 3 ,- d L 97 10s to the wife of a reporter of out most respected contemporary, “The Evening Star” Dunedin. Rob Roy has again forwarded ue the names of the three principal winners ; also the names of the gentlemen forming the committee on the drawing of his consultation on the Grand National Stepleohase. The first prize went to a tobacconist in Dunedin ; the second to a miner at Cromwell ; and the thirl to a station hand at Riverton,

It is announced that Mr P. K. M'Caughan, who for a time represented Riverton in the General assembly, is about to become a candidate for an Irish constituency in the interest of the Parnell party. It may be interesting to state that since its foundation the Colony altogether has sold 12,553,507 acres of land, the total cash received being L) 2,511,220. In addition there has been an area of 5,151,519 acres granted or reserved under Acts.

Mr Thomas Bracken declined to be put in nomination for the Bruce electorate, his business engagements compelling him to decline the honor,

We learn that Mr Anderson, representative of Garrick riding in Vinoont County Council, is an aspirant for the representation of the electorate of Bruce in tho General Assembly, vice Mr Robert Gillies, resigned through ill-health. Mr Anderson is at the present time on a visit to that district, with a view doubtless of feeling his way before the day of nomination, Tuesday, the 28th lust.

At the last meeting of the Education Board Mr Fraser gave notice of motion: “ That the services of the Secretary and one of the Board’* Inspector* be dispensed with."—"That the book of problem* for Standard 111., edited by Inspector Goyen, be expunged from the list of books authorised for use in public schools in Otago, and that in future no work be used in the schools save with the consent and approval of the Education Board,” According to the “ Tablet” the Govern* meat of New Zealand spent on education last year out of the public funds 1.453,249 19s 6d, and; if interest on the value of all school buildings and sites, etc., the total would closely approach half a million sterling. The " Lake County Press ” prophesies that in tne coming season, and when all the machinery is up, the Phoenix mine will be the greatest gold producing lode in New Zealand. The recent totalisator case of Strode v, Anderson has resulted in the latter instituting proceedings to recover L 2,000 damages from the former for defamation of character.

The Dunedin " Evening Star ” says s There can be no doubt that the feeling which has been gaining ground that our public schools to a great extent are nothing more or less than State nurseries has a foundation in faot. It was mentioned at today’s meeting of the Education Board, on the authority of the headunasters them* selves, that in the cases of fifteen schools in the neighbourhood of {Dunedin out of every five children receiving tuition two are under seven years of ago. More than one member gave it as his opinion that it was high time the minimum age for scholars was fixed at seven ; and Dr Macgregor dwelt on the possible injury resulting from instruction in too many subjects. His candid opinion is that under the present system we are rearing a generation of “ clever imbeciles.”

Lewis Ackers, one of that class whose ranks are gradually being thinned by death —the pioneer residents of Southland—passed away on Saturday, at New River, at the age of 71 years. He has been a resident at different times of Stewart Island, JBluflf and New River for over half a century, origi» nally following the occupation of a whaler. He was well known amongst the pioneer settlers of Riverton, and he leaves a numerous family behind him. It was on his land that rabbits were first turned out, and it was from that stock the now existing millions sprang. He was the first victim to the depredations of bunny. They were not long in clearing his land of vegetation, which let loose thesanl that cove'ed his hirasstead, forcing him to remove, “ Western Star.”

When Sir Robert Walpole hoc me Prime Minister, his paternal estate was computed at less than LIOOO a year. During his tenure of office he lived magnificently ; he' laid oat eno -mens sums (popularly computed at Llso,fl(W) in buildings an I pictures; an 1 he more than quadrupled his private income, besides providing for his sons by patent places to the tune of LU,OOO a year between them.

A boy in one of the Lin lon bur l schools was found guilty of a serious infraction of discipline, aud was directed by nis teacher to tell bis mother what nrsdemeaioar he had ccmmitted. The next morning the sc oolmist esa called Johnny to her desk, when the following dialogue ensued ; “Well. Master Jehuny, did you inform your mother what infraction of • discipline you were guilty of yesterday, and the > reprimaud aid punishment you received ? ” “ Yea’ii),” was the sententious reply. “Well, and what did your mother say.” “She aild she’d like to wring yom neck for you.” No more discipline,reports were sent home to that mother.

The *• Wakatip Mail” says:—We hear that an inquiry was held at Arrowtown yesterday before Mr Inspector J. Hickson, touching several charges laid by Mr J.T.M. Hornsby against Sergt. W. Brown. It is reported that, after a patient hearing of the evidence of numerous witnesses, Mr Hickson dismissed the complaint stating that not a single charge had been substantiated.

The “ Clutha Leider” mentions, with reference to the election for Bruce, that the first gentleman to whom a large number of the electors in the southern portion of the electorate directed their ■ attention, and deemed the most enitablo for election, was the Rev. William Bannermau. They communicated with him but found he could not comply with their request that he should allow himself to be put in nomination. Mary Batts Mangare, the Maori girl who committed suicide at Waimea, did so because her father would not allow her to marry a young Maori. A novel and startling occurrence took place a few days ago at Old Aberdeen, when a bull that was being driven to market attacked a funeral procession, scattering the mourners in all directions, and badly goring one of the horses drawing the hearse. Eventually the bull rolled into a ditch where it was secured.

Lord Salisbury, like Mr Gladstone, is a devout son of the Church, and that to such men is a great deal. Not only are they both staunch Churchmen, but they are both very ecclesiastically minded, and there are probably few layman under whom the new Premier would ait with so much satisfaction as under Mr Gladstone, if the versatile exPremier were to exchange to the pulpit. , Tho English Government have introduced the Irish Land. Pu-chase Bill, which prop >ses the advance of money at the rate of 4 per cent., repayable in 49 years, to tenants who may desire to purchase their holdings.

A marine engineer, mrael Peter Robinson whose daughter had committed suicide and was buried at Liverpool, walked all tho way from Perth to that city, and poisoned himself at her grave, on which his dead body was found lying, with a letter in his pocket explaining the circumstances.