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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2770, 3 January 1872, Page 2

The Late Accident,—The police boat this afternoon recovered the body of Peter Scrymgeour. It was very much decomposed, and was found within a few yards of the spot where the boat went down. The Luna. —This vessel left Wellington for Dunedin last night. After being docked at the Port she will proceed to Wellington with the Maori prisoners now confined in the gaol. Palmerston Races. These races took place on Monday. Mr Kay’s Novice won the Handicap ; Smith’s Miss Alice the District Handicap ; Novice, the Cup; and M‘Kay’s Honest John the Hurdle Race. School Inspection.— -A correspondent scuds us the following extract from, the “ Sydney Journal of Primary Education public meeting, Professor Smith remarked. ‘ We {in New South Wales) have also been fortunate in having a good staff of inspectors. All our inspectors nave been successful masters. We have made a rule, which has, indeed, been objected to by some persons, to the effect that we shall appoint no one to be an inspector who has not proved his efficiency as a schoolmaster btforehand. I don’t think any man can be a thoroughly efficient inspector who has not himself done efficiently the work he is called upon to inspect.” The New Postage Stamps.—The Wellington Evening Post writes as follows : A neat little swindle, which it is as well the authorities should be informed of, is being perpetrated with regard to the postage stamps, the recent changes in the colors giving every facility to those who would stoop to such tricks. Thus the old twopenny and present sixpenny stamps being the same color, the “ twopence” at the botlbm of the new stamp is torn off, and the ataimp used for an old sixpenny one, detection being impossible. In the same way the old twopenny stamp can be made available for the present sixpenny, and the old penny for the new twopenny stamp. We might suggest that the obvious way to prevent such practices would be to have the value of the stamps not in letters at the bottom, but in large figures over the whole stamp—a custom which is adopted in many countries, and which, with a little ingenuity, might be managed so as not to interfere with the tastefulness of the design. Colonial Prize Firing. —The Wellington Evening Post, of the 18th ult, publishes the following account of the- firing of the Wellington volunteers for the district representation at the forthcoming contest at Christchurch .-—Eleven members of No. 1 Co., W.R. V., fired at the Adelaide Butts on Saturday for choice of three members to represent the company in the competition for the choice of district representatives to the colonial prize firing contest in Christchurch. The day was a splendid one for shooting, and the scores were exceptionally good, the eleven men making a total of 736 points. The ranges were 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards ; standing at the first, any position at the other ranges; five shots at .each Mr Halse topped the fist with the wqnderful score of 86 out of a possible IQO. This score was made up of twelve bull’s eyes, twelve centres, and one outer, Mr D. Gray and and Mr F. Harrison came next, with 77 and 75 points respectively. These three gentlemen are therefore the company representatives. Trumpeter M'Lelland of tho Artillery fired with the squad, and made 61, which entitles him to a place amongst the representatives of his company, vice > Mr Zohrab, who previously held the position with a score of 56. The attention of volunteers is directed to a general ot der which appears in our advertising columns to-day, A MEETING of the Standard Property Investment Society for receiving subscriptions, &c., will be held at the Society’s Office this evening between 6 and 8 o’clock. The Dunedin Artillery, Naval Brigade, and First Batallion 0.R.V., will muster in front of the Custom House tomorrow evening, at 7.30, for commanding officer’s inspection and batallion drill.