Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1325, 16 May 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1872.

A whose letter we give in another column, argues in favor of the establishment of large schools in centres of population, and against small and poorly -attended schools in districts where population is scant ' f also, that in cases where both classes of schools exist, the Government aid should be afforded to the former to the exclusion of the latter. Our correspondent's sentiments are worthy of consideration, inasmuch as the data on which they are founded—r that small and poorly-a'-tend-ed schools tend to footer semi-pauper teachers, a.nd, other things being equal, schools with a comparatively large attendance are better taught than such as are attended by only a few—are selfevident ; but so far as the subsidising of schools of each class by the Government is concerned, we think his argu gument tails to. apply. Schools established W centres of population,, largely attended, should be almost,, if not quite, self supporting; and the aid of the public funds should be mo>e largely applied to such a y > from, the sparsely occupied nature of the district in which they and consequent poor atten dance of scholar, conjd hardly exist -without it. We feav that it is too much the practice to. ignore the right* and needs of the pioneers of settlement in outlying districts, Jt is true that many of such are well-to-do as regards their property and wealth, but such is noJ* the case always. Some of the settlers, indicated are* of course, well able toaeud their eiildren to huge boarding schools in and in that case

with great advantage to all parties"; but such do not need the aid of a subsidy from the publio purse. Besides these, however, there is the larger class whose circumstances do not admit of this course, and whose children require to be educated quite as much as those of their richer neighbors. In manv oases such struggling settlers may live far away from any school, and the education of their children be confine! to that which can be imparted by their parents; and these are those now under consideration. They are sufficiently numerous to enable a small school to be established provided some assistance be given by the Government towards the support of a teacher. They do not ask for such an education for their children, either in kind or degree, as could be obtained at a large central establishment ; but they do ask that some aid should be given to enable them to give their children at least so much education as may serve tor a substratum to be built upon by their own individual efforts. We therefore think that there is no good ground for calling in question the wisdom or justice of the Government if the capitation grant to couniry schools be something over that to the schools in town, even though the greater portion of the education rate be raised in Napier. The steamer Star of the South is announced to steam for Auckland direct at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. Colonel Russell, Inspector of Native Schools, arrived here last evening, per Star of the South, from Auokland. The sum of £1,400 in gold, and £6OO in silver, for the Union Bank of Australia, arrived per Star of the South, The schooner Three Brothers was hauled alongside the Custom-house wharf, this afternoon, and her masts lifted out with the crane. We observe from our latent Auckland files that the C.G. p.s. Luna was receiving an overhaul on the hard in Mechanics' Bay. Besides other improvements to be done to her, her sponsons and paddle boxes are to be raised about a foot. In the District Court this morning, in bankruptcy, the adjourned ease of G. Hobbs, coach proprietor, came on for hearing. His Honor considered that Mr Stedman had made o-.vt his case that the bankrupt had fraudulently given preference to certain creditors to the injury of the remainder. He did not think that the bankrupt had carried on his business in a spirit of lair trading; it seemed rather to be with the design of doing another person an injury. Li the power had rested with the Court, he wnnld have refused 10 grant the dis-charge-—Certificate suspended for 12 months.—Mr Stedman said it was his intention to apply chat the assignment of the property be set aside.—His Honor replied that there was no provision in the Act to give the Court the necessary authority, and he could not but look upon this as an omission. In the Australian colonies the law provided that any transaction within the six; months preceding the bankruptcy, should be void—a very necessary provision. Re Joshua Cnffi —Adjourned to 17th June. Bell v. the Victorian Fire and Marine Insurance Company. - Claim of £2O-0 (reduced from £2lO to bring it within the jurisdiction of Court) on a policy of insurance on three houses destroyed by fire in Feb , 1871. Mr Lee for plaintiff; Mr Stedman for the defendants. Mr Stedman applied, on an affidavit, for an adjournment of one month. Application had been made that it should be heard in the Supreme Court, but owing to the absence of the judge in Wanganui, the application had not yet been answered. The case was one of importance, and the defendants wished it to. be heard before a special jury of twelve. The defence would be that the plaintifl set fire to the premises,—Mr Lee objected to, the adjournment. No. reason for non payment had ever Veen gicen. by the defendants,, and grind

facie, on the policy, they were bound to satisfy the claim. He objected to the case coming before a special jury, which would certainly contain persons interested in insurance companies, and it did not require special business qualifications to investigate what would be virtually a charge of arson against the plaintiff.— His Honor said that if the plaintiff had also desired the adjournment, he would have granted it; but as it was, the case must go on.—Mr Stedman said he was not prepared with his case. Some of his witnesses weie absent.—His Honor said this fact should have been stated in the affidavit. He did not consider he would be justified in granting the adjournment. —Mr Stedman said he would withdraw from the case, and bring an action in the Supreme Court. [The learned gentleman here withdrew.] Evidence was then taken as to the value of ihe property destroyed, &c. Mr E. Lyndon, estate agent and valuer, estimated it at over £2OO, and Mr Steevens, bricklayer, at £350. The plaintiff deposed that previous to the fire she derived a weekly income of from £1 to ,£1 10s from the property. In answer to his Honor, she deposed that she neither directly nor indirectly had anything to do with the origin of the fire.—Decision reserved to 3 p,m., when judgment was given for the plaintiff, for the full amount claimed, with £ls 12s 6d costs.