Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1898. Exemption Certificates.

Manawatu Herald, 5 March 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1898. Exemption Certificates.

In this colony we all seem thoroughly to enjoy going the longest way about to get round a job, possibly arising from the fact that we are supposed to be remarkably well off and never in a hurry. The extraordinary process set on foot by the Wangauui Education Board to check truancy offers an example of our complaint. This officer, an excellent man, is directed by the Board to visit certain schools and to summons the parents of children who have not attended school for six half days in each week unless they can produce a certificate of exemption granted by the com mittee. Thus not only is the Ti uant Inspector engaged in this duty, but also the committee and the head master, and what is the result? why that every application for ex empiioii grounded on the plea of sickness is granted, as it should be, but why h all this passing through so mnny hatids nrcosfary ? It would appeal to ordinary minds that the parents are the best judges of the health of their childrtn and it is i heir report which has, as yet, guided the committee, and if ths parents were allowed to send the same informal ion to the head teacher that they do to the committee, ha should be as competent to grant the exemption. And as the head teacher is a person pecuniarily interested in the attendance of the scholars it would be to big interest to Bee that the statements made by the parents were correct, or otherwise they should h* summoned. This would save the cost of the Truant Inspector and trouble to the committee. In all other eases it appears to us to be simplicity itself for the head teacher to issue the summonses and appear in court just as the Truant Inspector does, and it would be a saving of expense. No doubt but that the appointment of a Truant Inspector has resulted in a better attendance at school, but it has only arisen from his doing a duty which the head teacher, we must suppose, is capable of doing, and would do, were he made the Board's officer. The remuneration paid to the present Inspector is miserably small for the work and travelling he has to do, butbyt-hiftingthis upon the shoulders of the teacher this would ba saved. We m*ay be referred back to the past when it was the duty of the committee to do this work, "and we may be told that it proved a lamentable failure — that is so, but then the arrangements wera such that no one could be held really responsible for any shortcomings, but we feel sure by the act of making each head teacher a Truant Inspector for bin pchool district simplicity, directness and economy would be effected.

In the skin-grafting case the Judge said the only point was one of neglect of duty in not informing the patient of the nature of the operation. Counsel addressed the Court and the decision will likely be known to-day. The claim is for £500. The defendant won the case.

The Final Test Match was won by the Australians by an innings and four wickets.

Great anxiety prevails in Madrid in regard to the relations between Spain and the United States.

Mr Stoddart, in a speech at the conclusion of the match, said the only thing which marred the tour had been the insults heaped upon the team by a certain section of the spectators and the press of Australia. They had been howled and jeered at as if they were prize-fighters. If this fort of thing went on, cricket as a sport would be entirely ruined. He accepted defeat because it was at the hands of a better team.

About three o'clock on Wednesday morning a two-storied building, occupied by C. Dahl, for the manufacture of oilskin goods, and its contents, consisting of about 600 oilskin garments, and plant were totally destroyed by fire at Palmerston North, says the Standard. The insurances are £325 on the stock, oils and paints, in the National, and £50 on the building in the New Zealand offioe.

At an auction sale in the South Island the other day a pen of sheep was sold at one shilling per dozen. It must be added that the auima's were of somewhat ancient birth, and the yardman was cautioned not to touch them for /fear they would fall down.

To-morrow Mr D. Crawford, of the Royal University, Ireland, wiil preach a sermon to young men in the Presbyterian Church on the subject " Wanted, a man." All will be welcome.

The Valuer-General advertises that the valuation roll of the Kawakawa and Awahou Ridings of the Manawatu County can be seen between the Bth and 14th inst. at the County Council Office, Sanson.

The United States is sending two warships to Cuba. Fifty tons of provisions to relieve distress on the island are also being sent by tbe American Government.

Mr Thos. Scott's Plain Bill won the Slipper Handicap Hurd es at Wanganui on Thursday. Mr J. R. Macdonald's Titoki a' so secured the Cameron Handicap at the same meeting.

One of the accomplices at Earditza in the attack on King George, a Macedonian named Georgis has confessed that he was implicated in the attempt to murder the King.

I'tom Mfssrs Aiderton & "Wyett we have received the North Auckland edition of "The Resources of New Zealand," containing 100 illustrations. It is sold at the small price of eighteenpence. It is intended to bring out similar editions of tbe whole colony. The work is we 1 printed, tbe views are excellent, and the letter pivss is good, so that the promise for the future is very satisfactory.

Next Tu ; sday the Venerable Archdmcoa Fancourt will lay the foundation.. Llock of th« Anglican Ohvtx^h At Phftnuoa.

Amongst leaflets for farmers published by the Agricultural Department which we have just received is one on Tuberculosis, which to those having stock shou'd prove an interesting document.

Mr S. L. Clemens (Mark Twain), although legally not liable, has paid all debts in connection with the Webster Publishing Company, of New York, and has thus achieved the object of his lecturing tour in Australia and Africa.

The slock sale yesterday was not a success, only two pens of sheep being sold under the hammer.

Mr Slansell convenes a meeting of the subscribers to the last, Queen's Birthday sports for Tuesday evening next.