Manawatu Hearald. TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1898. A Flaw in the Truancy Regulations.

Manawatu Herald, 21 June 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Hearald. TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1898. A Flaw in the Truancy Regulations.

There cropped up the other day, in Wanganui, a case brought by the Truant Inspector against a parent for not having sent two children to school the number of times required by the Act. The parent employed a solicitor who secured a statement from Mr Easther that " I make no inquiries whatever, and take the school register as sufficient authority for laying the information." This is, we know, the Truant Inspector's custom, and we doubt if he ever departs from it, even to find whether there are children who are not on the school register but who should be at school. This is of more importance than tha ocoassional ab sences of scholars. We believe our Stipendiary Magistrate has ruled that unless certificates of exemption are granted by the school committee, no excuse can be urged in defence when summoned, and this is also ns we read the Act, but we have als > urged that committees must assist parents in such cases by meeting once a week, instead of once a month, to grant exemptions. The solicitor for the dtfendant urged that the Truant Inspector had taken no trouble to ascertain whether the children had been ill, and the father deposed that one child's absence was caused by influenza, and the other from sore throat. The solicitor further contended that it was perfectly immaterial as to whether an exemption had been granted by the committee if the B<. nch were satitfit d that their absence was caused by ill-health. Counsel also pointed out that as school committees only meet once a month it was practically impossible for parents in cases of temporary sickness to obtain certificates of exemption under Clause 2 of the proviso to Section 3, and contended that the sickness mentioned in the clause did not apply to temporary ailments. The Bench held that the evidence established that neither child was in good health during the period of absence and dismissed both informations. We have before us a decision, certainly only that of Justices, which -if given effect to by other Justices i 3 likely to upset all that has previously been obtained. We prefer the system lately in force in this town, where a quorum of the committee met once a week to decide on any applications for exemptions sent in, as then the matter was capable of being verified, but putting consideration of these applications off for a month enables many an unjust excuse being urged which it is impossible to inquire into. The matter is one of much moment and unless committees will meet the Board by holding more frequent meetings, the whole system will fall through without the aid of such a decision as that given at Wanganui. Tbe committees must also sea that the Truant Inspector doe 3 something more than take the school registers as his only ground work, or otherwise he proclaims his appointment an unnecessary one, as a Head Teacher couldjsurely be directed to act upon his own schedules.

A general meeting of the Foxton Dramatic Club will be held in the Public Hall on Friday next at 8 p.m. In the Hutt on Friday afternoon rain fell and it also rained hard all night, and with the melting of the snow on' the Tararua ranges the greatest flood known for 40 years came down the river during the night and placed the country under water, but after a few hours the water all drained off. The cfoilding attending the Moutoa school broke-up on Friday afternoon and the prizes were presented by Mrs Ashby. All the scholars received a book and a bag of lollies. Previous to the presentation of prizes the scholars, to the number of 36 wera entertained at tea, whioh was provided by the parents an-? others interested in the school. The rest of the time waß devoted to games. This made a very pleasant commencement of the holidays. We are glad to note that Mr John Stevens M.H.R. has decided to address his constituents before parliament meets and he will speak at tbe Public Hall to-morrow night, and at the Town Hall, Rongotea on Thursday night. The Emperor of China has conferred the Order of the Double Dragon, an order founded in China during recent years on the model of such European Orders as the Bath and the Red Eagle, upon Li Hung Chang, Foreign Secretary to the Chinese Empire. The latest Eastern mail advices state that rinderpest is raging in Japan. Large numbers of cattle have been destroyed. The bubonic plague is raging in Formosa. During the gale on Thursday in Wellington a remarkable occurrence is reported from Kilbirnie, where a stable, the propertd of Mr Jorgensen, was.lif ted completely up and carried across au adjoining road. There was a horse in the building at the time, which, strange to say, esoaped injury. It is probable, says the Marlborough Express, that before long the Marlborough Education Board will be considering the advisability of abolishing the standard system of examination for passes and substituting the "class" system. Several sawmills in the Hawke's Bay District have shut down for a spell owing to the small demand for small timber. The Chinese Cabinet has appointed a Minister of Trade, and will provide facilities for the sons of nobles visiting foreign countries to promote international intercourse. Messrs Abraham and Willliani9 hold a stock sale at Palmerston on Thursday and one at Levin on Friday.

" There were giants in those days." While excavating recently at Loughrea, Ire'and, a workman onearthel a hrge iron lantern of primitive design which attracted much curiosity, as it was intended to be cat. ied by hand, although over three feet in 1 ngth and of solid, heavy workmansnip wit'i a place for a candle in its capacious interior. Close by was found a portion of a haman skeleton, which mast have been bu ied Jfor ages. The thigh-bones were eac'i over three and a half feet long. The London Daily Telegraph's war correspondent sends an acootmt of an interesting conversation he has had with the Dervish Leader Mahmond, who explained that the reason for his losing the ba tie of Atbara was because he was misled by Osman Digna. Mabmoud predicts a British defeat at Khartoum. "Of course," Bail Mabmoud, " had I known that yon possessed so many soldiers I shonld have brouorht more. I had, as a matter of fact, sent for reinforcements, bat they could not arrive in time from Omdarman. The war, I assure you, is by no means ended." Mahmoud asked how long it took the train to go the ten days' journey to Haifa, and expressed surprise that it oould be done in one day. Seeing the engine quit the train at Shereik, he asked a number of questions. Where has it gone for water ? Does it drink, too, like men? Is it always a great smoker ? Strange devil, does it never get tired ? Are there many other such wonders in Cairo ? Several photographs wt re taken of him, to his intense pleasure. On Thursday the s.s. Charles Edward is expected in ana will take cattle, bheep and pigs for Grey mouth for Messrs Abraham and Williams. The s.s. Waverley is expected in to-morrow. The s.s. Kennedy ai rived yesterday with 107 touß tf coal for Mr Gaorge Coley. It spoaks well for the workiog of the p-rt and the plant of Mr Coley's to state that all the coal was discharged nearly a'l into irays in the day, and the s eauer got away this morning. We unders'and that M ssrs C. Nelson and Arthur Bsevehave secured a sue frjin the Borough Council for a flaxm I', on ihriver bank between thu mi is of M-ssrs Austin and King. , .* Still another ! We also hear o? an Jiher mill that is to bo erected close tj town, which is to bj started by two enterprising young men. In io days is3ue will be found a notice from Mr George Lo»gley who is now prepared to cure and mount birds. His charges are very reasonable and he certainly possesses muck skill. Mr John Henderson has started as a bootmaker in the shop between Messrs Loveday's and Rhodes.