Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 122, 24 May 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1881.

We have received from the Dunediu Bible in Schools Association a return of the in the Otago educational district in favor of Bible reading in the public schools, and of those against the same. As this will be. interesting , to many in Nelson we publish the total results with a description of the manner in which they were arrived at. Circulars to the number of 15,724 in all were forwarded to the teachers with a request tbat they would send one to the head of each family of which there were children attending,, the schools under their, care, and ask them to return the papers the next day with their replies to the questions they contained. These questions were as follows : — "How many children have i you attending school ?" <" Are you in f avpr of a portion of the Bible being' read daily in the public .schools (with leave to such parents as may object to withdraw their children during such reading) ? Tbe reply of the father or guardian was requested, but, in . the absence of the father, that' of the mother. Summarised, the result of these enquiries is Bbown in the following figures : — The total average attendance at tbe schools for tbe last quarter of 1880 was/ 15,887 ; the total number of such children whose parents replied definitely to the questions was 13,497 ; the total number, of children, whose parents replied "V(&" Was 11,884 -the total of' those whose parents replied "No" was 1613.; the total number of parents who replied definitely was 5276 ; pf those; who replied •' Yes " 4674 ; : of those who. replied " No " 602 ; of those -whose Replies were informal 52. The return, gives the' details of each school, but as these are 152 in number we cannot find space for them, but will select the Dunedin town schools. These gave the following results' :— No. i:- Number of children whose parents replied, 564 ; Number of parents replying " Yes" 218 ; "No " 27. No. 2 : Children whose parents replied 680 ; Parents replying " Yes " 252 ; "No "31/ No. 3 : Children) 430;^Parents replying "Yes" 164; "No " 13. No. 4 : Children 679 ; Parents replying "Yes" 243 ; "No" 28. No 5: I Children 448 ; Parents replying " Yes" 173 ; "No V 19. No. 6 : Children 54 ; Parents replying " Yes" 22 ;. "No " 32. No. 7 : Children 85 ; Parents replying "Yes" 39 ; ''No" 5. From the foregoing it will -be seen that the very krge. majority of parents were in favor of the proposition made by the Bible in Schools Association.

A PKBiiiMiNAKY meeting of Mr liichmond'si supporters, at which about forty were present, was held at the Masonic Hall last night. Mr R. Levien was unanimously elected chairman and Mr Toplias Secretary. Mr Richmond addressed a few remarks to the meeting; after which all who were present pledged themselves to use their beat endeavors to secure his return. It was decided that Mr Richmond should invite the electors to meet him at the Provincial Hall on Friday night, and the meeting then adjourned until Wednesday evening, when arrftDgeme'rits will be* made for ft systematic pan, vftfls of the fawn,.

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A SHABiP Bbock of earthquake was felt tuis morning at a quarter past six. Thk weather being propitious, a pleasant holiday is very generally anticipated. For the seniors the principal attraction will probably be supplied by the races at Wakapuaka, wbere 6ome good sport may be looked for. " Ben Crisp," as usual, means to look after' the juniors, who will bold their annual gathering in Mr Harley's paddock in Col-lingwood-street, and will, during the day, be culled upon to dispose of an alnioa^unlimited supply of cakes and buns. ~~ r We have been shown a sample of gold weighing five pennyweights, the result of | a crushing of five hundred weight of quarta from the seaward face of the Kaikourus, about eight ruiles from the wharf. It is proposed to obtain several tons of the stone and to forward- "it to Melbourne to have it thoroughly tested, and if the result should prove favorable a company will probably be formed to work the reef, A Royal Salute was fired by the Artillery at 8 o'clock this morniug in the Botanical Reserve, and another will be fired at noon by the Naval Brigade from their guns on the Boulder Bank. ■ It will bo remembered that a clerk was recently at Wellington for embezzling stamps from various documents, and that although he was acquitted it was clearly shown that a very loose system prevailed. A Commission has now been appointed to enquire into the working of the Stamp Act with a view to ascertaining What steps should be taken to ensure better protectiou agaiuat fraud. The Commissioners will be, Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, Comptroller of the Revenue, chairman; Mr District Judge Shaw; Mr Hammerton, Secretary for Stamps) : and Mr Davy, Registrar of Deeds.