North Otago Times. MONDAY, MAY 13, 1878.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1886, 13 May 1878, Page 2

North Otago Times. MONDAY, MAY 13, 1878.

However sound may bo tho principles of the now Education Act, thoro seems to bo little cause for congratulation as to tho working of tho machinery by that Act created. At the very outset— in the election of tho now Board— tho modus opcranii wns a most complicated, clumsy, and withal hit-or-miss sort of business, and has rosultod, as was ovor and over again prodiotod would bo tho case, in tho practical oatraoisim of largo portipns of tho Educational District. We say nothing whiMywVtfftu^b* personnel of is a representative body, ao long as large Bohool districts such aa that of Waitnki County, have no voice whatever in its deliberations. Wore it the caso that, notwithstanding that many parts of tho Otago district havo no member representing thorn in a special sense, all tho members of tho Board showod a disposition to consider themselves the representatives of every part of tho Board's constituency, and as such ondoavorod to provide for tho wants of all with fairness and impartiality, thore would perhaps be little to complain of ; but wo fear vory muoh that this cannot in the naturo of things be expoctod, One thing, at loaafc, is certain, and that is that, if all the other school districts experionco tho samo sort of treatment as has boon experienced by that of Oamaru, there will bo a goneral outcry. As regards tho sum allocated (£1200) out of the £20,030 available for buildings for enlargements and additions to schools, there is nothing to complain of but the extraordinary condition attached, that " tho Board will not recognise any olattn for architects' ft3es,|prop>iration of plans, «fee, and that any expenditure which tho Committee may incur over and abovo the Bum of £200 must bo paid by tho district " is so absurd as to be scarcely credible. For it is on the face of tho thing evident that arohitocts cannot bo induced to work for lovo without monoy, and that the plans and supervision o* buildings must necossarily be paid for. Tho Board requires this, and states that this oxpenso must bo borno by tho district. How, we should liko to know? There being now no school feoa, the Committee has no rovouuo except tho small quarterly allowance for current expanses, amounting last quarter to about £70, and out of this it is quite impossible that tho oxpondituro contemplated can come. Surely tho Board doos not expect tho Committee to canvass tho public for subscriptions, or to pay the amount out of thoir own pockets ; and yet those are tho only possible alternatives. Truo, wo boliovo, tho Board offered to employ its own arohitoot to prepare the plans, but evon in that case we understand that that gentleman would not undertake to suporviso tho carrying out of tho work, and as soino other architeot would havo to bo employed in tho latter capacity ho would still have to be paid. Thon again, it appears that the new Act makes instruction in music and military drill a necoasary part of tho school curriculum, and yot, in the face of this, th« Board declines to pay the salaries of the musicmaster and drill instructor — leaving it again to tho Committee to provide tho funds. Yet again. Tho rector of tho High School here is entitled to a resiclonco j the rectory is in great disrepair, and an expenditure of £150 is reported urgently necessary not moroly to make tho plaoo habitable but to provont tho property going to ruin, and again tho Board declines to provide tho funds. A paltry allowanoo of half-a-orown per quartor on the averago attendance of last

year, which seems to bo tho sole rovonuo of tho Schools Committoo will not suflico to moot tho oxponditure nocessary for firing, cleaning the schools, ropairs to windows, and numorous othor regularly recurring charges, and still leave sufficient to provide for the pay of drill mastor, music Jti aster, and for tho goneral repairs of school buildings and master's residenco. And yot it would seem that this is tho position in which the Schools Committee are placed— the position to wit of having to make bricks without Btraw. It is to bo hoped that tho remonstrances ordered at last meeting to bo addressed to tho now Board will have tho effect of inducing that body to adopt a a more liberal and reasonable course, as failing this wo do not soo how it is possiblo for tho Schools Committees to carry on. Under tho circumstancoa it is not in tho least surprising that tho proposal of lust yoar for a soparato Education Board for North Otago should bo revived, and, indeed, it is not unlikely that in tho direction of that proposal will bo found tho only practical remedy.

Resident Magistrate's Court. — There were no cases set down for hearing at this Court on Saturday.

The Couhsinc* Meeting. — Nominations for the meeting of the 21st inst. close on Tuesday (to-morrow) at 4 p.m.

Sr. Luki's CuuROH. — A meeting of the Vestry of this Church is appointed for ThurmUy next, at 5 o'clock p.m.

N.O. Counsifu Club.- The siljournrrt meeting of thu Committee of this Club takes place to-monow morning at 11 o'clock, nt the Comity Council Chambers.

SfKTROrOLITAN COUKSIVO <*U li. TllO I'uppy Stakes, postponed fioin last meeting, arc announced to )*} run for ut Pal-nerston, on Friday next, 17th inst.

Hivi.x Match. — A match between the Ohrißtchurch Engineers and the Oamnru Rifles ia to be fir«d on Friday next. The ChriBtchureh team Hill ariivo by the down train on Thursday evening.

A Metamorphosis. — A Homo paper has tho following : — How to convert Mr Ultulatoneto I»r«l Bcaconstleld? — Turn him round, and round, Mud round until he becomes D'uiy.

PiukiTivß Methodist Society. — A soiree in connection with tho above is Announced to bo given in the Wear street Hall on tho evening of the Queen's Birthday (Friday <greek), »t 6.30 p.m.

The Otepopo Conckrt.-— The concert at Otopopo previously advertised for Friday evening, has been postponed until Tuesday, 2lat mat., in order to avoid clashing with tho concert of the- Philharmonic Society.

KNIKIU'AINMENr AT TkANKKAKI. — All entertainment, consisting of songa, readinya, &c, is announced to bo gm*n, under tho auspices of tho Ciood TcnipUrs, iv tho Schoolhotiso, Toancraki, on Thursday evennext, at half -past 7 o'clock.

Gratitude. — A gentleman named Lang who somo months ago, was a patient in the Hospital, callou upon tho Secretary on Saturday, anil expressing his gratitude for the care and attention ho had received, handed to him tho sum of I*2 as a donation to the funds of the institution.

Libkbal.. —Mr W. Gardiner, Macro whenua, has handed to tlio collector for tlic Oamaru Hospital a donation of 5 guinea;), and has presented to the Benevolent Society the sum of LB, being the price of 40 sheep used tit the ■hcen-dog trial At the N. A. and JP. Association Show.

The Australtak Eleven. — An English paper informs us that the programme of tho Australian cricketers lias been announced, and it commences with that against Nottingham County, on May 20-22, and the twentysixth and last match is thfttngainut, Gloucoster,j,«Kv ir «>s.£ l \M*yiug aiya seventy-eight 'ari Hot apart for matches.

Prksiiytbrian Soiree.— The annual soirco of St. Paul's Presbytorian Church is announced to be hold in the Volunteer Hall on Wednesday evening noxt, when addrtssDs will bo delivered by tho llovs. Dr. Stuart, P. Barclay, 11. Dowsbury, J. Sfcoven, J. Cameron, and other gentlemen. Tea on the table at 6.30.

Waitaki Amatkur Athletic Club.— A meeting of the members of this Club was held at tho ltoyal Hotel on Saturday night last. About » dozen members were present. The only business of importance) transacted consiated in tho appointment of a Committee to make arrangements for procuring a new gymnasium building, tho present building being required for other purposes, tho Committee to consist of Messrs Holdaworth, Blackburno, and tho Secretary,

Oamaru High School Cadets. — The above Corps hold thoir Government inspocI tion on Friday afternoon. Thoro was n capital turn out, thoro being 55 all told on parade. Captain Peattio acted as Inspecting Officer in the unavoidable absence of Major Steward. After tho arms, accoutrements, &c, wero inspected, tho officers foil in, 4 and a number of company and battalion movo« monts were gone through, and executed very well. Ater parade, the Company adjourned to tho School, whero a meeting was held (Captain Peattio in tho chair) for tho purposo of electing non-commissioned officers, which was done by ballot, StaffSc ;t.- Major M'Pherson being chosen as sc" Mneer. Tho following members wero eh mi: — Color-Sorgt., C. Moore; Sergts., C. k . Win. Nicol, D. Howatt, and Robt. Ho tt ; Corpla., Cadets A. Robinson, J. To , and H. Payno.

]' iatau's Seal. — The Napier " Teleg' i 1 " has the following on the significance oi .1 incident which occurred at tho Febru y meeting between Ministers •ml tho Xi gites— "At the Native meeting at Te Kopua, at which Sir George Gioy w as present, considerable stress was laid on the fact, in the official .roport of the proceedings, that Rewi appeared on the scene holding in his hand the seal of tho late King Potatau. This was supposed to signify that lie gave his support to King Tawhiao, and countenanced the Premier's presence at the gathering. To those, however, who know Native customs, Rowi's action had quite an opposite signification. Kewi's e\act words wore, 'Potatau is dead ; this (holding up tho seal) is nil that is left loft of him, and I have it.' Nothing could bo plainer than the meaning that ho intended to convey to the Premier, which was, ' What is the mo of your coming hero to arrahgo matters with Tawhiao ; Potatau was King, and I am his successor ?' He did not Bay a word as to Tawhiao being the successor of Pot»tau."

WAU PiIKPAIUTIOXS IN EMCJLAXD. — The " Homo News " says that preparations for war are going on actively throughout the country — at factories, arsenals, dockyards — the war spirit is rising, and, to borrow Mr Bright'a figure of speech, England ajtyarontly will do ablo to enter the Conference chamber with shotted cannon, a revolver in hand, and a strong disposition to fire it in tho enemy's face into tho bargain. The militia and tho volunteers aro giving evidence of their military and patriotic enthusiasm, and are petitioning on all sides that if war comes they may bo enrolled for activo service. A question as to tho possibility of this was asked of tho Prime Minister the other night in the House of Lords. Lord Beaconsfield s reply was cautious, guarded, and e^en chilling — very different from the fervid tone adopted by him at tho Guildhall six months and eighteen months ago. It was satisfactory, he said, to know that should the necessity arise the patriotism of tho reserve forces might bo depended on ; but, he added, "such a contingency we must all deprecate."

N. A. ani> P. Association. — A mooting of this Association took place yesterday at the Secretary's office. Present : Mossra Morton (chair), Ronayne, Henderson, Aikenliend, Todd, Connell, Mitchell, Bromley, Dunlop, Falcdnor, Speuce, Donaldson, Kerr,

Young, Steward, and tlio acting-secretary, Mr Church. Tlio resignation of Mr Craig N\ai handed in, and it was resolved that it bo accepted, w ith an expression of regret at hia leaving tlio disti iot. Tlio question of the Secretary s resignation was next considered. It was pointed out that under Rule 9 the appointment of tlio Secretary rested with tlio Committee, and it was also argued that it had also tho right of fixing the salary. Mr Dunlop said it was awkward that ft resolution had been carried at the general meeting fixing tho salary at L5O. Ho thought a mistake had been made, and that in losing tho services of tho present Secretary, the Society would bo put back two years. Considerable disenssion ensued, in which Messrs Falconer, Young, Stewart, Connoll, llonayne, and Kerr took part. It was ultimately resolved, that in tho opinion of the Committee the salary of the Secretary should I>o L 65 for tho current year, and that a special meeting of tho Association bo called to confirm this rate. Mr Church, in answer to a question, said ho would accept office at tho salary named. Mossos G. R. Taylor and H. Aitken wero re-elected auditors at a salary of two guineas each. It was resolved that the monthly meeting of Committee be hold in tho last Thursday in each month at 11 o'clock. Tho special meeting was ordered to bo called for Thursday, 30th inst. Messrs Connoll, Young, llunlop, and Hedley, were appointed a Finance Committee. Messrs Orr, Maclennan, and Ilonayno wero Appointed ft Cup Committee, and Messrs Falconer, mad Kerr a Printing Committee. Tho Committee then adjourned.