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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 134, 22 July 1876, Page 2

The Education Boards Bird has been introduced, and the proposals contained in it, if carried without material alteration, will effect startling changes in present educational administration. All the provinces are constituted districts, with the exception of Taranaki, which is divided into two —the Patea and New Plymouth Districts—each of which will return live members. Auckland will have ten members ; Hawke’s Bay, live ;■ Wellington, ten ; Marlborough, five ; Nelson, eight; Westland, five ; Canterbury, twelve; Otago, twelve. Those at present members of the various Boards will continue to hold office till the Ist of February next, after which date, in addition to the above members elected by the ratepayers, the Boards will each havo two nominated by the Governor (in other words, the Government), and one by the Supreme Court Judge, within whose district the Board is constituted. After the Ist of January, 1877, all existing education rates and School fees are to be abolished, and, in lieu thereof, the sum of £1 per head per annum is to ho levied from parents or others, for all children in their care between the ages of seven and fifteen years; but no one will lie compelled to pay more than £3 for any one family. It is made compulsory on parents to send their children, between the above ages, to school, unless receiving efficient instruction at a private school, or prevented by sickness. If educated to a standard prescribed, or if there is no public school within three miles of the residence of parents, children are excused. In the election of the various Boards, everyone on the electoral roll is qualified to vote, and each Board will be a body corporate. At elementary public schools, reading, wilting, spelling, arithmetic, geography, history, grammar, composition, class singing, elements of drawing, gymnastics, drill, and .sewing in case of girls, are to be taught; but for instructions in higher branches of education, school fees, to be fixed by local school committees, will be charged, and go towards augmenting the teachers’ salaries. One-third of the cost of educational maintenance is to be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund, and two-thirds are to be charged to the Land Fund of the various districts. Regulations will be made by the Governor in Council for the guidance of Boards, who havo to send in to the Minister for Education, before the Ist February in each year, a report of its proceedings during the past twelve months; such report to contain a full account of the income and expenditure, a list of the schools, and such other information as may be necessary-. The concluding clause of the Act gives the Governor power to place under the charge of'the Board any public library, mechanics’ institute, museum, or educational institution of a like character, for the administration of which no adecpiate provision has been made. The cost of the chief office machinery to carry out the provisions of the proposed Act is set down as follows:—Chief - Inspector, £GOO per annum; five inspectors, one at £SOO, and four at £4OO per annunv; per annum; three snb-inspcctors, at £350 each ; chief clerk, £270; clerk, £IOO ; travelling expenses in connection with' the -office, £i,6UO. The above arc the main proposals, but it is not at all likely that they will pass through the legislative ordeal unscathed; and it - is by no means improbable, in the face of so many exciting topics now agitating Parliament, that the bill may yet be abandoned this session.

The Bachelors of Carlyle, in a true spirit of gallantry, havo resolved on giving a ball on thy 4th of August next, at the Town Hall. Invitations havo already been issued, -and the arrangements being made afford a sure guarantee that the affair will prove an unqualified success. We have to acknowledge with thanks the quarterly, issue of the Postal Guido for this colony, courteously forwarded by Mr Von Rotter, chief postmaster at New Plymouth. ,

An accident happened to Mr T. Bayley, at Mr Chubbin’s late sale, Which proved more serious than at first supposed. That gentleman, whilst after some of the cattle, was thrown from his horse, both fracturing his collar bone and dislocating his shoulder. We are glad however, to‘ learn from Dr Walker, that the sufferer is going on well and recovering as fast as the nature of the injuries will permit.

At a public meeting, held in New Ply mouth on Wednesday last, the following resolution was carried, and ordered f,o' bo forwarded to the'Taranaki lepresentatives in the Assembly :—“ That it is undesirable t 0 divide the province into two counties, as proposed by the Counties Bill, as being financially unjust, and as being calculated to produce financial difficulties and complications. That the formation of the whole piovincc into one county would avoid this,and is calculated to work equitably, and to fairly adjust the various interests concerned.” We abstain from comment at present. The subject is likely to bo brought forward at the meeting’ on Wednesday) when no doubt a counter resolution will be equally unanimously passed, and scut to Wellington with as little delay as possible. The business at the E.M. Court yesterday, was of trilling importance, a few very unimportant civil cases bciiig disposed of. We are glad to say that the police have received instructions to look sharply after galloping Maoris, and any of those gentry, who ride so furiously in |fuiure as to endanger the lives or limbs of other people, arc likely to have early introductions to the Resident Magistrate. It is high time this dangerous nuisance was chocked, and it is satisfactory to know that steps to that end are being taken. The programme of the entertainment, to be given by the Patea Amateur Combination Troupe, on Wednesday next, appears in another column, and the company may be fairly congratulated on their .selections. There is every probability of their securing a crowded hall. By a Gazette of the 13th inst., wo see that Mr IC. C. Meredith, Clerk of the E.M. Court, has Loon appointed a Licensing Officer under ‘‘The Anns Act, I860.” An arrangement hasboen made, whereby children of the Wellington province, coming within the provisions of the “ Neglected and Criminal Cbildren’s Act, 18G7,” are to be sent to the Reformatory school in Otago.

We arc able to state positively that the assertion relative to the Go Vermont having oiTcrcd to the Wanganui Small Farm Association a large part of the Opako block had no foundation, though an application' of the kind has probably been' made. Captain Wray yesterday received a telegram from head quarters, stating that no grant had been made, and that the land would be reserved from sale, till the legislation respecting Crovbt Lands; at present pending in the Assembly, had been finally disposed of, Mr Wrn. Dale will sell, at his rooms today, a quantity of new and second-hand furniture, the lease of sections on which the pound yards arc situated, oats* and a quantity of sundries. The sale will commence at 12 o’clock.

At the weekly meeting of the Good Templar’s Lodge here on Thursday evening last, a committee was appointed to take preliminary steps towards tire formation of a Small Farm Association amongst its members, to report to the Lodge in three weeks. Arrangements were also made for the next Open Lodge, which will bo held on Thursday, August 3rd, and wiU include a Spelling Bee. No less than six natives and half-castes, three males and three females were initiated, and it was stated that more arc about to join. Their object in doing is to learn the usual forms and ceremony, with a view very shortly of opening a Maori Good Templar Lodge in the district. The ritual used is now being translated into Maori, and in a few weeks the natives will pick up enough to work by themselves. This is a most satisfactory fact, and will bo hailed with pleasure by all Maori well-wishers.

An excellent chance to obtain a splendid small farm offers itself to-day, one that does not occur often in this district, whore land is rising in value daily. We refer to the fifty-two acre lot at Manutahi, the property of Mr Joyce. This will be sold by auction, by Mr Cowern at bis rooms to-day, at 2 o’clock, and from its known high value will no doubt elicit keen competition. Tlio following are the names of the gentlemen chosen by the committee to do battle for the honor of Cartyle in the football match to-day :—Messrs McCoy, Davis, Baggett* Gordon, Hargreaves, D. Williams, Inman* Fetch* Jacomb, Meredith, Turner, Tennent, Haywood, Nicholson, AV. Williams: Waiting men Messrs Burston, McMalfOll, Hankins, Burke, and PowellThe Secretary desires us particularly to request that all the players will he on the ground by 2 p.m. sharp* and that as many as possible will come in the uniform of the Patea Football Club, viz, dark knickerbockers, blue stockings, and blue capThese stockings can be obtained of Mr Adams, draper, Carlyle,., at a moderate price. After the match* a meeting of all those members of both teams who are desirous of seeing a match arranged witli Wanganui, will bo held at the Albion hotel.

It has become fashionable to have earthquakes in other parts of the Colony, so, not to behind-hand in this respect, the Patea district had a very respectable visitation of the kind on Wednesday last, about a quarter-past 4 a.m. The shaking was very pronounced, and lasted about thirty seconds, some say nearly a minute, but the lesser period is, we think, nearer the mark. No damage was done, as far as we have heard, but the shock was a severe one, so much so indeed as to wake up nearly every one in the place, and occasion some alarm. The same quake was felt at Marton, where it was accompanied by a rumbling noise, at New Ptymonth, Napier, Wellington, Grcymouth, Westport, Blenheim,’Wanganui, and Christchurch, and all flic shocks are recorded as occurring within a quarter of an hour of each other. In some of these places the shocks were the most violent ever known.

A public meeting of inhabitants will be held at Wairoa this evening at 7 o’clock, for the purpose of considering the advisability of getting that educational district joined to Patea, for discussing the proposed Patea river works, in order to ascertain what burdens, if any, their construction would involve the Wairo'a district in, and what advantage they would be, if carried out. With respect to the former, if the legislation now pending be consummated as proposed, Wairoa will be embodied in the Patea district, and as to the advantages of having a port accessible at all times within ten miles distance’, surely there can be but one opinion. Should more information be wanted on the question we advise our Wa’irott friends to attend the meeting here on Wednesday next, when river navigation and other subjects of importance to the district, will be brought forward. We hear that Mr Dale is expecting to reecho, per Clyde, a very good piano, which will be available for entertainments of any kind that may be given at the Town Hall. This will be a great convenience, for however good natured people may be, in lending their instruments on such occasions, it is too bad to trespass 100 largely on their kindness, as has been the case. In future a piano can be hired at a rcsonable price, and this will be bo a great convenience. We are glad to see that a public meeting has been called for Wednesday afternoon next, in the Town Hall at 3 o’clock, for the purpose 6f considering the river and harbour question. It is a subject of the most vital moment to the settlers round, who have produce to dispose of, and we hope to see a large gathering attend the meeting. Unless some active agitation hi stirred up, the session will slip away without anything being done, and Patea then,- through its own apathy, will be left out in the cold- for another year or eighteen months'.

In a return of Vital Statistics, for the boroughs of Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Hokitika, .{c-V th'o‘ month of Juno last, Hokitika’s death rate per 1000 of the population was only 0.28, or about a quarter per cent. Nelson is' next healthiest with 0.51, Thames follows, 0.83 ; Auckland was 1.59 ; Dunedin, 1.67 ; Christchurch, 2.03 ; and Wellington highest with’ 2.28. During the month, there was one death in Hokitika, there were three in Nelson, seven at the Thames, twenty-one in Auckland, twentytwo in - ' Christchurch,' twenty-six hi Wol- , lingtoii, thirty-three in Dunedin. The last town contains of course far the largest population'. Scarlatina caused nine deaths —two at the Thames,' two? at Wellington, and five at Dunedin.It has been resolved by sonic rh'cmbers of the Order to revive the Forester’s Court formerly established here,- blit which of late has not held any sittings. This has been occasioned chiefly through there being no building to' hold them in, but the Town Hall being how available,- will b'e made use of. The former Hall was moved from the old township, and now forms the billiard room attached to the Albion hotel. Several energetic Foresters are taking part in the revival movement, and a! resuscitated I Court will b'e held on' the 31st inst. The following story comics front Port ’ Chalmers :—A young man, whose profession is “ to go' down to the sea in ship's,” h’at'ing been co'rfrting a youiig girl at a house not a hundred mile's front Dodson’s Hotel, when walking one bight With 1 his fair enslaver on the Bowen Pier, some quarrel crushed between the loVers,- and the ■ gay spark threatened tb drohVn hiiriself. No sooner said than done,- apparently.- lie' sprang into the water,- to the greaf {error of the girl, who fit orice created dii alarm. The dissatisfied lover had disappeared beneath the water, and although every effort Was made to render assistance, if practicable, or to bring up the body when all hope of rescuing the victim of disppointed passion had vanished ( . there was nothing to show for this expenditure of good feeling. We understand that several members Of tiro police force assist ed by syrapathisirigbystaricie'rs, dragged for a considerable time, but without effect. The truth was that the disconsolate lover was a capital swiutcrier and diver* and contrived through the darkness of the night to get home unobserved, where he was found next morning comfortably ensconced between the blankets. Humour says that the heart of the fair Dulcinea is softened, and that the course of -true love is likely to run smoothly henceforth.

“ Atticus,” writing in the Melbourne Leader., says :—I must confess to having been puzzled by a seemingly simple question that was put to me this week. Supposing the Christians in all countries were to commence ringing their church bells at half-past ten o’clock axt Sunday morning according to the time of the longitude they are id,- where do the bells first start ? We commence half an hour before the people of Adelaide, while in Sydney they are half an hour before us. The Welling" ton bells arc an hour and a half in advance of those in Sydney; in fact, Lord Normanby is coming out of church as Sir Hercules Robinson is going in. Honolulu is more than an hour and a half in advance of Wellington, and San Francisco two hours and a half before Honolulu. Going round the worid in this way we would make out that they had Sunday morning 14 hours 20 minutes before us in London instead of, as is the fact, our having it 9 hours 40 minutes before them. As we sail round the world from west to east every one knows that somewhere or other we have to sail into the day before, but the question is where does the change take place ? There must in short be some longitude on the earth’s surface where one can travel from Sunday morning back into Saturday, add on the return journey back again into Sunday in the course of a walk between breakfast and dinner I Such a position would suit admirably the numerous class of Christians who desire to keep on good terms with both God and Mammon. I would be obliged to any astronomer or geographer who could tell me where to look for it.

Mr George Dixon fes called at this office (says the N.Z. Times), and exhibited two cancers —one taken from the breast of a female named Styles, of Nelson, and the other from the lip of a man. He states that the disease of cancer has been cured by his wife’s family for a century back, the remedy having been communicated to them by a French physician. The cancer is taken out completely by the roots, without cutting ; and in two or three dozen of cases that he has known in Canada of per sons operated upon, it has never gro\vn again.

A correspondent of a southern journal telegraphs the following from Wellington :—“ It is currently reported, but with what truth I do not know, that wore the present Government to go out neither Sir Julius nor Sir Donald MeLean ( would seek to be restored to office, but tlMtheir places in the party would, with their own assent, be filled by Mr Stafford and Mr Ormond..”

The owner of the bloodhound which brought to justice Fish, the murderer of Emily Holland, by scenting up the chimney where the poor little girl’s skull was concealed, is going, it is said, to exhibit the dog—for which he has already been offered £4O0 —for the benefit of the family of the murdered child, aM of the wife of the murderer.

The following’ advertisement that recently appeared in the 'Time -s (March 13) ought certainly to he posted in a conspicuous position at the Divorce Court:—“A lady, young and well-born, who is legally separated from her husband, is anxious to meet with other ladies similarly circumstanced, who, for the sake of society and companionship, would be willin'g to live hi furnished apartments' in the same house with- her, though independently. Westend. Address, ——A number of ladies separated from their husbands, all living together in one house and everyone with a grievance, would doubtless’ form a very pleasant and amusing coterie. The Inglewood Spectator publishes tire subjoined letter from the Rev. Mr Edgar of that place, with reference to the attendance of the murderer Sullivan ait the Wesleyan Church in Wedderburn. The letter reads thus :—“ Sir : A few weeks ago a report appeared in most of the leading journals of the colony copied from the Inglewood Advertiser , by which it appears that the notorious Sullivan is in the habit of attending to Wesleyan Church in Wedderburn; and not only so, but was permitted, on one occasion, at least, to publicly offer up a prayer himself. I think a-statement by way of explanation is due. The report is quite true in the main. Sullivan attends services regularly,and indeed is one of the most attentive hearers, in the church ; but as to permission being granted to him to offer prayer publicly that is not the case. He certainly did so, but net by permission. T was the preacher that morning, but was not aware that Sullivan was in the congregation, nor did I know that he was one of the number that stayed to the prayer-meeting until be began to pray : and then I was made aware by the evident dissatisfaction and dismay among the people. Several left the church,- arid tiio’se' who remained seemed so thoroughly .surprised US td be unable to detcnniiie how to act. I closed the. meeting, and afterwards the members of the church signified' their unqualified condemnation of the rid I Was also re quested to inform certain persons who had, or were supposed to have,- offered a measure of encouragement; that while, we could not, and would not* do anything to prevent Sullivan attending public worship, we were bound in the interests of the church, and also from respect to public opinion, to prohibit him from taking any part in our church meetings.”