WANGANUI.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 318, 4 May 1878, Page 2

WANGANUI.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ... * April 29. The Cavalry Tournament was a success in every essential bet attendance oi visitors. There were so many counterattractions, in the shape ■of railway excursions and sports at places connected by rail, that the tournament was but poorly patronised compared with previous years. Your Waverley representatives cn rried all before them. There was no rubbing them out. They were, as a body, well mounted, capitally equipped, and showed a proficiency in equestrian feats as well as rifle practice, which as a contest was well worth witnessing. I should say your fellows must have practiced most assiduously to have attained such .efficiency, and their appearance and martial bearing was generally admired. I have not space here to give yon a full report of the contests, and, indeed, such would now be late in the day'. But I do not think that at any previous tournament were the performances of the Wairoa Troop so thoroughly creditable and worthy of eulogiura. The Alexandras also did well, but they did not seem so at homo on horseback,' nor so familiar with the use of the rifle and the various features of the tournament, as their up-country fellow troopers. The social gathering in the evening was a pleasant and harmonious affair, at which mutual good feelings were reciprocated. I think any little past differences existing- between the two troops have finally disappeared, and I trust permanently. I hope frequently to hear of their meeting in friendly rivalry, and as a Wanganuite, can but regret that our local troop has lost the opportunity to compete for the trophy which now becomes permanently the property of the Wairoas. In football, Wanganui was more fortunate, though I caimot think that it is true : that Waverley gave Wanganui the game to console ns for the defeat we sustained the previous day. If so, it was very kind and considerate of them, and lam sure Wanganui will not negljct the golden rule should opportunity offer. The only way that I can see that Wanganui can possess itself of the trophy now snatched from it, is, should Waverley elect to offer it for monthly competition under certain specified restrictions, to send up one of their ci-n.de »l\otE in join your troop, and stand his chance of eventually winning it for his corps. Is this good enough, or is it too thin ? Perhaps it is scarcely fair to give publicity to such a proposition. But I confess to a keen desire to see those trophies change hands, and the Alexandras retrieve their position,.: I hope the fortunes of war will change when next they meet in tournament. So far as I can learn, the Alexandras, Alfreds, and Wairoas, are about the only troops of volunteer cavalry in the colony which are maintaining their numbers and efficiency. So much the more to , the credit of our district say I.

The Education Board has had its first regular meeting, the sitting being a prolonged one. Mr Fouliss, of your district, was appointed Inspector, and Mr A. A. Browne, of Wanganui, Secretary. The Inspector is to begin his duties forthwith. The scale of salary according to which teachers are' to be paid is not an over liberal one. The effect of it will bo, I much fear, that many good teachers will leave the service of the Board, and seek other, and more remunerative employment. There are many districts in wdiich the total available muster of children would not exceed twenty-five, and for that number salary is received at the rate of .£IOO per annum. Now, is it likely that a man who can do better will remain for such a paltry pittance ? Some of the local committees and parents of the children attending, in order to retain the services of a teacher with whom they are well satisfied, guarantee from private subscription a subsidy to the Board’s salary, which combined therewith may enable the teacher and his family to subsist. But an ablebodied navvy is infinitely bettor off. Some will probably leave for the South Island whei’o the profession is so much better remunerated, and where teachers are in daily requisition. Those who cannot leave will have to eke out their salary by whatever description of work,' literary or manual, of which they possess knowledge or in which they can obtain employment. And yet the Board is considering expensive school buildings. If they wish to maintain and retain an efficient staff of teachers throughout the district, they must make the position one of sufficient emolument to ensure at least easy pecuniary circumstances.

Do letters overgo astray in transit between your local Post-office? I heard of two miscanjing here and turning up after an interval of five weeks or thereabouts. The distance which they had to travel was about a quarter of a mile, namely—from the Wanganui Post-office to that at Taylorvilte.or Oampbelltown. So people need never despair of lost letters turning up after that. Both the

letters referred to were legibly addressed and neither ohould, under ordinary circumstances, have miscarried, or their delivery been delayed. It is quite unaccountable how such things to occur. There is an increasing inquiry here for town sections in Normanby, and from what I can learn the value of land in that neighborhood is likely to rise still higher. With such a grand country-sur-rounding it, and 'the almost certainty that belore long it will usurp the present position of Hawera as a centre, itsiuture bids fair to be most prosperous. Some very good prices have been oftered to holders of sections resident in Wanganui by persons from Hawera and its vicinity for properties in Normanby. I. look forward with contidence to see Normanby within a short space of time one of the most prosperous inland towns in the colony. , I spent half-an-honr lately inspecting a new seed cleaning machine imported by Mr Laird of this town, the seedsman and nurseryman. It appears to do its work mdst effectually, and from the saving of labor afterwards in the eradication of weeds, its use from an economical point of view should be largely availed of. It was simply surprising to see the quantity of seeds of weeds and other foreign substances which was deposited after the seeds had been through the various sieves. Some cleaned seed from the Waitotara direction was really a splendid sample.

I mentioned to you on a previous occasion about some affiliation cases likely to come of soon. Since then, another matter of similar character has come to light, the locale being the Matarawa Valley. The circumstances are particularly painful, the unfortunate parents of the erring, but penitent weak one, being in a sad state of humilialion. General sympathy is felt for the family, and indignation is strongly expressed, against the alleged author of the disgrace. A certain mystery at present surrounds the affair, which it is expected will yet be cleared off, possibly removing suspicion which perad ven lure may now attach undeservedly, and sheeting home the charge to the guilty. It is a painful topic altogether, and has caused much surprise, and given rise to strange and contradictory social rumours.