PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 91, 27 September 1873, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington. Mr. Vogel moved in the House of Representatives in accordance with Mr. Thomas Russell’s telegram, adopting the arrangements come to between him and the Hon. Saul Samuels for the reestablishing of the San Francisco mail service. The mail boats will sail monthly from San Francisco to Kandavu, and from thence to New Zealand alternately. Auckland will be the first port of New Zealand at which the steamers will touch, thence they will go coasting along to Port Chalmers. On the up voyage along the coast the boat will call at the several ports as Webb’s steamers did. Auckland will thus be the first port of call and the last of departure, the same as when Webb’s steamers were running. He said that the through boats will visit New Zealand ports once in two months instead of once monthly. Mr. Stafford tried to have Timaru added to the list of ports at which the steamers should call on their trips from and to Port Chalmers, but his amendment was negatived on a division, and Mr. Vogel’s motion agreed to, thus formally adopting the arrangement made by Mr. Russell. Nothing is disclosed as to the result of the Ministers’ cogitations. Dissatisfaction in the Lower House at the high-handedness of the Lords is increasing. It is rumoured that other bills will share the fate of the Provincial Loans Bill. Direct action against the Lords may be very difficult, because of their resistance. It is whispered in Parliamentary circles that the Lower House should pass a direct land tax, or property and income tax. Backed by the support of the people, it would produce a popular pressure. It is felt here that the long-delayed contest between the two Houses has now arrived, but what course will be taken is still unknown.

Forty-seven members met at the Hon Mr. Vogel’s caucus. Forty-four pledged themselves to support the Government in their present action. It was also decided to send to the Upper House the Provincial Loans Bill separately, retaining all the principal features of the former bill, but striking out the rating clauses. It is the intention of the Government to test the question, whether the Lords will allow the provinces to borrow. H the Lords will not support the measure the Government will introduce a property tax, rating all descriptions of property, and will endeavour to raise further loans upon the security of this tax. If the Upper House rejects the Government measures, the Government will appeal to the Home Government for power to reconstruct the Upper House. Christchurch.

The annual entire horse show takes place on the 27th instant. It is expected to be a great success, as a large number of animals have been imported during the year. Both papers condemn, in the strongest terms, the laxity shown by the immigration authorities in Auckland, as evinced in the case of the Berar. The Press says that the Hon. Mr. O’Rorke, who lives in Auckland, should know the state of things there, and also that he is one of the worst of Mr. Vogel’s puppets.

NATIVE SCHOOLS. THE following are taken from the Inspector’s Report to the Government: — TURANGANUI. Here I found thirty-two pupils present in school, of whom twenty-three were Maori and nine half caste ; the greatest number has been seventy-one, the least thirty-two, and the average forty-five. Tile appearance of the pupils was clean and decent, their behaviour orderly and respectful; their progress in reading, spelling, writing ond dictation fair, considering the time the school has been in operation. The schoolmaster is able, but does not seem to have any special love for his work, which however he appears to attend to conscientiously during school hours, the rest of his time being spent in the adjacent township of Gisborne, where he has a night school and other occupations. He does not appear to receive any assistance from his Committee in the way of visiting, or otherwise shewing interest in the progress of the pupils, and on the whole, there seemed to be a want of life and vigour in the school. This may arise however fron a feeling of irritation caused by the knowledge that though they have an endowment yielding £4OO a year, the Committee have not hitherto had the means of spending even trifling sums for the comfort and convenience of master and pupils, the school property continuing unfenced, and other desirable improvements unattempted. But I believe all this will now cease, as a payment of £7O will be made to the Committee and a large yearly income be at their disposal.

UAWA, TOLAGO BAT. Returning to Tolago Bay, I inspected the school at Uawa, which, notwithstanding the unfavorable circumstances which attended its opening, and the drunkenness which is so prevalent in its neighborhood, and amongst its Committe, has already effected a change amongst the children which the neighbors tell me is most remarkable. The master, Mr. Parker, appears to have obtained a control over them which has already reclaimed them from habits of theft, insolence, and general annoyance, which were much complained of, but have now in a great measure ceased. I found the temporary schoolhouse which the natives have lent for the purpose completely filled with pupils. I have misplaced my memorandum of the actual numbers but they could not have been much under fifty, chiefly Maori, but with a few half-castes; the order, regularity, silence, and observance of the pupils were complete. Their progress in spelling, writing, and arithmetic excellent. Mr. Parker is ably assisted by his wife in the management and teaching of so large a school ; and I was much impressed here, and in some other schools, with the great effect which is obtained by a teacher who knows his work, compared with that of one who, however well informed himself, has never been accustomed to teach others. I recommend, therefore, that two or three teachers should always be employed in assisting our best schoolmasters, so that they may be themselves instructed in systematic teaching, and be replaced by other candidates as they themselves are appointed to the charge of schools. The attendance at Uawa is for the usual four hours. The health of the pupils is good, and there have been no deaths. I received from the Committee, before leaving Tolago Bay, a written agreement to bear half the necessary expense of a new school building, and certain additions to the schoolmaster’s house.

WHAKATO. Returning to Poverty Bay, I inspected the school at Whakato ; about ten miles from Gisborne. Here the numbers were so small, only ten pupils being in the school, that I could form little idea of what effect is being produced. The numbers who have attended are as high as seventythree, and the lowest seven; the average to 31st March was fifty ; from that date to middle of May, twenty five; from then to the day of my inspection, ten. The master attributes the falling off to the gathering in of the crops, and thinks the general progress of his pupils tolerable. He gave me the idea, however, of being a~ most amiable and willing man, without any aptitude for the work he had undertaken. He says he has received no assistance whatever from his Committee, has never even received a visit, but has no trouble in managing his pupils. The general result seems to me, that in the most beautiful spot in Poverty Bay, with a good schoolhouse, a possible number of seventy-three pupils, a rich Committee who have considerable rents from sheep runs, the most fertile land, and every advantage, the school is dying of inanition. It would give me great pleasure to hear that a better appointment had been found for the present master, in some other line of duty ; that an active, intelligent, and experienced teacher had been appointed to Whakato; and that a little emulation was excited between it and the school at Turanganui.

Losing Influence. —An enthusiastic clergyman, who had laboured faithfully to convert the officers and crew of a ship in which he had taken his passage for America, lost all influence over the objects of his solicitude during a severe gale, in consequence of the excessive fright he exhibited at the immediate prospect of going to heaven. The Thames correspondent of the Auckland Weekly News writes, —“ The two billiard champions, Messrs. Weston and Clark, met again last evening at the Pacific Hotel to play another game of one thousand up for £2O, Clark receiving 200 points from his opponent. The game, on similar terms as the previous evening, was won by Clark, who exhibited most beautiful play, and was again and again applauded by the large audience present, of whom several of the knowing ones thought Clark was quite able to deal with the Australian champion on even terms. Last night a repetition of his display of skill was looked for, but in vain, Clark’s hand having for the time being lost its cunning, and the game therefore fell to Weston, who scored 1000 to Clark’s 585, and did it, too, in the remarkably short -time of two hours and thirty-five minutes. Clark’s failure was a great disappointment to the many who had backed him to win.