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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1244, 11 January 1883, Page 2

New Year’s festivities are so recognised in Dunedin that ail first offenders, that although convicted at the Resident Magistrate’s Court are discharged without having a line imposed. There were no cases for hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. Ben Allah, the well-known prestidigitateur and conjuror, will commence a short season at Parnell and Boylan's Hall this evening. A number of new and extraordinary tricks will be introduced as well as ventriloquism. The following tenders were received by Mr W. J. Quigley, for Mr. Pape's house:—R. Houlden, £l9l ; Martin and Co., £206 ; T. K. Wiltshire, £210: John Forbes, £210; John Somervell, £230. The lowest tender will in all probability be accepted. In the last census there were 138 persons returned as blind in New Zealand. Of these 79 were mules and 59 females, and 53 had distinct occupations.

• 'the fourth Monday in January is the day ■ on which the annual election of School Committees takes place. We again direct the attention of teachers to the desirability of getting elected earnest workers as members of their Committees (especially with regard to country schools). Like other men, the teachers have interests at stake, and there is even a greater interest at stake than that of , teachers. The management of the education ■ of this country must not be placed in the i hands of ignorant and carping Committee j men. It is the duty of teachers to educate 1 the more intelligent among the people to the ; necessity of taking an active part in the wel- . fate of the children. The country has put its hand to the educational plough and the ' work must go on, but let it improve as it ; goes. Hoot out the weeds from the Com- ; mittees, and strive to elevate the teacher and ! his work by elevating the School Committees. We hope to hear from our readers that pco- : pie are beginning to take a more intelligent i view in the appointment of members to serve on school Comni’ttces, and that men have been chosen desirous cf promoting in every ■ way possible the welfare of education, which i means also the welfare of every true and ; earnest teacher.

It is almost impossible to account for the reason of so many bolts occurring in a day. First thing yesterday morning a horse attached to a sledge passed madly down Gladstone Road, and dashed frantically along Read’s Quay, and eventually brought up at the Waikanae. in the afternoon people were somewhat astonished at seeing a horse, ridden by a female, going furiously up the main road. However, we have reason to believe that it was not altogether the rider’s fault, as the bit was out of the horse’s mouth, and, under such circumstances, little or no control over the animal is obtainable. “It never rains, but it pours,” is an old saying, and after a spell of a few minutes, a horse, attached to a buggy, came thundering along. Had certain people possessed sense, the horse, which is as well known as Grey Momus, would have gone quietly into the stable, and everything would have ended well, but through two or three frantic individuals attempting to stop him the horse increased his speed until he was brought up to a momentary standstill by one of the poplar trees in front of the Albion Club Hotel. The buggy remained, but the horse went clean through the harness. Fortunately the damage done was trifling.

In reference to the sittings of the Supreme Court at Gisborne (says the Napier Telegraph) a facetious correspondent points out that, should any important civil action arise there, it is tolerably certain that“application will be made for a change of venue to Napier. Again, the Napier lawyers are pretty sure to be engaged as counsel for the Gisborne sittings, and, earning good money, will come back here and spend it. Our correspondent docs not think that thia town will lose a sixpence by the new arrangements. We were shown to-day a splendid assortment of saddles, which h tve been just opened up by Mr. IC. Taylor. He has now in stock saddles of all kinds and prices, the latter being extremely low’, and ranging from re.nl pigskin downwards. They are colonial-made, and of the very best finish and workmanship. Mr Taylor deserves all credit for his enterprise, and no doubt will reap the reward he so thoroughly deserves. A fire brigade practice was held last night when there was a very good attendance of members. A water practice took place, and proved a success. The fact that the Borough Council has voted a sum sufficient for the present requirement of the brigade, has given a fresh impetus to the movement, and no doubt this important body will, like Rip Van Winkle's family, “live long and prosper.” Mr W. L. Rees, whose generous offer to entertain the children of the Gisborne District School, will be fresh in the minds of our readers, has stated that he will be glad to sec the youngsters at the Hapcra on this day week. The School Committee will doubtless make suitable arrangements for the conveyance of the smaller children at least tn and from the scene of the festivities. The x distance is too great for the very little ones to walk even for so such a treat as is in store for them. A writer in the “ Newcastle Chronicle” asserts that in 20, or at the outside 30 years, at the present rate of production, the best of the Northumberland coalfields will be worked out. The steam coal trade will practically be gone.