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Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 69, 14 August 1878, Page 2

The Kakahn School Committee held their monthly meeting on Monday, the sth instant. There were present—Messrs Hooke (Chairman), Hay, Bradley, Woodley, Patrick, and Beattie, After reading and confirming the minutes of the previous meeting, the correspondence was read. It included a letter from Mr Marshman, Chairman of the Education Reserves Commission. The Committee had requested that district schools in which 75 per cent, of the scholars have passed their standards, ami taught by teachers capable of imparting instruction in subjects included in secondary education, may be allowed to participate in funis derived from reserves for the promotion of secondary education. Mr Marshman, in reply, informed the Committee “that excepting schools established under the Canterbury College, no school will be deemed to be entitled to participate in the revenues derived from reserves set apart for secondary education unless its right so to participate shall have been recognised by the Minister of Education, and that it must be left to the Education Board of the district to obtain such recognition.” It was proposed that application be made to the Timaru Park Commissioners for a grant of 450 pines to supply the place of that number which have died in the school plantation. It was also proposed that the Board of Education be applied to for grants previously named in estimates supplied for planting and fencing amounting to £ll 10s. Messrs Rooke, Bradley, and Beattie were appointed a select committee to supervise the planting and fencing. The monthly vouchers for salaries not having arrived, payment was deferred.

The Riley and Allen Troupe are to appear' to-night in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. We can confidently recommend their performances, as we hear on all sides expressions of approval from those who saw their late illustration of tiie possible vagaries of “the light fantastic toe.” The step-dancing of the troupe is really well worth seeing, and their comicalities really such.

The programme of the next Geraldine Race Meeting, to be held on September 20 and 27, bas been printed. The presents for the first day are : —Mainen. Plate of 25 sovs., Handicap,; Hurdle Race of 40 sovs., Publicans’ Purse Handicap of 30 sovs., Selling Stakes of 20 sovs.y and Hack Race .of 18 sovs. For the second day : —Geraldine Cup Handicap of 100 sovs, Hack Hurdle Race of 10 sovs., Ladies’ Purse of 25 sovs., County Plate of 25 sovs, and Consolation Stakes Hancap of 10 sovs. The usual monotony of Pleasant Valley was broken on Friday last by a treat to the children attending the school, which will be remembered by them for some time to come. After the children were dismissed on Friday afternoon, the duties of the day being Over, the room was cleared, and tea laid for them in the large, room, when over 70 sat down, and die, ample justice to the-good things provided. When they had all left tluV’tables to engage in various games to assist digestion, tea was laid in the class-room for the adults—mothers, fathers, and friends. An entertainment was then arranged, which consisted of a magic lantern exhibition and instrumental music. About an hour and a half’s uproarious fun was the result, each new view or comic picture being hailed with an earsplitting shout and hurrahs. It is evident the younssters enjoyed themselves immensely if the oldsters did not, and these could scarcely fail to be amused, as the children fancied they could trace resemblances [between the figures and some scholar, and some personal but harmless joke would be cracked at their expense. After the entertainment the forms were again removed, lollies and nuts wore scrambled for, and games were again indulged in till most of the large hours had passed. Everything passed off most satisfactorily. The eatables and drinkables were of the best, and reflected great credit on those who bad prepared them. Another thing, all was free, as each contributed a share, making it evident that good feeling- prevails in this little community.

An advertisement in another column requests the attendance, at a meeting to be held to-morrow evening in the Crown Hotel, of all persons in favor of having a race meeting at Temuka this season. The programme of the forthcoming Geraldine meeting is given elsewhere. Is Geraldine to “take the shine” out of Temuka in all sporting matters I Skasely. But they will if Temuka does not look alive.

It is expected tbit the ClmatclraruliDuuediu RaiKi °y wifi lie completed during tbpp-hrst week of September.

The ‘ N.Z. Times’ says the Electoral Bili is a transparent sham. The Dunedin ‘Morning Herald’states that at. the end of the financial year there were 1063 miles of railway open for traffic ; total revenue to date,. £563,634 ; total working expenditure to £403,382 ; percentage of expenditure to revnne, 71.56. The Dnn-aiin section shows the highest revenue per mile of railway open, the amount being, per mile, £lO7l. as against £764 in Wellington, and £455 in Auckland. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce, on August 10, passed resolutions approving of the intentions of the Government with respect to changing the incidence of taxation.

A large and influential meeting was held at Ah aura (near Hokitika) on Friday re the railway between the East and West Coasts. The southern route, via Haast's Pass and Otago was strongly condemned, and one via Grey Valley and the Hurunui was advocated. A very strong committee was appointed. Evidently they mean business. At an extraordinary general inoeting of the Greymouth Coal Mining Company, eld on S iturday, it was decided to windup the company, the mine and property to be sold by tender if possible. Mr J. D. Thomas, solicitor, Christchurch, was violently assaulted in a public street on Saturday. It arose, it is believed, out of a business dispute. The County Council Conference, during its sitting on Saturday, carried a resolution “ That the Government be requested to provide by law for taking lands for road purposes both through Crown granted lands and Native lands. A Wellington shopkeeper has sent an order to Melbourne for a pane of plate glass nearly 200 square feet in area for the front of his shop.

In 1805 the income of tho British and Foreigh Bible Society was £691, which provided 8000 Bibles ; in 1877 the income was £227,865, providing nearly three million copies in 220 different languages. 160,000 copies -were distributed among the Turkish and Russian armies during the late war.

The Local Judicature Bill, introduced by Mr Stout, contains 250 clauses, and deals with the whole constitution of Resident Magistrates and District Courts aud their workings. Servants are companions in Germany, obedient in England, masters in France, respectful in Italy, submissive in Spain, says the ‘ Otago Witness.’ What are they in New Zealand, and what ought they to be anywhere ?

There are five miles of * overhead’ railways constructed in New York upon pillars or columns. The trip, including one stoppage, is ruii in 16 mingles, /

Railway ... communication with Christ church was interrupted .yesterday by a very odd accident. Early in the morning the North Rangitataßridge was discovered to be on fire, and so much damage was done that trains could not. cross, Three or four piles, forming one half of a pier, and the corbel resting on them were destroyed, leaving the weight of the adjacent parts to be sustained by the upper timber on that side. A large number of men were at work all day and last and it is expected that by this the bridge will be sufficiently mended w? allow of the trains crossing. The fire is supposed to have originated from a spark or cinder dropping from the last train on Monday) night, and lodging in the woodV?/ J\Kg Temuka School Committee met night. Present —Messrs Wilson '(Chairman), Gray, Blytb, Hooper, Russell, and Storey. The minutes of the last meeting being read and confirmed, a letter was read from the Board of Education stating that the lat« Mr Rowe was to be allowed salary for half the month of June, and that Mrs Rowe is to be allowed £2O a year for rent. The Secretary to the Committee (Mr Wills) tendered his resignation, which was accepted with regret Accounts to the amount of Ll2 12s 9d were passed for payment. Moved by Mr li'yth, seconded by Mr Gray, (1.) t- That this Committee request the Board of Education for South Canterbury, with the consent of the Minister for Education, to take such steps as are necessary for forming the Temuka School into a District High School. (2.) That the funds available, together with the proportion of revenue from reserves which are to be devoted to secondary education, would prevent the district High School becoming a tax upon the Board. (3.) That the Committee arc .aware that a large number of children in tne district whose parents are : anxious to obtain a higher education for them, bub who have to send them to other schools at great expense, which could and should be provided for them in their own district. (4.) That Temuka School pos sesses a head master thoroughly qualified for teaching the various branches of a higher education, and conduct a district High School efficiently-” Carried. Mr Hooper, visiting member, reported that the school was rapidly increasing, the attendance now being nearly 200, and that it. was expected the number would soon amount to 250. A statement of school furniture required was read, and the secretary was requested to lav the same before the Board. R-solved, “ that the Chairman and Mr Gray be a committee to t ike what steps are necessary to carry out the compul. o>y cl ime.” That ; applications be invited for - the.-' offi e of secretary, the same to be lai* bef ire the next monthly meeting Messrs Hoop r and Blyth wore appointed a visiting committee bn* the next r onth. The Committee expressed their regret that the Inspector’s report on the last examination bas not yet been laid before the Board, and that nothing has been dine re the appointment of an assistant master. The meeting then adjourned. The first annual report of the Minister of Education is a most voluminous paper of 114 pages. The number of schools in operation under the Education Board at the end - f 1877 was 730 ; total average attendance for last quarter of 1877 was 41,773. Otago heads in number of schools with 174. Total number of teachers, 1400. Canterbury beads the list with 369, as against 337 in Otago. The total number on school rol’s is .71,951, and average attendance 41,000. Special mention is made of the classes for teaching drawing established in Otago, and of their satisfactory results. With a view to aiding ami encouraging Education Boards and School Committees to establish savings banks, the Government have directed the necessary books and other payers to be furnished to Boards. These will shortly be issued.

Victoria is shipping horses to India on a large scale just now.

The narrowest railroad in the world is between North Billerica and Bedford, Mass., a distance of eight and a-half miles The truck is ten inches wide. The e igine and cars are proportionate with the width of the track. The passenger cars have an aisle in them, and a seat on each side instead of two seats, as in a full-grown car. There thirty seats in each car. The train runs twelve miles an hour; one grade on the road is 155 feet per mile. The train consists of two passenger and two freight cars and' an em gine. The cars and engines have air breaks, and all the modern improvements. Ordinary cars weigh four times as much as these little coaches. The. cost of the road is 2509 dollars per mile, and the running expenses are stated to be about, one-fourth those of ordinary trains. William Campbell, more commonly known as “ the Scottish giant,?’ died on May 26th at NewcasOe-on-Tync, where , : he was landlord of a public-house, was a native of Glasgow, and years old when he died. He was remarkable more for bulk than height, as he measured only 64 feet in his stockings, His weight, however, was 52 stone —just the same as that of Daniel Lambert, if ray memory serves me correctly—and he measures 96 inches round the shoulders, 76 inches round tha chest, 47 inches round the thigh, and 35 inches round the calf of thejleg,

The ‘ Akaroa Mail’ slates tint lie earthquake felt in the North lift id on Friday morning, and mentioned in our telegraphic news on Saturday, was also felt in Akaroa a few minutes later. The course of the wave was thereiore fro n north to south.

Hitherto we have only heard in a general way that a sum of £44,000 is to he expended in providing means of defcm e for the co'ony. From Parliamentary papers we glean that it is proposed to obtain 11 7-ton and 13 64-pounder guns, to be distributed as follows Auckland, 6; Wellington, 10 ; Lyttelton, 4, Port Chalmers, 4; but these proportions may ' be altered.

At the annual meeting of the Kaiapoi Farmers’ Club, held last week, the members present resolved that the members of the House known to be favorable to the construction of an Amberley-West Coast Railway be written to, to request them to do their best to push the line forward as speedily as possible. The northern districts, we undersmid, supply to a very large extent the dairy produce required by the residents of the West Coast, so that the railway named would he of great importance to those districts. The blankets and other woollen goods locally produced would also have, it was pointed out, a freer market on the other side of the ranges.

The longest bridge in the world is the Tay bridge, near Dundee, Scotland. A correspondent of the ‘Otago Witness gives the following particulars J especting itThe foundation stone of the bridge was laid in J uiy, 1871, and the total cost of the structure has been about L 350,000. Its length is 3540 yards, or only 370 yards short of two miles, and exceeds that \ot any other bridge in the world. Its spans number 85, and 11 of them have each a width of 240 feet, the others being of varying widths, down to 28 feet, its height above the waterway in the centre is 88 feet. Although the bridge is the lightest structure of the kind to be seen Janywhere, there have been used in its construction 8200 tons of iron, 87,000 cubic feet of timber, 15,000 casks af cement, and 10,000,000 bricks.