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Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 86, 12 October 1878, Page 2

The Rev J. Simmonds preaches in the Weslcyon Church, Tenmka, morning and evening, on Sunday next, on behalf: of the church extension, and Home Mission Funds. - We hoped that w r e had hoard the last of rising floods some days ago, but it appears we were mistaken. While wt in Temuka were grumbling at the light rain of Thursday for spoiling the races, it must have been raining ‘‘ cats and c.ogs ” among the hills. The Opilii rose from a low level to bank and bank in about four hours on Thursday afternoon. The Orari was also very high. The first uptrain of Friday, meeting no down train, went on to the Raugitata, and there had to turn back, another pier of the bridge being so much injured as to stop the passing of trains. A telegram from the Bealey warned the people of Kaiapoi that the Waikmakariri was coming down in high flood on Thursday afternoon. The north approach of the Opihi bridge was so much injured that it has been officially declared impassable.

From correspondence we learn that our exposure of Ihe unblushing selfishness of Timaru in regard to the Timaru High School has been productive of good results, one of which is that the unreasonable demand for a £IOOO endowment was cut down to £SOO, while an effort had been made to bring it down to a fixed annual sum of £SOO. We are confidently of opinion that as stated in a former issue, the Upper House will demolish the endowment clause altogether, so far as taking it from the reserves set apart for secondary education is concerned. One feature in this controversy we do not like, that is the exhi itiou of narrowmindedness shown by the action nf the member for Timaru, Mr Turnbull. We had hoped better things of him, and did not think he was a mar/ that could not look beyond his nose. One good result will come of this overreaching on the part of Timaru. It will make the country districts bestir themselves. We hope the first step they will take will be every country committee petitioning without delay to the Legislative Council to repeal this unjust clause.

A concert on behalf of the funds of the Waitohi Sunday-school came off in the Waitohi school-room on Wednesday last, which turned out to he a great success. There could not have been under a hundred people present. The entertainment consisted of songs, sung by the following gentlemen Mr Win, Currie, “ Bay of Biscay Mr Boston, “ Dixie Mr Johnstone, “ Waiting for papa a lady song, “Spinning wheel.” Mr Leishmangave one of bis famed readings in broad Scotch ; and to an encore he gave a song, followed by Mr Glasson with a song. Mr Jack sang “ Jessie’s Dream Mr M c Allister, violin solo, followed by Mr Frew, song, “ Wae’s me for Prince Charlie;” Mr W. Currie, ‘'‘Scotland Yet ;” Mr Boston, song ; Mr Leishman, a reading ; followed by a song by a lady ; song by a lady ; Mr M'Allister, violin solo ; Mr Jack, “ That won’t do for me Mr Gibson, song ; song by a lady ; s< ng, Mr Glasson, “The Add Scotch Song;” duet, lady and gentleman, “I am gain awa’, Jamie Mr Cunningham, dialogue, “ Ashore,” A recitation by a gentleman concluded (at about eleven o’clock) one of the most pleasant and orderly meetings ever hold. The amount of native talent in the Waitohi district is most astonishing, and only wants more frequent practice of so many good voices, to make these concerts centres of attraction for the young people in this district to spend their evenings pleasantly and profitably,

The Victorian Government has accepted a tender for 5000 tong of iron pipes from a local firm, encouraging native industry by so doing, but at an extra expense to the country of £13,750. A return shows that during that portion of the present financial year ending Aug. 26, the 1068 miles of New Zealand railways had yielded a revenue, less expenditure, of £20,377 4s lOd. A deputation waited on Ministers last week, urging that the £IOO,OOO on the estimates for school buildings throughout the Colony was quite inadequate to the requirements Ministers replied that they proposed adding another LIOO,OOO next year. The deputation suggested that the whole L 200,000 should be put on the estimates at once, with the understanding that not inor- than half should be expended during the present financial year. Ministers said they were disposed to favourably consider the suggestion.

The total population of the earth is now estimated to -be 1,439,145,300.

The first-class single fare ' between Dunedin and Christchurch is L2 17s 6d, on . iet.irn L 4 Gs 3.1 ; w hile the secondclass is LI 18 Ad, and return L£2 17s Gd. The differen e between first and secondclass return is. therefore. LI 8s 6d; no modest sum ; the difference in the seating, accommodating for this LI 8s 6d is a soft seat. An acquaintance of tiie writer’s says the ‘ Chronicle, ’ one possessing a fertile brain, and having “ saving ” propensities, however, balanced the difference thus—lie took a second-class ticket, and purchased a flock pillow, for which lie paid ss, thus at the end of his journey he had LI 3s 6d in cash, and a flock pillow to the good. It is to be regretted that his ingenuity cannot find a reward in a patent. It is understood that the Government wiil assist those districts which have suffered by the late floods by advancing them money, either at a very low rate of interest or without any interest, to enable the local boards or County Councils at once to repair damages. These advances to he secured on the 20 pel cent, of land fund localised hy the Act of last year. Mr J. Ollivier, of Christchurch, has written to the Mayor of Dunedin, offering, if necessary, to initiate a subscription for the sufferers by the flood as follows :—‘*l am sure if the loss is as severe as it is here said lo he, we who have so singularly escaped will be only too glad to step into the rescue. It would be simple impertinence to interfere in such a matter until we know aid is required, and that the extent of loss calls for outside help. If yon will obtain information I will cheerfully take the matter in hand, if necessity has arisen.” In referring the matter io the flown Clerk, several councillors spoke very warmly of the kindly feeling shown by the writer. There is little disposition shown by the settlers in the flooded districts to invoke outside Help. Indeed, the tone of the local press is strongly against it, and a feeler put out by one of the papers here, so far, met with no response. A rumor is going around the lobbies of the Hcnse, whether well founded or not time will show, that a motion will be tabled in the Upper House, that it is derogatory for any of its members to receive any remuneration for their attention to public affairs ; and that in future the expenditure for legislative purposes would be reduced by the striking oft the estimates the amount annually voted for Councillors' honorarium.

It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. The settlers along the coast line from Brighton to the Ocean Beach have been reaping a harvest from the debris from the inundations thrown on to the beach. Dead cattle, horses, sheep, turkeys, partridges, pou'.ttry, turnips, straw, tables, chairs, sides of houses, clothing apparel, &e., are constantly coming to hand, and are eagerly appropriated by the settlers. One gentleman, upon being congratulated upon his abundant haul, observed: —“In the Old Country, I was for three days up a tree myself. When I came to Otago I looked at the Taieri Plain, and had half a mind to buy land there; but I remembered my Home experience, so I settled down here. And now' my turn has come.” —‘Morning Herald. 1

A new warlike appliance :s about to bo intro 1 biced into tire British service, and will probably be known as the “hand torpedo.” Like the grenade-; of half a ce - tnry ago, they are intended to be thrown by the hand into the enemy’s boats, or over parapets, or stockades, but instead of being shells exploded by a fuse, as the grenades wire, they will consist entirely of gun cotton pulped and compressed into a cake or ball of 31b or 411) weight. A long cord is attached to each charge, the other end of which is connected with a kind of pistol held by the operator. The torpedo is pitched into the required position, when a touch on the trigger of the pistol detonates the gun-cotton, and an explosion follows, such as experiment has shown to he sufficient to shatter in atoms a live-ton block of granite. One such charge skilfully applied would annihilate a/boat’s crew, and in the hands of daring men might work great destruction by being thrown into large ships. Referring to the insurrection in New Caledonia, the ‘ Pall Mall Gazette’ savs : “This rising is not much to be wondered at, if all talcs are Lue that are told about the relations of the French Government and settlers to those people. In the accounts which have from time to time been published in the no vspapers about this great island little or nothing has been said concerning the aboriginal inhabitants. Yet they are numerous, and ferocious when roused; moreover, a large portion of the country still remains entirely in their hands. They act as a sort of volunteer guard, over the Communists and convicts, who are scarcely likely to take to the bush to meet with such unpleasant hosts. Now, however, these natives seem to have put themselves in evidence, after the manner of their kind, by perpetrating a massacre on some 125 of the obnoxious French settlers, who are gradually driving them farther and farther back. The French have never pretended to deal with native populations in accordance with humanitarian principles. If the natives give trouble or get in the way, they are very summarily dealt with. They are regarded in much the same light as shepherds in the northern part of Australia look on the “ blacks,” or an American miner regards Indians. There can be little doubt that before long they will be exterminated.”

At a late meeting vf the Diocesan Sun-day-school Association, Christchurch, Mr M- Murphy gave a reading on the subject i f lt Flowers as Educators,” Ho prefaced his remarks by saying that at the first glance the subject of flowers might not appeal’ in any way to be akin to the objects of the association, but if tire matter were looked more closely into it would be found that they possessed a most refining influence, particularly upon the young, and that their study engendered a love of all that was good and beautiful. For this reason, among others, he would like to see the elementary study of flowers introduced into our system of training children, where it might be done to groat advantage at our Sunday schools. Mr Murphy proceeded to describe, in very forcible and telling language, the part which flowers bad played in the history of civilisation, and their bearing in history from the very earliest ages. In the course of his reading, Mr Murphy gave many extracts from works of ancient and

mo leru writers, and dwelt particularly upon the part which flowers had ever played in the poetical literature of all nations.

A new route to Australia, states the ‘ British Trade Journal,’ is proposed by Mr J. Glyn, of Leghorn, whh-h is rather startling in its boldness. It includes a tunnel between Gibralter and Ceuta ; a continuous line of railway through Central Africa from Morocco to Port Natal ; the linking together of the railways of the several Australian colonies, uniting Perth with Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney ; and a branch line of railway from the coast opposite Aden, bringing Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, into communication.

fl'he Otago Cricket Association has resolved to forward a letter of congratulation to the Australian Eleven immediately after their return to the Colonies. At the annual meeting of the Association great satisfaction was expressed at the victories of the Australian team in Eng land, The Directors of the Dusky Sound Copper Mining Company have accepted the tender of Mr John Mackenzie to drive two tunnels—about GOft. and 140 ft. respectively -at the Company’s mine, so that the lode can bo worked from two distinct, levels. In order that work shall be pushed on vigorously, the men are to work in regular day and night shifts. The following regulations in respect of tne examination and classification of teachers in Otago has been published : “ The class for which a certificate is granted being determined by examination, the division within the class shall depend—first, on the number of years during which the teacher has been actually engaged in school-teaching, one mark being assigned for two years’ service, two marks for five years, three marks for eight years, four marks for eleven years, and five marks for fourteen 3 ? ears and upwards ; and second, on the judgment of the Inspector in whose district the teacher is at work, such judgment being expressed hy marks ninnhcrng 2,4, G, 8, or 10, according to the Inspector’s estimate of less or greater efficiency ; and, the marks of both series being added, 14 marks shall qualify for the first division, 11 marks for the second, 8 marks for the third, 5 marks for the fourth, and 3 marks for the fifth.” A large number of sheep and cattle drowned in the Clutha floods have been washed ashore on the Ocean Beach.

A correspondent of the Auckland ‘ Star’ suggests that a sausage machine should be fitted to the cow-catchers on the New Zealand railways, so as to utilize the beef and mutton now so shamefully wasted. The cow-catcher should also, he suggests, be improved, so as to be more certain in its action. The “ goods ” should be sold by tiie pound, yard, or mile, in quantities to suit purchasers. The revenue deiived would be a valuable addition to the Public Works Fund.

The ‘N Z Times’ says the promoters of the Tramway Company have done more, it is said, than they anticipated when they initiated tiie movement for establishing tramways in this city. It is stated that one effect of cheap and speedy means of communication is to material!}' lesson the consumption of spirits and beer, so much as to seriously attest the receipts of the publicans. We wish no harm to the hotelkeepers of this city, who as a body are essentially respectable men ; but if the effect of tramways is to mitigate the curse of modern civilisation (drinking habits) then lot tramways be made in every practicable direction.