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Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 87, 16 October 1878, Page 2

By some mistake our report of the late Temuka Horse Parade was erroneous in respect to the placing of the second and third horses in the draught class. Mr J. M. Johnston’s horse Lincoln Jock was honoured with the second place, and not Prince Imperial, as stated by us. Prince Imperial was placed third by a majority of the judges.

The Temuka Cricket Club have sent a challenge to the Burke’s Pass Club to play a match on Saturday, the 26th inst. The team will be chosen from amongst the following players : —A. Barker, E. Brown, Bryant, Carlyon, A. Cox, Craig, E. Forward. Dr Hayes, Hardcastle, M'lntosb, Patterson, Roberts, Rogers, Strangman, Tavender, and Wood, It will be advisable for the members of the Club, and especially the above named, to practice as soon as possible, as the Burke’s Pass team will no doubt be a good one, and our local team must be in as good form as possible to avoid a sound thrasli-

Clouds of paroquets are sailing about the Kakaliu district apparently waiting for the ripening for the fruit. An informant says that he saw them act '.ally nipping off the buds from the fruit trees, thus unwittingly defeating their own object, if it be the fruit they are waiting for.

The Kakahu School Committee held their ordinary monthly meeting on Wednesday, 9th instant. There were present —Messrs Rooke (chairman). Hay, Wood - ley, Bradley, and Beattie, The Chairman remarked that none of the members attended on Monday, the usual night of meeting, but himself. The minutes of last meeting were approved. Correspondence was read from Mr Hayhurst re supply of trees ; from Mr M, Gabites, from Bank of New Zealand, Timaru, and from Mr Hammond, Secretary to the Board, re dishonored cheque; from the schoolmaster, re damage done to closets during the late gale ; and vouchers for £ll 10s for buildings, &c., £5 5s for incidentals, and Lll 16s 8d for salaries were also submitted. The Chairman said he bad been to the Bank of New Zealand, Temuka, and found that no funds whatever had been paid to the Committee’s account there by the South Canterbury Board. From the information received from the Board it would appear that the said funds were in the Bank at Timaru, but that the}’ would be transferred to

Temuka. It was estimated that 522 feet of t'raher would be required for the new platform and other repairs, which, with a supply of fencing material, was to “be procured by a committee appointed for that purpose. The schoolmaster was authorised to get a chandelier at a cost not exceeding L2 10s, Accounts for cleaning, L 5, and fencing, L2 10s, were passed for payment. The meeting then adjourned. Mr J. Anderson, of Christchurch, is the successful tenderer for the manufacture of rolling stock for the Amberley to Bluff lines. The amount of the tender is £13,371. Messrs Guthrie and Larnach were the successful tenderers for rolling stock for the North Island lines. Their tenders amount to £36,218.

Several of our subscribers feel some annoyance at the manner in which they have been, and are being charged for the support they have accorded to this journal. It is to be regretted that so many changes have taken place in the proprietorship within so short a time, if only for the reason that the variety in the accounts tendered, become puzzling. The difficulty in making out whether any charge is correct will be lessened by remembering that Mr Ivess first issued the Leader on the sth December, 1877, and continued to do so until the end of March, 1878, a period of four months, Mr fitting then took charge and issued the paper to the 26th of June, a period of three months, less one issue. The present proprietor first issued the Leader on Saturday, July 13.

The Temuka Choral Society has been in a languishing state for a long time past, and, weary of its existence, has determined to apply the “bare bodkin,'’ so to speak. At a general meeting held on Monday, only five members attended, indicating the slight interest now taken in the welfare of this once popular Society. It was formally determined to wind up, and dispose of the Society’s fine Brinsmead piano and stock of music in one lot by art union. The number of tickets is fixed at sixty, and the price is to be one guinea each. It is a pity that the thing falls through, but as so few members have appeared at practice lately, to wind up wil be the most satisfactory course to pursre.

The Dunedn ' 1 Morning Herald’ s:iys that the volunteer authorities are fully determined tohave a grand mass meeting of the volnntesrs of the Middle Island in the Forbury Pirk, Dunedin, on November 9. It is expected that nearly three thousand men will be present. Amongst the companies enumerated as expected to be present are the Temuka Rifles. The moneys takenat the gates will be devoted to paying exposes of visiting companies. Preparations an being already made for the event. Tin Rifle Association intend to hold a meting similar to those of Wimb’edon at Nelson in January next. A cavalry tournament will also be held, and, if funds prrait, an artillery competition also.

The Temuka Fire Brigade turned out for practice o 1 Monday evening. There was but a srad attendance of members. The suction-hse was first put down the well near Tmibs’, but the well w'as nearly dry, :«d the engine acted inter| mittently rater as a bellows. Limber/ ing up here, nother trial was made at the- well oppnite Mendelson’s, and some very good pactice was here given the branchman. Tie Brigade would certainly not suffer froi adopting a more perfect organization. A bystander would be much more ivourably impressed with their pci’f or maces if there were fewer of such questions as, “ Where’s the key ?” “ Who’s got tis ?” and “ Where’s that?” Nevertheless, die existence of the Fire Brigade is a fet upon which the township should cotratulato itself. If occasion for its sences should, unfortunately, arise, every itizen would immediately find, and projirly appreciate its value. It is to be depued that, as a rule, they do not at presat hold it in the esteem they ought. Those whom one would naturally exfet would be the first to tender suppo; to the company are, we believe, cxtreiely backward in doing so. Every owner t a house, or of household goods, and nwe particularly every storekeeper in a ton ought to take a personal interest in tin composition and working of the local Fe Brigade. Comparatively, the Volunteei are petted on all sides, yet the chances otheir services being really required are {thousand times more remote than ar those of a Fire Brigade. Botli servicesire enlisted to defend our hearths and Imes, but in the one case the enemy is,a any case, a distant, and slowly movinpne, in the other case the enemy is not nerely at our doors, but within them, id gives no warning before it strikes. W do not wish to see quite so much enthiiasm shown about the Temuka Fire Bx'ade as is shown in American towns abft similar institutions, but we would likto see the residents, especially of theloser-built portion of the town, taking sxh an interest in the life of the Brigades would ensure that the useful little eiine in the place shall not become a me toy, with which a few active spirits lay simply amuse themselves now an again, without real care to make therelves efficient saviours of life and propty in time of need. We do no,know what to make of our Education Brd or its officers. At its

last meeting the urgency for something being done for Temuka School was brought before the Board by the deputation who visited the school at the committee’s request, and also the pressing demands of the local committee seem to have made no impression. It is true that the Board decided that the Inspector should visit the school to see what was wanted, but whether that visit .was intended to be immediate, as the school requires, or whether it is to be after the Christinas vacation, we cannot tell. One thing we know, it has not taken place yet. The school continues to increase, and the staff of teachers still continues short. On Monday last 212 children were in attendance at school. The number in the infant room could not have been under one hundred, looked after (we wont say taught) by only one teacher. The consequence may be serious both to the children and the over-wrought staff. Yet, the Board seem to care for none of these things ! If our inspector has too much to do with the twenty schools under his care, let him get help. In any case, something will have to be done soon, or we fear the Committee—at best a powerless body—will return the charge to the Board to look after themselves. Another matter requires our special attention. The Board appointed a sub-committee to re-arrange the scale of salaries for the teachers for the ensuing year. They have done so with a vengeance ! Instead of going to the Government demanding more money, it has thought proper to reduce the scale of salaries (excepting those of the Timaru teachers), who are better provided for than before. The staffs of teachers in county schools are also to be reduced. No wonder we look back to the time when we were under a Board which knew how to do their duty, and did it. Several committee*, as well as the Temuka committee, have had it under serious [consideration to petition the Government to do away with the South Canterbury Board ; but the time and trouble required—not to speak of expense—deterred them from taking this step. The best that can be done, therefore, under the circumstances, will be for country committees to be on the watch for next election, and not allow Timaru to sell them, as it did last election. We predicted what has come to pass, and are still of opinion that, until Timaru is shorn of its powers, justice will not be done to the outside districts.

The Opihi bridge has been so far repaired as to permit of the passage of light traffic. The south side of the bridge is now being attended to.

A meeting of the Temuka School Committe was held last evening, 15th Oct. 'Present —Messrs Wilson (hCairmim), Blyth, Russell, Storey, and Gray. Correspondence was read from the Board of Education referring to an assistant master as a temporary supply till Miss Young is able to resume her duties, also stating that Mr Hammond would pay an early visit to the school. An application for the use of the school for Sunday services was declined, the Committee having refused other applications of the same kind, could not entertain this. Several jfemall sums were passed for payment. ,The following resolution was then moved ufly Mr W. Storey, seconded by Mr Blyth. and carried unanimously;— tl That this committee views "with regret the neglect of the Board of Education for South Canterbury in not responding to the recommendation of this committee regarding the teaching staff and extra accommodation. We find it desirable, if something definite is not arranged, to call a public meeting of the ratepayers of the district to ascertain their views regarding our resigning our appointments unless we can be helped considerably by the Board in the interval.” The meeting then adjourned.