The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1853, 10 December 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1874.

It Trill be a source of general gratificato our readers to learn that the expensive and elaborate preparations for observing the transit of Venus in this colony have not been entirely thrown away. From the state of the weather here and at other places where stations had been fixed for making observations, it was anticipated that the whole arrangements would prove an utter failure. At Burnham, the head quarters of the English astronomers, the weather was nearly as unfavorable as at the Thames ; at Wellington equally as bad. But it would appear that Professor Peters, the American astronomer, has been more fortunate. He fixed his head quarters at Queenstown, Lake Wakatip; and we are extremely pleased to learn by telegram that he was most successful in his observations. This was scarcely expected/as the weather report from Queenstown, at 9 a.m. yesterday, was "cloudy." It may yet turn out that other observations have been obtained at different points in the Middle Island, the value of which cannot be over estimated. Queenstown is situated at an altitude of 1070 feet above the sea level, i»o that the position for astronomical observations would be extremely favorable. Further telegrams from the South received late last night and this morning show that at Wellington the observations were useless, the sun being obscured at the most critical moment. We rejoice to leanl, however, that one party have been successful, the observations thus made will be of great value, though to a less extent than they would have been had circumstances been equally favorable here and at other points of observation in the colony. In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning a small boy in knickerbockers, not quite eight years of age, was charged with stealing a watch and hair guard. He denied the charge, and, said another boy gave the watch to him; but the fact of his having buried the watch looked suspicious. The question raised by Mr Bullen—what is to be done with such offenders, is really a serious one. To ■end then to prison is to harden them in vice and crime; while letting them go without punishment is like giving a premium to crime. The responsibility then rests with parents and the Government. The former should see that their boys go regularly to school, and that alter school hours a proper check be exercised on their going and coming. If the parents fail to do this, then it is the bounden duty of the Government to bring into operation the compulsory clauses of the Education Act. If boys who are now running about the streets were compelled to attend school for a certain number of hours daily there would be fewer cases of juvenile crime, Not that parents should be absolved of their obligations to their offspring, but the State having provided the means of education, parents should undoubtedly be forced to send their children to school, or else be punished. Parents of children %ho, show a predilection for crime have a great deal to answer for. It is not that they encourage their offspring in idleness and vice, but indifference as to what becomes of their children during the day, and often till a late hour at night, is almost as culpable as would be downright connivance in unlawful acts.