The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3135, 6 March 1879, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1879.

A few days ago we had reason to find fault with the manner in which the Harbor Board had discharged its duties, but from a report in another column it will be seen that the Board has taken a course which will enable it to tide over its present difficulties. We cannot approve of the course adopted, but it is not easy to suggest a better, and it at least shows that the members of the Board, at a considerable risk to themselves individually, are prepared to make sacrifices for the public good. There is also a prospect that more attention will be paid to the operations of the Board, and that the work done by the dredge will be enquired into, and an opinion arrived at as to whether a fair return has been obtained for the money expended.

" Notwithstanding the fact that there were combined yesterday a wet day and a contested election, there was very little drunkenness observable, or if there was any, it was beyond the ken of the police, for up to a lati hour last night the only arresj made was one drunkard, and he was "fun in" early in the forenoon." (Creditable for Auckland) ?—Herald.

Me G. Black, engineer, returned from Gisborne yesterday, (says the Herald) whither he had been to devise a scheme for supplying the town with water. The work, we believe, if carried out, will be a difficult and costly one.

A meetimg of gentlemen interested in getting up sports at Parawai on St. Patrick's Day was held at the Hibernian Hall last evening. A committee was apappointed, and it was decided to get up a football match for all-comers', and several races.

The Herald says:—We are informed indeed, that it is not improbable that means will be taken authoritatively to call upon all those who have attempted to alter the Education Act to resign their seats. Thus far have we been brought by the denominational " block vote."

A N.Z. Gazltte of February 22nd contains a proclamation altering the rates of postage to Bolivia, Chili, Ecuador, and Peru, South America, via San Francisco and Panama!

We have received Mr W. Lodder's Steam Vessel and Machinery circular, also reports of the addresses given by Mr W, L. Eees at Poverty Bay on the subject of Native Lands, p"inted in pamphlet form.

The inquest on the body of the young lady, poisoned in Parucll, apparently by taking an over-dose of laudanum, to alhy acute pain, ended in an open verdict. The details of the evidence are extremely sad. The use of narcotics to assuage acute suffering is a most dangerous remedy. There is scarcely a line in the report, which does not speak loudly as a warning to those who resort to narcotic poison as a " pain-k^ ler."—Herald.

It is satisfactory to notice the Alburnia once more figuring in the list of dividend paying mines, for as will be seen by advertisement a dividend of half a-crown will be payable at the Company's office on and after the 12th inst.

We hear that an Ohinemuri gentleman has bet £20 that in two years 150,000 acres of. land will have changed hands in the Ohinemuri Biding and be occupied.

We are much pleased to learn that the captain and engineer of the s.s. City of Sydney, which arrived in harbor yesterday en route for San Francisco with the English mail, report very highly of the trial of Bay of Isiands coal, made on the voyage to Sydney last month. The engineer states that he would as soon use it as any other coal. That it possesses splendid steaming qualities, and that ihe consumption would be no more than of Newcastle coal. This is indeed a very favourable report, and is excellent lestimoay to the worth of Bay oal. As a practical outcome of this report, tle^next boat, the s.s. City of New York, due next Tuesday, is instructed to take in what Eay coal she requires.—Herald.

The New Zealand Times says that the Commission on Higher Education examined a f,reat many wuaosses in Auckland, whose evidence has shewn pretty conclusively that secondary education in Auckland is in a very backward condition. The Senate of the New Zealand University meets in Punedin shortly, and as se/e----ral members of the commission are also members of that body, and feel pound to attend, (o the exclusion of all other duties, it will be difficult to keep a quorum at the Edw alion Commission. However, if a quorum is obtainable, evidence will be taken as to the condition of the institutions in Wellington, Wanganui, and Nelson coming within the scope of the commission.

The defeated candidate—Mr Dignan— for Auckland City West is reported in the Herald to h^ve mr.de the following remarks at tbe declaration of the poll : — Gentlemen, it devolves upon me, tae losing candidate, to return you thanks. But, although beaten, I am not frightened. I thank those 261 eleotors who so nobly came forward and voied in my favor, ana, I assure you, I do not consider the cause lost. Tuat is all I have got <o say. (Cheers.) The Herald differs from Mr Dignan's opinion. He states he doe.'! not consider the cause lost, and that journal, in its lead'ng article of yesterday, siys : —On this subject the country has been thoroughly roused, although we believe cot hastily, or without a cause, and probably ~'t will now be se lied for a genet ciion at least. In what constituency can Denominalionalisls expect a victory, now that Auckland City "West has given forth no uncertain sound, preceded by the loss of another stronghold of the anti-^duca-tionis'.s, Nelson city. The gage of buttle has been throw a down long ago to tl>e defenders of the present system. They did not hastily or willingly, snatch it up. They did not seek the battle, but they will not shun it now that it has come. Yesterday's decision is therefore, to all those who voted in favor of Mr Curtis's bill, a very emphatic notice to quit. Every constituency for which a Denominationalist now sits will be contested, and those in favor of the present system will say, •• Under this banner we sha 1! conquer."

We do not believe that c 1 any other question would so many have polled, and a contest between the two most popular men in New Zealand, supposing that no gi'eat principle had been involved, would noi have drawn an equal number of elec'prs to the polling-booth. At last election for City West 707 votes were polled, while yesterday 1,037 persons voted. The contest was one solely and purely of principle, the education system of the country being at stake.—Hei aid.