THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3636, 21 August 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O' CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1880.

Dubihg the past few days the Education question has been engrossing the minds of many persons from the proposal in Parliament to reduce the Education rote,andmake it subserviant to the scheme of general retrenchment., [Regarding the great efficiency of our Education system, and the. desirability of placing the means in the hands of the poorest colonist of educating his children, there can be no two opinions; but the question arises are we not paying, too dear for the boon, while our financiers

tell us absolutely' that the colony cannot afford the money spent on it. Taking it for granted that this is so we must look into the question and see how the-expen-diture can be reduced without interfering with the general principles of our State school organisation. While we are prepared to admit that it is the duty of the State to provide education, we think it is exceedingly questionable whether the taxpayers should be called on to pay for the 1 tuition of . the higher branches of the j usual school curriculum. The duty of the State to supply its starring _£*ep}-« with the necessaries of "fe, but not with luxuries, -V * principle analogous. to that «* hare referred to, and if the i free State schools strictly confined them, selves to the instruction of our y_outh in the mysteries of the proverbial " three 1 R'b," a very considerable amount could be economised. This would meet all the requirements of the advocates of State Education, though' it could not be taken advantage of by, those, who are well able to pay for the education of their children in the higher branches, and for the child, ren of the poorer classes. desirous of getting higher education provision might be made in the way of scholarships which should be exclusively open for the offspring of the poor, and not for heirs of wealth, whose previous educational advantages too frequently enable them to be the successful competitors. It is a strange coincidence that at the present time a similar phase of the Education question is agitatiDg the minds of the people of England, as we find the following paragraph as a late item of mail news :— "In the House of Lords, Lord Norton (better known as) Sir Charles Adderley) moved an address to the Queen, praying that she will be pleased to order that the subjects taught in primary Behools shall not transgress the limits of strictly primary education. The fourth schedule of the Education Code enables instruction to bo given in the rudiments of Euglish literature, .metbamatics, Latin, French, German, mechanics, animal physiology* physical geography, botany, and domestic economy to children who have acquired a certain proficiency, in the three It's. What, asked Lord Norton can be the object teaching these things or any of them

to the sons and daughters of the working j classes ? They belong to the curriculum of secondary schools, and it is an injustice to the ratepayers, out of whose .pockets the cost, of primary schools are for the most part defrayed, to provide educational luxuries of this sort. The majority of the riouse of Lords voted with Lord Norton. Yet it is certain that the Government will not give effect to the vote." Although the reference to the children of the working classes is not made in the nicest manner possible, or bespeaks much liberality, yet in the main the opinions expressed meet our views. With the colony in its present position, and its legislators assuring us that our expenditure mast be cut down, it is not difficult to see that in the cost of this department of the State a considerable reduction will have to be made, and probably the time will come when we will have to agree to dispense with luxuries in order to secure necessities.

Thjj Petitions Committee of the House have reported in the matter of Mr Campbell'* petition against Mr Braftsey, that there is no evidence in support of the petition, and iv the case of Annie Boberts no recommendation is made. „-. ,■....,...... ' A long letter from "Editor of Enoch" will be found in onr let and 4th pages.

Jn another column will be found an advertisement from Meßsrs Brown, Barrett and Co i to the effect that their first shipment of new season teas is daily expected. There appears to be a little extra competition this year amongst importers in respect to teas.but from the reputation gained by this old established firm during the many years they have been in businees, they will take a lot of "wiping out.". '. . -:'"■■'■■ ■ '• '•'■ ' .-■ " ' • ,

The Government in reply to a question said the adTisability of amending the divorce law Would be referred to the Royal Commission appointed to consider readjustment of legal procedure in this colony, and he had no doubt bat that next session fresh legislation would be made on the subject.

At an inquest on the body of Matthew Henderson, who committed suicide at Wellington, the jury, after two hours' deliberation, returned a verdict of" felo de-Be." This means that he wilfully' took his life in calm moments, and he is refused Christian burial.

The wild beast show was well patronised last night. The proprietors offer some very nice presents, some of which may be seen'in the window of the place where the animals are to be seen.

Many of our readers who recollect Mr W. Dawson, at one time under-ground boss of the Cure and afterwards manager of the Crowa Princess, will regret to bear of bis death which occurred in Sydney on the 28th of June last. Mr Daweon left this district some fourteen months ago when when mining matters were at such a low ebb.

At the afternoon sitting of the B.M. Court yesterday before Mr Kenrick, R.M., the three natives charged with stealing gum from Mr Kelly, of Hikutaia, were brought up. A large amount of evidence was taken, from which it appears the natives had broken' into the store and removed the gum because Kelly had not paid a balance due to them oa it. His Worship .cautioned the natives of the i graveness of the offence they had committed, but said he did not think they had any felo--1 nious intent, but simply took the gum to I make Kelly settle up. The case would conse- ; quently be dismissed.

From [\he manifest of the barque Scottish Lassie, which has just armed in Auckland, we notice the first shipment of spring and summer'goods for our enterprising townsman, Mr James Marshall. In the course of a few days we presume bur lady .friends will hare an opportunity' of both inspecting and selecting therefrom.

Mb J. E. Harrison, of Coromandel hasjust received advice of the shipment to hini per incoming' mail of a oolony of Italian bees from San Francisco.

Miss Bligh gives the following account of how she was induced to take the poison:— She says Henderson mixed strychnine with lemonade, drank half and handed the remainder to her, pointing out the disgrace she would incur by living. She theh^tosied off the poison.

Mb Johnson, of Wellington, states that the unemployed can earn 7s to 9s a day gathering fungus, for which Wellington merchants will give 3d per lb.

We are glad to hear that the steam service to Fiji,'established by the Auckland Shipping ' Company has improving prospects of Btability. Mr Oole, the owner of the Meg Merrilies, and well-known in Fiji, has resolved to assist the Company and withdraw his schooner from the trade. There is also a good prospect of assistance from the Fiji Government, if not by subsidy, by tariff concessions favourable to exehanga. We have no doubt that the establishment of better communication will lead to a larger.£*♦* "of New Zealand capital to th««» irf&ds whioh were so luns'^y indebted in their early days ,tn Auckland enterprize.—Star.

It is stated that Mr Gladstone's expenses in connection with the Midlothian election have been met by subscriptions from Liberals throughout the country, and that he has accordingly been returned free of expense.

With reference to the muoh talked of precocity of the Colonial youth, we'may add another instance of their cheek and 'cuteness. An interesting game of " big ring " was going on on the footpath in front of this office, and two school-going youngsters, became so en* grossed that they forgot all about their scholastic daties till considerably after the heur. They accordingly put their head.* together, and the outcome of it was that they deputetionised our " devil," and asked him to write an "excuse." This the boy—a ten year older —did, and, on beiog told how wrong it was, said "I went to .—'s school, and he wollops' the kid* for being late, so I can pity the poor little devils."

Pabents desirous of sending their children to the High School are notified by advertisement that the half-quarter commences on Monday next, the 23 rd inst.

It is stated that the Victorian Government intend to appoint a.board to inquire into the wholo of the circumstances attending the capture of the Kelly gang, from the first out- N break to^jthe final tragedy at Glearowan. A obntikman who has just arrived in Auckland after a visit to the new " rush " at Tcmortt, N.S.W., desires to warn persons against going there. He s>ys there are already 10,000 people on the ground, and. that the place is completely overdone. On her last trip the Albion took 20 or 30 persons from here to try their luck at Temora, so that the warning does not come a moment too' soon.-* Star.

Th« Star says that the Bey. A. Carrick, of St. Audrew's Church, will give the next of the series of winter lectures to morrow (Saturday) evening at the Young Men'i Christian Asso* cmtion Hall. The subject will be " Modem Scepticism, and how to treat it." MrOamck is recognised as one of the ablest of Auckland ministers, and quite equal to the task he has undertaken from an orthodox side of the sub* jcct. In these days of religious progieis, when we have Herbert Spencer promulgating his advanced views of science, philosophy, and

morals, and other opinions pertaining to religious thought, which many consider sub" versive of the tenets of the old orthodox principles; und when such ministers as (he Rev. Stopford Brooke and H. B. Hawois, we gifing Sunday evening pulpit lectures to the people on morals and poetry, it is time for defenders for the old faith, pure and simple, to come to the fore. At the meeting of the Education Board in Auckland yesterday these resolutions were passed :—(I) To adopt a new scale of grants to Committees to meet requirements for cleaning and other school purposes. (2) To reduce ail salaries above £100 from the let of October next as follows: £100 and £160, 5 per cent., excepting head teachers; £100 to £120 without, residence, £160 and £200, 7J. per cent..; £200 and upwards, 10 per cent. (3) To effect a further saving in cost of office staff by" a combination of offices. (4) To apply to Government for re-payment of the 10 per cent, capitation already paid to committees for the months of Augast and September. (5).T0 represent to Government the large expendiure now incurred in tome districts, but not. in Auckland, for the payment of capituticm on attendances of children under five yearn of age, under the minimum school age directly specified in the Aot. An exchange says:—" Our Greymouth friends are always in turmoil and excitement. The question exercising their minds at present is the naming of the township at the Seven-teen-mile Beech. Since the first rush there the place has been known as Barryville, in honour of a local pioneer storekeeper, but at the request of several leading people the j Government decided to rename it Fosberry, after, a lady in that town. We would suggest that the belligerents settle the difficulty by compromising the difference : call the town. Fosbarryville. At the K.M. Court this morning before Mr Kenriok, the only business was the hearing of a case of, insulting language in which Miss E. Kane was the complainant and Mrs Leydon the defendant, and a cross action between the same parties. / The evidence showed that both parties had beea to blame, and the case was dismissed. Db Wallis entered a strong protest against the -House sitting after 12.30 a.m. He said he would prefer a four, five, or six months' session and health to a shart one and a debilitated constitution. The Government he said, persisted in carrying the motion, because of their brute strength. There were two clases in the House, those who were old and wise, and those who were young and learning to be wise. (Laughter.) The old and wise could not sit till two,-three, or four o'clock in the morning, and the consequence would be the House and the country would be deprived of the benefit of the experience and wisdom of the older members of the Legislature, including himself. The House laughed a grim and doubting sort of laugh; but the doctor wai serious, and felt that he had scored a point. His eloquence, however, was wasted on the desert air, for the motion was carried—Post.

J. Mabshaix has jiufc opened the last case of Winceys for 2Jd, worth 7£d. Cheap Pianos.—With the view of meeting the increasing demand for a cheaper class of Pianos than those I have hitherto imported, I have made arrangements for a supply of Board's French Pianos, which in future I intend to keep in stock in addition to Ohappell's Lohdom made instruments.—John Q-aioa, Pollen strest.

IuroBTAHT find! 0. MoLivbb has juit received a splendid assortment of American Prints; also the latest novelties in Pipes, Match-boxes, and other smoking requisites. N.B.—Try the Planters' Delight. Tobacco and Cigars. I wish it to be understood that my object in selling 3s Tea is the greatest good to the greatest number, and that the greatst number is number oft, therefore try McGowan's 3s Tea