The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1884.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4706, 6 February 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1884.

The many inequalities of the present Education Act have been made very conspicuous ever since the measure has been in operation, and although it would be an undertaking of too great magnitude, for the space we have, at command, to take piecemeal the many corners which require " rounding off," and the numerous "doors open" .for abuse of a system which would appear to be more perfect in theory than practice ; it is not a matter of extreme difficulty to point out some desirable amendments in, at least, the working of the Act. The people of this colony have been—not only in this question, but generally—clamouring for local government, and after years of agitation bave got such an amount of it, that it may well be considered an overdose, and it must be generally admitted that they have made, in most instances," a pretty mess "of the business entrusted to them. The method of electing School Committees, to begin with; has proved a most egregious failure, principally owing to the opportunities given to factions, sects, or parties, to carry over the heads of the people generally, their views of appointing individual members of their sets, which is easily managed, This eril arises from the cumulative voting permitted by the Act, and which has proved to have a pernicious effect on the general working of the Act. The placing of too much power in the hands of local committees has apparently been avoided, but it certainly does appear that any power at all from an edueationel point of view should not be delegated to ev§n the choice of the handful of people wbo attend meetings called for the election of Commitke&B, and who, as a rule, have some speoiGe object in view in doing so. For instance, in one of our districts the annual meeting of householders vgg held, and so large wag the attendance that osarly everyone ia the room was .elected to a Commtt'ee of seven j and in another case, the spirit of the Ast was bq considered that a small knot of Attendants carried the election of their friends agaiojst tbe whole meeting, by exercising the privilege pi cumulative voting, which bad not been taken adu&ntage of by those

attending who were desirous of studying tbe personnel of the Committee, and were actuated by feelings having the general good in view. A great mistake seems to bare been made in placing in the hands of the public power to elect those who can to a certain extent interfere with the appointment of our children's educators. Such matters should be left in more competent bands than those of a School Committee chosen under a system such as at present exists. There is not the least doubt that the all important part of a School Committee's duties— viz., taking a part in the selection of teachers —should be in experienced hands, and the teachers be solely under the control of responsible persons to a greater extent than they now are. Much more satisfaction would result were education matters managed wholly departmenlally,—at least as far as appointments go,—and that only such matters as attention to school buildings, and their maintenance and wants, should be left to Committees, if they exist—the advisability of their existence, indeed, being a matter of extreme doubt. We shall take a further opportunity of referring to this most important subject.

A NOTICE in another column intimates that tbe American Evangelists, Mr and Mrs Phelps and Mr and Mrs Dorman, will commence a special mission to-night at tbe Shortland Wesleyan Church.

A slight mishap occurred at Bull's battery last night, one of the pulleys breaking. This caused a stoppage, but a new pulley was put in to-day, and crushing reauined.

Ik the Police Court this morning James Connor was, for the third time within fire days, charged with being drunk. The accused denied the charge, which was sworn to by Sergt. Murphy and Constable Hazlett. He was fined 20s, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment with hard labor. A first offender was fined ss, or» ordered to be imprisoned until the rising of the Court. T. L. Murray, Esq., J.F., presided.

We desire to remind our readers of the meeting to be held this evening in the Borough Chambers of those interested in the establishment of a tannery and boot factory company at the Thames. We understand that a large support is being accorded to the movement by the townspeople.

Thb Committees appointed by the Borough Council and Harbor Board to examine the tenders submitted them for the supply of ironmongery, nails, shovels, &c, have accepted those of Mr George McCaulof Brown street.

The manager of the London G. M. Co. informed bis directors by telegram this afternoon that he had obtained lOlbs picked stone from the winze.

The regular meeting of the Harbor Board was held yesterday afternoon, at which attended Messrs Bagnall (in the Chair), Bull, Bead, McGowan, and Wilson.—Mr C. JStone agreed to place the Board's proposal that the Auckland Savings Bank should take up some of the Board's debentures, if he were furnished with the necessary data.—The Engineer in charge of the maintenance department of the Auckland railway had written asking for the use of the dredge, for channel purposes at Onehunga, and the Chairman replied that the Board would grant it on payment of bank interest on its cost, but to this no reply had been received from Auckland.—The Board refuted to recognise a claim made by Mr B>. Kenny of £30, for alleged irjury sustained through a horse putting his leg through a broken plank on the Goods Wharf.—lt was resolved that the new by-law prohibiting the removal of sand, gravel, &c, from the foreshore, come into force on the 14th inst. —It was resolved, on the.motion of Mr Bead, seconded by Mr McGowata, that steps be at once taken to recover compensation from the Government for the seizure of a portion of Sbortland Wharf.—The Harbor Master's report, which was published by us yesterday, was read, and the alteration suggested regarding the Goods Wharf stringers was approved of. The Secretary was instructed to communicate with the Public Works Department relative to the fender piles of Shortland Wharf. —The following tenders for supplies were opened :—Timber : H. C. Gillespie (accepted). Hardware: Messrs McCaul, Benßhaw, and Morrin and Co. The acceptance of one of the last three was left in the hands of the Secretary and Mr McGowan. —Accounts amounting to £229 were passed for payment, and the meeting concluded.

The mail steamer Ausbralia arrived in Auckland yeeterday from Sydney, and Bailed again for 'EVieco in the afternoon.

At New Plymouth one day last week a man named Fellew, while bathing on the beach, was chased by a shark twenty feet long. The monster was so fierce in its pursuit that it grounded itself on the beach in its rush at Fellew, who narrowly escaped, and la/ there for several minutes before it was able to regain the water.

Thb Auckland Harbor Board have agreed to abandon proceedings against Capt. Webber, of the Zaalandia.

The bowling match, Canterbury Club against the Victorians, resulted in a tie, each side scoring 112.

Some £1000 has been collected by the natives towards Tawhiao's projected mission to England, for which the arrangements are nearly completed. The Kingitea deny that Mr Mcßeth instigated, or is connected with, the mission. Bcwi, it is stated, has ropliedto the Native Minister concerning the Btoppago of his pension that he does not care, as he nover solicited it. Tawhiao, Rewi, and Te Wheoro have invited Sir Q-eorge Grey to come up and see them to talk over matters. Among other thiDgs they want to know whether a pension can be stopped apart from personal misconduct and a reference to Parliament. Thp pension is $200 per annum.

The New Zealand Shipping Company h'ivo received a cable to the following effect:—The Tongariro arrived at Madeira (all well) at 4 p.m., February 3rd, and sailed at 12 a.m. on February 4'h f The refrigerator was working well, and the meat in prime condition. The British King arrived at Rio Janeiro (all well) at 5 p.m- on February Ist, re-sailed at 7 p.m. on February 2nd. The refrigerator was working splendidly, and tbe meat in prime condifcjpj}. The Tbn,?ariro thus made the run from Lytteiton to Madejra in 33 day 11 hours, including stoppages j and the British J^ing to Rio in 22 days 8 hours. The Deva sailed for Auckland prior to February 4tb. The Waimate Bails for Port Chalmers on February 7th. The Glance, for Auckland ; Lurline, for Weilinglon ; and Dragon, for Auckland, are loading afc London.

Tup Marlborough Times of a recent issue says :— tfcj&e Jten^erß for the .destruction of wild styjep jm tfrV.district were opened this morning, bjjt no jefjgjblp tender was' 'sent ft'ft aba been deevlp&lo gall.for fresjti tenders. It is estimated that there are about $oso wijd cheep at large, and each tkia 13 reckoned to wejgb about 20ibB.

A SHOUT eitting of the District Court, in bankruptcy, was held to«day, and orders of adjudication were made in the cases of Sherlock Bros., on the motion of Mr Miller, and Thomas Caldwell, on the motion of Mr Lush. In each case Mr W. Carpenter was appointed Deputy Official Assignee, and the next District Court day (the 4th of March) fixed for the examination of the bankrupts. The Judge allowed £10 professional costs in each case, as, according to the Act, no solicitor could recover fees except by order of the Judge.

Amongst those who succeeded in passing their B.A. examination in connection with the University of New Zealand were Messrs A. S. Webber (late of the Thames), and W. H. Airey, Thames High School.

Hi 3 Honor Judge Smith came to the Thames to-day, and a sitting of the District Court was held immediately on his arrival. In the long pending case G-arvey t. Etna Te Aouru. in which £60 is due on a promissory note, His Honor made an order for the p lyment of £1 per week and £3 3s costs. An order was also made placing the power of execution in the hands of the executrix of the late James Gbrvey, who died since the suit was commenced.

Changes are being made in the local offloa of the Bank of .New Zealand. Mr Brabant is being removed to Auckland, and Mr Coath succeeds him, while a son of Mr Spencer, Parawai, takes Mr Coath's present poaition.

At the annual meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday, the statements showed the revenue from ordinary sources for the year to be £2191 (or about £200 in excess of that of the previous year) ; bank advances, £865 6b 4d ; and from the previous year's credit balance £863 10s 4d, the total being £3920. The expenditure was £3898. The assets were put down at £56,591, £50,C00 being the estimated valuejof the foreshore. The liabilities were £7689, of which the principal items were £6000 worth of debentures issued, and £865 overdraft. The accounts were ordered to be signed by two members and published.

A Dunediii telegram appeared in our columns a few evenings ago announcing t|he death of a Mrs Gilkison, and many people wondered why such an item should be telegraphed throughout the colony. Mrs Gilkison was a daughter of Jatnea Hogg, the poet, well* known in literature as "The Ettrick Shepherd."

Gbbat consternation was caused lately in Melbourne by an occurrence which took place at Mrs Dr Potts' lecture to ladies. A medical student obtained admission to the hall by disguising himself as a woman. There were about two hundred ladies present, and great indignation was excited. Tbe student was desired to retire, but refused, and insisted that he was a woman. He remained through* out the lecture. He was accompanied by two women, who, it was supposed, were Hospital nurses.

The mining manager of the North Creek Gold Mining Company, Canterbury, with a shareholder, who for three weeks have been encamped at an unknown creek in the northern boundary of the company's lease, brought to town, yesterday morning about thirty pounds weight of quartz, taken from the reef, which is about three feet wide. Some of the specimens show gold distinctly to the naked eye. The bad weather and the want of appliances prevented more being brought.

At a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Sooiety, the President stated that at the request of the Premier three specimens of the Indian mongoose, presented to him by the New South Wales Government, had been received into the gardens, and were being kept for him there. The climate of Auckland being especially suited for them, as soon as sufficient stock had been obtained from them, it wbb intended to experiment with them in the South Island as ribbit exterminators.—Mr Steadman of Thames wrote stating that the ova sent to Messrs Smith, Allom, and himself had been successfully hatched, and asking for some American brook trout ova. They had about 350 young fish each, some of them 3jinohea long.

Thk bailiffs took possession of the State School on Monday by virtue of a distress warrant issued by Messrs Arnoht Bnd Seabrook, contractors, of Greymouth, and yesterday morning tbe teachers and children on going to the school found the doors locked by tbe bailiffs. Great indignation is felt in town about the matter. A later telegram states that the claim of Aroett and Seabrook against tbe Educational Board is now in process of settlement on behalf of Government by Mr Calders. The money was to be paid yesterday afternoon, and the school opened to-day. The Government are settling the matter only for the "present, reserving to themselres the right to take subsequent action under the 7l»t clause of the Residsnt Magistrates' Act by an interpleader. They hold that the Board being defunct sinoa the 31st January, could not own the property levied upon, A telegram on the subject appears in another column.

Befbebing to the necessity for increased wharfage accommodation, at the Auckland Harbor Board yesterday afternoon, Mr L. D. Nathan mentioned there would shortly be a fortnightly service of direct steamers to Auckland.

A Ratt£ESSAKs'fl Bite. —The quick venom of tbe rattlesnake has not killod co many people as the more insidious but deadly poisons found in the air of foul rooms. The aeration of the blood by the lungs becomes impossible sometimes, and tbe failing health, growing weakness, and loss of appetite are the harbingers of approaching death. For such cases Hop Bitters are the potent and all-powerful remedy to drive all fevers out of tbe system, purifying the blood, and giving a new and happy lease of life. Notice.