OUR NEWS LETTER.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 206, 14 July 1893, Page 2

OUR NEWS LETTER.

During their stay at Sydney, the New Zealand footbal ers have been royally entertained by the New South Wales Rugby Union. Today the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand entertained the visitors and a large number of guests at a harbour picnic. At dinner Mr George Campbell, one of the New Zealand selection committee and manager of the team, during his speech said that he wished it publicly announced that the team had received excellent treatment at the hands of the company on the voyage to Sydney, and also since their arrival in that city. Subsequently Captain Mclntosh, of the s.s. Wairarapa, entertained the team on board his vessel. The visitors left for Newcastle to-night where they play a match tomorrow. The New Zealand foetball team on arrival at Newcastle to play the team selected from the Northern Districts, was welcomsd by the Mayor, in the Town Hall. The w r eather was fine, and there was a good attendance The gameended:JNew Zealanders 25, Northerners 3. July I—v. New South Wales—won by a goal from a try and 4 tries (17 points) to a goal from a try and 1 try (8 points). July 4—v, New South Wales juniors (18) won by a goal from a try, 2 potted goals and 2 tries (19) points) to nil, July 6—-v. Northern districts of N.S.W.—. won by 3 goals from tries, 1 goal from the field, and 2 tries (25) to a goal from a penalty kick (3 points).

A visitor to Sydney, who saw the first two games played by the New Zealand team, says that Jervis, of Auckland, and Butland. of West Coast, both stood out conspicuously above the rest of the backs, aud played first-class games. A Maltese stoker saved the Camperdown from foundering by elosing the water-tight doors at the risk of his life. Nine feet of her stem were broken off, but her ram remained intact. Owing to the effects of the drought in Enr. land, the colonies are advised to send supplies of butter early and in large quantities, There is a steady demand from Holland. The average amount of each Post Office Savings Bank deposits received during the past year at Auckland was £l3 4s 2d ; this is a higher average than in any other centre with the exception of New Plymouth, which has an average of 6/2 higher. In the average amount or each withdrawal Auckland takes seventh place. In the excess of deposits over withdrawals Wellington takes the lead with £18,942, and Auckland comes next with £l3, 297. the next on the list being down to less than £6,000. This does not tend to show that the Austrians have withdrawn any extraordinary amounts. In the average amount standing to the credit of each depositor at the close of year Hokitika leads with £3O 10s lOd and Auckland takes second place with £2B 17s 2d.

From the Balance-sheet of the N. Z. Post Office Account for the year ended 31st December, 1592, I find thst £6 represents the total received for gum licenses issued at Postoffices. The report of the Minister of Education is full of interest on many points. The average attendances of the different schools are given for the third quarter of last year ; that o'? the Helensyille school was 190, and the principal schools further north are given as under, Whangarei 169, Aratapu 113, Kamo 112, Kawakawa 102. Kopuru and Dargaville follow with 93 each.

A good deal has been said and written in criticism of the Eng’ish used by teachers and inspectors, so that it will not be presuming too much if I point out to the Head of the Education Department that Arapohue is in the Hobson County and not in Otamatea, as he placed it in his report just issued-