The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 173, 31 May 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1879.

Mk Jonas Woodward lias doiw good service to the cause of Education by laying before a meeting of the United School Committees in Wellington some practical and useful suggestions for amending the present Education Act, We will briefly refer to some of the more important of them. No. 2is that not more than three members of a Committee should retire at each annual election, and that all the members of a Committee should not retire just as they are becoming acquainted with their duties. This will commend itself to most people as a wise provision, especially when there is 110 permanent officer, in the shape of a paid Secretary, connected with a Committee. No. 3 advocates the abolition of the cumulative vote. We do not think this system of voting is popular in the Colony, and would be glad to see a simpler method introduced. The following suggestions will be generally approved

1, That the Board shall have power to remove touchers from schools, although there bo no vacancy at the time in any other school; also that the word "transfer" should be used to express the removal of a teacher from one school to another,— Boason ; Because case 3 occur in which it is expedient to remove a teacher from a school without delay, although there may bo no intention to dismiss liim from the service of the Board. It is therefore proposed tliat hc should wait until there be opportunity to appoint him to another school. The word "transfer" is suggested to distinguish between an immediate and a prospective replacement of the teacher to a similar, or hatter, position than ho held in his former school, 7. That it should be necessary to consult the'committee before any changes are made in the teaching sfaff of the schools.-lleason. Because, whiio the general knowledge of all the schools possessed by the Board, makes it desirable that the Board should have the power to make any appointments or changes in the teaching-staff of the schools, yet it is due to the committee, and may lie greatly for the advantage of particular schools, that the committee should havo some control over appointments and changes.

No, 4 rends that provision should _ be made for the establishment of infant schools- viz., that there should be class rooms for very young children, who am often sent to school not because they are old enough to learn, but because their" elder brothers and sisters have to take charge of them. It is a great advantage to the Colony that the school committees of a town like Wellington should meet together to _ discuss the practical amendments required to make an educational scheme as perfect as possible. The measure at present is very faulty, and were it not for a certain amount of forbearance exercised by both the Boards and School Committees under their harmonious action between them would be impossible, The time will come we hope when the Wairarapa Committees will meet'in council, and lend their aid in the good work.

•■.J, J, Smith, tobacconist and stationer, moveii to-day into his new premises oppo-. site tlio Council Chambers, Masterton. . ' On Monday next (Whit-monday) the grand entertainment and concert in St. Matthew's schoolroom comes off:

There is a meeting of Wairarapa County East to-day, but the exact hour of the gathering is, we believe, unknown, Messrs James Russell and Co,, archi-. tects, announce that thoy have opened an office in Messrs 11 and J. Brown's wellknown buildings.,

We need hardly remind our readers that' Bishop Redwood will be at Masterton to-morrow to consecrate St. Patrick s Church.

Mr James Thompson announces that lie has taken the shop lately in the occupation of Mr J. Prentice, with a view to extending his bakery business.

The meeting of tlio members of the Working Men's Club at Greytown, which was to have been held on Thursday evening, was postponed till this (Saturday) evening at 8 p.m.

Mr Gurr, of Feathorston, was a candidate for the hoadmastership of the Mount Cook School.

Lady Normanby was taken dangerously ill on Wednesday, and remains in a critical state.

Last week's wool sales in London comprised 52,700 bales. Prices remain firm, excepting for inferior qualities, for which values were irregular.

The Mayor elect of Wellington on taking his seat at tho Council on Thursday last was coldly received. Mr Hutchison, however, was conciliatory in his demeanour on that occasion, and bore himself with dignity.

Wellington sportsmen, whon tliey visit the Wairarapa, do not always go to the right spots for gamo. This week two gentlemen wont out shooting to Wainuioru and bronght back with them as their bag for the day, 50 pigeons. They shot more but could not carry a greater number home.

The Banks will, we believe, be closed on Monday next, Hitherto they have notified to tho public the numerous holidays in which they are wont to indulge, but at Masterton this laudable custom has been discontinued. We are glad, however, to notico that in other parts of the district and in Wellington this act of courtesy towards tho public is still observed, There was a very largo attendance at the entertainment given by the Georgia Minstrels on Wednesday at Grcytown, and without further going into the matter of tho entertainment, we can say that the public were thoroughly pleased, as was shewn by tho repeated applause which creetcd evcy effort of the company, S Tho report of the English Commission sent by Rivers Wilson to inquire into the famine in Uppei Egypt, shows from statistics that 10,000 persons died from starvation alone, In Cerjab Kena and Esta the famine, which is really a money famine caused by over taxation, is now terminated, but lias left disastrous consequences. If similar taxation continues, another partial failure in the rice crop will cause a famine worse than the last. At the second meeting of the creditors of Jamiß Huxley, according to the Times, held on Thursday at the Empire Hotel, it was resolved, in consequence of the debtors heavy losses and the straightforward manner he had conducted his business, to accept 10s ill the £, The kind offer of Mr Nathan to guarantee payments was dispensed with, and Mr James Smith and Mr J. S. M. Thompson consented to act as trustees without fco or reward, consequently the trade of Mr Huxley will be carried on as usual. The Bangitikei Advocate reports that Mrs Cameron, mother of Mr Charles Cameron, of Turakina, whose age is close upon 100 years, recently walked from one station to another, a distance of over five miles, over a very rugged and precipitous track, unaccompanied by anyone, and without even the aid of a walking-stick. In some places in the road a horse would with difficulty make his way, so exceedingly steep is it; yet this surprisingly active littlo old body accomplished the distance in a very short time. Many of our town maidens would hesitate before attempting such a lonely and arduous walk, of which Mrs Cameron, even at her advanced age, appears to have thought nothing. The Waste Lands Board met on Thursday last, Present-Messrs Holdsivorth (in the chair), Johnston, Bunny, and Mason. The secretary stated that since the last meeting of the Board 214 acres of land had been sold in the Manawatu and Wairoa districts, The amount received on payment was £145. On the motion of the Chief Commissioner it was resolved " That notice be sent to selectors of sections under the deferred payment regulations on the Ist June and Ist December in each month, rominding them that the payments become due on the Ist July and the Ist January following." Mr J. Riddiford made application to purchase portion of the Awhoa Block, but the consideration of it was postponed until the next meeting of the Board. Laud jobbery seems to be do:ie on a gigantic scale iu Queensland, liic new Government seems to have a warm side for squatters, In order to allow them to obtain at their own terms a renewal of pastoral leases from the Crown, it has put up for sale at short notice, 12,509 squaro miles of country. The reserve is L2 per square mile, or three farthings per acre, This vast area of country, as large as the Kingdom of the Motherlands, which lias a population of four millions, and nearly equal to a seventh of the Colony of New Zealand, will all be disposed of in one day. The sale will take place simultaneously in several districts, The lots will run from twenty to three hundred square miles. The short notice and the simultaneous sale are evidently intended to allow previous tenants to take it up again on their own terns. There has been a good deal of igdignation, and a good many denutations, but to no purpose. The Board of Education, says the Times, held another long sitting on Thursday. The proceedings throughout were most desultory and irregular, but their tedium was relieved by several episodes. Of thase tile chief was a littlo passage between Mr Hutchison and Mr Bunny. On the latter making an appeal for a little order and regularity in the business, and statin" his objection to come there to listen to a vast amount of twaddle, his lYotship tho Mayor said Mr Bunny was the most disorderly member of tho Board, he bavin" the habit of walking about their small room like a chained lion, and as to talk-, ing twaddle, the lion, member forWairarapa was the worst offender on the Board. Mr Hardy, B. A., was appointed Mr Everiss' successor at Mount Cook school, and several pieces of land for school sites were ordered to be purchased in Thorndon. Several important matters were referred to the consideration of committees, whose reports, that they may be acted upon without the delay of a \yholo month, the Board will meet to consider on Wednesday week next,

• Tlio.. (idjo.ui'hgti Jmectifig of those inSrastertpri Br-oss Band was | held last evening, when thero was a fair number present. '' • The Committee appointed for the ; purpose of forming the bund reported haying procured a list of those willing to join, -and an excellent code of rules,-drawii up by the Hon Secretary, Mr Corbett, were submitted to the meet® ing. The report was approved and the .lules adopted. The members of the band are to-night, and on their assenting to the rules,the snstruments will be handed over and they may proceed-to elect their bandmaster, and commence practise forthwith. It will be extremely gratifying to the public to know that the band will-at last, be on a satisfactory footing and the township enlivened by its excellent music.

The Labor Market in Canterbury is coining t'd a somowhat healthier conotion. The Canterbury ' Star' of Wedensday says" From inquiries made this morning full of details as to the present state of the labor-market were obtained, There are now plenty of laborers unemployed, and among them sar eome firstclass ploughmen. Were asteady rain to take place for a few days to bring the soil into better condition for working, ploughmen would doubtless be at once in demand. There is a brisk inquiry for potato-diggers. The price paid for raising is from 8s to 9s per ton, including digging, sorting, and bagging. There is a like demand for men to clear land from timber in readiness for ploughing. Contract rates are from £7 to £8 an acre. Married oouples are greatly in excess of the demand, though there is no inquiry of couples with encumbrances. Useful boys aro in great request, a growing demand is expected for men to undertake contract fencing. Already several orders have been received for hands for bush clearing, ■3sa to 403 per acre being offered. For all classes of servants thero is a steadily-increasing demand. Rates are as follows Ploughmen, 20a to 22s 6d, with rations; married couples, £55 to £75 per year and found; general servants, L3O per annum; female cooks, L4O; housemaids, L2O; housekeepers, L3O; nursegirls, 5s per week; waitresses, 15s. Barmaids, there is absolutely no inquiry at present, and for male servants for hotels the demand is very limited,

Bank notes," 'says the Canterbury " Loafer,"." are very scarce and valuable. How valuable tho following little circumstances will show. Some of the senior boys at one of our public educational institutions met a friend some shnrt time since •and one of them, with dardonable pride, produced a one pound note, It is needless to sey he was the cynosure of twenty pair of eyea. He being an unselfish kind of lad, announcek that ho (lid not wish to keep such a curiosity to himself, but had made up his mind to raflio it; which lie did, at thirty-three members at one sliil; ling each. Whatafinancer that youth will make by-and-by.,'

A famine next year in Russia is predicted by Russian' journals, Lust yoar about one-third of the crop was destroyed by beetles and marmots, so that the seed lias been deficient; and the cattle plague took off 90 per cent, of the cattle in many places. To these, things must be added the extraordjuary drought of the past half year. Then in Russia tuere are too many holidays (apout 100 in the year). Drunkeness, also, is a widespread vices whose wastefulness is greatly felt. Most of the land in Rusaia is under mortgage to bankeis, the proprietors are hardly able to pay the'r interest, and tho arrears are every whore about 20 per cent, The grain, whcli is the clieif article of export, and which furnishes taxes and all supplies, is devoured py parasites while growing, after being grown, and oil railroads. It cannot ( says the Grey River Argus) be alleged that even more than a. mere tithe of the wastes and forests of this coast has been prospected. Daily experience [droves this. Gold is coniinually being found on spots-some of them long ago passed over by the diggers', aud others quite unsuspected of being auriferrus; but still it remains an undoubted fact that not a singse paid prospecting party, however well organised, has ever resulted in anything of advantage. How and why this should be we cannot profess to explain; all we know is that it is the case, that paid prospecting parties have inevitably been failures. In Victoria a large sum of monev was voted a few years agofor prospecting purposes, and parties equipped by Government with the best- a ppliuncea—boring tools, &e.—were sent out in all directions whiregolp had not been found, dut where its existencn was confidently believed in. Not ono of these parties,effected anything of any value, oxcept of a negative kind, in disbroving the nigh-colored anticipations formed of them, In New Zealand the same fate has followed every paid prospecting party we have heard of