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Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2477, 2 March 1878, Page 2

We are glad to notice that greater interest has been taken in the election of school committees so far as they have proceeded, although in some districts —City West for example—parents still manifest a singular _supineness in a matter of primary importance to their children. A telegram from Dunediu a few weeks ago statedthatat the annual meeting of householders for the Middle School District, a thousand persons were present. In contrast with this, the best-attended of our school meetings is a failure. Yet we have a right to expect that those parents whoie children are receiving education in a public school should have sufficient concern for its well-being to give au # hour or two once a year for the purpose of exercising the privileges which parliament has conferred upon them, and in which they have a large personal stake. Complaints against school management when the patents thus neglect their own duty are unreasonable and futile. No system could be more fully representative than that under which our school districts are governed ; and, if it fails, it must be because that the people themselves are not sufiiciently advanced to exercise such powers. Considering the total neglect and strong adverse feeling which the education system of Auckland encountered at first from those who were charged with working it, the efficiency of the schools is remarkable, and has done much to overcome prejudice and win a firm public suppoit for a national secular system of education. No little credit for this result is due to the gentlemen — few in number — who devoted their time and energies to the task. If the early meetings were not large, they became, by a principle of natural self-selection, representative of the intelligence of the district, and those who controlled them were men who felt a deep conviction of the greatness of the cause in which they were voluntarily labouring. The public have reason to feel pleased with the result. But it must be pointed out that national education has passed out of the embryo state. Ithasreachedastagewhen heavy burdens ,are imposed on the colony for its maintenance. Its permanency and efficiency can, therefore, only be ensured by astrong andactive publicfeeling. Influences in a contrary direction are active enough, and those who long to see every section of the community enter freely and on equal terms into the great temple of knowledge must be vigilant. Surely the education of the people who are to follow us and build up this country into a great nation is worthy of every man's time and attention. Questions so momentous are not presented every day ; and when we think of the thousand and one trifles on which men fritter away their hours, we can only contemplate with dismay their manner of dealing with matters upon which the whole future of the people will turn. No words are too strong to impress the importance of the subject which the current annual meetings of householders have once more brought prominently in view, and we feel some degree or. responsibility in asking eveiy colonist to consider thoughtfully the personal duty which the Education Act has imposed upon him.

We publish in another column a full report of the discussion which took place this morning with reference to the slaughterhouse question between the Hon. .the Colonial Secretary, and a deputation of Remuera residents. The Colonial Secretarysaid the determination of the Government was absolutely to close the Newmarket slaughterhouse at the end of the current month unless it were beyond all doubt that sufficient accommodation was available at the city abattoirs or elsewhere, and even in that case the continuance of the Newmarket slaughterhouse would only be permitted from day to day until the want is supplied. This, of course, definitely settles the question of the Newmarket slaughterhouse. An advertisement is published in another column, giving a list of butchers who pledged themselves to support the new abattoirs on condition that the fees should not exceed those current at the time of opening. |8A choice ghost story comes from the Moama correspondent of the " Riverma

To-day the Rev. MifTomlinson entertain ed at his private residence, Onehunga, the whoie of the Episcopalian choirs- lhis evening a service of song will be given in St. Peter's Church. The preliminary diggings on the Frencn. side of the Channel tunnel are completed j the shaft has been continued down to the required depth below the lowest neap tide level, and the sub-marine gallery is being run out for a hundred yards, by way ot experiment. If all goes well with the trial works, the construction of the tunnel is to be begun without further delay. Mr Nancarrow, Inspector of Steamers, has received a testimonial of £100 from ids frimds iv Wellington, on the eve of his departure for Europe. It is believed that outstanding subscriptions, which will 1, . f^.-T-flp.l v'-mi got 1.1, W H USiiOU-.lt tO

The total amount of retorted gold for the mouth from the Alburnia mine is 1740 ounces.

A battle is being waged (says the " Examiner ") between the ladies pf Alsace and the Berlin postal authorities, in which we are sorry to say that the ladies have been worsted. In order to shew their patriotic hatred of the Teuton and love of La Belle France; they write the addresses on thenletters to Germany with blue ink, which with the red postage stamp and the white paper, forms the tricolour they defy_ their enemies with. Letters to France, which require a blue stamp, are furnished with the addresses written with red ink, whereby they inform their French frieudsof their unalterable sentiments in cruel exile. Bat the German Post-office official—true to his popular, or rather unpopular sobriquet of Kameel, "Camel"—at last refuses to see any humour in this practice, and with his blackest ink effectually effaces the colour of the stamp. To the Editor: Sir,—We have lately heard so much from certain clergymen about the deplorable effects of secular education in America (one, who is now in Auckland, having gone so far as to accuse every woman, in that country of annual infanticide), that I was quite delighted to see your extract last night about the moral condition of Holland ; and I wish to call the attention of the opponents of secular education to the fact that the system has now been in torce there for twenty-one years, and has evkleutlyimproved, at ieast, the commercial morality of the Dutch. Yours etc., P.L.

"T. L." chaffs the advertising Valentine issued by our contemporary. He observes : " In one instance a young gentleman is shewing to a lady next him a placard on wbich is an advertisement of "D. Evitt, gunmaker," as though the lady would be likely to go in for shooting : and in another portion of .the Valentine, a bald-headed old gentleman who ought to know better is directing the attention of a blushing young lady to an advertisement calling upon all and sundry to " try Coonibe's guinea trousers made to order," and the young lady seems to be taking a lively interest in the advertisement. A few other little oddities like this are scattered through the Valentine, and give it at least an appearance of originality." The A.R.C. trial fours contest yesterday evening, was won by the Manukau Maid with several lengths to spare. The second heat is to be pulled this evening. The Bishop of Dunedin has, we understand, left hisdiocese to attend the Lambeth Conference, which is to be held in London in July. The Bishop of Canterbury goes home via Suez in April, foi the same reason. He will be accompanied by his son-in-law, the Hon. J. B. Acland, M.L.C.andis likely to be absent about eight months. The other New Zealand bishops do not propose to attend the Conference.

The "New Zealand Times" Company, like almost all journalistic speculations started under such auspices, nearly collapsed tiie other day when a motion to wind up the company was proposed, but negatived. Mr Edward Perkins, landlord of the Occidental Hotel, Ls now in Dunedin, whither he arrived from Melbourne en route for this city. Koport has it that the cute Edward landed a goodly sum on the Dunedin Cup and other races.

Civilisation is making rapid strides amongst the Maoris. In Napier some of the '-swell" chiefs keep private carriages ; on the West Coast they have set up a grand piano, upon which a Maori musician plays dance music aud operatic selections; another Maori up North has married a European woman, aud writes on social questions to the newspapers ; King Tawhiao aud his Secretary have lately obtained the privilege of franking telegrams, and up at Uhinemuri the Maoris have got a telephone. But it has been reserved for M;dko Pakeha, a chief of the Waikouaiti district, to take a far higher flight, even to the extent of emulating the greatest achievements of his European neighbours. Maiko has shewn his high appreciation of our free British institutions by going into the Bankruptcy Court. Ilia liabilities are £200, and his assets £25 ; what more need be said ? la not this a free country ?

Tho entries for the sports at the approaching autumn meeting of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club close to-nightat 9 o'clock at the Club room, Thames Hotel, where the Secretary will be in attendance to receive them. The entrance fee for Handicaps is 2s 6d, and for level races la. The boys' race has already secured a large number of entries, and will beone of themost interesting events of the meeting. Tho prizes, which are of a very substantial and useful character, as well as highly ornamental, are on view in Mr Kohn's window, where they form a very attractive feature. The order in which the events are to come ofF will be given by advertisement'early next week. Miss Ada Ward is a passenger by the Rotorua, which vessel should arrive here on Monday night with tho Southern portion of the mails for England and America. As this accomplished actress goes on bytheZealandia, the Auckland public will not hay c an opportunity of witnessing her performance, which our contemporaries agree are of a very high order.

Tickets for the organ recital on Monday may be purchased at Messrs Edson's, McMaster's, and Phillips and son's.

The committee of the Amateur Athletic Club met yesterday afternoon, Mr Cotton presiding. The following gentlemen were elected members of the Club :—Messrs Pembcrton, Hanna, Symonds, Aitkeu, Neil Macky, and Alexander. Some business relative to the meeting last night was then proceeded Avith. Mr J. E. Macdonald will be judge, Mr King starter, and Mr Colson timekeeper. A committee of stewards was also appointed. Entries close to-night.

Dipththeria has brokenbut at Wanganui

It is rumoured that Mr Harper, member for Chevoit, intends to resign his seat in the House of Representatives, and that the vacancy will be contested by Mr Ward, late member for the Wairau, in the Government interest, and Mr Studholme, a supporter of Major Atkinson. Mr Ward is a very old and much-respected settler in the district, but his views on the education question may militate against his election. Mr Studholme is largely interested in the district, but his intimate connection with the squatter party is likely to render him unpopular with a considerable section of the electors.

Dr. Moran, the Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, accompanied by the Rev. Father Fynes, drove out yesterday to Onehunga, where he was received by the Rev. Father Paul, and shewn over the grounds and buildings of the Catholic Mission Station. Soon after his arrival he prooeeded to visit the girls' select school, where he remained a considerable time, being evidently pleased with what he saw and heard. Some of the pupils played nicely on the piano, and others recited ; and the good order and decorum displayed by all in attendance left a favourable impression on his Lordship's mind. He next visited St. Joseph's Girl's School, and here the pupils sang very well, and presented his Lordship with an address of welcome. Afterwards he visited the Boys' School, and he spoke in high terms of praise of the writing and exercises submitted for inspection. His Lordship expressed a desire then to see some of the pupils Avork some questions _in arithmetic on the black board, after which he tested them himself with a successful result; and evidently from the expert manner in which he handled the chalk, he is no mere tyro in mathematics. In fact, his Lordship showed that he could teach, as well as preach. Dr. Moran has taken great interest in education, andseems competent to speak on the subject, not only theoretically, but practically. He spoke very highly of the educational establishments under the charge of the Rev Father Paul, and in fact he was both pleased and surprised to find them in such good efficiency. His Lordship was greatly delighted with his visit to Onehunga, and returned to Auckland abcut '3 o'clock in the afternoon in company v. iil. il.c I'ev FaUier I'ynes.

We understand that the Government yesterday afternoon paid the City Council the Water rates due in connection with the Postoffice, and resumed the key of the meter. The water was immediately turned on to the Post-office, Custom House, and Telegraph Buildings. It is due to the Chief Postmaster to add that the war has not been with the Post-office, for that department only occupies one portion of this building, and the water bill is against the whole of the offices. The accounts are paid by Major Green; and Mr James Stewart, as Kesident Engineer, has charge of the building on behalf of the Public Works Department. The dispute arose in consequence uf doubts as to the correctness of the meter, or the way it has been read—2o2,ooo gallons of water having been consumed in less than two months. The padlock wa& not put on by the Chief Postmaster, but by the order of Major Green, who was instructed to have it done, from Wellington. It is also contended that every consumer has a right to lock hia meter (not interfering with the lock put on by the Council), just in the same manner as he is entitled to lock his house-door, giving the turncock access when asked to do so. What was objected to was the meter being read when no officer was present on behalf of the Government to certify to its correctness.

A little girl neatly dressed was found by a working man alone in the street last night and was taken by him to the station. The child stated that her mother, who lived in Chapel-street, was very drunk. Constable Hogau laid the child on to some new blankets just received from Wellington. The dustman came and closed the child's eyes until one o'clock this morning, when the mother, who had recovered from her drunken bout, took the child away. The mother of the child, once the wife of an official, has given way to drinking during the last few years, and has several times been in Mount Eden.

§§We notice with regret the death of Mrs Brown, the wife of Mr Samuel Brown, who died yesterday in the Provincial Hospital, in her 40th year. This lady has been the much-respected matron of the Hospital for a number of years, where her uniform kindness won the esteem of all persons within the circle of her matronly care. The funeral of the deceased lady will take place to-morrow afternoon, and will be attended by the Foresters of Court Zealandia, of which ancient order the husband of deceased is a brother. The funeral will leave the Hospital at three o'clock. The brethren of the Court will meet at two o'clock at the Young Men's Christian Association, Wellesley-street. We understand that it is intended to erect a factory for the purpose of refining the White Island Sulphur, a specimen of which is on view in the window of Mr King, chemist.

We have to acknowledge receipt of 1 bag of potatoes, 1 bag of onions, and 5s in cash from Mr Roberts, of Oneliunga, for Mrs Dymock, whose ca-e is a very deserving one.

The Inaugural meeting of the St. James' Mutual Improvement Association will be held iv the Temperance Hall on Monday evening next. A good programme and free admission.

"An Ex-warder of Mount Eden Gaol" writes, drawing attention to a grievance which has before been referred to in these columns, and should receive the attention of the Government. When a warder of the Goal, he says, " I was on duty from 5.30 in the morning till 5.45 in the evening. This is day work. Then twice a week I stopped on till 8 p. in. ; then 'vent home and got food for the next day ; returned and slept in the gaol enclosure, to be ready iv case of. lire or any other alarm during the night; then started at 5.30 again next morning, and stopped till 5.45 p.m. that day, having been about for 34 hours. The warders are under obedience to the Government. Night duty: They go on night duty at Bp.m., and stop on till 5.50 next morning, and are responsible for the correctness of the gaol during the long hours of night. Now, sir, for this vast amount of duty and long hours they are paid the munificent sura of 6s 2^d per diem ; or monthly, £9 6'a 3d. Other gaols under the same Government are paying their officers—the lowest is 7s per diem, and some as high as O.s, aud some 10s per diem. Now, sir, this is not fair play to Auckland. I leave you to judge for yourself whether this cause wants assistance or not. Now, sir, I have spent some long days and wearisome nights for the pay I have mentioned, and surely if any officials are under-paid and over-worked, it is the Auckland gaol warders." Particulars of Sunday serviceswill be found in another column. The evening service for the people in the Theatre Royal at the usual hour.