Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2589, 25 July 1878, Page 2

It is, we understand, proposed that a conference of School Committees will be held to discuss certain clauses of the present Education Act, aud with a view to petitioning the General Assembly for a clearer definition of the duties and privileges of school committees, as they now very frequently clash with the Education Board. The Education Act provides that, in the appointment or removal of teachers, the local committees will be consulted. The complaint is made that this clause ot the Act has not been complied with by the Board.

"Farmer" writes, drawing attention to the price, £3, quoted iv our report of the meeting of cab proprietors, for hay. The mistake arose through the substitution of brau for hay, the price of the former being the subject of complaint at the meeting, aud it was to that the quotation should have been applied iv our report.

The Baptist Chapel, Ponsonby, will be opened this evening for a special evangelistic service. . , , r We learn that, owing to ill health, Mr James Dilworth has declined a seat in the Legislative Council offered him by the Government The representation of Auckland in tho Upper House requires reinforcement, owing to vacancies that have arisen, and it is probable that some appointment will still be made. The opening of the Wellington Museum on Sundays has proved a great success During the first Sunday afternoon from 700 to 1.000 persons attended, and when the time arrived for the doors to be closed huge j numbers were seeking admission. An attempt is being made to float a tannine and leather company in \\eliugton with a capital of £20,000 in 2,000 shares of £10 each. The idea is for the company to take over the business of Mr. Guilford. near Newtown. n„„.; lir r i A correspondent ventures dhtf following ' alaiming speculation :-" Sir, -Repeatedly has the Home Government been reproved for the bad judgment there exhibited in loading their transports as they did, as in the event of shipwreck, the loss of so many of our soldiers might turn agamst us the tide ot war. As our military defenders aro treated at home, so it appears have we resolved to treat our political here. }f tti*' day a boat left the Manukau with an unusually full complement of experienced politicians, and, in addition, two of our most prominent TCterau representatives or the Press. Pause here, sir Should that boat go to the bottom, and should her distinguished passengers be " now in the flat sea sunk," where should we be ? Good men and true are not so numerous as to justify v* in making s^ch a questionable ve»=ure.—l am yours, &<:, Anxiety. j A respectable-looking country woman ! reminding one of the dames ot villages, was pacing quietly up v ictoiiastreet yesterday afternoon, apparently meditating over the past, when a man, some what the worse for liquor, caught the old lady round the waist. She immediately raised her gingham aud struck him on the head, and a comical scene ensued. Several bystanders ran up, and amongst them an officer of the police. The man turned to the officer and said, " Friend, let u^ have a sherry together," when down came the umbrella on to his back "I'll give you sherry you rascal," said the old lady. " Give it him," roared the .spectators ; whisk went the gingham, and away went the offender as fast as his legs could carry

him. ... The New York correspondent oi the " Leader" writes :—" Levy has arrived in New York. He styles Australia ' a landed thieves,'ami gets up impromptu denunciations of the ' blasted country' on the sidewalks. As Australians, notably notne of those 'in tho show business, have made the name of the colonies rather unsavory here, he "ets a few svrnpatliMers. Thatcher, his late" agent, who caught him in Honolulu, and got 150 dollar:-: out of him in San Francisco, put him down with a very plain tale to the California:: paper;-, but as he is leaving for London, the Levy-athen will have it p.eltv well all his own way. However, it .does not matter much, for there is no one acquainted with him who will believe a word he says, or trust him for a cent. " Constant Header" write? from Coromandel to contradict tha statement Hint the Briti.-h claim, adjoining the Yanderspeck had just crushed two tons stone for 17ozs. gold. He says : "The British has had no crushing nor could have any for this last four mouths or thereabouts, nor likely to be any. There was a crushing of a little less than 2 tons and eoinu picked stone about four months ago, which, came out of the Elizabeth drive which the owner of tbe British claim had then permission to work into his oiTii ground, but was afterwards stoj.ped by the shareholders of the Elizabeth chum. The Briti.-h claim is not working on the leader which gavo this return, nor I doubt never will. The Elizabeth claim adjoining'ithe Yanderapock i- bettor known as the Bright Smile. At ne annual meeting of the Pokeno Hi'-.way Board, held on the 13th inst., A! «*as J. J. Clark, Charles Bathgate, \V. H. P. Evans. William Dean, and

f nomas McClvmout were elected trustees ; Mews Shackell ami Lyons auditors, and Messrs P. McPhersou and John Low fenceviewers. A footrace for a sweepstake of 10 soys. each will shortly take place between Messrs Mettam, Martin, Dal-'ui, and Gault who are all crack pedestrians. TLo distance will be 300 yards. The allotment fronting Victoria-street, Hamilton, Waikato, recently purchased by tin: New Zealand I:.'.<u::;ue. Omip.-uiy, is to be utilized by the erection of a tine blsek of buikltngs/iududiag ioc:d offices for the Company.

Devonpoit is progte.-.-ing, and can now boa^t a free public library. The library is now under the care of the local Highway Board, which pays the salary of the librarian and assists in other ways. It is supported by grants and voluntary contributions. The oliice of the District Board is the library - loom, and hero the residents in the district are supplied with books and periodicals three nights in cacti week free of chorgc. There are about 50t» volumes iv the library, including many standard works.

The newly-instituted railway omnibus has scarcely proved the success that jwas anticipated. It is constantly seen running up and down Queen-street with only two or three persons inside, railway passengers as a whole seeming singularly indifferent to it. The reason of this may of course be that the institution is a new one, and people hardly know about it yet. Tho equipage itself is commodious, comfortable, aud well horsed, and the time-table (which appears in another column), is strictly adhered to. If patronage is persistently withheld the enterprise will of necessity go to the wall, but the contractor, Mr Crowther, is determined to give to it a fair trial.

We would call the attention of the guards on tiie railway to the dangerous practice of standing ou the outer platform indulged in by boys coming to school every day. It is all very well for persons who have reached the years of discretion to do this, if they please, and take the . risk ; but boys should be made to keep inside the carriages. Unless this rule is more rigidly enforced than at present, a deplorable accident will inevitably occur.

The Rev. J. Buller has a long letter iv the " Wesleyan." We extract a few sentences:

—" On the first Sunday of the mouth I happened to be free from any engagement. I heard Dr. Punshou iv the morning at Brixton—a blessed sermon. What wealth of language I what fidelity to truth ! what earnest appeal.-! to_ the heart : We may well 'Glorify Ovd in him.' In the evening I walked to Streatham, aud attended St. Peter's—a Ritualistic church. What a contrast ! There was a long stiing of surpliced clergy and choristers, weaving black gowns underneath the white garments, bowing to the altar with crucifix on it as they came into the chancel, and turning to it whenever the " Gloria Patri" was repeated. There were candles pictures, images. All the service was intoned. For twenty minutes a curate poured out a rhapsody on Cor. xiii.—' But the greatest of these is charity,' but all referring to the Church services during Lent. On the way my soul had been raised heavenward by the music of the 'birds which sing among the branches,' but here I could not out think of those who ' make the Word of God of none effect by their traditions.' The congregation was. larjje and no doubt mainwere sincere. Tins ornate worship has a deceitful charm for many minds; it is spreading throughout England;and, alas, to a great extent, I fear it may be said that 'the people love to have ie m!' Never was a simple, earnest, soul-saving ministry more needed than it is now. . . . Roumours float about to-day and produce sensation ; tomorrow they are contradicted. There is a noisy party, both in England and in Constantinople, who are ready to use lying, or any other means whatever, that may lead up to war between Russia and England. We have need to pray, ' Scatter them that delight in war.' "

The British residents in California, desirous of evincing their respect for Lord Bcaconsfield, the gieat statesman now ouidin" the destiuies of their country, are about lo forward to him a testimonial, 10 the form of a silver brick, highly polished, swum' 0.-. silver standards supported by gold lions, all resting upon an inlaid table of Californian woods.

The Parnell Tenuis Club members held their annual meeting vexterday on the lawn near S. Mary's Church. The balancesheet showed that the Club had been patronised, and the subscriptiona had more than covered the expenses. The opening of the season will be announced by advertisement. The Court Robin Hoed wdll cel-brate its second anniversary on the 16th of August by a ball, to bo held in tho old schoolroom, Panmure. Preparations for the same arc already in progress, and the erent is anticipated with much interest by the brotherhood. The quarterly meeting of the officer.? and delegates of the Auckland District of the Ancient Order of Foresters will be held this evening at Panmure, commencing at 8 o'clock. Members are icminded that a coach to convey them out wiil leave the Firebell, foot of Grey-street, at 6.30 sharp. Tho usual narade and annual meeting of No. 3 Company of Auckland Volunteers will be held this evening in tho Drill-shed, at half-past seven o'clock. The pupils attending City East School, No. 2, conducted by Mr Martin in the Choral Hall, were delighted yesterday by the distribution of sixty-six prizes by the Scripture Gift Association for their diligence in studying Bible knowledge.

An Australian, named Charles Nygreen. lias been arrested in the Bull reef district, Abaura, on a charge of dangerously stabbing Mrs Elizabeth Campbell at Kumara on Christmas Day. Mr;; Campbell has since recovered.

Another attempt to throw a train off the rials is repoited from Rlenheim. The engi-e stuck fast at Spring Creek station, and the drivers were much shaken, but no other injury resulted.

Last evening a number of boys amused themselves by smashing the windows of the old Provincial offices, but before the arrival of a constable the young scamps had decamped. We understand that lhe name 3 of several of the boys are well known as they wiU learn by summons in the sourse of a few days.

The members of the Pioneer Lodge No. 1 aro desired to meet this evening in the lodge-room, for the purpose of electing officers and the consideration of other business of importance.

Messes. Baker and Farron are playing to large houses at the Queensland Thearo, Brisbane.

At the annual meeting of the Newcastle Highway Board the following gentlemen were elected trustees :—Alajor T. Wilson (chairman), Messrs Byron, Hedger, Corboy, and Hall. The adoption of the Counties Act was discussed, and put to the meeting —35 were for it and 15 against.

Thenewpost and telegraph offices erected at Hamilton have this week been formally taken possession of. They are very much larger than tho offices in use up to_ the present time. The inside fittings of the new post-office are of a somewhat original character, the drawers are provided with the United States Lockuiaking Company's locks. The private boxesareconsidcredsuperior to those at the Chief Post-office, Auck-

land. Altogether the iittingsarc most unique. The new offices have the advantage of beiag very well lighted, the gloomy character of the"old being a great objection. The offices now being vacated were opened on Whitmomiav, 1874, and were then considered capital places, quite tip-top, but the Increase of work has gone on parallel with the increasing trade and population of the district, and the convenience Las for some time been found insufficient for the requirements of Hamilton. Air Price, the contractor, has given great satisfaction, and has turned out some very good work. While referring to this public institution, it is right we should add a complimentary word to Mr Taylor, the officer in charge, who has, by his zeal and attention, contributed to the success of tliis branch station. We have always found Air Taylor willing to suffer personal inconvenience iv order to forward ptc.-.s telegrams after office hours, and have much pleasure iuseeiughimintomore comfortable quarters.

A very sudden death occurred at Pukerimu, near Cambridge, yesterday. A servant in the employ of Mr o"Neiil of that place was found dead when called in the morning. An inquest is to be held.

At a meeting of the Mount Wellington Highway Board yesterday, Mr Ryburn in the chair, the following gentlemen were elected trustees for the coming year :— Messrs. W. J. Tavlor. James Stewart,

Barton Ireland (Chairman), Andrew S Thompson, and James Wills. Messrs R. W. Ry burn and D. W. McPhersou v;ere elected auditors ; and Messrs. Andrew Stewart and George Glew fence-viewers. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. —Receipts, £-533 lis 9d ; expenditure, £467 6s 5d ; balance in hand. £Q6 5s 4d.

During the trip of the Rotorua to Sydney when Mr Jack and Miss Firmin were passengers, an entertainment at their sugges-

tiou and with their assistance, was given in aid of the National Shipwreck Relief Society, realising £6.

One of the latest social events, says our Loudon correspondent, bus beer: the opening of tho Russell Club for ladies and gentlemen, and which from the patronage already extended to it promises to be a great success. On the openiag day there was an immense assemblage, and it was something new in club life to bear a lady playiug on a graud piano in the drawing-room. But the most amusing feature, was the ballot, for the opera-box. A capital box iv the grand tier at the Royal Italian Opera, is placed at the disposal of the Russell Club, and is to be balloted for, month by month. More than a hundred persons had to compete for the first ticket. At first it seemed as though ladies were going to get all the admissions. Then the luck turned in favour of London journalists. Two editors of papers got the winning numbers. Then the clerical element was favoured. A reverend prebendary, a Doctor of Divinity, and lastly a Right Reverend Bishop got the ticket. At first the Bishop blushed and said he didn't want it, but he ended by putting it in his pocket, saying he didn't mind taking the ticket so long as nobody asked him to use it himself—and of course nobody did.

Two typographical errors occurred in the article "Music among the People," for " passing through their routes" read "ranks." For, " Surely this shows that the people lack music" read " lore" music.

Several years ago a large number of ornamental trees were planted on the Beach Road at the North Shoie for the purpose of beautifying the district. It was considered by some at the time that the experiment would be unsuccessful, but it has proved quite tbe contrary. The trees have attained considerable height, and in a few mpre years the Beach Road will have very much the appearance of a pleasant, "shaded avenue. Owing to the success which attended the previous efforts the District Board are haviDg the remainder of the road planted. The trees planted ou the side of Mount Victoria aro also making satisfactory progress notwithstanding many drawbacks.

A great clearing-out sale, by auction, of trees, plants, and shrubs will take place at the Mechanic's Bay Nursery about 11 a.m. to-morrow. The sale list which appears in another column embraces conifers, English forest trees, fruit trees, roses, etc. Luncheon will be provided. Mr R. C. Greenwood is the auctioneer.

At a meeting of the Hunua Highway Board, held on the 20th inst., Messrs B 11, Casey, Hay, Morrison, aud Wallace were elected trustees; Messrs Juo. Gordon and Jas. Walker, auditors ; Messrs George Hill and W. Fulton fence- iewers, and a motion n favour of the railway extension to Queenstreet wharf was passed.