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Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2920, 23 August 1879, Page 2

We may have a good thing [abused instead of used, and there appears to be a risk of this happening with the compulsory clauses of the .Education Act. We are informed that the city school committee have instructed their secretary to visit the night schools in the city and compel the children of school age to leave and attend day schools. iThe consequence is that some poor working-men, whose lads are helping by their earnings to keep the pot boiling for large families, have been warned that they must withdraw their children and send them to the day schools. This inflicts a great hardship on deserving hard-working people, and in one case that has been submitted to us, means that the family will go with less bread. Tho committee will fulfil all that duty requires of them if they administer the law in its spirit rather than in its letter, and ■where children are employed during the day, and receiving efficient instruction at night, all that the Act really requires is secured. We trust, therefore, that this order will not be further enforced, and that in future altendanca at a good night school will be accepted as receiving instruction in.

accordance with the requirements of the Ant, Nothing tendrf nlorc to brin-j; a law into disfavour tluui its harsh and. arbitrary enforcement, ....

Tn tho cpnrseof hissnee'eh at <--e.rnidiri6j Mr W,i\kpfielu, while attacking the Government very viciously, said that, Mr Sheehan was one of the cleverest men in the country.

Mr Pake met with a serious accident the other day at Nicholson's mill while, working the circular saw, which. caught nis thumb and almost cut it oft.. He left Port Albeit for Pahi in the., s.s. Kopuru to obtain the services, of Dr Fisher. A doctor is much heeded hero.

Another ardent advocate of denominational education has deferred to public1 opinion. Mr J. C. Brown, wllti voted in favour of Mr CurtiS's Bill and last session vtflgpil tlie appointment of a Comluission to inquire ' into the claims of the denoiniuationalists assured the Tuapeka electors yesterday that he will resign if he again votes against the existing secular system. The denominational party, with its head, Mr Curtis, has now completely broken up. The "Poverty Bay Herald" thinks that of those members who spoke against the Ministry upon tho no-confidence motion, no one of them spoke so well or so effectively us Mr J. S. Mncmrlaiio.

Mr Roes appears to have fallen into an artfully laid trap in omitting to sign or fill in the date of claim tv vote. '1 he " * apier Telegraph" confesses that a certain printing oflico in Napier issues forms which are traps for the unwary, no blank lino being provided for the signature. Mr Hoes was not the only member of the learned profession who uuidotlns blunder—anotherlegalgentlo man was guilty of the same omission. The inquiry into the charges pf Cruelty against tlie captain of tlie Minister of Marine was adjourned from hint night until Friday, the 20th instant. Only one witness was examined yesterday, and in eonsc: uuence of his evidence the Coilrt ordered defendants .to find sureties in £50 each with two others in the sanie amount.

A reporter of tlie Star who attended tho meeting at the Mechanics' Institute last night, and whose silk umbrella was inadvertently carried off and a gingham left in in its place, says lie is a believer iv Liberalism but not in Communism, and he will therefore thank the owner of tlie gingham to readjust matters.

Mr K. C. Greenwood has sold about six thousand trees of various kinds during the present week, from the nursery grounds of Mr James Mason, of ParnolL Tiio trees are remarkably fine this year and brought high prices. Mr R. Arthur has also disposed of a large number of similar trees from the Ponsonby nursery of Mr Win, Mason.

Tlie question of protecting local industries is attracting much attention at the election meetings throughout the Colony. The Hon. E. liichardsou, in his printed address to the electors of Christchurch, says : —" The question of Free Trade policy i« engaging attention at Home at the present moment, and it is a matter for grave consideration here whether it will not be sound policy iv this now country to foster and encourage thoso industries ami productions which it may be satisfactorily proved aro and can be established in the Colony."

Mr Hawkins's lecture in tho Newton Hall last night, on "The Uasis and Bond of Christian Union," was well attended. The lecturer asserted that the Word of God exhibited but one base for the one church, and ouobondforall. Aftcrwhieh there was an animated discussion, and various objections ably urged, ltjwas announced that their discussions would be continued next Friday evening, the subject to be "Baptism."

There were one or two choice morceaux in the address delivered by Capt. Morris at Gisboruo. Whatever shortcomings the late member for the East Coast may bo accused of, modesty and economy of promising are not amongst them. Referring to the votes which he had secured for the district ho said :—" I have been in opposition some years and have not had much show ; but my party is just about to have the handling of five millions of pounds. If I have done this in the past, allow me to manipulate something bigger. Next session there will be a terrible scramble for money, and a man of experience has a much better chance of getting vhat he wants. If you are wise you will take that into consideration,"

Our contemporary, in a paragraph this morning, very absurdly casts suspicion on tho advertisement for tenders published by the District Engineer for the workshops drainage and formation contract at New. market. The paragraph states that tho " lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted, so Mr Tole's mission as tho guardian ot the interests of Newmarket h not yet wholly fulfilled." It is customary in all Government notices calling for teuders to insert the proviso, " the lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted ;" and why the "Herald" should have gone out of its way to drag before the public this particular one, it is difficult to determine. If there is any reason to think the announcement calling for teuders is not sincere, let the reason be stated for the information of the public, otherwise the paragraph cau only be regarded as an election squib of a very weak order.

The "New Zealand Tablet," in commenting upon the result of Sir William Fox's want of confidence motion, thus speaks of the Premier and the Cabinet :—" Tho defeat of the Grey Cabinet is to be regretted. Whilst his colleagues can be easily spared. Sir George cannot. He is a scholar, a gentleman, and a statesman of lofty views and great experience. Such a man rarely takes part in colonial politics and condescends to hold a seat in colonial Legislatures and Ministries. But whilst it is to b^p regretted that Sir George Grey has been defeated, it is not very surprising. His merits aro too transcendent to be patiently borne with by a considerable portion of colonial politicians. With the most of other members of the Grey Cabinet we have little concern, and hardly any sympathy, They arc no better and no worse than their successors are likely to be. It is clear that the charges of mal-administration made against them are trumpery charge", not worth consideration in themselves, and not proved. The whole contest between the parties in the House of Representatives was a mere effort of the outs against the ins, as to which should occupy the treasury benches. The Grey Ministry was in possession, and ought to have beei> left thero until some charges more substantial than those brought against them by Sir William Fox had been made and proved. For this reason the waste of time and public money caused by an unreasonable Opposition is altogether unjustifiable."

Miss Fidler's cookery classes will.'open at 2 o'clock on Monday, when His Worship the Mayor will preside.

Considerable interest is being shown over the walking match between J. O'Connor and A. Hendry for £20 aside this (Saturday) evening iv the Lome-street Hall at 8 o'clock, O'Connor is to give Hondry one mile start in eleven miles.—Advt.

Mr P. Doran's entertainment at tho Albert Hall this evening will present to the patrons a choice programme, together with a number of choice presents. Boys will not be admitted after eight o'clock unless accompanied by their parents.