The Advocate. [Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1911. BIBLE INSTRUCTION.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1911, Page 4

The Advocate. [Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1911. BIBLE INSTRUCTION.

There are indications that at the general elections the party favorable to the reading of the Bible in the State schools will endeavor to make their influence felt, with, the view of gaining some concessions. There is a certain amount of activity amongst the supporters of the movement, though the clergymen themselves ai'o not by any means unanimous upon the subject. At the recent meeting of the Primitive Methodist Conference at Wellington, Archdeacon Harper delivered an address on the Biblo-in-schools movement, and this address may he taken as embodying the views of the Anglican Church party on the question. The speaker said that the Anglican Synod had definitely decided in favor of the New South W.ales system of Bible instruction. This teaching consisted of facts of Bible history- not doctrine. Xo teacher, l.bo Archdeacon said, could rehisc. to take tlie class, which was taught exactly the same as history .or geography classes, and the school inspectors examined, the class in the ordinary way. The. presence of clergymen after school hours was a paltry facility, and therefore many had given if up. The Archdeacon claimed that it, was not asked that an untried system should be undertaken, as the system had been in operation for a, feneration in New Soldi) Wales.

Archdeacon Harper admitted that he had been very sorry to find that the Presbyterians and Methodists had not been so definite in support of the movement as he would Lave liked. (At the last session of the Presbyteiran General Assembly, a committee was appointed to prepare a report on the New South Wales system of instruction, which is to he presented to a meeting of the Assembly in November next.) Archdeacon Harper's proposals met with a somewhat mixed reception at the hands of the Primitive Conference. "Notwithstanding the platitudes of the archdeacon," declared the .Rev. G. Knowles Smith, General Committee delegate, "if denominational right of entry is to bo enforced, I am going to fight for ab-

soluto secularism in tho State schools. I will bo a secularist out and out." "Personally," said tho president, the Rev. G. H. Mann, "I think that the Nelson system is very unsatisfactory. (Hear, hear.) I don't think it should be within the power of a school committee to refuse the right of entry out of ordinary school hours. Under the Nelson system we do not reach half tho children in the schools. Still, I am not prepared to say, at this juncture, that I favor the New South Wales system." Tho president further said "We arc dead against sectarianism," while the Rev. C. E. Ward remarked that he did not consider tho State schools system a Godless one,; it contained high moral teaching. Eventually tho conference adopted the following resolution .- "That this conference, while declaring its emphatic and uncompromising opposition to any form of sectarian teaching in the State schools, refers the whole question of Biblo instruction therein to tho Public Questions Committee to draw up a report to be submitted to the ensuing district synods for their consideration, and that a report on the matter be submitted to the next conference." This incident is worthy of remembrance by those who are determined that no interference will be tolerated with the existing system of secular education. The church party is becoming aggressive, and any further developments will be awaited with interest. Hitherto all question of sectarianism has been kept out of our schools, and if any of the existing barriers arc broken down, the step towards deiiomiiiatioiialism will be a very small one.

Poetry and "To India in a Week" will bo found on page 2. Our serial story still pursues its interesting course on page 3. "The Kaiser's Divine Right/' "How Canada whips us," and "Pople on Venus" appeear on pages 6 and 7. Three local motor cyeilisits left foir Wanganui on Sunday 'morning, returning yestoirdlay, after a very enjoyable ride, although the pleasure of one was iso'iue-what marred by <a capsize in some loose gravel. The Hon. 11. M'Kenzio, Minister for Pulic Works, accompanied by his Private Secretary, will arrive by the express train on Thursday afternoon, and will attend the Highland Society's sports. The party will stay at Mr Cotter's Masonic Hotel. The. fiim, describing the .principal iweidionts in the thrilling dirahia, "The M'aryrdom of Aidolf Beck," was mainly responsible for the packed IhO'Use at tihe Tayldr-Carrington Pictures mi the Drill Hall last evening. The picture 1 ' was greeted with the utmost enitihus'iasm, and it wias admitted on ail sides to be t'be best cinematograph su'bject ever seen in Damncvirke. Supporting this great attraction were a number of excellent ,Immiorous and scenic, films, which pleased the audience to the full. Air rested in New Zealand' and brought back to this country (says ia London correspondent of December 9), Herbert AY alter liusuil, a cashier formerly In the employ of M'essrs Frank Lloyd and Sons, 'auctioneers, was committed for trial at Ellesme.re recently on his plea, of guilty to a charge of having emhezzlied £'soo, the money of his employers. It was stated dthat his total defalcations exceeded £BOO, .and that after absconding he wrote to his wife, saying his accounts were wrong, a.nd as he was going to try his luck elsewhere he begged iher to rega.rd liim as dead. It will doubtless be remembered by readers tlilat Itishil.l was arrested at Kuripapanigo and brought to Napier, whence he sailed for England in charge of a police officer. Private advice has also stated that 'he was sentenced to nine 'months' imprisonment.

A good story is told by I\lr li. 11. Whiting of amateur theatricals:— "The Shakespeare Club of New Orion us was noted for its amateur performances. Once, a social celebrity, gorgeous in the costume of a lord-iii-waitiug, was called upon to say, "The queen has swooned." As he stepped upon the stage his friends applauded vociferously. Bowing his thanks, lie faced the kins, and, in a high-pitched voice, said: "J'he swoon has queenod.' There was a roar of laughter, He waited patiently until it had subsided and tried again : 'The sween lias cooued.' Again the house roared, and the stage manager, in a. voice that could bo hoard all over the theatre, said: 'Come off, you doggonod fool!' Hut the ambitious amateur refused to surrender, and in a rasping falsetto, as he was being assisted off the stage, screamed: 'The coon has sweened !' "

Mesisr.s S pence- and Co., land agents, of Dauuevtrke, report ha-v.'mic; made the lb!lowing sales during the past six weeks:—Mir (V Mara. >, two dwellings, Wellington, to Mr Turehio ; Mr Turchie's property. New Plymouth, to Mr O'thara ; Mrs ..-Vllardice's ihouse and 1 propertv -at Maivgatera; to -Mir Penwarden ;' Mr Penwarden's property at Xew Plvimouith to Mr PuMowisky, of Rua Ron; Mr Samson's) tia.rin at New Ph-iinouth"; Mr Bourke'.s butchery business to Mr Sa.nson ; Mr Piorden's propertv iat To Pehunga ; Mr Feathers'tone's* larm of Ml acres at P'mutaoro;!/ to Mr C. M.arr, of New Plvmouth.; Mr Hira.miaJd's property ,at V mu.taoroa. to Mr C. Miarr : Mi- C. .Rcmtsen's property and cab hii-siniess; M'rn Daly\s property of 270 .acres at Ounaia 'to Mr Herntsen, of Dan nevirke ; Mr Kdward's farm at Te Rohunga: Mr Anderson's farm at Omata ; Mr C Marr's .1000 ;;ic«h a.t New Plvmouth to Mevsrs I'Vithorstone and Braiua.ld ; Mil- C.ibbV. farm of 200 acres in Tarana.ki to Air Riordien ; Mr O'Hara.'* piroperty at Pa pat a wa. to Mrs Chris- J trvnsen ; leased Mr Marr's property j at I'mutaoroa- to Mr Stewart .»r i Piri .Piri.

During the recent tennis tournament at Dannevirko, the lady supporters of the club kindly provided the all-necessary afternoon tea, and also supplied the refreshments for the dance tendered to tho visitors. Alfred Walter Charles Laroche was brought before the Helensvillo Police Court yesterday and charged with having committed three breaches of tho Printers and Newspapers' Registration Act, 1908. He was fined £lO and costs. His paper was unregistered and failed to carry any imprint. The metalling of tho MakotukuMataniau road was completed to-day. This work has been carried out by means of a Government grant under the Dannevirko County Council. As the metalling lias been very necessary, it should be much appreciated by the travelling public and the settlers interested.

It is hardly necessary ii\ ir-mind those interested in stock of tiiv- Bush Districts' A. and P. Association's Annual Show, which will take place at Woodvillc to-morrow. The entries are good and a successful show is assured. The racecourse reserve at Woodville is an ideal site for a. show ground, "and the grounds are at present looking very pretty. Holiday fares will be available. Entries for the Pahiatua and Akitio A. and P. Association's Annual Show close to-morrow evening. The schedule is drawn up on liberal lines. For instance, a prize of £lO -is allotted to the class for best Jersey bull, and other classes are as liberally endowed, so that a good entry should be received. Mr J. A. Walsh, Pahiatua, is the secretary of the association.

The Danncvirko Highland Society's gathering, to take place on the 1<' 1 creation Ground on Thursday, will no doubt attract a largo number of country people, who very rarely witness such distinguished performers as M'Laclilan and Trembath. These two athletes created a favorable impression at the recent Feilding sports, where their performances won them furher distinction in athletic circles. The entries for the Danncvirko Show close to-morrow evening with the secretaries, Messrs Stubbs and Webb, and it is hoped a record entry will be received. The great majority of farmers have some animal or other upon their farms with especial merit, and it is only too common to hear around the show pen such exclamations as "I could have taken that class easily." If all stock owners would make a point of entering something a record entry and an interesting exhibition would be assured. .

We understand that a prospector who has been working in the Nelson and Motuoka district for a Daimevirke resident, has found some fine gold-bearing reefs on Mount Arthur. Assays made by the Government Assayer from quartz taken at random on the reefs go from £5 to £6 to the ton, while selected samples assay as higli as £24 to.the ton. When it is understood that many prosperous mines are working on stone yielding under £2 per ton, this should prove to be a good proposition, and a small syndicate is being formed to further prospect the property. A lease of some 200 acres has been taken up, and the Government has authorised the. necessary expenditure to make a track to the block.