AUCKLAND NOTES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8708, 2 February 1894, Page 5

AUCKLAND NOTES.

February L

The annual meetings of the Anglican and Presbyterian churches held during the month show signs of decided improvement, financially and otherwise. Referring to this matter the Star says:—"Taking the reports as a whole the Anglican and Presbyterian bodies are to be congratulated on the work of the pas'-, year. It is interesting to observe that in the colonies each of these denominations is takiDg a prominent part in connection with movements for improving the social condition of the poorer classes. According to a Victorian contemporary the only village settlement in that colony that is _n a prosperous condition is the one founded by the Rev. Horace Tucker, an Anglican clergyman, whose methods for making it self-supporting are superior to those adopted by the Government. The Presbyterian Church iv New South Wales has also a scheme in hand for placing some of its poorer members on the land, and with this view the Rev. A. Dunn and two other gentlemen have visited New Zealand. The steps taken by our Government have so __r met all requirements of this kind amongst ourselves, but it is an encouraging sign ot the times to find the Church in this colony taking an active part in many other branches of social reform."

The timber industry and the flax trade still continue quiet, while kauri gum remains at as low a price as ever. Notwithstanding that fact, however, the supplies of gum scut in this month have been unusually heavy, but this of course does not teud towards improving the local market, and it is feared that rates will rule still lower, as the margin between Auckland and London prices is not larg3 enough to tempt speculators. Although supplies this month are over 700 tons, as against 400 odd tons last year at the same date, this is equalised by the falling off in the quantity sent in last December.

Referring to the dismissal o£ Mr Benge, the Head Master, from the Devonport School, the Herald says:—"We have several times pointed out that the inspections upon which the good conduct of the whole system hinges were unsatisfactory, and were seen by teachers and pupils to be contradictory, and to be absolutely wanting iv agreement and system. To this we trace almost all the unhappy affair and troublesome enquiries that the Board have lately bad to encounter. It is to be hoped that the enquiry which is to be made, with the placing in oihee of a chief inspector, wili inaugurate a better state of affairs. Public men never seem a_jle co be thankful enough for the splendid system of education which we possess, they are always congratulating themselves upon it, and swearing that no sacrilegious hands shall he allowed to touch it. When we have hinted at a defect, We have been accused of desiring to destroy the system. Now we have one ot the members saying that ' the whole system of inspection in their schools was weak,' while another said it was a question ' whether the inspectors when conducting the examination allowed tha teachers to take possession of the papers.'