NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10238, 6 January 1899, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Hon. J.H. Carruthers, Minister of Lands, New South Wales, proposes shortly to visit this colony. He is taking the trip ■ for tbo benefit of his health. The Council of the Educational Institute . yesterday passed a unanimous vote of •rympathy with its ex-presiclonb, Mr T. S. Foster, in his present condition of health. Mr IS. F. Cogan, at one time of the staff ' of this journal, died in Melbourne on December 22nd last. The crops in the Gust district arc still very promising, but some warm, bright weather is required for the grass seed. Dr. L. L. Smith, of Melbourne, who has been appointed President of the Victoria Commission lor the Paris Exhibition of 1900, is now on a visit to New Zealand, and will shortly come to Christchurch. Mr A. J. Merton, organist at Christ's College, has been requested by the Education Department to proceed to Westport to conduct the musical examinations of district school teachers there. Mr Merton leaves for the West Coast this morning. Mr W. Davidson, of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, has been appointed editor of the official journal, of the Institute. Mi* Davidson is a member of the executive of the Institute, is headmaster of the school at -Waitati, and also editor: of "The Schoolmates,," the children's journal. The 'North Canterbury and Auckland branches 'forwarded for consideration by the Counail of the New Zealand Educational Institute, remits of the subject of sewing. ' After the explanation, at the previous sitting, made by n.e secretary, the remits were not proceeded with. The Rev. Father Lezer, of Temuka, who arrived four or five weeks ago from his native country, Belgium, commenced to learn the English language only about eight months since, and a fortnight ago (says the "Temuka Leader") preached his maiden sermon in St. Joseph's Church in that tongue. Moving for tho adoption of a recommendation defining the syllabus of geography in Standards IV.. v., and VI., a delegate at the Institute Council said that educationalists should try and make learning attractive. This was tho weak spot in our system. So much had to be taught that attractiveness flew out of the window. While a lady from.the Cust' district was shopping in Christchurch, she left two valuable rings in the lavatory at Strange's, arid did not discover her loss until evening. Upon enquiry being made next morning it v/as found that they had been discovered by another customer, and duly handed over to one of the employees, by whom they were returned to the grateful owner. It is noticeaule that the lawyers in the ■ other cities of the colonies take a wider view of tlie Christmas and New x ear's holidays than their confreres in Christchurch. In Auckland, for instance, the legal gentlemen closed up their oiilces from the 24tb December to ith January, or three days longer tnan the southerners. A number of explications have been received by the Education Board for appointments of mistresses at the New Brighton, Ashley, Chertsey and West Melton schools. Tiie applications closed yesterday. Within the next few weeks it is probablo that there will be at least bix more vacancies for teachers. Bishop Grimes will probably arrive in Lyttelton on Tuesday next. He will re---main there during the day, and come up to Christchurch in the evening. His Lordship will be met at the Christchurch railway station and escorted to the Presbytery, where an address will be read and the presentation made. The nominations for officers of the Industrial Association for the present year closed last night. Mr Charters is the only member nominated for the presidency, and Messrs R. Allan and A. H. Hancock are the vicepresidents. The treasurership will be again in the capable hands of Mr T. N. Horsley. . For the committee of twenfcv there, are twenty-three nominations, including several new names. ■ Tlie Council of.the Educational Institute , yesterday empowered the treasurer to pay in full out of the general fund, the expenses of the secretary. The reason for this somewhat unusual proposition was that the expenses fund had been-divided amongst the delegates, and the secretary had been left out altogether. The proceedings at the Educational In-, stitute are occasionally enlivened by an ebullition of wit or the narration of a story ap-? plieable to the subject under disoussion. An , uneducated man came from-Otago to Canterbury at shearing time. When he returned he was asked what he thought of Canter- ' bury, and replied, "Very dry—the sheep lived on verbs." "They must be great grammarians up there," observed his interlocutor. "Oh, no," replied the shearer, "they are crossbreds and merinos." The business at the Police Court yesterday morning was soon over. One first offender was charged with drunkenness and: with behaving in a manner whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. The police explained that the man and his mate had been fighting in the right of way off, tho Ocdidental Hotel. Both were the worse for n liquor, and the other man had had his ankle broken. The Bench—Messrs E. O'Connor : and W. J. Neate—fined the accused* 5s for drunkenness and 10s for the breach of the' ' peace, with the usual alternative of gaol. •'* This was all the business. , While the debate was in progress in the matter of colonial uniformity of sciiool books, Mr Grundy suggested to the Council of the Educational Institute, that if there were a distinct, uniformity there would be no cry for a. colonial one. In the Wellington district a, child could pass from one school to another without having to spend a sixpence, because of any change in books. There every five years the inspectors met the head teachers, and before them laid on a table were all the latest " periodicals. These were very carefully gone through, and, the very best readers selected, and these became the series for use for the next five years.

The special committee set up by the Educational Institute on the question of the establishment of an official journal, reported yesterday , -recommending the adoption of the tallowing resolutions—That there was need of an official organ; that the offer of S. M. Brown and Co. (of Dunedin), had the favourable consideration of the committee, - and the proposed editor was one in whom they bpd every confidence; that the Council be recommended to adopt the proposed Journal of Education as its official organ, and that all the teachers of the branches be invited to support it. The Council adopted the report-" , Old playgoers will learn with regret of the death b'f Mr Harry Power, a well-known comedian, which took place in a London hospiM ] some little time ago. Mr Power was for a long time associated with the late Mr J. L. Hail, playing low comedy parts. Afterwards he, with Messrs Marshall, Towle (H. T. Harrison), and McAlexander, played a very successful season of opera bouffe in the old Gaiety, now part of Warner's Hotel. Miss Lydia Howarde, Miss Jennie Nye, and Mdlle. Solange Navaro, were also in the company. After this Mr Power went tc Australia, where he made a hit as Fludlen in "Henry V.," with Mr George Riiroold. Subsequently he visited New Zealand with-a comoahy, but his powers were evidently on the wane. Ho went to Engand some years back, and died as stated above. .- With reasonable intervals for refection, the Council -of the* New Zealand Educational Institute sat yesterday from 9.30 a.m. until 9.30 D.m., at which time it had discharged all the notices on the agenda paper, disposed of extra notices of 'motion, and passed the customaiy vote of thanks. In the laßt hour the eloquence of members was devoted to tlie expressions of pleasure they had derived, from their attendance at the meeting, and their appreciation of the hospitality extended by the local branch, and of t-he firm yet kindly and successful way in which tlie President had ruled such a large body of people, whose business it is to rule ethers, The members of the Council wind up their sojourn with a picnic to Rangiora and Kaiapoi to-day, which has been arranged by the North Canterbury Branch of the Institute- ;

Signor Har.on, the conductor ot the ] SV'ii.-.v I'hilhaimonic Society, is at present on n visit to this colony for the benefit of j his health. The next annual meeting of the Council, of the New Zealand Educational Institute 1 js to Ik- held at Timaru, on the second Tuesday in January, 1900. Towards the ex-Jpjv'iif-ei of delegates at the gathering just concluded the Educational Denartment voted £70. We are informed by Mr Barker, secretary of tlie St. John Ambulance Society, that a niiHiindeiT.tandinjj on tho part of tho person who received the telephone message from the p->liue on Wednesday was the reason that tne horse ambulance was not sent at once to Richmond for a case which required it. The Council of the Educational Institute last night, on the motion of Mr W. 11. Clark, granted its permission to the Southland brunch to appeal to the branch institutes of the colony for pecuniary assistance to the uiilow and family of the late A. C. HcaLheote, of Wairio,"accidentally killed on the Southland railway. The wt'.ither north of Waikari was exceptionally hot yesterday, and those who attended t.'ie .sheep sale ut*Hav/arden found it soniv.il.! I depressing. The Saleyards Company provided refreshment*, and through the kindness of tho Canterbury Frozen Meat Coiup.i'iy. who thoughtfully pent up a parcel of i'-e from the Belfast work*, the visitors were enabled to indulge in acceptable iced drinks?. "The present system of examination." said.. a s-.lnMilni.-i.stfr in tiic debute cm freedom of clas-otiuitio-i and abolition of the individual pass system, "is a decided curse. It strains to idiuosf hreiking point both ol'iM and te.i''her. -rid any change which will dr. away with that would be very acceptable." In opp if-is ion to this, another speaker held that the par-* system protected teacliera against the variableness of ins-pctors. and that the ryrt.ni would not be the bugbear some found it if tlie children were not presented until well pant tlie test required of them. Attention is directed to a supplement with thia issue. It announces a cleaning sale of surplus stock, previous to stocktaking, by Messrs T. Armstrong and Co., Market square and Lower High street. As will be seen, so mo extraordinary bargains are 26 T n:! to remind yon that the great summer f cinimenees to-day, Friday, at "The C..:-n<T." when W. Mc'dea will offer you v substantial bargain in drapery or clothing. 7193 The oldest established bicycle firm in New Zealand holds record for first-class work. T. Boyd and Son, Gloucester street, Christchurch.—(Advt.) Gould and Co.'s Quinine Wine restores exhausted vitality. Sufferers from general debility, depression, weakness, tired and languid feeling. poverty of blood, kc, should take our Quinine Wine, prepared from sound Spanish wine and pure quinine. Price, 3s- 6d per bottle. Horden and Colo, next Ballantyne.—(Advt.) Crown Brand Tea Prize Competition.— Next competition closes 31st this month (December). Ladies' silver watches, albums, work-boxes, glove boxes, etc. Sixty prizes. Every alternate month. Hubbard, Hall and Co.—(Advt.) Tho solar acetylene gas lamps for bicycles, price 255. Our thiri shipment novy to hand. Order at once to provent disappointment. Oates, Lowry and Co., Zealandia Cycle Works, Christchuroli.—[Advt.] Holiday Season.—With the New Year we are giving, for the first seven days, to our friends and customers, in • addition to the very best value money can buy in the thousand and one lines that go to make up a soft goods stock, a present free of charge to every customer who lays out 5s and upwards with us within tho next five weeks, commencing to-day, and continuing on till January 6th, 1899. A few samples of these gifts are on view in our large centre window, while our upstairs showroom is crowded with them. 10,000 presents for 10,000 customers. Shaw, Robinson and Co., 213 Cashel street, opposite, "Press" Office.— [Advt.] Morris, photographer, from Dunedin, takes all the. portraits in Colombo street. Call and see new specimens.—[Advt.] Two Nuts to Crack.—Excelsior and Red Bud Bicycles.—Send for catalogues. Barlaw Cycfo Manufacturing Company, Manchester street.