Evening Post. MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 1881.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 24, 31 January 1881, Page 2

Evening Post. MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 1881.

THE EDUCATION ACT. + At the election of the Thorndon School Committee on Monday last, the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Jonas Woodward, alluded to the report drawn up by the Conference of Wellington Sohool Committees, which was held a year or two ago. That report pointed out a perfect multitude of defects, omission*, and inconsistencies in the Education Act as it now exists. The list of palpable blunders was qnite appalling in its magnitude. Nor

is.thia Gui-prising when it is recollected how i frequently, almost daily indeed, the glirin* deficiencies in the much-vanntfld measure force themselves upon public attention., It would seom as fiist sight a m?t f er, c? course that the most ep-xn*s+ tac even enthusiastic ! efforts votild be used to remove the very feaftpioion of a blemish from an Act which its admirers claim to be " tho people's great J>o3Bession." But this does not appear to be the case. Mr. Woodward feelingly observed that the only practical result, co far as he was aware, of the careful report presented by the conference was that the chairman was saddled with the expenses. He added that he had been in personal communication with more than one Minister of Education, and he had been led to believe the Government regarded the system as a whole so valuable that, however glaring and potent the defects in it might be, they Would oppose any amendment, lest the principle of the Act should be attacked. The New Zealand Herald recently had a string article, taking much the fiame view. Nowj we must confess we are Utterly ufcable'to follow this very singular line of argument. If the Act is *o valuable _and cherished i possession, surely ft will Ac! E%nH|pbß fey linquished. If the people, of Mew Zealand really value the present educational system, and derive from it all the benefits which its adiftirers boast, then certainly they will not suffer themselves to be deprived of it so readily as some appear to think. But to say that an important measuro is not to be purged of its many glaring and palpable defects — defects, moreover, which materially impede its working and gravely impair its usefulness — because its admirers are afflicted with a morbid and cowardly dread lest it should be "reformed aw^y ftlfcrgether," is to take up a position so monstrous and inddfenßible that it cannot logically be defended for one moment. Just as reasonably might itbetirged that the franchise should not be altered in the direction of extension, or parliamentary representation be more equitably distributed, lest when*-the question of alterations occe was raised there Bhonld be danger of the franchise being wholly abolished, and parliamentary representation entirely swept away. True, this is an eitreme case, but there are many other illustrations which, if leß3 startling, ire equally oogent and pertinent. For instance, objections might, with <|uite as much reason, be raised to any modification of the Municipal' Corporation Act, however urgently needed, lest when these proposed alterations were before Parliament advantage should be taken of the opportunity to abolish municipal government altogether. Or, on the same principlej the Colonial Treasurer should never propose new duties, or the remission of those which had proved irksome or unprofitable, lest Parliament should insist .on doing away with Customs in toto. It i 3 quite as absurd to assume that to amend the Education Act in the thousand-and-one details where amendment has been incontestably proved and is clearly admitted to be so urgently required, would involve any risk of sacrificing a measure reputed to be so dearly loved by the vast majority of the people of this colony. Is it at all likely that the people's representatives will venture to forfeit what their constituents deem a priceless boon, especially with a general election immediately pending ? The idea is simply absurd. If the alleged danger really exists, it can only be because the public do not value tho Education Act, and would Seize any opportunity of getting rid of an obnoxious measure. This we do not believe, and therefore we utterly scout the ridiculous and Unwarrantable fears entertained by some timid people that endeavoring to render the Education Act more complete, workable and generally efficient would, in the least degree, endanger its stability. People do not so lightly part with a treasured possession. The Education Act, if not the miraoulous panacea for all earthly ills which some people seem to imagine it, is nevertheless a very useful and even valuable measure which is not in the slightest degree likely to be abolished. But that it needs very extensive amendment its warmest admirers readily concede. Apart from the excessive costliness of the system and many defective details which we have discussed on former occasions, and to which we shall revert on another day, there seems almost an absolute consensus of public opinion that the mode of election alike of Education Boards and of local committees is in the highest degree cumbersome, unsatisfactory, and in many respects graveiy objectionable. Tne cumulative vote, by which ten persons can elect a member by a large majority over another candidate for whom sixty may have voted, is in itself a huge blunder, and capable of the grossest abuse. The preposterously ronndabout plan by which members of Education Boards are elected is equally repugnant to fair representation and obstructive to freedom of choice on the part of the public. Another mistake which has recently come into prominence is that there is no provision to prevent the same persons being members both of an Education Board and of a local committee. This, too, opens the door toserious abuses. For example, no fewer than six members of the Wellington Education Board reside in this city. It might easily happen that all lived in a single school district. They, therefore, would all be eligible for election as members of the local committee, and the advantages secured by a district whioh had several members of the Board on its local committee would be so very obvious and tangible that it is morally certain they all would be so elected if they consented to stand. This would clearly be most unfair to other districts, giving one district a preponderance of Board influence in every way to be deprecated. Even in last Monday's election two members of the Board were elected members of ono School Committee, which thus secures so manifest an advantage over the other town districts, that it is not at all surprising the others should utter murmurs both loud and deep. That such an anomaly is distinctly permitted by tho Education Act in its present shape affords by itself a very strong argument in favor of its early amendment, and this is only one of a host of faults. Everybody, therefore, who really wishes well to our educational system, will strenuously advocate the passing of an Amendment Act during the coming session, and if the Government will not introduce such a bill, then some private member should take the matter in hand. THE TRADE OF NEW ZEALAND IN 1880. ? Although the official returns of the exports and imports of New Zealand for the year 1880 are not yet published, an approximate estimate has been compiled for the Wellington Monthly Price Current and Trade Report despatched by the English mail whioh left yesterday, and this enables a very interesting comparison to be made with previous years. In the year 1877 the value of the imports into New Zealand amounted to £6,973,418, and of the exports to £6,327,472. In 1878 the imports had made a " jump " of nearly two millions in value, an increase of over 30 per cent., the amount being £8,755,663, but the exports fell off to £6,015,525. In 1879 the imports remained almost stationary, the value being £8,374,585, a small decrease on the preceding year, and the exports showed a still further decrease, the amount being only £5,743,126. The imports for 1880 were valued at £6,162,011, a diminution of nearly two millions and a quarter as compared with the previous year. The exports for 1880, however, show an increase of over £600,000 on the year before, the total value being £6,352,692, or nearly £200,000 in excess of the year's imports. It ia further noteworthy that whereas in the December quarter of 1879 the imports exceeded the exports by about a quarter of a million, in the December quarter of 1880 the exports were £50,000 in excess of the imports, a complete reversal of the position.

To-day's telegrams from the Pungarehu Camp report all quiet. The natives are much concerned at the heavy loss of food they have sustained through the recent fire near Parihaka, but we understand they do j not claim this wholesale " cooking" of potatoes to have been predicted by Te Whiti in his celebrated reply to the Governor's letter. Some fears wore entertained yesterday that a collision might take place between the two native tribes who have so long been at variance in regard to the Murimotu Block. Kemp had announced his intention of going up with a party to survey the land, and to mark off tho boundaries of the Rangipo 13lock, with a view of defining the precise extent of the interest of the tribe Ngatirangi. It was expected that Topia probably would oppose Kemp's proceedings by force, and in that case a fight was apprehended. Fortunately, however, Kemp at the last moment abandoned his intention, and recalled his men. During the month of January, 101 berths and 31 deaths were registered in this district, and 18 certificates of marriage were issued. During the month of January there have been ten declarations of insolvency, the majority of them having been made last week. Some improvements have recently been made in the ornamentation of the interior of St. Peter's Church, Wills-street. Out of the funds so liberally presented for the stained-glass windows recently inserted in the chancel of that Church a small balance remained over, and, with the consent of the donor, this has been applied to the further decoration of the chancel. A row of pierced quatrefoils has been run along the upper part of the dado of the apse, and carved bosses have been placed at the intersection of the riba in the chancel roof. The effect is exceedingly good, and tho appearanco of the Chnrch is greatly improved by these additions to its ornamentation. Ihe adjourned general meeting of the Working Man's Club is advertised to t»ke place this evening 1 .

Immediately on the conclusion pf .the civil aclidn, Fleetw|ng\y,.Begatei C&ftmMeG, at the Evident llAyietrateo Court on Saturday p.f^enoon, in which judgment was given for the plaintiff for a refund of the entrance money for the coasters' race, the master of the Star of the Fea obtaiced a gnmrnons i preventing the master of the Fleetwing from quitting this port until the merits of an action between the parties had been decided upon. The action was fixed for hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court at two o'clock this afternoon. The plaintiff sued to recover £12, for " damage caused to the Star of tho Sea on the 22nd inst through the negligence df the defendant in the management of the Fleetwing. 5 ' Upßn the case being called on it transpired that the defendant had confessed judgment, and of course the action was not then proceeded with. As an illustration of the useful application to which the telephone can be put, we may mention that it being desirable to communicate yesterday with .the. Hon. Jtfr. Bolleeton, iVno, is Ko^ at Napier, the Premier was 'able to c^rry on a direct verbal conversation &ith hia colleague from his own office in Wellington, a distance of 218 miles. We understand that by speaking deliberately and distinctly, taking care to separate words from one another, the conversation wa3 carried on with perfect ease and clearness, saving a large amount of otherwise unavoidable telegraphing and delay. Several complaints have reached us as to the state of the letter box at the Chief Post Office prior to the departure of the English mail yesterday. OM correspondents inform us that the box was so choked with letters that the latter protruded through the aperture by which they were inserted, and it became necessary to force them down with a stick. On one occasion, while a crowd of spectators stood round, one person, to chow the unprotected condition of the letters, inserted his hand and with ease drew forth a dozen or two of its contents, of course immediately replacing them, when a walking stick was brought into plfty, and tne mass of correspondence forcibly thrust forward into the box below. This ought not to be, and we feel sure that now their attention hag been directed to the matter the officers will take care to make suitable provision) for the immediate release of letters, &c, 'dropped 'through the slit leading to the box, so that in future there may be no danger of a ''jam" such as that which attracted so much notice yesterday. Mrs. Plumbridge, late of the Native Hostelry, left for Taranaki by the Hinemoa, for Opunake. This lady, during a long .residence here, in a very quiet way, ha« jjeeivaj warm /jif-nd td the poor and needy ofifnia i city. Mrs. Plumbridge has also been friendly and kind to the natives. •; : iThe Wairarapa Daily trusts tnat his Excellency will, when he crosses thOtfanar watu next week, be bailed up in his boggy by the native bushrangers who earn an, easy living by the infliction of illegal toll. Should this be done the Government will no longer be able to wink at this particular blookfmail. In reference to the late proceedings. in the Bankruptcy Court, Mr. J. C. R. Isherwood writes to us, complaining that his case has not been fairly stated, He admits that he " filed " ten years ago for but states that i}4lo was paid to a secured creditor, and that two-thirds of an acre of land which was given up has never yet been accounted for; also, that, although no one "proved," other debts were paid after the discharge was granted. He asserts that, as regards his present bankruptcy, .£206 has been paid to hU creditors, and that he offered to, work for his principal creditor three months for nothing, to learn the duties of an accountant, and then to work for a small salary until his debt was cleared off. Further, Mr. .Isherwood states that when he contracted his last debts he had every reason to anticipate drafts from Home, instead of which the money dne to him was frittered away in legal expenses, &c, to the extent of over .£2700. He asserts that the opposition to his discharge arises from his refusal to pay a certain charge made for commission which was not properly due. We are unable to publish his letter in full, as certain portions of it might involve ub in litigation, but, as a matter of fair play, we have endeavoured to give the gist of it. It appears that the "phrenologist" recently arrested at Dunedin for false pretences, and who, when lecturing in that city, adopted the norn de guerre of Lio Medo, is well known in Wellington, being none otjher than Mr. Benjamin Strachan, who foriflerly carried on the practice of hair-cutting on Lambton Quay. The prosecutor is-. George Hyatt, who avers that the accused 'fraudulently obtained from him .£8 15s by giving him an order on John Prescott, of Wellington. , • Professor Haselmayer arrived by the Rotorua yesterday, and, as already announced, wilLopen at .the Theatre-'EeyaLto-memrDW evening. Those who remember his clever entertainments given in this city some years ago are looking forward with interest to his re-appearance. Mr. Cary has received a letter from Mr. Murdoch, captain of the Australian cricketers, promising the patronage of the team. We are informed that at a meeting of the Hutt Park Racecourse Board, held a few days ago, a resolution was passed voting .£SO to the Wellington Racing Club in aid of the funds for the Hutt Park Stakes, to be competed for at the coming races. A meeting of members and delegates of the Wellington Cricketers' Association will be held to-morrow evening, at the Commercial Hotel, to consider the steps to be taken to give the Australian team a hearty reception, and to discuss important matters relating to the ground. = Anniversary services in connection With the Vivian-street Baptist Church were held yesterday, the Rev. L. Hudson officiating in the morning and the Rev. W. H. West, 8.A., in the evening. Collections were made in aid of the building fund. A tea and public meeting will be held in the church to-morrow evening. Lieut. Davy, the commanding officer of the Naval Cadets, has presented a cup to be fired for by the second-class shots in the Naval Brigade. The cup is a very neat one, of plain silver, and will doubtless act as an incentive to diligent practice. It is now on view in the window of Mr. Hislop, jeweller. The Torpedo Corps, under Captain Simpson and Lieutenant Gell, had a torpedo practice on Saturday. A marine mine, odn- J taining l^lbs blasting powder, was fired, but the charge was not sufficiently great to cause a successful explosion. A hind mine, containing 2Jlbs of powder, had a better effect, and created a diversion among the members of the corps, who had to dodge the stones shot in the air. "Shin Fane " is the title of a fearfully and wonderfully constructed Irish drama of the most pronounced sensational type, placed on the stage of the Academy of Music on Saturday night, and witnessed for the first time by a Wellington audience. Like " The Irish Detective " and " The Yankee Farmer," it has been written, apparently, with the object of bringing under the notice of the audience one man only, the other performers being necessary merely to fill up the picture. Mr. Grattan Riggs was, of course, the central figure, and he had ample scope for the display of versatility and ability in the particular line of business he has adopted, but it seems a pity a man possessing considerable talent as a comedian should have a preference for plays of the " Shin Fano " stamp. One thing is certain, the stage will never reach the elovated position which every lover of dramatic art desires to see while such unnatural productions • are the pets of " stars " and " take " with a large section of the theatre-going public. "Shin Fane" is said to be "fonnded upon fact;" if so, the foundation must be very diminutive, or it must indeed be true that " truth" is stranger than fiction." The first act gave promise of good things, and Mr. Riggs' representations of Suil Gadr and the Simpleton were all that could be desired, but the remaining three acts were as disappointing as tedious. The interest is lost in attempting to bring the ono character continually before the footlights. Messrs. j Clinton and Burford should have made more of the parts allotted them, but the other performers, especially Mdlle. Muriellc and Miss Wilton, did the best that was possible with the limited materials at their command. Some of tho scenic effects were very good, i particularly in the thunderstorm scene, where on 9of the " heavy villains" is thrown : to the earth by a falling tree which is struck by a thunderbolt. It may be remarked that ono redeeming feature in the play is an infusion of Irish wit which Mr. Itiggs used with telling effect, and thus somewhat relieved the weariness of an otherwise doll drama. "Shin Fane" will be repeated this evening. A meeting of the Regatta Committee is advertised to take place to-night. W. R. Welsh, an old settler at Taita, committed suicide near his brother' 3 residence, Opaki, on Thursday, by cutting his throat. It is supposed that the act was the result of drink. The body was found on Sunday. Yesterday the Club Hotel, Masterton, had a narrow escape from destruction by fire. A spark from the chimney caught the dry shingle roof, which ignited. The fire-bell rang, the brigade turned out, and fortunately extinguished the flames. The local offices of .Renter's Telegram Company havo been removed to the building formerly occupied by the Union Insurance Company, opposite the National Bank, Greystreet. Mr. E. Whitehead, of Ghuznee-street, advertises the receipt of a fresh 6upply of Newcastle crals, to be sold at the lowest rates for cash.

" Tito third intmal meetlngof the Equitable Building and Investment Company will be held on Tuesday /"the Bth prox.. when the following report will be presented: — "In submitting tiie report and balance-sheet for the year ending the 31st December, 1880, the directors have pleasure in informing shareholders that the results for the past year have been satisfactory, the balance to the credit of -profit and loss account being £2300 13s I Id, and they now recommend that a dividend at the rate of 10 per I dent, per annum be declared, of which 5 per cent, has already been paid. Although the commercial depression referred to in the last report has Continued during tho past year, tin directors have satisfaction in assuring shareholders that th© prosperity of the company^- ia unabated. Messrs. Mills and M'Tavish retire from the Board, but offer themselves for re-election . " The total number of patients in Ihe Lunatic Asylum pn Saturday last wits 141 — 80 males and 61 fem&W§. Some aquatic sports took place at the Thorndon Public Baths on Saturday afternoon, and "were witnessed by about 200 people. The matches were provided principally for boys. Two prizes were offered in each, viz., 7s 6d and se, and the entries in each contest were numerous. The first was a swimming match for schoolboys, the course being one length of the baths. E. Gillon won the first prize, the- second being carried off by T. Cooper. In the swimming match (twice round), for tieketholders, the prizes fell respectively to Ei Rose and G. Cameron J. Carpenter came in first in the swimming match for boys under 14, with G-. Wallace second. A lad named Gray carried off the sucking pig in the greasy pole contest. The "grand tournament and polo match on trained ponies " did "not come off, the "ponies" not having been "trained" propVljr.^Tiro brothers— E. ttad G. Butt— won •the prizes for " diving for plates." An accident, described elsewhere, prevented the programme from being* carried, out t6 the end, and fhg remaining events will come off on Saturday next, should the weather prove propitious. The annual district meeting of the Independent Order of Odd, Fellows, Manchester Unity, was held on Thursday at the Loyal Groytown Lodge, W,airarapa. Deputies were present from all the lodges in the district, except the. United, Brethren and Rose of Shaftra. The Grawi 'Master, P.G. C. W. Bell, having declared the meeting duly opened for the despatch of business, delivered an elaborate address, in which he reviewed the proceedings of the past year. He^cgretted IMere was a slight decrease in the number of members, no doubt owing to the general depression of the times. There 'Were, however, 953 members on the books of the several lodges, and 99 new members had joined during the year. There had been expended in sick "pay £957 19s Bd, and fnneral donations £142 10s. The total receipts amounted to £2811 11s sd, and the payments to £2547 15s Bd. The total funds were £9622 4s 6d. P.G. Thomas Carr was duly installed as Grand Master for the ensuing year, and P.G. William Buck Deputy Grand Master, P.G. Edwin Bannister retaining the office of Corresponding Secretary. A banquet was given in tho evening at the Foresters' Arms by the Loyal Greytown Lodge, at which about 40 officers and brethren were present. P.G. Loasby occupied the chair, when the usual loyal, patriotic, and fraternal toasts were given and responded to most heartily, and everything passed off most agreeably. G. Williams, a well-known light-weight Victorian jockey, arrived from Melbourne a few days ago, and will probably ride at the Racing Club mooting. Williams had the mount on Suwarrowin last year'B Melbourne Cup, and has won several important races, including the Geelong_ Gold Cup, on Lord Harry. His present riding weight is about 6st 71b. - - We understand that the Racing Club have sold the right to work the totalisator in tho paddock at their meeting to Mr. F. Hill, who has satisfactorily manipulated the machine on previous occasions. Messrs. Hobbe and Goodwin, of Christchurch, will also have a totalisator on some other part of the course. But what about Mr. Francks ? We are glad to observe that eight of the principal jewellers in Wellington have agreed from and after 12th February, to close their Bhops on Saturday afteraconß at 1.30 pm. This is a boon that will be much appreciated by the assistants, and will not be grudged by the public. We regret to hear that there are three jewellers who have not yob joined the arrangement, but feel sure that they will see the propriety of holding out no longer. Ladies and gentlemen willing to assist in the production of the new opera, "The Pirates of Penzance," are requested to meet Mr. Wolf at St. George's Hall to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock; '» A oricket match was, ilayed dnrSaturday afternoon between the Bohemian aria. j£xcelsior Cricket Clubs, and -r.esnlteo?i|nEwin for the former club by 36 runs. ' "" * Messrs. Gilpin and Pardon, who have recently started a cheese factory in the Wairarapa, have forwarded to us a sample of their cheese, which is of excellent quality. Cheese of this description is likely to meet with a good demand. The firm are shipping several tons to England pers.s. Northumberland. Every New Zealand farmer has disagreeable recollections of the glut of oats in the market last year, and the corresponding 1 low price which they realised. It will doubtless be good news to our Wairarapa friends to learn from the Bruce Herald that th»re seems a prospect of a new outlet for this class of grain next year. A representative of an eminent Glasgow firm, it appears, is now in New Zealand. The firm to which he is attached are large dealers in oats and oatmeal, and their usual source of supply is now and for years has been the United States. The demand for oats is increasing, and the samples of New Zealand oats sent Home attracted the attention and admiration of dealers in farm produce. The firm referred to require annually a supply which amounts to £160,000. Their representative has received a commission to erect oatmeal mills in the colony, which must prove a boon to all concerned, but which will be a positive source of wealth to the whole farming interest in the colony. The cost of the Town Hall clock in Dunedin was £1140. The Council have now received another bill for erecting the clock and chimes, amounting to £728 5s Bd, bringing the total up to £1868 odd ; and the worst of it is that a large number of the citizens declare the chimes to be an unmitigated nuisance, and threaten to get an injunction against the Corporation. We are requested to state that owing to arrangements having been made between Mr. Inniss (grocer) and his creditors, he will carry on his business in Conrtenay Place as heretofore.

We are indebted to the Americans for a vast number of labor-saving domestic machines, one^ of which, the "apple parer," deserves special notice at this season. It saves waste of the apple by paring much thinner than hand, and in one-twentieth of the time. It can be procured at Robt. Gardner & Co.'s, Clearing Sale, Lambton Quay. — LAdvt.l The miserable Btnff hawked about by itinerent peddlers, and vended in the cheap shops under the name of Schnapps, is nothing but the most villainous compounds of bad gin. This article is often fetid and acrid, and taken into the stomach, not only burns the intestines, but acts with such drastic power on the bladder and kidneys as to produce - chronic inflammation. It is a certain poison. The only true, reliable, and healthy precaution, is Udolpho Wolfe's 'Schiedam Arobiatic Schnapps.— TAdvt.]