SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 7412, 6 January 1888, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

WELLINGTON, January 5.

Mr Mackay, principal of the Wellington College, with the approval of the governors, has devised a scheme to divide the school into two sections. In the, one classicswill be taught; in the other, practical science and technical instruction instead of the dead languages. The ' Post' strongly urges that the Colony should be represented at the Australian Postal Conference ; but as no Minister can attend, it suggests that Sir John Hall should, as ex-Postmaster-General and as a postal expert, be perfectly familiar with New Zealand postal and telegraph matters to be appointed to represent the Colony. He will, however, be asked to represent the Government at the Australian Centenary celebrations.

The quantity of stock slaughtered at the Gear Meat Company's works during the last year was no less than 170,853 head of all kinds, or 24,369 more than in 1886; while the returns had been in excess of those of any previous year. The chairman of directors mentioned last night that the imports of frozen mutton and lamb into England in 1886 were slightly over 1,000,000 carcasses, of which, roughly speaking, New Zealand contributed two-thirds and the River Plate one-third. The complete returns for 1887 were not yet available, but they would not greatly differ from those of 1886, as, although the export from New Zealand had been somewhat greater, that from River Plate had been rather less.

The ' Post' says it is to be hoped that Ministers will not be so ill-advised as to appoint Mr Maxwell to one of the Railway Commissionerships. If they do, public confidence in the Board will be undermined from the very outset, and a great obstacle will be thrown in the way of its usefulness, however good a man the Chief Commissioner may be. Possibly Mr Maxwell's services may be found useful as an engineer in the Railway Department, but he should certainly have no voice in the management. CHRISTCHURCH, January 5.

The other day the ticket-office of the theatre was broken into and some tickets of admission stolen therefrom. When the hour came for opening the office in the evening the theft was discovered. Means were then taken to detect the thief, and presently along came the gentleman whose love for the drama had been too strong for his honesty. He was observed by the actingmanagev (Mr Kingston), and when he was comfortably seated enjoying the piece Mr Wilson was despatched for a gentleman in blue to take charge of the culprit. Mr Wilson accordingly departed on his errand, and Mr Kiugston was left looking for the expected constable. Mr Wilson scoured the streets some time, butin vain; not a constable could he see. Returning despairing to the theatre, tho two Thespians formed a resolve to arrest the man themselves, and to emblazon on their shield the grand motto, "Alone they did it." Accordingly they laid their plans, and on the gentleman coming out they started for their prey, but the "gentleman " was evidently a wily one, and finding himself in close quarters he thought it best to make a run for it. Accordingly he started out of the pit entrance at the best go-as-you-please pace. Mr Kingston, who is a bit of an amateur ped., put on the pace after him, and tho pair went down the street. Mr Kingston was rather out of practice for a long spin, besides which the pursued knew of sundry short cuts through gorse bushes and over ditches, which bothered our theatrical friend not a little. The result was that, although he struggled gallently, the thief got off scot free. What made this result the more galling was that Mr Kingston lost a valuable locket off his chain during the chase.