The Evening Star. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1891.

Evening Star, Volume 8505, Issue 8505, 2 May 1891, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1891.

Our supplement to-day contains the first chapters of an original tale, specially written for the Star by Mr J. Maclaren Cobban, entitled ‘ The Horned Cat ’; reports of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australia and of the newly-elected school committees, our American letter, London ‘Table Talk,’ correspondence, and other matter.

The question “ Aro rabbits a nuisance?” is answered in the negative by Mr Weddell, of London, who informs the Marlborough ‘ Express’ that, having gone into the figures, he finds that they afford more labor and bring in more money than if the same land were used for sheep breeding. A Wellington telegram states that the Solicitor General has been formally instructed to initiate proceedings in the matter of Judge Edwards’s appointment. Mr Buckley (Attorney General) will appear in the Court, with Sir Robert Stout and Mr Vogel, jun. A meeting of the past and present students of the technical classes was held in the Normal School on Friday evening to discuss ways and means for enabling the Association to commence the erection of workshops, and in other ways to promote its usefulness. As the outcome of the meeting an energetic committee was appointed and a plan of action was formulated. It is intended to issue collecting cards to all those past and present students who will charge themselves with the task of raising subscriptions for the building fund. One or more courses of lectures will be arranged, and it is believed that there will be no great difficulty in securing the best talent in Dunedin. Lastly, it is proposed to hold a conversazione towards the end of the session, at which students will be requested to exhibit models, machinery, etc , of their own manufacture. We wish the movement every success, and fee! sure that if taken up heartily by the young men themselves it will prove so. The Port Chalmers District High School Committee met last night, there being present Messrs A. Thomson, J. Morgan, £. G. Allen, J. Watson, jun., J. Mitchell, and I. Stevenson. An apology was received from Dr Drysdale. Mr J. Morgan was appointed chairman and Mr G. H. L. Durham secretary. The rector reported that the daily average attendance since the beginning of April had been 519, the number now on the roll being 632. The attendance was greatly reduced owing to sickness and bad weather. He called attention to the gymnastic ladders in the playground being quite useless in their present condition, so far as real gymnastic practice was concerned, and said that they had been the cause of numerous accidents. Not long ago one boy broke his arip by falling from them, another had his chin badly cut, and less serious accidents are of frequent occurrence, jf tfie Committee could put the apparatus in repair he would tee that it was properly used under due supervision; but if this cannot be done he would recommend thst the ladders be removed. Messrs E. G, Allen and Stevenson were appointed a visiting compiittee, with power to attend to the complaint of the rector. It was resolved to write to the secretary of the Education Board to forward the names of only ten of the most eligible applicants for the position of fourth assistant.

The monthly meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Otago Educational Institute was held in the Normal School this morning; present—Messrs Whetter(presidentJ, White, Eudey, Vernon, Chilton, M'Nicoll, Davidson,, Balsille, Valentine, J. H. Gray, Jeffery, Don, J. Reid, and Pirie (secretary). A paper on ! Stray Thoughts on Grammar ’ was read by Mr Eudey, who, in the course of his remarks, expressed the opinion that much time was wasted in a child s school life in learning the different rules in grammar, many of which were never used <n after life. In the discussion that followed Mr White said that every teacher would admit there was too much formal grammar in our public school sysem. He put this view of the question before tho Minister of Education only a month or so ago, and he was glad to see by the papers that Mr Reeves was at present considering th.e matter and others connected with th,e system. He was sure they all hoped that one effect would be that a great deal of the formal grammar would be cutout of the system in the future, and its place taken by some more -useful faiaaoh of knowledge. Oil the motion of Mr White, seconded by Mr Chilton, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Eudey for his paper. Mr Whatter, president of the branch, was appointed to read a paper at the annual meeting of the institute.

Mr Hugo lectures ou Monday evening on 'Foreheads.'

Annual meeting cf Dunedin Licensing Committee on Friday, Jane 5. Dunedin Tailors’ Society meet in Trades and Labor Rooms, Rattray street, on Monday evening. Ordinary general meeting of the Trustees, Executors, and Ageccy Company of New Zealand, Limited, on Tnesday, May 12. The Middlemarch section of Otago Central Railway will be opened for traffic on Tuesday. The time-table on that line is advertised in this issue.

Ur Spurgeon’s evangelistic meetings at Hanover street Church have been largely attended. The concluding services will take place to-night and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 6 80 p m.

The public meeting to form a natipnpl liberal association has been postponed until Monday fortnight. This has been done in consequence of a telegram from Hon. W. P. Reeves to enable the Minister for Public Works (Hon. R. Seddon) and Sir Robert Stoat to be present. Jt will be seen from an advertisement that the friendly Aid Society of St. Andrew’s Ohntoh are preparing a treat for the public in tie form of a limelight entertainment, under (j. management of Mr F. A. Ooxhead ; tbe slides, from a selection of aopie 1,200, having been kindly lent .by Mr B* Hudson,

The meeting for election of officers of the Mornington Wesleyan Bible and Mutual Im-, provement Society was held last night, When! the following were elected President, Rev. • L. Hudson; vice-presidents, Messrs HalJ and Joseph Sparrow; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. 33. Ansting; assistant secretary, Mr H. Gnnliffe; editor, Mias Ansting; reporter, Mr Joseph Hensley; organist, Mrs Hudson. A syllabus covering six months was drawn np.

For men’s and boys’ overcoats and waterproofs try Olothing Factory, Octagon,—[Advt.] In our advertising columns will be found the list of performers for the conceit on Wednesday In First Ohuroh, on which occasion Mr Timson will be assisted at the organ by two of his pupils. The vocal part of the concert will be given from the platform in front of the pulpit, Messrs Whitoombe and Tombs have published for the use of children attending the State schools a handy little work on arithmetic, designed specially to meet the requirements of I he sixth Standard, The compilers state that they have been at pains to avoid the defects so patent in some of the Home publications. The fractional method has been adopted throughout the series, and, as Mr Goyeu’s work has been followed in regard to the expository portion, it is claimed that this arithmetic is superior to any similar work now in nse, whil-.t there is no increase in price —a desideratum from the parents’ standpoint. There was a large number of members present at the Dunedin School of Art Club’s meeting last night, when several new members were propo-td The work brought in shewed in some instances a decided improvement. The president (Mr Hutton) read the first of a stries of papers promised by him on 1 Perspective. ’ The numbers then went to work from the living model A list of subjects, work in connection with which has to bo handed in on June 12, was handed round for every member to choose one of them and work out bis ideas to the best of his ability. Mr Joseph Han dngton, brother of the late Bishop Hanniugton, who was martyred at Uganda, Western Africa, a few years ago, is about to visit Dunedin. Mr Hannington has lately returned from Palestine, the greater portion of which he has traversed on foot, and being much struck by the remarkable events transpiring there all pointing to the prophecies of sacred Soiipture as being thereby fulfilled, he is endeavoring to stir up the interest of Christians in this subject by delivering lectures descriptive of what he has himself seen. These lectures are illustrated by cartoons, etc., and also by curios which he has gathered at the various places he has visited.