LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Evening Star, Issue 11895, 25 May 1903, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In reply to a deputation from the Auckland Board of Education re building grants, the Premier said that he was aware of a large amount of. building that had to be done, and he promised to communicate at once with the Minister of Education on the subiect. At the same time he reminded the Auckland Board that they had already received a very large share of the vote for school buildings, and that in other districts —notably Taranaki—where settlement was also extending, the Board were in as bad a condition financially as the Auckland Board. Any appropriation beyond the limit of the vote would have to be brought before Parliament. An _ amateur gardener who has tried an ssperiment recommended in an English magazine asks us to publish the result for the benefit of the public. It is a cure for wireworm in carnations. Our correspondent cut up an oil cake into nuts the size of a hen’s egg, buried the pieces just below the surface between the carnations, and in five days’ time, lifting the oil cake, he found each piece full of the pest. The oil cake is evidently a good trap. A meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Presbyterian Office-bearers’ Association was held in First Church class room. Mr R. Chisholm (president) was in • the chair, and about forty members were present. The Rev. J. Chisholm read a very able paper on ‘ The Aims and Objects of the Association,’ and in the animated discussion which followed thanks were given to Mr Chisholm, and the opinion expressed that the Association would prove very successful and be profitable to members. The subject for discussion at next monthly meeting will be ‘ How to Improve ,the Prayer Meeting.* Miss Florence Morse’s meeting at the Psychological Hall last evening was well attended. She spoke on the religio is aspect of spiritualism. She pointed out that since the earliest ages man had shown that he was a religious animal, and to-day he demanded proof of a continued existence hereafter, and modern spiritualism bad come to supply this proof, but though it provided a natural solution of the mysteries of life and death, it was regarded as the work- of the devil. Fine-spun theories had been invented to account for its phenomena, but its truths, backed as they arc by the angel world, aie slowly but surely forcing themselves on humanity. It is a protest against old superstitions, and is in accordance with man’s own desires for a life of activity hereafter. Modern spiritualism shewed that this world is but a training school calling upon us to lead better and purer lives, so that our future existence might be better and brighter. It is a blessing to humanity, restoring its supposed dead, comforting the bereaved, pointing to a clearer light, stimulating to further progress, and ever illuminating those who will but see. Miss Morse subsequently gave minute clairvoyant descriptions. with names of spirit people present. The holding capacity of His Majesty’s theatre was fully taxed last evening, when a sacred recital was given. Miss Blaney sang 1 He wipes the tear from every eye,' and Mr J. Jago ‘ The Holy City ’ (illustrated by lantern slid* r j, and ‘At the beautiful gate,’ Herr Zimmermann supplied a violin solo, ‘Meditation on a Prelude’ {‘Ave Maria,’’ by Bach-Gounod). Several fine lantern views illustrating scenes in the Holy Laud were shown. The Premier has been advised that the parliamentary party expect to reach Auckland from the Islands by June 1.