Hawke's Bay Herald. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1878.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 4099, 24 January 1878, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1878.

An Act Avas passed last session "to make provision for the appointment of education reserves for the purposes of primary and secondary education, and for setting apart education reserves, and for the control and management thereof." The short title of the Act is " The Education Reserves Act, 1877." The interpretation clause defines " primary education " to mean the course of instruction in a public school prescribed by the Education Act ; i " secondary education " means any system of purely secular education carried on at superior schools, where the usual branches of a libei-al education, comprising the English language and literature, Latin and Greek classics, French and other modern languages, mathematics, physics, and other branches of science, are taught Out of all education reserves that have been made, one-fourth part is to be set apart specially as an endowment for secondary education, and the remainder as an endowment for primary education. The chairman of the Education Board of each education district and the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the provincial district are appointed arbitrators to equitably apportion the reserves between primary and secondary education in the proportion mentioned. If the arbitrators are unable to agree, an umpire is to be appointed by the Judge of the Supreme Court of that judicial district. Should the chairman of the Education Board refuse or neglect to act as arbitrater, the board, may appoint another of its members, or some other suitable person, to be such arbitrator. The award of the arbitrators is to be made by the 31st of March next, or at such later period as the Governor may determine. The award is to be final and conclusive. The reserves, both for primary and secondaiy education in each district, are to vest in five School Commissioners — three to be appointed by the Governor and two by the Education Board. The commissioners will form a body corporate for the purposes of the Act, and will hold office for three years. If any commissioner should die, or resign his office, the Governor or the Education Board (as .the case may require) may appoint another commissioner. The commissioners are to keep full and true accounts of all moneys received. The Governor may make regulations for the inspection and audit of the accounts, and may require reports from each commissioner as to the administration of the Act. Power is given to the School Commissioners and to the Education Board to lease lands, subject to the trusts and conditions under which the lands have been vested in the commissioners or in the board. The letting must be by public auction or public tender, of which at least one month's notice must be given. In ordinary cases the term of the lease must not exceed twenty-one years, but if the lands are situated within a town, and are fit for building purposes, the term may be for a period not exceeding forty-two years. The commissioners or the board may set apart lands for school sites, and the Governor may reserve waste lands of the Crown for that purpose. When so set apart or reserved, the sites will vest in the Board of Education, subject to any leases or contracts lawfully entered into relating to the same. The Education Board may, with the consent of the Minister for Education, sell or exchange any school sites. The Governor may provisionally reserve waste lands of the Crown as endowments for primary and secondary education, subject to the conditions that (1) a full description of every provisional reserve, and the purpose for which it is dedicated, be gazetted ; (2) that copies of every such proclamation be laid before the Houses of the General Assembly; (3) the two Houses may by resolution alter, vary, or modify the area of any reserve, or may nullify the same; (4) a copy of every such, resolution to be gazetted by the Colonial Secretary ; (5) in the absence of any resolution of both Houses, the provisional reserve shall be proclaimed by the Governor as not

having been disapproved ' } (6) in the event of a resolution of both Houses disapproving the provisional reserve, it shall cease to be a reserve ; (8) from and after the date of the issuing of a proclamation, notifying that a provisional reserve has not been disapproved, or that it is approved with modifications, the land comprised in such reserve shall be reserved for the purposes proclaimed, and as soon as conveniently may be, shall be granted to the School Commissioners in trust for the purpose for which it was reserved. In order to provide an endowment for primary education in the North Island, at least 5 per cent, of the waste lands in each district open for sale on the Ist of January, 1878, and alike percentage of all land over which the native title may thereafter be extinguished, and which shall from time to time be acquired or purchased by or on behalf of the Crown, shall be set apart as an endowment for primary education ■within the district in which such land is situated, and shall be granted to the School Coumissioners for the district. All revenues derived by the School Commissioners from the reserves vested in them shall be disposed of by them, after deducting expenses of management and administration, as folio ws: — (1.) The revenues from reserves set apart for primary education shall be handed over to the Education Board or Boards of the provincial district, in proportion to the population of each education district, as determined by the census. (2.) The revenues from reserves set apart for secondary education shall be appropriated by the School Commissioners exclusively for the advancement of secondary (or higher) education in the several educational districts wholly or partly included in the provincial district, in proportion to the population, to be determined by the census. It is provided that nothing in the Act contained shall affect any lands granted to or vested in any Education Board, body corporate, or trustees, either by Act of the General Assembly or by any Provincial Act or Ordinance, for any special educational purpose, or for or on behalf of any particular school or schools. The Act concludes with a proviso that no school shall be entitled to any grant, unless it shall be a public school under the Education Act, or a school established under any Act of the Assembly, or a school established under the Canterbury College in the provincial district of Canterbury.

With reference to the letter of the Rev A. Shepherd, we may remark that he is under a great misconception if he thinks that we intended to insinuate that the action of the Presbyterians who, at one time, made an effort to start denominational common schools at Havelock and Meanee, was anything but in the highest degree meritorious. At the same lime a system of Government aid such as "Mr Curtis's amendment" would have introduced, which would have brought into existence in every locality like Havelock or Meanee two or three small rival schools, on which the capitation money would have been frittered away, is not a system which, pace the Hawke's Bay members, could meet with the approval of sensible people, and, in as far as the old Hawke's Bay administration varied from that model, and tended to check the creation of fresh denominational schools, we think it deserved commendation. As to the historical question, whether all denominations received equal justice at its hands, it is one which we are not prepared to go into.

We have obtained the following important information from an authentic source in reply to enquiries made : — " Re School Districts, Cook County is in the Hawke's Bay Educational District, but for purposes of election of the first Board, the existing Auckland Board must act, and also carry out the whole Act until the new Education Board is elected for the Hawke's Bay District. After that election Cook County will be entirely under the Hawke's Bay Board.— -Section 6 of the Crown Lands Sale Act preserves the right to deferred payment purchasers to have their landjput up at auction, in which case the most that would be charged for it would be thirty shillings, but ten shillings would be returned for roads from the first payments." We find some difficulty in understanding how this result is arrived at from the reading of the Acts. It is not so satisfactory as could have been desired. A meeting of the members of the Napier Bowing Club was held last evening at the Criterion Hotel, J. M. Batham, Esq., in the chair. Mr Eva stated that as Secretary of the Ngaruroro Regatta Committee of 1876, a balance of £50 had been entrusted to him, and that, as he was leaving Napier, he had decided on calling the late committee together, and handing his trust over to them. The subject of a regatta for the present year was mooted, but it was decided to do nothing till some action had been taken in the matter of the balance referred to. Mr L. M. Grace was I elected secretary in place of Mr Eva, who resigned the position. The following resolution was then proposed by Mr Price, seconded by Mr R. G. Gibbons, and carried :— " That a vote of thanks be recorded to Mr Eva, the late secretary, for his long and valuable services to the Club, and that in recognition of such services he be elected a life member." A well-informed correspondent in Wellington writes under date January 20th : — " Sir George is to be on the 30fch or Ist in the King country, to meet his Majesty. He is invited formally, by letter. He declined to go upon a mere telegram, I and the King's letter complains that he went away from Auckland without seeing him. I think Grey has taken a dignified course, which contrasts well with tho direct overtures of his predecessors for a meeting which never came off. The intention is to have a semi-private meeting this time, to fix a more formal one. The idea is to have tho formal peace made at Waitara, where the war began. I hope it may come off satisfactorily, there or elsewhere. It is now obvious why Sir George was unwilling to lose command of the Hinemoa, by handing her over to Jervois for January and February. It was because he wished to bo ready at any moment when he could do so, without allowing the dignity of his oince to be lowered, to take instant advantage of any direct and pressing solicitations from the King to meet him ; and the lor ale being uncertain (Kawhia, Tarauahi, or Waikato), both for the preliminary and formal meetings, Sir George chose to risk some odium rather than either explain his resolution or his intended use of the steamer for these purposes himself. ifou see the Customs revenue just keeps up. The probable returns from land revenue are now becoming a matter of anxiety. From the Ist January it becomes a matter of moment that it should not go down. It is hoped to get Pa Tutahi, at Poverty Bay, into the market. The sale has been delayed till the drain proposed to be made could be completed. I think it is now decided not to fill up Colonel Gorton's billett, but to merge the whole store branch into the audit. There is nothing, so far as I can learn, decided about Larnach's retirement. If he did retire, I suppose Stout would join." There was a very good attendance at the Theatre Royal last night, when the

United States Minstrels made their third appearance. The solo singing in the first part was especially attractive, and Mr Braham, who was in fine voice, received a prolonged encore for his really excellent rendering of the song " Hark ! the drum," with cornet obligate He also sang " The Death of Nelson," in the second part, in such a manner as is seldom heard in Napier, and responded to the encore which followed by repeating the last verse. Mr Campbell was also heard to the best advantage last night, and contributed several songs most effectively, The silver belt jig, by Mr Holly, with banjo accompaniment by Mr Rockefeller, was loudly encored ; and the whole company appeared to exert themselves to the utmost to please the audience, who were kept in roars of laughter by the amusing sketches "I'm from the country" and "Scenes from the dispensary." For tonight another change of is announced. At a general meeting of the Hawke's Bay Dramatic Club held last night, several new members were elected. Mr Hodgson was appointed stage manager vice Mr T. Bear, resigned. It was also decided that the club should give a performance on Friday, Ist February, the piece selected being " Don Ctesar De Bazan," to be followed by a farce. As that will be the evening of the cricket match with the Australian Eleven, it was decided to invite the presence of the Eleven, as guests, to witness the performance. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before R. Beetham, Esq., R.M., Daniel O'Kane was brought up on remand charged with lunacy. The medical evidence was to the effect that defendant was not insane, but had been suffering from excessive drinking. His Worship informed him that it had cost the Government two guineas to ascertain that fact, and he only wished there" were some means of making defendant himself liable for the expense incurred by his conduct, but he was sorry to say there were not. Defendant was then discharged. — Peter Dinwiddie was charged by the Inspector of Nuisances with allowing a chimney in the Herald office to catch fire on the 12th inst. Mr Sainsbury appeared for the Corporation, and called Richard Williams, who gave evidence to the effect that on Saturday the 12th inst. he observed a dense smoke issuing from one of the chimneys in the Herald office, occupied by the defendant and others, and that on examining it he found a quantity of paper had been put in the grate for the purpose of being burnt. Defendant admitted that it was owing to a certain amount of neglect on the part of the boy who had been instructed to burn some paper and look after it. The chimney, however, was quite clean on the occasion referred to. Mr Sainsbury said that as it had been shown there was no wilful neglect in allowing the chimney to catch fire, plaintiff did not wish to deal hardly with defendant in the matter. His Worship inflicted a fine of 2s 6d and costs 9s. This was all the business. We are glad to see that the suggestion we made that Friday next should be observed as a general holiday is to be carried out. The banks will all be closed on that day, and, as will be observed by an advertisement to that effect, most, if not all, of the business places in the town will also be closed. This will enable a large number of people to avail themselves of the cheap excursion trips to Kopna. We hear that the railway authorities have secured the services of a band for the occasion, and it will be seen that Mr J. T. Johnson will have two refreshment booths at the Kopua end of the line. We are requested to state that excursion tickets for to-morrow may be obtained today at the Napier railway station. We would recommend intending excursionists to avail themselves of the facility offered, as it will save them a good deal of inconvenience and crushing, that must inevitably attend the rush for tickets to-morrow morning. Mr Levy's agent has secured the Theatre Royal on behalf of his principal and company, who will give three operatic concerts on the 4th, sth, and 6th of next month. His Worship the Mayor has headed the subscription list for the season very liberally, and his example has been followed by many of the leading citizens. We have been requested by the chairman of the Tamumu Road Board to explain that the reason why the valuation list was not posted up at the school-house on the 15th instant, as announced, was that, owing to unforeseen circumstances, a meeting of the board could not be got together on the 13th, and, consequently, the valuation was not made. It lies now with the Judge of the Assessment Court to appoint the valuator. No one, however, we hear, has received the appointment of Judge since Mr Locke's resignation. The office needs filling up without delay. Mr Petitt, who is about to retire from the Te Aute Hotel, gave a ball and supper to a large number of friends, on Tuesday evening, at the above hotel, in honor of the occasion. There were not so many present as was expected, owing, no doubt, to the heavy rain that fell during the day. Nevertheless, about 100 persons assembled. At about 9 o'clock p.m. the guests sat down to supper, which was very creditably got up, and for whicli the host and hostess deserved great praise. After doing ample justice to the good things provided, the cloth was removed, and numerous toasts were proposed and responded to. The toast of the evening was, of course, that of " Mr and Mrs Petitt," the proposer of which testified to the goodly feeling and high esteem in which both were held by all their friends. Mr Petitt, on behalf of himself and spouse, briefly responded. The assemblage then adjourned to a large room, very tastefully decorated for the occasion, where dancing was kept up with spirit till about six o'clock next morning. One and all, on leaving for their different homes, expressed themselves highly satisfied with everything, and well pleased with having spent so enjoyable an evening. We believe Mr Petitt hands over the hotel, &c, to Mr J. Allanach on the Ist of February next, and that he intends trying his hand at sheep-farming. — [ Co m-m imi rated. ] | A proclamation in tho New Zealand Gazette of the 11th instant notifies that Frederick Irving deLislc, Esq., has been appointed a member of the Medical Board constituted imderthe " Military Pensions Act, 1808." The Constabulary officers in the different districts are again ap- { pointed as Inspectors, first and secondclass Superintendents, ttc. Thomas Scully is appointed Inspector, date of commission 4th November, 1857 ; F. J. W. Gascoigne, Sub-Inspector, date of commission 27th November, 1868. The total Customs revenue for 1877 was £1,213,479, showing an increase of £6,608 over the preceding year. The returns of the following ports showed an excess above last year as under : — Wellington, £15,970 ; Napier, £445 ; Greymouth, £1869 ; Hokika, £2114 ; Lyttelton, £11,567; Alcaroa, £111; Dunedin, £224. The returns from all the other ports of the colony showed a slight falling off. — Argus. Referring to the cricket match between the Australian Eleven iind the Combined Fifteen at Melbourne, the Daily Telegraph says: — "It will, wo think, bo admitted that the Australian Eleven have acquitted themselves in a most creditable manner. There can be no question that the Combined Fifteen is by far a stronger team than was ever opposed to Lillywhite's men, and tho conclusion is therefore inevitable that the Australian Eleven is superior to tho last All-England team that honored us with its presence. This being so, we can view their departure for England as representatives of Australia wtth every confidence that the cricketing reputation of the colonies will not suffer in their hands, They have played a large

number of matches "already against longer odda than the Englishmen, and it is a '. significant fact that they have not yet lost ', a single game."