Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5275, 8 January 1879, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1879.

The Nexo Zealander, in its over-zeal to serve the Ministry, is somewhat overstepping the mark, we should think. In an article in last Monday's issue, in which it advocates the formation of a Liberal Association, it suggests that the organisation of the association should be promoted by the Wellington Working Men's Club. " The Dunedin experiment," it says, " was proposed to emanate from the Working Men's Club, having ramifications thoughout the colony with its kindred institutions. Its political principles were to be boldly announced, and the organisation was intended to ensure the platform laid down becoming law." Further on it says, "A thing begun is half concluded, and from the Wellington Working Men's Club such a movement could be initiated, which would have a colonial influence." Strange to soy, this is the very thing that the Native Minister has decried more than once. Only the other day, when addressing the members of the Working Men's dub, Mr Sheehan " asked them to avoid three things — (1) religion, (2) politics, and (3) patronage. He spoke of religion with all respect, but at the same time experience testified in many ways that religious topics controverted in such places caused all sorts of mischief. Such controversy had broken up many an association before. Politics were even worse." It is quite refreshing to turn from the rabid fustian of the New Zealander to the sensible remarks of the I Native Minister. The one endeavoring j to raise class against class, to impress | upon the working men that there is a j " conspiracy germinating against them," and that from their social club there must spring an organisation which shall rule the land ; while the other tells them to keep to the object for which they were associated, and to eschew those topics of discord and disunion — religious controversy and politics. There can bo no reason at all why the working classes should not engage in political discussions, or organise an association for the promotion of their own particular views; but it is decidedly objectionable that the arena of such [discussions, or the birthplace of the organisation, should be the club-house which is established for social communion. And we have no hesitation in saying that any newspaper that advises such a misuse of the Working Men's Club is an enemy to the true interests of the working classes.

Last night, about a quarter to 12, a mai» named Vernon Campbell was arrested by Constable Clancy on a charge of uttering a forged cheque for £36. The cheque, which purported to be signed by Mr Allan M'Lean, was passed to Mr Monteith in payment for a horse which Campbell had purchased for £12, Campbell receiving the balance in cash. The police have been on the look-out for Campbell for the last few days, without success, but last night Constable Clancy, while in plain clothes, caught sight of the man on the beach, near Mr Swan's private house, and effected the capture. Campbell will be brought up at the R.M. Court this morning. In our article yesterday respecting drainage, the word "not" was omitted from one of the sentences, of course giving to it just the contrary meaning to what was intended. The sentence should have been printed as follows: — "Then it is imperativo that the water-tables should not be below flood-level; otherwise, i during floods, the streets having watertables below that level would be flooded with back-water." An inquest on tho body of John Cartwright, who was killed in the Town Hall quarry on Monday last, was held at the Eoyal Hotel yesterday morning. It was at one time thought that some blame was attached to the overseer of the works for putting the men at that particular portion of the quarry after the heavy rain that fell on Sunday, but, as will bo soen from the evidence, no blame whatever was attributable to the overseer. A full report appears in another column. The Theatre Eoyal was much better attended in the dress circle last night than has lately been the case, the performance being under tho patronage of His Worship the Mayor and the Borough Council. The lower portions of the house presented anything but a cheerful appearance as regards attendance. Tho company, however, do their utmost to please, despite the scanty patronage they have been receiving, and certainly they are deserving of better support. Last night the performance consisted of the " Rough Diamond," and the burlesque of "La Somnambala," both of which were played with spirit. The same programme will be repeated to-night. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, one inebriate was dealt with in the usual manner. Several civil cases wore postponed till Friday in consequence of the absence of the Resident Magistrate..

The monthly inspection parade jof the Napier Artillery and the Napier Engineers will take place this evening at half -past 7 o'clock. Taking time by the forelock, says the Wellington Post, is evidently the motto of some prompt-acting Hawke's Bay people, who lately started a new racing club. The moment the project was mooted the enterprising individuals telegraphed to Sir Hercules Robinson, asking him to become patron. The reply came soon: — "His Excellency is much gratified by your congratulations and offer of presidency, and begs the matter may be allowed to stand over until his arrival in Wellington." Perhaps a judicious delay would have done the Napier people no harm in the eyes of his Excellency. However, they will have the honor at least of the " first refusal." The danger of the careless use of matches Was exemplified at the sports at Pahnerston, a few days ago, when a Woman narrowly escaped from very severe consequences through her clothes being set on fire. During the shower of rain which took place, according to the Manawatic Times, a woman with her husband took shelter in a booth, and while there a lighted match was. thrown upon the ground unnoticed as to where it went. In a moment the smell of something burning drew attention, but as the crowd was closely huddled together, it was not until some search was made that it was discovered that her clothing was on fire. Fortunately it was extinguished without apparent personal injury; but the poor woman is in such a condition as to make it possible she may yet suffer from the shock. So far, however, she has escaped with a great fright, and the loss of some underclothing. From a Dunedin contemporary we learn that a small triangular patch of land fronting Great King-street, near Marshall and Copeland's Brewery, was recently sold at the rate of £60,000 per acre. When it is stated that the site in question is on the outskirts of the town, and fully a mile and a half from the post office, it will be admitted that the above is a very respectable figure. The following letter headed "New Zealand and Teachers," and signed " One of the Victims," appeared in the columns of the Atcstralasian: — "Seeing by a New Zealand paper that a great many Victorian teachers are applicants for situations in New Zealand, I desire through your columns to inform them that they are better off where they are, for the following reasons: — 1. Situations in New Zealand are not secure. As an instance, the Westland Board lately discharged several teachers, whom they had induced to leave the Victorian department by offering a higher salary, for the sake of reduction. In three instances the teachers had not held their posts for three months. 2. After January, 1879, Victorian certificates only CRtitle the holder to be put in Class E, or the lowest class here, whereas to get into Class A requires the passing as an M.A. In fact, the examinations are ridiculous, as may be seen from my statement that a teacher in Victorian department holding a CC is only placed in the fifth class, or E, here. 3. The cost of living in Now Zealand is to the cost of living in Victoria as seven to five (in somo places better, in some worse, but I take an average.) 4. The climate is very bad in Otago, Southland, and Westland ; it is best in Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, Nelson, and Marlborough. The old saying about ' things at a distance ' is very applicable to Viotorian teachers and New Zealand ; for I am sure that any teacher coming from Victoria, unless he gets one of the largest schools, will regret having left a permanent situation to come here. In conclusion, lot me inform teachers that, as a general thing, teachers receive a salary here which, considering the cost of living, is worse for them than they receive in Victoria. I left a Victorian school worth £165 per annum to take charge of one worth £300. The day I arrived, however, the board reduced my salary by nearly a hundred pounds a year. Of course, most New Zealand boards are too honest to do this, but there are some that are not. For my own part, I would sooner be in Victoria at a salary of £165 per annum, than in any part of New Zealand at £300." Terrible as is the disaster of the Scotch Bank failure (remarks a contemporary) there was one characteristic incident with a gleam of humor in it. An old maiden lady, who was post-mistress and telegraph ageat at Wick, had all her savings in the local branch of the City of Glasgow Bank. A message came through early addressed to the manager, instructing him not to open the doors, as the I bank had suspended payment. The old I lady presented herself at the branch at the opening hour, and drew out all her cash. She then proceeded to the bank parlor and informed the manager that as an important telegraphic message had arrived for him she had just brought it along herself ! Mr J. Con way's Cricketer's Annual is announced for publication shortly. It will contain, in addition to the past season's matches of the Australian Eleven in the Australian colonies and New Zealand, a complete record of the matches 'played by tlhe Eleven in England, Scotland, and America, and their final matches on returning to Australia. As a record of the most successful sporting expedition ever undertaken, the work should be interesting to general readers, while to Australians it will be doubly interesting as a record erf their first victory over the Old Country. The Melbourne Herald of the 19th ult. contains the following paragraph: — "A married woman named Margaret who is living with a man in Coromandelpluce, was yesterday suddenly atruck blind under circumstances of a peculiar nature. The afflicted person, who*, we learn, is a woman of extremely violent temperament, and has never, as fair as can be ascertained, shown any ocular weakness before the occurrence, while in a paroxysm of anger, called on God to strike her blind. In about five minutes afterwards she found herself unable to see, and it was discovered that the organ of vision was totally destroyed. As soon as her father, who is a waggoner, hoard of the occurrence, he took his daughter to his place of residence, where she is now, no doubt, under medical treatment."