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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1526, 9 April 1886, Page 2

Quite a A<kxl of local events has taken place in this district during the past week—quite beyond our power to do justice to—and, as a conserjnence, reports of Municipal and County Council meetings, etc., are unavoidably held over. Besides speaking at Queenstown, Mr Fergus has addressed his constituents at Arrowtown, Skippers and the Reefs, all of which meetings were well attended, and unanimous votes of confidence earned. The non. member speaks at Cromwell to night, Banuock'ourn to-morrow night, and next week he proposes visiting the Nevis, Wanaka, Macetown and other outlyiug places, and will return here to-morrow week.

At the Waste Lands Board meeting on Wednesday, J. O'Callaghan's application for a lease of sections in block XI., Cardrona, was referred to the district land officer to report on.—l). Reid's application for deferred-payment section 3, block 111., Kawarau, was approved.—Davidson and Hope's application to surrender licenses for Runs 11, 12, 13 and 15, and that same be re-offered separately, was referred to Government.—P. M'Connochy's tender for perpetual lease, sections 58 and 59, block 11., Garuslaw, was accepted. Mrs Dewar, the estimable wife of Mr Postmaster Dewar, seems to have had her share of troublous adventure, in addition to the anxiety she must have experionced on account of her husband's long absence. It seems that when going to a railway station down country she lost her purse, with a considerable sum of money and some trinkets in it; but, luckily, it was found by an honest nam named Gillies, who advertised for the owner in the next dav's paper, and the property was restored by the fiuder, who declined any recompense except for expenses incurred. St. Leon's Circus and Menagerie, at which an afternoon and evening's performance were given on Saturday, were fairly attended, and well deserved all the patrouage bestowed. The adjourned annual meeting of the Lakes District Acclimatisation Society, appointed for last evening, was further adjourned till to-morrow afternoon at two o'clock.

The footballers look like business. The ground is marked off, and the goal posts are erected and everything is ready for start to-morrow, when it is iutended to opeu the season with a scratch match—•ides to be picked on the ground. The committee iuvite all who like to try their hand to do so. It is intended to commence play about three o'clock, and players will please remember that it is against the rules to play with toe or heel plates on their boots. We hope to see a big muster to-morrow, so that a commencement may be nude with some good practice, as it is the intention of the Club to get a team or two from Invercargill or Duuedin to play here during the season. The Board of Reviewers, under the Property Assessment Act, met at the Court house, Queenstown, on the 2nd instant, for the purpose of hearing objections, etc., in respect of property in the Itoroughs of Queenstown and Arrow town, and in Lake County. The reviewers were Messrs J. Rogers (chairman), J. Douglas and B. R. Buird. Mr F. H. Daniel, valuer, was present in Court. For the borouph of Queenstown a numlier of objections had been lodged, but some were disallowed for non-apjiearauce of objectom, and others were reduced by consent. The only objection heard was that of R. M'Bride, £6OO. Mr D. M'Bride appeared on beiialf of objector, and the value was finally reduced to £450. For the borough of Arrowtown there were only a few objections, which were reduced by consent. For Lake Connty there were no contested objections by owners in Kingston, Greenstone, Matukituki and ridings. For Cardrona nding Ralph Halliday's agricultural leaned land was reduced iu value from £">10 to £400; and A. Torrie's (by consent) from £2OO to £IOO, as a portion of the improvements was on Crown lands. For Queenstown nding Andrew Bradley's property, Queenstown Gorge, was reduced from £4OO to £2OO. For Robertson and Hallenstein, Brunswick Flour Mills, £1305, the valuation was maintained. For Arrow riding. Peter Butel's property, £462, was reduced on the list to £4OO, but J. J. M'Bride's, was ninUinad

An inquest wm held at the Court-house on Tuesday, before C. C. Boyes, Esq., coroner, and a jury of six persons (Mr R. Ross, foreman), touching the death of Long Yow, who died at Queenstown the previous day. The only evidence of importance was that of Dr Douglas, who made a post \mortem examination, and deposed that death resulted from exhaustion, caused by an abscess. A verdict was returned accordingly. It appears that deceased, who was in town celebrating the Celestial New Year, was a miner working at Macetown. He was a native of Canton, 48 years of age, a married man, and his wife and children are in China.

On Tuesday evening the Rev. Mr Hall, of Waihola, gave a very interesting address at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Queenstown, on missionary work in India. The remarks of the rev. gentleman, who has had 25 years' experience of the work in the Presidency of Madras, bore more particularly on the condition of the women of India—their degraded position and what had been and was being done for their elevation. He said that, not many years ago, it was considered a calamity for a man to have a daughter born to him. The speaker had personal experience of this, for when his first daughter was bom his learned tutor (who was teaching him the Hindoostan language) condoled with hiin on the misfortune. It was considered something disgraceful for a man to stand aud speak to a woman. When a female child was only six months old it was quite common for the grandmother and other female relatives to look out for a suitable husband. Ofteu before these girls attained the age of six years the marriage was celebrated with great state. The condition of widowhood, which sometimes took place at seven or eight years, was wretched in the extreme, for the unfortunate girl or child was stiipped of every ornament, clothed in a dirty rag, her bead shaved and herself made the slave and drudge of all in the house. Instead sympathy nothing but contempt and cruelty was shown her. To speak a few yeais ago of educating the girls would have been regarded as an insult by any father. But now, happily, there was a great change. Woman was being educated and raised up to her proper place. The zenana mission called for the same noble Christian women from Home, and their influence was telling silently but powerfully on the mothers of India. The rev. gentleman said the prospect of missionary progress and triumph iu India was very hopeful. We have to acknowledge receipt of the annual report of Mr J. Gammell, 8.A., Inspector of Schools under the Southland Education Board. Mr Gammell, who entered upon his present duties some three or four years ago, was looked upon at first as somewhat of a martinet, and his exposee of the shortcomings of many teachers was indignantly resented. As time wore on, however, affairs were gradually got into the new grove, ami have borne good fruit. The present report shows that, with one or two exception, a gradual and marked advance has been nude by the pupils, and this must be a very gratifying fact for parents. For instance (to quote the * Inrercargill N'w*), in reading the percentage has risen from 56"2 in 18S3 to 95'6 in 1885 ; in spelling from TO O to 83 7 ; in writing from 96'6 to 99'5 ; in arithmetic from 50 8 to 65 4 ; in history irum 53 oto7o 4. Geography shows a somewhat peculiar fluctuation. The pereentaije in 1883 was 67'8 ;in ISB4 76 9; and in 1885 69'8. Grammar comes out somewhat similarly. The percentage in ISB3 was 59'3 ; in 1884 67 "6 ; and in 1885 61*1. Ou the whole, however, the figures, to quote Mr Gammell, "show that the teaching in the schools is more efficient than formerly." In a suggestive ami instructive paragraph he impresses upon teachers the necessity for more personal attention, on their part, to the subject of grammar. With regard to geography, he points out that the lower percentage arose, " not from any general neglect of the subject, but from the fact that in a few schools it has been almost entirely neglected—perhaps in view of the fact that it was soon to become a class subject. The Inspector speaks with severity of the perfunctory manner in which object le?sons are usually given. He finds that few attempts are made to introduce fresh matter ; that the object lessons are but too frequently, by some singular coincidence, found to be merely variations on subjects contained in the reading book of the class. Mr Gammell considers that whatever is taught should Imj thoroughly taught. " Unless this is done," he adds, "we shall be only raising up a crop of smatterers, who know nothing thoroughly—not even their own ignorance." A difficulty that teachers had to contend with, and one that militates perhaps more than any other against the successful issue of the labours of the most painstaking, is touched upon—that of irrepularattendance. Poverty of the parents and bad roads in winter have something to do with it, but the root of the evil is the indifference of many parents, who being naturally indolent or without reflection allow their chillren to stay at home on the most frivolous pretext. The compulsory clause of the Education Act in such cases, seems to be inoperative, chiefly because Suhool Committees will not incur the odium of putting it in force. For this reason, Mr Gammell believes that Parliament, and not Committees, must take the responsibility of enforcing attendance.

•' Bi:chu-Paiba."—Quick, complete cure, all annoying Kidney, Bladder and Urinary Diseases. At Druggists. Keinpthorne, Prosser & Co., Agents, Christchurch.

Valfabi.e Discovery For the Hair.—lf your hair is turning grey or white, or falling off. use "The Mexican Hair Resewer," for it will positively reKtorf in every cruse or White hair to its original colour, without leaving the disagreeable smell of most " Restorers." It makes the hair charmingly beautiful, as well as promoting the growth of the hair on bald spots, where the glands are not dodecaved. Ask your chmist for" The Mexican Hair Renewkk," sold by chemists and perfumers everywhere at 3s 6d per bottle. Wholesale deperenioved to 33. Karrmgton Road. London.

Advice to Mothers.— Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the nain of cuttiug teeth ? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of Mrs Window's Soothing Syrup. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes 14 bright as a button." It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain relieves wind, regulates the towels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhace, whether arising from teething or other causes. Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold by Medicine dealers everywhere at Is ljd per bottle. Towi.e's Pennyroyal and Steel Pills for Female* quickly correct all irregularities, and relieve the distressing symptoms so prevaleut with the sex. Boxes 2s 8d of all chemists. Prepared only by E. T. Towle, Chemist, Nottingham, England. Agents for New Zealand—Kempthorue, church ; J. Monteith, Manners Street, Wellington, Wm. C. Fitzgerald, Manners street, Pharmacy. Wellington. Floriline.—For the Teeth and Breath.—A few drops of the liquid Floriline sprinkled on a wet tooth-brush, produces a pleasant lather, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly whiteness, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobucco smoke. The Fragrant Floriline being composed in part of honey and sweet herbs is delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the ace. Price 2* Cd, of all Chemists and Perfumers. Wholesale depot removed to 33, Farrinzdon R/mwl, London.

Throat Affections and Hoarsrness. —All suffering from irritation of the throat and hoarse* ness will be agreeably surprised at the almost immediate relief afforded by the use of "Brown's Bronchial Troches." These famous "lozenges" are now sold by most respectable chemists iu this country at Is lid per box. People troubled with a " hacking cough," a "slight cold" or bronchial affections, cannot try them too soon, as similar --roubles, if allowed to progress, result in serious Fulmonary and Asthmatic affections. See that the words " Brown" bronchial Troches " are on the Government stamp around each box.—Manufactured by John I. Brown A Sons, Boston, United States, European depot roßwvad to at, Farringdon Road, London. ■■ i. t i ■