ACROSS THE STRAIT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 100, 29 April 1908, Page 5

ACROSS THE STRAIT.

1 GOSSIP FROM THE EMPIRE

CITY

[from our correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Prime Minister gave a very long and interesting address last night at a "Liberal and Labour" gathering. He was in great nick, and most delightfully optimistic as to the future. I]is audience,. I fancy, must have tired somewhat of the long array of figures, but they had their reward in the knowledge that Sir Joseph was really speaking to the country through them, and no doubt fully appreciated the honour thus done them.

■ As I know The Express has always taken a keen interest in the muchvexed " Bible-in-schools " question, a few notes on a.recent and rather cunning attempt by the clerical party to "capture the school committees" j may not be out of place. The cleri- \ cals went quietly to work and en- ■ deavoured to gather from the old ; committee-men whether they would • favour the introduction into the • schools of the Bible as a classic, teachj ers to supplement such reading by i " geographical, historical and literj ary comments only." Failing aci quiescence in this pretty little scheme J for the- * introduction of religious I teaching into the schools by the back i door, as it were, the Bible-in-schools | people threatened to replace the non- ] assenting committeemen by their own | selected' candidates. As a rule very I little interest is taken in school committee elections in Wellington, but very'fortunately the papers took up the matter, printed the circular, and in vulgar parlance "blew the gaff" ' —that is, exposed the whole scheme and its real meaning. Now mark the result. Instead of the usual handful .of parents turning up at the various meetings, there were big crowds, indeed at two meetings the attendance was so great that scores of parents could not force their way in. Each person nominated for election was asked whether he fayI oured the new scheme or not, and the result of the various ballots was an overwhelming victory for the party which desires to keep our schools free from any trace of sectarianism. The elections wore very valuable in that they proved most v.iiru'Voa-kabiy that the clericals are only a noisy few. Further, they proved that the great majority of the people of Wellington arc determined that there shall bo no interference with the existing system of free, secular and conrpulsory education. That ihe stnpid and offensive charge, so often Made by the clericals, that the opponents of the Bible reading in our State schools are all freethinkers—atheists they were insultingly entitled by one speaker at a Wellington meeting some two years ago—is false is proved by the fact that some of the comrnibteemen elected last night on the secular ticket were gentlemen very prominently connected Avith Sunday-school work. Indeed, M'r Lankshear, one. of the oldest and most enthusiastic Sunday-school workers'' in Wellington, stated point Hank at the Newtown meeting that he was strongly opposed to the Bible-in-schools movement, as he was convinced it would only lead to sectarian strife.

At Petone the Presbyterian clergyman, the. Rev. Mr Thomson, declared that this irresponsible document (the Bible-in-schools circular) " advocated what would be a deliberate and dishonest method of getting behind the law " At Pulmerston North last year, the Clerical party, " lying low" before the meeting, suddenly appeared in great force and swamped the other, voters. This year, however, the tables were turned, the Secular, party scoring a decided victory, i hope that Blenheim has remained faithful to the existing system.

Not many Anglican clergymen in ■N Tow Zeviland are fortunate enough in thr-ir worldly eircu distances to I-* able to leave an estate worth £7000, but this is the value of the Rev. Richard Coifey's estate. Mr Coffey was for many years incumbent of St. Mark's, a populous parish, which has its occlnsiastical centre in Susses Square. The reverend gentleman was noted for his generosity towards the poor of his parish, and although in a sectarian dispute none could be "warmer," even more violent than he, he was universally respected, and by many greatly beloved, on account of his true Christian charity in casas of need. It is now stated that Mr Coffey has left his estate to the parish of St. Mark's, subject to arnuitifs to his *vu!ow r-4 daughter. Some day R. Mark's •• ;'TI be quite a rich church with this valuable endowment.

Two or.three months a<ro we heard some dismal anticipations as to the enormous price butter was to rise to as a result of the bush fires and consequent disruption of the dairying industry But butter has been going down the last week' or two, and is now as low as Is 2d, whereas the "experts" (for "experts" read "persons interested") defended the rise to Is 4d, on the plea forsooth that it would soon be Is 6d to Is Bd. As a matter of fact; there has never been any very serious deficit in the supply, not any permanent deficit, and the scare and the rise in price were both merely skilful and unprincipled rises on the part of two or three "smart" firms. The public suffered as usual.

Like father, like son. The Hon. J. A. Millar's son, Mr H. M. Millar, is going Home in the s.s. Ayrshire's engine-room as electrical engineer Young Mr Millar, who is said to be a very clever youth, will remain in the Old Country for some months, but intends starting business in New Zealand afterwards. His father's knowledge of the sea was eminently practical, for the present Minister for Marine worked his way up from apprentice to first mate, and there is precious little about a vessel that he doesn't know. His son also evidently believes in ths value of practical experience.

No wonder the Blackball "strikers'' don t want to go back to work if it be true, as stated in a Press Association message from Grevmouth, that the sum of £8 10s is being paid as strike pay every week to one family. Lite news that the Arbitration Court is to be moved this week to enforce t7 e,^ ne? T against individual members oi the Union has given great satisfaction in Wellington. It seems a monstrous thing that these men should first defy the law and actually bo kept in idleness as a reward for such defiance. With £8 10s a week coming m I know a good many families tho members of which wouldn't mind striking to-morrow.

A new marble bust of tha late JPrime Minister from the chisel of Mr Nelson Ilhngworth, a clever Australian sculptor, who has been residing here for some timo past, has been placed temporarily in the main entrance of the Government Buildings It is an fscellent likeness, and a very

j fin© piece of work, regarded purely I from an artistic point of view. The bust with its pedestal stands about fcix feet high. It io understood that its final resting-place will be in the Parliamentary Library, which already possesses marble busts of the late Sir Harry Atkinson and the late Sir -John McKcnzie. In the Library is also stored at present the fine marble .memorial presented to Parliament by the workmen at the New- ! i.ort Railway Works. Victoria, where j the late Mr Seddon worked as a I young man. The exact locality. where ; this fine memorial is to bs placed has i not yet been decided upon.