NEWS OF THE DAY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 707, 28 April 1883, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

It augurs well for the state of liberal feeling in this community that so little countenance and support is given to Mr Fish in his views upon the Education Question. Mr Fish thinks that State aid should stop at primary schools, and that thereafter the whole burden of a higher education should fall upon the individual. Mr Fish" counts up the cost of secondary education, and thinks that for that cost we get but a poor return in the " three or four bright boys" that are yearly turned out of secondary schools. The answer to Mr Fish is that the State has no concern whatever with bright boys. What the State wants is good citizens ; and, while it has good reason to believe that as a general rule the better the education the better the citizen, then no cost which can be fairly and reasonably incurred should be considered too great for the attainment of such an object. If it distresses Mr Fish to think that the children-of the rich may take advantage of the aid offered by the State, an excellent antidote may be found in the reflection that by the same means an excellent education ia brought within the reach of the very poorest. And, if the State could see its way to make the whole course of education absolutely free, from the primary schools to the Universities, the State would be the gainer, though the "bright boys" were, not more numerous than they are at present. A . centeaii school ia proposed for the Taieri district.

ATtheusual sitting of the E.M. Court, last Monday, a civil case was heard and disposed of. This was the only business before the Court.

Ma Gordon, Inspector of Mines, is to make an inspection shortly and report to the Government in connection with the Waikaiaßush. This endless " reporting on works"—a peculiar phase of " red-tapeism " —is provocative of very little, if any, good. The official who does the "reporting" portion. of the show has an excellent opportunity of seeing the country at the public expense, and returns home invigorated and refreshed both in body and mind by his trip, while the benefits that accrue to the public are literally nil. We once had the pleasure of an official visit from Mr Gordon, and we know how we were benefited by his inspection. He " reported "—or was supposed to have " reported "—on our deep lead, Spec Gully and several other public matters, but so far we 'have derived no benefit therefrom. That leviathan octopus the Circumlocution Department seem 3 to be increasing in size, and its ways of doing its business seem to become more and more obscure every day. The usual weekly sitting of the Warden's Court was held last Mouday. Before proceeding to the business of the day, Mr Hickson said :—" I wish to make a few remarks in reference to what transpired at a late Court with to the posting of notices of application and objeclions thereto. I was under the impression that it was necessary to lodge all objections to applications fourteen days before the hearing ; whereas, on reading the schedules provided in connection with Rule 22 of the Rules and Regulations, I find that objections may be lodged at any time within fourteen days from the date of the application. To avoid the inconvenience to the applicants of being taken by surprise by an objeetion being lodged upon the day of hearing, all applications under Section 22 will only be heard after 21 days' notice. I have, therefore, to admit that-Mr M'Carthy in his contention in the case of Ah On (application for a tailrace) was rig'it in his reading of the Rule, and that I was wrong. I may say that Ishall always be glad to admit an error, and amend it if I am really in the wrong and discover it."—After this, two applications for mining privileges were struck out, the applicants not answering to their names when called upon.—The Court then rose.

Our Serpentine correspondent writes : " Affairs are very quiet here just now, and but very little business is doing.—The Golden Link Company are still getting out atone in fair quantities. The quartz, I understand, looks very promising.—l notice that the Deep Valley Company intends to make a fresh start. The Company has good prospects to start with, and I do not doubt but that it will turn out very successful.— The Golden Belt Company have not started putting in their tunnel yet. They are waiting the arrival of a certain party from Dunedin, who are coming here with the object of inspecting the reef. It is matter for surprise that this Company (the GoldenBelt) are not progressing as they might. They have first-class prospects before them, and in support of this assertion I might state that it is only a few weeks since that a new shoot of gold oil the surface was discovered. But it is no wonder they are so unlucky, considering the results of their trial-crushing of a few Weeks since. I understand that more than one-third of the gold Was left oil. the pls-tes at the time of washing-up. Over 30oz"s of pmalgam were got from the plates a few days ago. The battery-manager who would allow such £C deplorable'state of afiairs to exist ia—well, not up to "muclf. I won't gay what he in reality, is, but I know what I would do'with him' if I had my way fn the' matter. I hope, that the next time he undertake:? to' manage' a battery he'will know more of h'is' business than- Jve M cVoea/^

A rENsibirof'£2jt)oo aj-yearhas'been voted by the House..oL Commons to Sir Garnet Wolseley, The Tapanui paper nientions as an on dit that Moa Flat Station has been purchased by an Australian scatter named Keogh. The Public Works Department; has accepted the tender (£5389 11 4d) of Messrs G. T. Bain and Co., of Eoslyn, for the construction of tunnel No. 2 on the Livingstone branch railway. Mr BfcECEER's popularity does not appear to havfe greatly diminished. The annual sale of the pews in his church fetched £7,400, i against £7,640 last year. The " first choice " i of sittings realised £145. , Tub popular indignation throughout Ireland against Carey increases in intensity - not_ so much on account of his part in the assassinations, but chiefly on account of his turning informer. His family is ta booed, and his tenants refuse to pay rent. ' The business-people of Hawker, according to the Northern Argus, seem determined not to be outdone by the banks. They have intimated that they intend to charge 3d on all bank-notes under £25, and pro rata the same as the bank commission cheques. They evidently think if sauce is good for the goose it is also good for the gander. The statement has been made that another batch of important Arrests—lo or 12 in number—is likely to be made shortly, on the charge of conspiracy to murder. It is stated that the police have at last succeeded in tracing to one organisation neai'ly all the agrarian murders of the last three years, and they will be able to show where the funds came from. There is a rumor that two members of Parliament are comprised in a conspiracy. Miss Jam White who has, on the recommendation of the School Committee, been appointed to take sole charge of the • Ewebnra School, arrived in Naseby by coach last Monday {evening. We learn that Miss White has just completed her apprenticeship in the Blue Spur (Tuapeka) School, and obtained a "partial pass " for the E. certificate at the January examination. She comes to us highly recommended by her teachers and School Committee. The Medical Press says that at Chester, England, an inquest was held over the body of a man who had been more or less drunk for forty consecutive years. He, his wife, and his son had been in the habit of drinking the droppings of various taphouses in the I town—a beverage which they purchased for about a shilling a gallon. It is a curious fact that the only night he had been sober for many years was that upon which he died. There is a report which requires substantiating, although itis given on good authority, that pressure of very unusual kind has been brought to bear" upon the English by the French Grovernment in regard to the Chanel tunnel. The secret has been very well kept in official circles, but we hear (says a Home paper), that diplomatic courtsey has been otrained to the utmost. Lord Granville has hitherto remained firm. The argument is that the English Government several years ago gave their sanction to the, scheme, and that it is a breach of an international engagement to withdraw it now.

At the usual monthly meeting of the Mount Ida Lodge of Freemasons, held at the Masonic Hall on Wednesday last, P.M Bro. Robert Johnstone was presented with a handsome Past Master's jewel, bearing the name of the Lodge on blue enamel on the golden clasps, which were elegantly chased. The jewel (which is a remarkably pretty one) bore an appropriate inscription. The presentation was made on behalf of the brethren by P.G.J.W. Bro William Grumifct, WJYT. The recipient, in a few well-chosen remarks, thanked the brethren for such a handsome and unexpected testimony of their respect and esteem.

The man Brady, who has been sentenced to death for his share in the Phcenix Park assassinations, was thus described by a Dublin paper upon the occasion of the Police Court trial" . . , Beside him stands a man of just the medium height, stout and ' blockey,' wearing a black frieze ulster. He, too, like Mulletfc, has brown hair, and his entire face is shaved. He is a downright jolly-looking fellow, with, a fat round face, and softj expressive eyes. He was never once serious during the whole day. Always smiling, he occasionally laughed right out; he appeared to take the entire business in the light of a legal farce rather than as a grave inquiry. This was Joe Brady." Not long ago, a certain brewer, being out of luck, made application for employment to a brewing firm of decayed fortune. He was: accepted, and proved to be a diamond of the first water. The beer of-this firm rapidly became famous, and now its net annual profits amount to the nice little sum of £BO,OOO. _ Having given his employers a taste of his quality, he arranged his terms : £IOOO a year, fixed salary, and half-a-crown on every hogshead turned out of the establishment. The weekly output never falls below 850 hogsheads in the worst winter months, and _ during the summer it reaches 2150. This is every week, mind ;so if you add about; 1000 half-crowns weekly to a salary of £IOOO a year you will find that the "screw "of a successful brewer is not so far behind that of a colonial Governor. Mr Johm F. Botiing has resigned the head-mastership of theEweburn School, and leaves the district this week. Mr Botting has held the post of head-master in the above school for nearly four years, and has given great satisfaction. He has proved himself to be ;a, painstaking, kind and capable teacher. The Inspector has given him very fair reports year by year, and the parents have formed a high opinion of his abilities. The children themselves are greatly attached to their old teacher; and, on hearing of his departure, resolved to present him with something which would remind him of the years he had spent among them. Misses Lavinia Millar and Isabella Forester having, made the round of the other pupils, appeared on Tuesday last and presented Mr Botting with a purse and sovereigns," leaving it to himself to purchase what he most needed as a memorial of his labours among them. Mr Botting tendered them his hearty thanks, and told them he would with pleasure ever remember the years he had spent in Eweburn. Mrßotling's intention is to attend the Normal School, Dunedin, with the object of preparing for Class D.

This anti-Chinese feeling is being carried to a great extent in San Francisco. For instance, a business-man in advertising his wares, says/ " Patronise "White Labor ! All my Boots and Shoes are made by White Labor." Again, '' Anti-Chinese Men, Attention ! We (the Red Cross Packing Company) have always, and on principle, employed Skilled White Labor only, and never at any time had Chinamen in our employ. Goods packed under Our Brands are-of better quality and degree than those packed by firms who employ the Fllthy JVJ ONCfOLiAirs." Another advertiser calls attention to the fact "that ovir Flannelunderwear always has beeu made by White Women ! All those who are in earnest in their opposition to Chinese-made goods ought to encourage work made by, white hands." The White Boot and Shoemaker's League of Frisco asks the public to "be practical, and in its efforts against tire Great Chinese Curse to' give white .labor a chance to live." The cigar-makers also resort to the cry of " white men " as a means' of disposing of their manufactures. The "Yellow Agony" has become' so threatening on; the Pacific yiope' that we' are lioiS' at all surprised at a? of sfiafra' exiMifrgv