THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1878.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5063, 7 February 1878, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1878.

KusrjiA, both in politics and creed, is the most despotic (Jovernmont in Europe. Her people :iro more oppressed than those of any other nation professing to possess a civilisation. Her subjects are trooped to Siberia on the merest suspicion, without even the mockery of a sham trial. ilev political police are tho terror- of her subjects. Her censorship of the Press is far more severe than was that of Spain in tho worst times of tho Bourbon dynasty. Her persecution of the Latin Church throughout her dominion:;, her crushing out of the language and literature of Poland, and the iron rule she has established over every people whom she has lirst incited to revolt, and then " ln-otected," and at last annexed to her own greedy empire, in accordance with the far-seeing and grasping policy dictated in tho will of Peter tho Groat, —all this displays tho greatest political paradox that wx>s ever olfered in the history of European nations. Fur what do wo find now ! Ilussia, despotic at home, and persecuting her oppressed subjects of the Roman Catholic religion,

and :ill who dare to express free opinions on the liberty of tiie subject and good government, demands l'or other peoples :uul countries the boon of free self-government. The few lovers of Russian fra\id and force who are to bo found in the colonies, are welcome to compare this Russian " home rule " with the pretensions of Russia towards the tributary subjects of Turkey, for whom she profussos to seek free representative government, in order that by-aU'l-by she may more easily commandthem, and make Bulgaria, Montcnegr.>, and .Bosnia, as she lias made Wallachia and Moldavia, her tools to win the way to the capital of ancient Byzantium. There is no possibility of denying these facts and conclusions. The whole career of Russian aggression, and the unscrupulous intrigue which paved the way for its accomplishment, incontesiibly prove their accuracy. The <[uarrel about the Holy Places in Jerusalem, which are possessions of the Turks, was created and fomented by Russia favouring the pretensions of the Ureek Patriarch as against the Roman Catholics, for no other purpose than that of getting up the war of 1552-SG, in which she sutl'ered defeat, because she did not reckon on the allied forces which wore brought against her. So now, alter stirring up revolt in the Turkish provinces by men and money, and urging on and exaggerating the Bulgarian atrocities, she began this war, for which she had been preparing for years, after successfully breaking up for the present the old alliances of Europe, and making the principal Powers of Europe more or less afraid of each other, while she took the opportunity of their divisions of opinion to assail Turkey, in the fashion which she had every score of years followed in her elS'urts to encroach more ani more on the territory which opened the road to Constantinople. All this treachery, and all this premeditated butchery, in the name of God, the Czar, and Holy Religion ! Some ninety thousand Russians have been slain, about the s.inn; number of Turks, and the Sacred Same is invoked to bless the work of traditional greed and the ruthless ambition of Emperors.

The debate in the House of Commonu on the war crisis, —fur to this, it ia evident it has now arrived in England—is still progressing. It is not probable that Mr. Gladstone's exceedingly pro-Russian suggestion will be adopted by the House. He proposes that instead of the war credit of s;x millions rvhie'i Lord Beaconsiiehl's Government asks for, mi address to the Queen should be voted, assuring Her Majesty of the "support of the nation for the maintenance of British interests." It is not vague phraseology like this which the Ministry require, it is not words but money ; for now, if it is not too late, England will require to act, and the nation and its representatives will show something at least of the old spirit that animated Cromwell when British interests were endangered. The money will he voted, and the ex-statesman, and once the chief of British orators, now the advocate of Russian aggression, will be beaten as he has been before.

At present an armistice has been proclaimed, and Austria proposes a Conference at Vienna to be held by the Powers who were immediate parties to the Treaty of Paris. What may issue from that conference no one can foretell. England is not generally successful in diplomatic intricacies. She is usually too honest to cope with the specious falsehoods which mark Russian intrigue, and the long delay which has obstructed her action ami permitted Russia to march so far towards Constantinople is an error not easily retrieved. If interference was seriously intended from the Cist, it should have taken place long ago to be effective. Even now, late as it is that it has been resolved on, a stoppage has been effected to Russia's progress. Had that interference taken place months ago, how much bloodshed would have been saved i

Our latest telegram this morning states that Mr. Forster, the member for Bradford, lias moved the rejection of the Government motion for the vote of six millions, which .amendment the Government, and, as we believe, the majority of the House will oppose and reject. Unhappily in this war the Liberals have made a purely party question of what should be strictly a national one, have turned their backs on their former policy, and are now seeking to sacrilico the interests of England in following Mr. Gladstone's atrango and new-found love for Russia and despotism.

It lr.sy bo v.-'jll to remind School Committees that it is necessary lliL-y should in a formal minute rccjonl the final decision at which thfy arrive in the election of "not more than nine " of the gentlemen who are candidate for the K luc.--.tion Board. Perhaps it rany not be without service if v.'s give hoie ii few liiats uu to the method tiiuy should follow in coming to their conclusion. The usual simplest mode is that of l-oduciug the list from time to time, until the nine, or any smaller number each committee may decide to vote for, shall be

reached. Suppose they proceed te this fashion: They begin with the Ml list of forty-six candidates, as supplied <K> them by the Secretary of the Board, aeccrding to the Act. The first motion would be to reduce the list from forty-six to say thirty. They would thus require to strike out aixteen names, which would be those of the candidates they first see the propriety of not voting for. Then from thirty they can resolve to strike out ten more, thereby reducing the list to twenty. Then from that number to fifteen, from fifteen to twelve, and from twelve to theniue, which number must on no account be •exceeded, becausn, if it is, the whole vote will be invalid, and will be rejected for informality. The readiest method of reducing the list from time to time will suggest itself to most committees. Suppose the list reduced to twenty, the Chairman should read over slowly each name, beginning from thenrststill remaining unobliterated, and take the eense of the committee as to which five of the twenty shall be next struck onfc. He should read out each remaining name, and those objected to should be struck out in the order as they come until the list is reduced to fifteen names. This having been done, the same process should bo repeated as to which three of the remaining fifteen shall share the same fate. The short list of twelve would then bo reached, and three more would require to bo deleted, thus making the nine, beyond which number, as we have said, no committee can vote for, under pain of rendering their vote of none effect. Any committee can vote for fewer than nine as they think fit, and if they so determine, the process of reduction above stated should be once more repeated. If any ditrerenee of opinion shall arise as to the striking out of any name, the votes of the members preseut should be taken, and the majority of course decides. If the numbers are equal, the chairman gives his casting vote, which is given in addition to his deliberative vote. By adopting some such method as this, the committees will be able to arrive at a regular, formal, and, we thiuk, comparatively harmonious system. Having tliU3 arrived at the names of the candidates (uiue or fewer, as the case may be,) for whom the committee have decided to vote, and to transmit to the Board, a formal entry should be made in the minute of the meeting, simply stating that " the committee have voted for the i'ol- . lowing gc-utlemmi to be members of the Iv.lucatiou Board for the district of Aucklaud." Here should follow the names of tlic members voted for, and the minni.es should bo signed by the chairman. A copy of such minute so signed by the chairman or cleik (if there is one), or by both of them—and, if certified by any oilier member of the committee, so much better—ami transmitted to the Board, will bo a legal notification of the committee's decision. The committee can adopt the form sent for their guidance by the secretary of the Board. If all tlie live members attend the meeting it is desirable that a majority of them should sign the list, which would, in tlnvt case, be no leas than three. If only four attend and a tie occurs— two on each side—in any division, of course, the ousting vote of the chairman will be given in addition to his ordinary votu. Tliis ordinary or deliberative vote he is entitled to use on all divisions in common with the other members. We are thus particular in repeating these obvious rules, because we have been informed that a number of country committees, who have not had much experience iu such matters, desire to have the provisions of the Act plainly cited. To many such iustructiuns will not be necessary ; but they will bo useful to those who require them, as this is thu first time that a souitiwhat complicated franchise is to be put in operation. Finally, we quote in full clause 70 of the Act, attention to which is desirable, and which says : —•" The proceedings of every committee shall be transacted atmeetings to be convened at the request of two or more of the members, or by order of the chairman thereof. At all meetings, three members shall form a quorum, aucl the chairman shall have a deliberative and also a casting vote at every such meeting, and the decision of the majority sh»ll be final ami conclusive." We think, if the rough hints here f,iven, which are based on an examination of the Ac!, are attended to, where a close stuly of the Act itself has uot been attainable by all the members of the committee, this first election can be smoothly brought to a close.

A councillor writes a letter inveighing against tlie decision of the Government which refused chairmen and clerks of County Councils the privilege of franking telegrams, and he complains that by such lvfusal the Government .ire "placing obstacles in the. way of the County Councils conducting their business." He concludes by suggesting that all County chairmen should make a simultaneous application to Sir George Grey for the light to frank letti-Ts and telegi ams. It has been found that tho Obinuninri trade is not sullioicnt to maintain two boats, and Captain B.iniingham is about to gi\c it up, after a long and unprofitable struggle to maintain it. The p.s. ituby is to proceed to .~ud, where she will be employed on the Wairoa trade, aud cannot fail to receive tho hearty support «.f tho settlers of that locality. The Pearl, the lirst steamer built to Captain iJHiningham's order for the Uhimjiiuii'i tn'.dv , , has already been transferred tu Kusscll, where she will uo doubt bo much more profitably employed on the KiLwakawa ilivcr. !Mr. A. Macdonahl, of Pukokohe Valley, writes : —" I, as a young sheep-farmer, will make so freo as to ask some of your readers —who may lie practical sheep farmers—for tliu bvnelit of tliodo who are inexperienced to give us a little information oa scab, for seeing that scab showed itself at Mr. ISucklaud'a sheep fair, we should be on our guard. Fiivit, theo, when and where did scab make its appearance ; 2ml, from what cause is it produced; 3rd, what Bi«u does it Hist produce : 4th, and lastly, what is the best dip ; how is it prepared, and how applied ; also, how are they who are applying it to guard themselves from harm, if there in any. By giving us correct advice on tho above it will do mure good than writing a volume on theory." People in tho Police Court yesterday were not so much surprised at Minnie Burke throwing a bottle at the police as at tho fact that she was allowed to come into the dock armed with such a weapon. It appears, h.nvever, that according to the regulations the police arc prohibited from searching females, and the female searcher is seldom to be found, unless specially sent for. The amiable Minnie has a knack of working herself into lits by allowing her temper to over come her, and on such occasions medical attendance has to be procured for her. On being discharged from the wheelbarrow inio the cell after her arrest, she became subject to one of those fits, and Or. Dawson was called in to prescribe for her. Amongst other remedies, two bottles full of warm water were applied to her feet. It was one of those bottles which she succeeded in secreting under her shawl yesterday morniug, and with which she struck SergeantMajor Mason. A judgment iu a bankruptcy case, delivered in Oatnaru the other day, has attracted a good deal of attention, aa bearing on the position and power of trustees in bankruptcy. It had reference to the bankrupt estate of one Hilliker, ex parte James Scoular. The facts, shortly stated, are as follows :—James Scoular was trustee for the bankrupt's estate, and his firm proved a debt of upward of £1300. There were also mortgages, and realised £500 by sale of the mortgaged property. James Scoular also charged the bankrupt's estate with moneys payed as instalments to a building society, and for rates in respect of tho mortgaged, property. Messrs. Scoular contended tn<y were entitled to a dividend on the full amount of their debt, without making any deduction for the amount realised by the sale. Judge Ward stated the facts aud the law at some length and with great clearness, having evidently given tho subject most careful consideration. His decision is, that Messrs. Scoular have forfeited their security, and may be mado to recoup the £500. They are also to refund £22 10s, part of tho money paid to Eskdalo, who was employed to tnke charge of the bankrupt's property, but as tho security v.as forfeited, the trustee would not be ordered to repay the amounts paid Building Society nor the rates.

It is reported that Mr. J. P. Armstrong is likely to become a candidate for the repre- ! aentation o£ Mount Ida (Otago) in the General Assembly if Mr. De Lautour carries out bis expressed intention of resigning hia seat. A meeting is to be held at the Thames on Friday evening to consider the advisability of establishing a horticultural society there. When will the Auckland people Lake a similar step ? During the month end-ug January, IS7B, there were 15 deaths registered within the city of Auckland. The number during the corresponding month of 1577 was 24 deaths. There were 11 deaths in the Hospital during the -month of January, 1878.—Geo. Goldie, Sanitary Inspector. The Australian cricketers had their last practice yesterday in the morning. They were, however, on the ground in the afternoon taking notes of the Auckland men, and stayed to witness the steeplechase. The match will commence punctually at 12 o'clock to-day, and be continued, with half an hour's intermission, up to 0. A Kaipara correspondent offers thanks to Captain Symondß, U.M., and the licensing magistrates, Messrs. Coates and Adams, for refusing the application for a license to sell spirits at the annual sports at Kaihu. This refusal, says the writer, is entirely in accord with tlie wishes of the great majority of the inhabitants of the district. A special informal meeting of members of the Good Templar Order was held yesterday evening, at the Temperance Hall, Albertstreet. Mr. E. Carr presided. A long dis-. cussion ensued, after which a resolution was arrived at, that they would not recognise the K.W. Grand Lodge of America, or the K.W. Grand Lodge of the World, but endeavour to effect a union between the two grand lodges of New Zealand, so as to form ouo grand lodge for the ealony. Tlie return of Mr. F. A. Amphlett to reside permanently amongst us as a settler, will be pleasing intelligence to many friends and acquaintances who remember his former sojourn in Auckland. Ml-. Amphlett was paymaster of the ill-fated ship Orpheus, which was wrecked in ISG3 on tho Manukau Bar. He resided itt Auckland during the whole period of the war, aud returned to England upon the withdrawal of.tho forces from this colony. He married a daughter of Mr. Albyn Martin. He is a man of intelligence, of great experience, aud of many accomplishments.

A correspondent writes as follows with reference to the teachers' class :—" Hearing that some importaut changes arc to be made in this class, and that algebra is to be introduced, I say that a. better grounding in the elementary branches would be more desirable and more beneficial to the public schools. I cannot see how overworked young ladies can take on them with impunity a heavier load of mental labour, when that of the past year has quite overstratued them, and made them often unrit for their daily school duties, am) the idea of adding algebra (unnecessary in elementary schools, especially for young ladies) appears to me preposterous. The time spent in getting through a certain amount of extra labour would be better spent somehow thus : Let Mr. Worthington take his whole class aud drill them as if they were the children and he the monitor. Let him commence with the card class, and show them by actual teaching how to conduct that class ; and when the instruction ends, let him ask any of the senior ladies to take his place under his inspection, and perform the same duty. Then, by making remarks on the deficiencies and redundancies as the case may bo, iie would work up all his class to bo able to take the lowest anl most important clas.9 in the school. Then class after class in arithmetic, grammar, geography, object lessons, history, may all take their share of his attention, aud be mado the means of conveying information, as well as the dry outline of the method that ought to be pursued."

Mr. Levy, the "greatest living instrumentalist '•' in the world, endeavoured to play it " pretty low down " on the members of his company on Tuesday, by levanting to the land of the free by the mail steamer, without liquidating his liabilities, or bidding adieu to his confrere* and co-performers. In fact, ho developed an amount of meanness and trickery which could hardly be looked for from a man of his pretensions. Levy had engaged to give a performance on Tuesday night at Cambridge (Waikato), and sent his company—Signori Giorza, Rosuati, Mis 3 Pitts, and Mr. Keith (his agent), by the seven o'clock train, intimating to them his intention of following up witli his wife by a special train, which he said he had arranged for. At tirst no suspicion was entertained by his troupe that they were being duped. However, the result of a conference in the train was that Signor Giorza returned from Mercer, aud, on making inquiries, found that Levy had ordered uo special train, and that lie had made no arraugemeut for proceeding to Waikato. On the contrary, further inquiry showed that he had made all arrangements for departing surreptitiously to San Francisco by the mail steamer. The arrival and departure of the steamer, however, did not suit the great player's time, and a stop was put to his gallop-in consequence. He was interviewed by his Italian musicians, who each extracted' .£lO fmin him. This was only a small portion of what was flue to them, but they were better oil" than Miss Pitts and Mr. Keith, to each of whom three weeks' salary was due. . It now appears that Levy and his wife had been for smne days making preparations for their sudden departure, even to laying up stores of confectionery to be used on the voyage. They had not hooked their passages le?>t their project might get wind, but they left New Zealand by the mail steamer yesterday morning, and Auckland lias probably seen ills last of this talented trickster.

His Honor Mr. Justice Fellows, Melbourne, has refused to administer the oaths of olHce to a clerk of I'etty Sessions as licensing stipendiary magistrate, lie assigned as his reason for declininc , , that stipendiary magistrates with restricted powers could not ba sworn iu. This story is told by in the Anttrulaxian :—"A mongs t the latest batch of free immigrants to Sydney were several stonemasons. A few days after landing, one of them was accosted by an old home acquaintance —"Hallo, Jim, you out here—when did you arrive *" And his curiosity on this point being satisfied, he continued, " Well, what do you think of the country !" "Country," said the new arrival, "finest country in the world. The Government brought me out free, aud now the Masons' Strike Committee are paying me 30s a week to do no work !" With reference to the recent liuing of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Brisbane, for not registering a marriage, the Sydney Evening Neivi gives the following particulars of the case: The Itev. Dr. O'Quiun, Roman Catholic Bishop, was fined £10 on the 20th instant, at the Brisbane Police Court, for neglecting to register the marriage of Mr. John Douglas, the Premier of this colony, to Miss Sara Hickey. The ceremony was performed about the 30th July, and the prosecution was initiated by the RegistrarGeneral. The fine inflicted was the minimum penalty. The deposits in the Government Savings Bank, Queensland are rapidly increasing. At the end of 1876 there were 12,904 depositors, having £641,875 0s 10d standing at their credit. At the end of last year these figures had increased respectively to 14,383 and £702,312 16s Cd, showing an increase of 1479 depositors, and cash, £60,437 15s Sd. The sum deposited during the year was £476,302 Is sd, and that withdrawn, £445,031 19s 9d. The sum of £29,167 14s was added to the open account during the past year as interest. The reserve fund at the close of last year, including accrued interest, was £15,300 4s Cd.

"One of the most unjustifiable acts possible," says "JEgles," "is the voting in London of £1000 (afterwards reduced to £800) to the honorary secretaries of the Mansion House Indian Famine Fund. By what right has this sum been diverted from its original purpose of buying rice for perishing people to paying substantial compliments to men whose honourable service loses half its merit when it ia paid for like chandler's wares ? And clearly without the obtained consent of the donors !" The indignant writer forgets that the money is given as a honorarium. Afber all, the secretaries must have had a lot of work to do, and some people thiuk that public work should be paid for as well as private. The only question seems to be as to the amoant. There was abundance of surplus fuuds rofused, and plenty induces liberality.