Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 209, 11 September 1875, Page 14

Town News.

"Walter Lowry Buller, Esq., 0.M.G., has boon gazetted an interpreter under the Native 1 Kinds Act. Letters of naturalisation have been issued to Carl George Wilhelm Bunekenburg, of Wellington,

The resignations of tlieir commissions by Honorary Lieutenant W. P. Barber and Honorary Sub-Lieutenant H. Baillie, of the To Arc School Cadets, have been accepted. The Hon. Charles Johnson I’harazyn has been returned, unopposed, as a member of the Education Board for the Wauganui-Waitotara district.

Mr. Fitchott, whose death is announced in our obituary column this day, was a well known and respected resident of the province, and had been an inhabitant of the colony over thirty-four years. He died rather suddenly, after having been ill of influenza for two days. A petition was on (Monday presented to the Superintendent, by Mr. Lancaster and throe other gentlemen, having 71 signatures—covering 11-1 votes—affixed, from ratepayers of Karori and Makara, praying that Mr. Monaghan should he nominated a member of the District Highway Board for Ward No. 1. There are about 100 electors in the ward.

Several men representing themselves as belonging to the crew of the ship llodney, called at our office in reference to Captain Louttit’s statement concerning the burial of the lad Lclloy. Their statements culminated in a letter which contained an assertion that Capt. Louttit had offered leave to two of his crew to attend the funeral of Lclloy, but that they refused to do so unless the remainder of the crew were permitted to accompany them, and that this permission was not given. Messrs. 11. and D. McMaster, of the Wairarapa, imported on Sunday, per s.s. Taranaki, the first instalment of an entire flock of purebred Lincoln sheep, purchased from (Messrs. Hay Brothers, of Pigeon Bay, Canterbury. The entire flock consists of seventy sheep, comprising seven rams and eleven ewe hoggets, the balance consisting of four-tooth, six-tooth, and full-mouthed ewes. Seven of the ewes were bred by (Messrs. Kirkliam and Dudding. A service of sacred song in illustration of Banyan’s noble allegory the “ Holy War,” was given on Wednesday at the Wesleyan Chapel, Manners-street. The selections were sung by the school children and the choir, and were rendered with spirit and taste. The only tliiiur marring the generally good effect of the singing was a certain reediness of tone. A little more harmony will, however, soon eradicate this defect. The singing was interspersed with readings from the “Holy War,” by the Lev. W. Morley. The chapel was filled with members of the congregation and their friends, and the service was found to be both instructive and entertaining. A collection was made in aid of the funds of the school.

The Halcione, as our readers are aware, brought her immigrants for New Plymouth, and in consequence of a gale of wind springing up whilst she was in the roadstead there, had to come on to Wellington with somewhere about half her passengers, who will be forwarded by steamer to tlieir destination. The ship was visited on Sunday by Mr. Carrington, Superintendent of Taranaki, who addressed the immigrants, and pointed out to them that with sobriety and diligence they might ensure a life of comfort in Taranaki. Mr. Carrington also sent on board, for the use of the new arrivals, a quantity of fruit, which was most acceptable after their passage. The Church of England Diocesan bazaar finally closed on Friday evening. The net proceeds of the sales were upwards of £920. Too much praise cannot he accorded to the ladies’ committee and tlieir numerous auxiliaries for the skill which they have exhibited in the preparation of the various exhibits, and for the indomitable zeal which has characterised their efforts from the initiation of the bazaar until the crowning success of yesterday evening. It may, however, be added that they were worthy of the great cause to which the proceeds are to be devoted. A meeting of the committee appointed to select the fifteen to represent Wellington against Auckland, was held on I riday afternoon, when it was resolved to defer the selection of the team at present, so as to enable the members of the committee to take notes of the relative merits of the players in scratch matches, to be played last Saturday and this afternoon. We trust, therefore, to see a strong muster on each occasion, so that the committee may have every opportunity of picking the best team.

Wc observe in our obituary notice of to-day the name of Mrs. Yallance, wife of C. A. Vallance, Esq., of the Wairarapa. Mrs. Yallance was the daughter of Mr. Mcltae, of Nelson, one of the early settlors of that province, and was first married to Mr. Donald Drummond, of Wellington, who was unfortunately drowned whilst crossing the mouth of the Wairarapa Lake. She was afterwards married to Mr. Yallance, and has resided in the Wairarapa for a considerable number of years. She was much esteemed as a kind, gonial, good woman, ever ready to assist a new comer in making a home in this new land of ours, and her loss will be deeply regretted by her family and a large circle of friends. A New Zealand Gazette issued on Thursday contains appointments of place, days, and hours for public vaccination iu Eeefton ; extension of day of election of Borough Councillors for Nelson ; notice of reserve for a lighthouse site at Gape Foulwiud, limits of ports of Alldaybay, Otago, and in Stewart’s Island, defined ; despatches regarding the examination for the Indian Civil Service ; witholding of assent from the Moeraki Harbor Ordinance (Otago) ; issue of letters of naturalisation ; appointments, acceptances of resignations, Land Transfer Act notices.

A painful accident occurred on Monday morning on board the barque Ashburton. The second mate of the ship, Mr. Owen, sustained a fracture of the leg below the knee, while superintending the shipment of ballast. A plank had been lowered down from the hatchway, and one cud rested on the bottom, whilst the other was supported by the sling at an angle of about forty-five. Mr. (liven was climbing up this plank when it slipped from the sling, and his leg was broken in the fall. The injured man was at once convoyed to the hospital in a call, and received prompt attendance. On examination, the fracture was discovered to be simple, but it will prevent the sufferer from joining his vessel on the outward voyage, much to the regret of the captain, as Mr. Owen is an able officer. The useful body of men the lumpers turned out on strike on Thursday morning, the whole of Mr. G. V. .1 ackson’s employes refusing to set to work. It appears that there is a rule in the Lumpers’ Union which forbids any member from working in a ship’s hold at discharging cargo with any of the crew of the ship. Mr. Jackson had the contract for discharging the barque Dilawur, the captain making it a condition that two of bis crew should work in the hold. Mr. Jackson agreed to do the work, astwo other stevedores had agreed to do it under the same conditions. His men, however, refused to work, and directed his attention to the rules of the Union. It appears that the captain of the Dilawur, on the suggestion of Mr. Jackson, ultimately agreed to discharge the ship with his crow, on hearing of which Ur. Jackson’s men returned to tlieir usual employment. The “ baby-killer,"’ a graphic account of whose case has been published in the New Zealand Times, has had her sentence commuted to penal servitude for life. Tlie prisoner is only a little over twenty years old, and her education in every respect appears to have been entirely neglected, and she can neither write nor read, and so far as religion is concerned, she appears to be utterly ignorant of the subject. In fact, the Kev. Mr. Jones, the ordinary of Newgate, who has been most kind and attentive to the unhappy prisoner, states that he had to deal with her in reference to this subject just the same as he would with a child, as the wretched woman appears to be utterly ignorant of the simplest truths of religion. She appears to be utterly witless and simple, and she lias stated that she was in such a state of misery and desperation at the time that she cannot recollect the actual circumstances under which the child got into the canal. Since her conviction the prisoner has been visited by her two brothers and her father and her sister.

Mr. Hutchison delivered an interesting and instructive lecture on Monday night on “James Watt,” in the Presbyterian schoolroom, Willisstreet, the attendance being moderate. Prayers having been pronounced by the presiding clergyman, Mr. Hutchison opened his lecture by referring to the time at which Watt was born, tlie characteristics of that age and contemporary history. He then sketched the life of the great inventor from his birth at Greenock, on January 19, 1736, to his death in the year 1819, detailing the various stages of his labors iu the development of the steam-engine. The lecture was interspersed with amusing anecdotes and appropriate quotations, and was listened to throughout with the utmost attention. At the conclusion, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer ; and the llev. (Mr. Paterson took occasion to announce that the next lecture would be delivered by the Rev. Mr. Ward, the subject to be “ English and Colonial .Life compared.”

The Hon. Sir J. L. C. Richardson redelivered his very interesting lecture on “China” on (Monday night, in aid of the St. Paul's Church organ fund, at the Sydney-street schoolroom. The Kev. B. W. Harvey occupied the chair. The lecturer sketched briefly the vast accessions that had been made to the literature of travel and exploration during the past decade. Commercial and scientific men had brought all tlieir knowledge to bear in describing - the various countries, and tlie manners and customs of the inhabitants that had come under their observation, and presented interesting accounts of tlie.se subjects iu the history of tlieir travels. So great was the demand Dr works on these and cognate subjects that on the eve of a war special correspondents were sent out to furnish for the newspapers full particulars not only of the warfare but also other information as to the various localities in which the strife took place. The lecturer then pointed out the contrast between the Britain of ancient times, the inhabitants of which were in a state of barbarism, while at the period referred to the inhabitants of China were as civilised as they are at the present day. In the one case wo have the history of a progressive and still progressing civilisation, while in tlie case of China we have a remarkable instance of a certain state of civilisation being attained, and remaining for hundreds of years down to the present time in a state of fixity. The lecturer then commenced the redelivery uf his lecture, which was listened to with marked attention. There was a very good attendance, and a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to the lecturer. The first annual meeting of the Wellington Literary Association was held in St. John’s schoolroom on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of receiving the reports of the secretary atul treasurer, and for the election of officers for the ensuing six months. The Rev. Mr. Paterson occupied the chair. The Secretary read his report, showing that at the first meeting of the society a year since, forty-one members were enrolled, while at the present time there were sixty-live members, and with every prospect of the number increasing. Through the kindness of the committee of St. John’s Church the society had been allowed the free use of the schoolroom and lighting. It was intended as some return for this kindness to give an entertainment, the proceeds of which would be handed over to the church. An entertain*

nient had been given during the past year in aid of the library fund which had been highly satisfactory, for after paying all expenses there lemained a net balance of £ 6. The report concluded with regrets that some of the members had not been so regular in their attendance as could have been desired. The treasurer’s report showed a netcredit balance of £2*ll7s. 9d. The following officer-bearers for the ensuing six months were elected : President —T. Kennedy Macdonald. Vice-Presidents Messrs. A. Parmer, A. Murray, W. Hopkirk. Committee—-Rev. Jas. Paterson, Messrs. T. McKenzie, W. H. Renner, J. Mitchell, G. Allport. Secretary—T. Kirkci’. Treasui'cr—■ G. Macdonald. The Rev. Mr. Paterson then l'ead a very interesting sketch of a tour through Switzerland. A cordial vote of thanks to the rev. gentleman brought the meeting to a close. WELLINGTON AND MASTERTON KAILAVAY. of traffic for four weeks ending 2Sth August,

THE municipal election. The election of a councillor for Thorndon Ward took place on Thursday. Very little interest was excited by the contest between Messrs. Rainie and Worth, and the affair passed off quietly. The polling booth was in the new building next the Princess Hotel, and Mr. Cleeland officiated as Returning Officer. (Shortly after 4 o’clock, about twenty persons assembled at the polling place, and the Returning Officer announced "the state of the poll as follows : Rainie ... ... ... ... 104 Worth ... ... ... ... Majority 83 The Couxcir.i.on-Ei.ECT in a few words expies.sed his thanks to the electors for having for the third time honored him with the trust of being their representative at the Council table. He was not given to making promises which he could not perform, but should show by bis acts that he had the interests of the ward at heart. Mr. Wokth thanked those who had supported him, and expressed himself as quite satisfied with the result. He had come forum d merely to give the electors an alternative choice, and as they had decided in favor of Mr. Rainie, lie was quite content to abide by the decision. (Cheers). A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer concluded the proceedings. BOARD OF EDUCATION. A meeting of the Board was held on Monday morning at the Education chambers, to consider the rating for the year. A number of appeals had been sent in, and the following amendments were made :—-

A letter from the Secretary, asking for an increase of salary, was referred to "the new Board, with a recommendation for its favoraljle consideration. The Board then adjourned. BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION. On Tuesday being the day fixed for the reception of nominations of candidates for tile representation of Wellington Cityupou the Education Board, the Returning Officer (Mr. H. I ay lor), attended at the courthouse at noon. Very few persons were present, and the only nomination received was that of Mr. W. Gisborne, who was proposed by Mr. W. Warixm Taylor, and seconded by Mr. James O’Shea. Lhe .Returning Officer thereupon declared Dir. Gisborne duly elected. Ihe lion. Mr. Gisbdrne said—Gentlemen : Allow me to return you my sincere thanks for the honor you have done me in returning me to be a member of your Education Board. I can assure you that whatever imperfections may exist in the education law, however inadequate may be the matci'ials at the command of the Board, and whatever disadvantages it may labor under, I shall do all I can, and although I do_ not for a moment lay claim to the hitdi qualifications which my proposer and seconder attribute to me, I will endeavor to the best of my ability to co-operate with xny colleagues in diffusing sound education as widely as possible throughout the province of Wellington. (Cheeis.) It is the function of the State to secure a minimum standard of secular education for every child in the community ; but I don t think the State should bo content with tiiu minimum standard, for in addition it should offer such facilities and encouragement that children might bo enabled to l’aisc themselves above that standard and lie enabled to reach to the higher education. Schools in other colonies offer such facilities and encouragement in the shape of exhibitions and scholarships, so that a child with ordinary application is enabled by his own euei'gy to make his education self-supporting till lie shall have attained the higher or even highest branches of knowledge. That is a system to which I

am favorably inclined ; for we all know that many of the most eminent men of past and modern times have thus reached the eminence they have attained to, and in which they have been able to confer incalculable good upon their fellow-men for all time to come. (Cheers.) I think every parent when he sends his children to a State school should know that there is a reasonable prospect that should his child or children use ordinary industry, and be possessed of average ability, they might qualify themselves for competing in the higher grades of education, and be aide to achieve a position which otherwise wealth alone would monopolise. I said just now that the State should confine itself to giving a minimum standard of secular education, but in saying that T do not for one moment undervalue the importance of the religious part of a child’s education, and it is because I place so much importance on it that I think the State should not be the instructor in religion. (Cheers.) I believe that the State schools ai'e unfitted to deal with that portion of education, and were it to undertake to teach religion, that it would do much more harm than good. (Applause.) Such an attempt would only evoke religious disagreements and sectarian conflicts, and disturb the harmony of the whole community. (Applause.) Therefore, the less we meddle with it the better for all parties, for the conflicts I have indicated will be avoided, and religion will be much better taught by the parents and “ the spiritual pastors and masters,” who are the proper guides in such matters. Let the State teach secular education, and do so with the utmost impartiality, and freedom from bias of any nature whatever. I am determined such shall be my course, and in using my best ability to discharge the trust you have imposed upon me, I hope I shall give satisfaction to you. I have only again, gentlemen, to thank you. (Cheers.) A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings. Dr. Henry Taylor on Wednesday attended the polling place, Xgahauranga, for the purpose of receiving nominations of candidates for the representation at the Education Board of Wellington Country Distinct. There were only a dozen persons present. Mr. Beetham proposed, and Mr. Browse seconded, Mr. Toomath as a fit and proper person to represent Wellington Country District on the Education Board. Mu. Patrick Moxaohax proposed Mr. Travers. He proceeded to say that Mr. Toomath had done his best in the past to obstruct the work of education. He had tried to get the old asylum at Karori for a training school, so that he might himself reside there as Inspector while he let his own house. He took the slates, he took the bricks. Dr. Taylor said he could not allow such observations to be used. Mr. Toomath said he wished Mr. Monaghan to proceed, and would get his remarks accurately taken down. Mr. Moxaohax proceeded : Mr. Toomath also took the timber, at least so it was said of him in the district. He charged Mr. Toomath with having taken the funds of the Board for electioneering purposes at the Wairarapa. Up to the time of his appointment on tl 10 Board, and for seven years before, they had had full time schools at Makara, but since his election they had only had half time schools. He believed Mr. Travers to be a gentleman aud not a mountebank, and that he was above suspicion of taking slates, bricks, and timber belonging to the Education Board. Mr. Cameron, of Kaivarrawarra, seconded, and in a short speech supported Mr. Travers’s candidature. The Presiding Officer called for a show of hands, which resulted in seven for Mr. Toomath and five for Mr. Travers, who then demanded a poll, which the Presiding Officer decided should lie taken on Saturday week at Ngaliauranga. Mr. Toomath wished to say a few words, though he had not intended to do so, as he had been for some time past in bad health. The charges made against him by Mr. Monaghan were so exceeding flagitious that he must notice them. The charges made were simply a tissue of falsehoods from beginning to end, there not being one ■word of truth iu them, nor even a show of foundation for them. He did not take away the bricks, nor the slates, nor the timber. Ihe slates were sold to Mr. Toxward, and paid for by that gentleman with a cheque which lie (Mr. Toomath) handed over to the Secretary. The sum it represented he had not even paid into his own private account, and could produce the cheque if required. The bricks were paid for and accounted for to the Board, aud tne timber which had boon purchased by Mr. Sewell had been accounted for to the Secretary. Prom first to last he had not received the slightest personal benefit from the transaction. It was true he did wish to get the old asylum at Karori for tlie purpose of a training school for teachers to be appointed to schools in the province, and it was also true that it was his plan that the Inspector should reside there, but there was no truth in the statement that lie should be the Inspector himself. But, supposing he had done so, why should lie not ! He had been many years a teacher iu the province, and was known to them all. He had, iu conjunction with two other gentleman, conducted two examinations for teachers at the beginning of 1573, one at Wellington, aud the other at Grcytown, and bad also on another occasion conducted examinations at the same places. The Board during this time had no funds to pay for the services of an Inspector—indeed, so badly off was the Board, that the account at the bank had been overdrawn fully £ISOO to pay for teachers’ stipends—and be could not but think lie had done the province some service in conjunction with the other gentlemen appointed with him, saving the province a considerable sum of money. The fact was that fifty-nine of the schools of the Board had been either confirmed or brought into existence before the appointment of the

piesent Inspector. Indeed, as far as he knew, only one additional school had been opened since that time. He was accused of obstructing the work of tile Board in the appointment of an Inspector, and of throwing obstructions in his way since bis appointment. He had not done so ; he simply wished that the Inspector as well as the other officers oi tlie Board should perform their duties efficiently. It was true lie did strive to amalgamate the offices of Secretary and Inspector, but that was because he was under the impression that one officer was sufficient to perform the duties, lie was also accused of converting the fulltime schools of Makara into two half-time ones, t°_ be conducted by the same teacher ; but this charge had so little foundation in fact that the children attending in the morning at one school could, if their parents wished, attend in the afternoon at the other, and thus get six hours’ teaching instead of five. He was surprised at such charges as these being brought against him of reducing the time of teaching, for lie liad himself conducted the Hutt school some time before for a period of from ten days to a fortnight. To he relieved from that the Inspector proposed that two fulltime schools should lie made into half-time schools in the Wairarapa, aud thus obtained a teacher for the Hutt school. Had he (Mr. Toomatli) done this, and then went to Marlborough to examine the schools there at the expense of this province, thus receiving pay in both instances, then such a charge might fairly he brought against him. As it was, it was evident that the whole matter was gross in the extreme, and tlie result of personal feeling. He would not, he hoped, he charged with egotism, for lie had had no intention to speak as lie had done ; hut lie must add, that during the three years he had been on tlie Board, there had been 126 meetings, of which he attended 108. During two or three of these, he was absent from town on the business of the Board, and in one or two other cases he had been unable to attend from ill health. And now that he had answered all the charges brought against him, lie proceeded to state that the opinions he held on education matters had long been before the public, and lie would read certain suggestions which lie had offered to the Provincial Council in 1871, and which had appeared in tlie Wellington Independent. Amongst other things, he quoted the following “ I take it for granted that the public at large, and the Provincial Council also, acknowledge that no system of education will lie complete that does not make provision for the religious education of children ; hut it is nevertheless felt that owing to the great diversity of religious opinions throughout the province, tlie Provincial Council cannot as the legislative organ of the province, make provision for such teaching, and that its action must, therefore, he restricted to providing sound secular instruction only, leaving to tin »se to whom the conduct of the public schools shall, lie entrusted to determine whether any, and if any, what religious instruction shall be given. Having regard to these among other considerations, I offer tlie following suggestions: Ihe Government should make provision f(ir only one system of education in the province, and that should he restricted to secular subjects. The Government, or Board of Education, should prepare and publish a schedule of secular subjects to he taught in every school receiving public .money. The inhabitants of each school district should elect from among themselves a committee of management for the school or schools of the district, without regard to differences of opinion in either religion or politics, for no local committee elected by tlie Board will ever possess the confidence of ratepayers in the same degree as a committee elected by tlie ratepayers themscl\ es. Other subjects than those set forth by the Board of Education may lie taught in the discretion of the committee.” Mr. Travers, in addressing the electors, deprecated the language used by Mr. Monaghan respecting Mr. Toomath. He desired to import no personal matters into the election, and had no personal antagonism to Mr. Toomath. Respecting his own candidature he had heard it stated that he came forward in tlie Roman Catholic interest. He desired to give such a rumor an emphatic denial ; for he came forward not in the interest of any denomination, whether Roman Catholic, Church of England, Presbyterian, Baptist, or any other body, hut he was there solely and simply in tlie interests of education, aud contested the election not because he had any personal feeling towards Mr. Toomath, but because he liad felt it to he his duty to accede to the requisition which had been presented to him. With reference t:i the question of education, he said he believed on various grounds that it was tlie duty of the State to provide education for the people ; particularly, he thought the State should give an opportunity for tlie development of that power which must remain latent in the absence of education. He looked upon economy in education as dangerous and likely to ho carried too far, for money could not he better spent than in raising the general intelligence of . the community by a thorough system of primary education. In addition to the ordinary rudimentary instruction, which as it were formed, tlie foundation upon which subsequent education was based, lie thought the children of the country should receive physical training and . also scientific instruction, so that they might know why the sun shone, or why the grass grew. The course of instruction for girls should, he thought, include tuition in housekeeping and such matters, so as to fit them for tlie position of wives and mothers hereafter. He considered this a very essential part of female instruction. If elected, he should use his best endeavors to render education in Wellington a success. Mr. Hutchison would, with permission, make some explanations regarding the lvarori Asylum. H e was perhaps the most competent witness on the subject, ho being the member who had brought it under the notice of the Board. A Mr. Fisher, residing at Karori, had applied to him on the matter, and made certain statements which he thought should be

investigated. The Board decided that Mr. I'isher should he heard, when it appeared that it was another person, and not Mr. Toomath, against whom a charge of taking away bricks and timber was made. The whole affair was gone into at great length, and the gentleman referred to had been completely exculpated from every charge brought against him. Certainly throughout the whole investigation Mr. Toomath’s name had not once been used as taking away anything not a suggestion had been breathed in any way"reflect* uig upon him. He would' add that Air. Toomath,. if endeavoring to keep expenditure within certain hounds was obstructiveness, certainly must plead guilty. Although on more than one occasion lie hail disagreed with Air. loomath as regarded matters of detail, this much he would say, the Board had found chaos iu school matters throughout the province, and that gentleman had done what he could to bring educational matters into working order, nor had such efforts been made in vain. The proceedings then terminated.

PASSKNCiEIlS. £ s. <1. £ s. a. Passengers ..(GOTO) 200 I 0 Parcels, kc. Season tickets" .. 1 r:nor>s. 4 !) 0 275 13 10 1 reight . (207 tons) 70 14 2 73 14 o Total .. .. £349 8 0 Included in above number of passengers.

Pronrietnr Original Reduced Assessment. to \V. \\ ll'on, Constablc-st... cir>o £100 A. R. Muir. Majoribank-st. 7 .‘>0 (300 C. Brown, Clniznee-st. bod ■450 O. Leslie. Vivian-st. 300 150 F. Fharazyn, Ifobson-st. .. 1270 1000 W. .1. Bandy, \\'illis-st. .. 500 400 Alex. Wilson. Cuba-st SO (50 B. JHammond, Tinakori-road 14.70 1000 Drummond ., 200 150 C. J. Haselden, TToolcoinbe-st.. 070 500 AV. .Tones, Taranaki-st. .. 200 150 AW Jones ,, ... 200 150 AW Jones ... 300 250 W. Jones 150 100 Major Paul, Haining-st. .. 400 250 -R. D- Haybittle, Ingcstrc-st. 230 180 Benjamin Smith, Lambton-quay 1100 1000 Evans, liill-st 1200 1100