WANGANUI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 826, 30 December 1887, Page 31

WANGANUI.

(from oub own correspondent.) December 23. s The installation of Mr J. Laird as Mayor for the second term of office passed off very quietly ori Wednesday, the only persons present being five cou ncillors, two reporters, and the Town Clerk. His Worship made a short statement as to the work performed during the past twelve months, and after signing the declaration, and thanking the burgesses for their renewed confidence, resumed his seat and the proceedings terminated. The defeat of the Harbor Bill did not come as a very great surprise, though it certainly caused considerable disappointment.

Mr Ballance’s state of health is a constant subject of inquiry just now, both supporters and opponents being anxious to hear as to what amount of truth tliere may be in the rumors circulated at oue time that he was seriously ill. Fortunately the latest news to hand is of a reassuring character. The Education Board at it 3 last meeting went very fully into the question of retrenchment, with a view to ascertaining where savings could be made to keep the expenditure within the reduced revenue. Had the school age been raised the loss to the Board would have been L 3337 per annum, but the defeat of the Government proposals on this point saved the Board a loss of 81600, and there is now only 81737 to be made up. The greatest portion of this will come off the bonus payments to teachers, the remainder being made up by reducing the allowances to school committees, and probably by taking something off the salaries of assistant masters.

The, plan of giving medals and certificates to induce regular attendance ha 3 had very good results, over 600 medals having been earned by pupils who had not been absent a single half-day, whereas the Board never anticipated that more than 100 would be required. I notice that a Palmerston paper contends that the Board has no power to expend funds in this direction, and that the Government auditor will refuse to pass the item. The school examinations are now all over, and the results in the State schools are said to be very satisfactory. The actual figures and passes will not be known, however, till Inspector Bindon comes back from a holiday trip to Auckland. In the Collegiate School the examinations disclosed the fact that the scholars were being well grounded in all the branches that go to make up a thorough education. I regret to “have to announce that the Rev Dr Harv.ey is still quite unable to undertake scholastic work, his health having ap-‘ parently completely broken down. The death of Master Blair .completely put a stop to all breaking-up festivities, and it was quite evident from the subdued manner in which the prize-day proceedings went off that the schoolboys felt depressed by the sad surroundings of the occasion.

At the Rev Mr Ross’ Classical and Commercial School, Turakina, I notice that Miss Lilian Staples, of Wellington, secured second prize in the second division, and Master John Foulton, of Masterton, gained the third prize in the third ection for general average. This excel-

lent school is to be reopened next year as a Girls’ College only. ' In the Catholic Schools' the work this year was fully up to the average, both in the convent and the parish schools. Iu the former the sisters held an exhibition of fancy and plain needlework, the samples of which left nothing to be desired. From the curriculum that has to be gone through it is evident, too, that in solid work they are as well looked after by the educated ladies in whose charge they are placed.

The Wanganui Bowling Club have received a letter from the Wellington Club accepting the challenge to a friendly match, which is likely to prove the first of a series of annual competitions. The event is likely to take place at the end of next week.

At a meeting of farmers held on Wednesday it was decided to form an “ Agricultural, Show Society,” to hold a show once a year. The promoters are sanguine that if they can only offer sufficient inducements to get up a good show, the Wanganui fixture will become as important in its way as is the Canterbury Agricultural "hud Pastoral Show.