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New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 19

1 Hr Spurdle, who so mysteriously disappeared from Wanganui about a week ago, has not yet been heard of. A systematic search baa been kept up, but as yet without any result. At the end of last year there were 10,653 children attending the Education Board’s schools, an increase of 234 on the previous year. The number in the various standards was as follow :—Class 3?, 2638 ; standard 1., 1287 ; standard 11., 1589 ; standard 111., 1680 ; standard IV., 1464 ; standard V., 999 ; standard VI., 657. A special meeting of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association was held in the Exchange Buildings on Wednes day. Mr James Pettie presided. The rules, as amended by sub-committee, were adopted. Two additional members were elected on the Committee. The schedule for the coming show was then considered. The annnal report of the Ednoation Board contains a suggestion by the Chairman of the Board that the Minister of Education shall arrange to hold a Conference of Inspectors and representatives of teachers from all the educational districts at the end of this year for the purpose of considering such questions as the classification of pupils, the subjects to be taught and their relative value and place in the curriculum and the uniformity of class books. Joseph Stnart Allan, artist, estimates his ’liabilities at £272 16s 9d, and assets consul, ting of furniture at £2O, leaving a deficiency of £250 16s 9d. The principal creditors are Dr Cahill, £lO ; Evening ‘ Press, £l6 ; \V. H. Herd, £l6 ; N. Valentine (Palmerston North), £143 Is 9d ; E. G. Jellieoe, £l9 2s , T. Diokson, £l2 3a ; Bock and Co., £9 9s; Park, £8; H. Tippler, £5 3s; R Burgess, £4 18s ; W. H. S. Moorhouse, £4 4s ; W. Hall, £3 12s ; W. H. Ralph, £3 10a ; and ten creditors for amounts under £3. The promoters of the proposed Farmers’ Alliance Association hold a meeting on Wednesday in the office of Mr Jardine, National Mutual Buildings. There were present— Messrs J. C. McKerrow (Commission Agent), George Whitcombe (Pahiatua), Duncan Pnckle (Pahiatua), J. Robertson (Makara), D. Maunsell (Greytown), and W. W. Macardle (Pahiatua). It was agreed to . form an association, to be called the Farmers’ Alliance and Export Association of New Zealand, Limited, in 100,000 shares, at £1 per share. Messrs McKerrow, Macardle, Mannsell and Robertson were appointed a committee to arrange other matters and call a meeting as soon as possible. By a majority of one a resolution was carried that the press be not admitted to the meetings.

Cornwall, who was injured in the Shelly Bay disaster, is progressing favourably, but he is not yet out of dauger, and Dr Cahill is still attending him, and has visited the forts every night since the accident. The R.M.S. Rimutaka arrived in port at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday, and signalled her presence by firing a gun and letting off blue lights. The Ellen Ballance had been engaged to go off for the purpose of bringing the mails ashore, but just as she was going alongside the steamer Mana was seen ooming back from a cruise outside the Heads, and she was hailed by the postal authorities on the Ellen Ballance to take the mails ashore, as she was a more convenient boat. The mail brought bv the Rimutaka was ' an unusually large one, consisting of 252 bags and 20 boxes paroels po3t. A telegram was received by Inspector Thomson on Wednesday from Constable Collerton, stationed at Tenui, stating that the woolshed of Messrs R. and F. Maunsell at that place wa3 destroyed by fire at b p.m. on the previous day. A wool press, seven bales of wool and rabbit skins, six tons of hay, and four rams, which were m the shed at the time, were burnt, the only thing insured being the woolpress, over which the London, Liverpool, and Globe held a line of £4OO. It is estimated that theloss to Messrs Maunsell, over and above the insurance, will be £2OO. The igniting of matches by rats is supposed to be cause of the disaster. The police made a raid on Wednesday upon a Louse in Manners street, concerning which there have been suspicions for some time past. At 11.30 Sergeant-Major Ramsay, accompanied by a sergeant and a constable, and armed with a search warrant, arrived an the place and informed Mrs Hard, ing, the landlady, of the purpose he had in view. An examination of the premises brought to light two ten-gallon casks of beer, the one partially full and the other untapped, six bottles of stout, two bottles of beer, and one and a half bottles of whisky. These were immediately confiscated and taken away in an express. Sergeant-Major Ramsay has laid an information against Mrs Harding under Section 186 of the Licensing Aot, 1881, which prohibits the keeping of liquor on premises for the purpose of unlawful sale, and the case will come on for hear, ing on April 3. Dr Newman moved at Wednesday s meeting of the Education Board, 11 That for science lessons there shall be taught chemistry appropriate tuthe manufactures of the district, and in the country schools the chemistry of agriculture." He thought the Board should now take up the question of technical education, and if the resolution was given effect to it would be a step in the right direction. Mr Beetham, who seconded the motion, suggested that a committee should be appointed to confer with the Inspectors as to the best means of carrying out the proposal. Mr Buchanan failed to see how anything more than the elementary principles of oheinistry could be taught in the country schools., It appeared to him impossible to carry out the proposal properly. Mr Beetham proposed that the following addition be made to the motion Ihat a committee, consisting of the Chairman, Dr Newman, Mr YouDg, and the mover, be appointed to consult with Messrs Lee and Fleming as to the best means of carrying out the object, and report at next meeting." Mr Lee (Inspector) expressed his strong sympathy with the resolution. Eventually the motion, with Mr Beetham’s addition, was agreed to.