NAPIER NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9881, 12 April 1893, Page 3

NAPIER NOTES

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) It was a thoughtful act oa the part of tho authorities to keep back the quarterly pension money from the old soldiers and sailors in the Colony until after the Easter holidays, but it did not produce the results hoped for in all oases. One dilapidated veteran here had to answer to a charge of drunkenness and habitual semi-drunkenness the other day, and bo frankly admitted that tho possession of o sum of money bad demoralised him, and spoke of his pension in quite a regretful tone. 1 1 was abrinkin’ me plnsion, your Worship. If it hadn’t been for mo pinaiou, 1 wudn’fc be here, so 1 wudu'fc,*

There must have been a ghost at many an Easter feast here, for something like 70 civil oases await hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday next. Not a little regrot is expressed here at the non-arrival .of the Minister of Education, who was looked for yesterday (Saturday) ; and, but that 1 understand the lion gentleman's visit is not to be au official one, it Is to be wished that be would enliven the community with an address in the Theatre Royal. Quite a flutter was caused in Liberal circles on Saturday by a poising visit from Messrs .McLean and W. C, Smith, M.'sH-R. Ths junior member for Wellington tells me he is makiug an extensive tour, visiting Sydney, Melbourne and the other Australian capitals. I am more than pleased to be able to compliment your office on the new Issue of tho Male, which does credit to the company and its energetic and versatile editor, A weekly paper which aims at taking rank with one or two of those at present circulating In New Zealand must be a thoroughly good production, and so far 1 think your venture fairly comes under that designation, and this opinion is pretty generally shared by those here who have seen it.-

There is no lack of religious profession, Sciiptare expoundings and tbe various forms of worship in this place. The Seventh Day Adventists’ Camp Conference is but just over and the tents being furled away, when there comes along another selfsoonaticuted Apostle who lectures on the Seven Churches of Asia. Now I never hear anybody express any burning Interest in the Seven Churches of Asia, So far as I know tbo public mind is quite unconcerned about them, and the efforts of tbe peripatetic lecturer are not likely to meet with much success. Besides, it is hard to sss what is the object of opening up the subject. It is as much outside the region of practical religion and social reform as anything could possibly be. Further, tbe subject is one concerning which tbe best authorities confess themselves surrounded by obscurity, and is certainly not one on which to dogmatise. I daresay such lectures are well meaning efforts, but they are futile for any practical purpose. Whatever may attract oar yoneg men from the studbook, the odds, and tbe slang of the saddling paddock, inspire them with higher aspirations, and a more exalted idea of human destinies; whatever may enlist their intellect and awaken their sympathies Is to bo welcomed, but certainly ecoleeiastl. cal historical research won’t do it. Fancy transposing tho miad of the average youth to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor I One could as well fancy Sir Richard Owen playing poker in a saloon or the Pope ‘ laying the odds.’ 1 hope my remarks will not be misunderstood. lam oiatni gno reflection upon this exponent of tbe Revelation. Whatever bis ideas op the subject may be, he is entitled to cherish them and to promulgate them. But I cannot help wishing that persons possessed of learning, ability, and the power of imparting, would devote themselves in some practical way to the education of our young men.

Quito a peculiar cage was heard at the Police Court. Two young men were charged with stealing a letter from a boardinghouse in town. One of them had been a cook at sea and in hotels; the other a billiard marker. Both were very respectablelooking lade. The evidence was to the effect that the accused, who were drinking on Friday afternoon, rotorucd to their boardinghouse to go to bed, and that when going through tho diningroom they took one of three letters lying on the mantelpiece. Subsequently tho letter was found In the ooafc pocket of one of them, in their bed* room* For the defence, drunkenness and unconsciousness were pleaded, and it waa shown also that they did not know the owner of the letter, nor were they known to him. Robbery oould not have been their motive, as they took only one letter. Their counsel contended that the Utter had no appreciable value, oonnstlog as it did of a defaced stamp and defaced paper and envelope, The police contended that if the offence were treated as unlm* portant, letters would not be safe from persona disposed to steal them on the off chance of finding money in them. It was suggested that the accused should bo convicted under the I9olh section of the Justices of the Peace dot and discharged The Bench were a little fogged, and remanded the accused till Wednesday. The case is a rather curious one, and con* siderable interest is taken in it. At the law now stands letters containing valuables have co pecuniary value, and cannot therefore become the subject of a charge of larceny* The inspectors and the teachers have been conferring as to what subjects shall be compulsory in the pupil teacher curriculum. On Saturday it was resolved to recommend that drawings and science should be compulsorily taught subjects, and that mathematics, French and Latin should not be so. There is a good deal of discussion In this matter. Thoaewhooontend forth© retention of the last named subjects as compulsory oneasay the resolution jast arrived at Is the outcome of laziness on the part of the teachers. This, to my mind, is as unjust as it is absurd. 1 most heartily agree with the teachers. Tho system under which our pupil teachers are trained is to my mind pernicious. The proof of this is that half oor pupil teachers break down In health while in training. The cramming of persona engaged in imparting koow’edge is die. tiuotly to be reprobated. The faculty of imparting is at work all day, and Its action Is nut a little exhausting. To call upon young persons {and more especially young girls, who form of the pupil teacher class) to strain another set of faculties aU the evening—to tax the memory and the mental digestive powers—is to harry them to premature graven, or ruin their mental fabric.