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Oamaru Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 4460, 29 August 1889, Page 2

The third Issue of Zealandia is now to hand, and aB the second number was an improvement on the first, so is the third vastly snperlor to the second. The size of the magazine has been increased by one third, which gives it guite a respectably " fat" appearance, and entirely does away with the pamphlet-like form of the previous issues. The matter, too, is improving, with the exception cf the postical contributions. Poetical license should not allow cf any. body writing " be»utifu!ler," " ahioed," or "tho 1 't" for "though it"; and we also take exception to "unsmircht," "newleaft," and " well-match't." Otherwise the various artioles are we'.l and tastefully written, and the standing columns are beginning to blossom into matter more generally interesting. Perhaps the best article is one entitled "Old China—a Memory," by an anonymous writer. It is a beautifully delicate little sketch, bearing touohes which are Buggestive of Charles Lamb, En passant Oamaru is represented by a review and an article on " Henrick Ibsen," by Mr D. W. M. Burn. The magazine teems to have taken hold, and sboald go ahead now. Mr Don, the second assistant of the North School, haß resigned that position in order to take up the post of teacher of the school at Lowburn. Besides being a step in advance in his profession, the change, it is hoped, will prove beneficial to his health by aiding in overcoming an affeotion of the throat, from which he has been suffering for some time. Mr Don will leave for his new scene of usefulness next week, and will take with him the respeot not only of his present pupils, bat of all who know him, for besides being an industrious and painstaking teacher who takes a pleasure in promoting the happiness of his pupils, he is a quiet, unassuming gentleman. A meeting of the Oamaru Sunday School Teaohers' Preparation Class was held last night in St. Paul's Church. Mr Annand presided, and about 60 teachers were present. Mr J, Keith, president of the Otago Sunday School Union, who is on an official visit to Oamaru in the interest of Sunday school work, introduced the International Lesson for September Ist—"David and Goliath "—which he opened out in an exceedlngly ekillfal manner. The different points in the subject were cleirly defined, the value of questioning a3 an aid to successful teaching was emphasised, and a capital lesson in the art of word picturing given, If the teaohers present followed the speaker carefully, his method of teaching should suggest to them many improvements In their

work in the class that rhould bear good fruit in the future, At the oonolusion, Mr Keith gave a brief acouuntof the Otajo Union. At present 30 schools, containing 8000 children, were associated. By meanß of examinations, leoturei, prayer meetings, and addresses, an increased interest had been created Id Sunday schools, and this interest it was the speaker's mission to extend, The Union had only bc?n in existence two years, bnt ite progres < hid been marked by success, and a useful futuro lay before it. It was the Union's intention to bold a Sunday school oonventioa daring the coming Exhition season. At the request of the Chairman, the Secretary briefly skotched tho his toy of the Camara Preparation Class, i-ome six months ago tfcoro w»8 a movement among the teachers to form a branch of the Otago Union, After discussion, this was deemed inexpedient; but a step towards it wss taken by tho formation of the present class. Five schools saw their way to join— St, Paul's, Columba, Jimmanuo', Baptist, and Wesley ; the olass met monthly; each school, in turn, provided accommodation ; each superintendent, in turn, presided over the meetings ; and the affairs were managed by representatives of each school, 'ihe International Lessons formed the bisis of study, and the aim of the class w»b mutual improvement in ths preparation of lessons and increased efficiency in alaes teaching and school work generally, Mr Keith complimented the toaohers on the progress they had made, and also answered several questions bearing on lesson preparation, etc. A vote of thanks to Mr Keith, proposed by the Kev. Mr Todd, was unanimously carried, and a most profitable meeting terminated. The Redcliff correspondent of the Walmate Time 3 writes I The Waitaki Biver promises more sport for anglers this year than ever before as trout seem to have greatly increased since last saaooo. Hitherto anglers team to have contented themselves by " whipping" tho lower end of the river, probably on account of the convenience of the t'aing, but for those who have tlmo to spare they should visit the pools at that place kcown as tho "Stonswall," and its neighbsrhood, where trout seem to be very plentiful, A child, between three and four years of age, son ot a settler named Bryant, living near Bonang, Vkt iris, strayed away with a small dog one morning recently before he was dressed. He was out two severe fosty nights, and found through the bark of tho dog. The child was unconscious, and his feet were swollen and lacerated from the rough walking. He had gone seveu miles. Tho little fe low's faco was covered withl hairs frcm the dog, whioh ware dried on with the tears shed by the child. A person who subscribes himself a cupporter of the Victorian National Orchestra writes to the Argus, complaining of the paltry programmes placed before the publio. Here is a sample taken from tho Arjjus, and complained of by ths writer:—The chief piece is Mendelssohn's well-known and popular Scotch Symphony. The programme also includes the overture to " William Tell," the Tannbauser March, Brahm's Hungarian Dancss, and other works of equal attractiveness, The arrival at Melbourns of the steamer Victoria, of tho P. and O. Company, after a passage of 30 days from London, was noted by the Arguß, whioh in a long artiole thus refers to the event: —ln 1852 the Chusan, the first direct steamer to Port Philip, and sent out by the P, and O. Company, made the trip in 75 days; and the Victoria, one of the latest additions to the P. and O. Company's fleet, has now arrived with mails from London which were despatched losb than 30 days ago. The Chusan was 700 tons register ; the Victoria is 3145 tons by the same measurement, or 6527 tons burthen, '[lie engines of the Chusan were 200horse power effective, those of the Victoria ate 7000 - horse power, capable of developing a sixteen-knot speed. But even tho latter will soon have her day, magnificent as Bhe If, and improvements will continue until iu a faw years the thlps of 1889 will be regarded as obsolete, '1 he vessels whioh will be required for the Australian trade wl'l soon rival tho City of New York, the Majestio, aud tiie City cf Pariß, trading between Liverpool and Now York, The grots capacity of the last-named steamer is 10,500 tons; her engines are oapable of being worked up to 18,000-horse power ; she has broken the record between Qaeenstown and Sandy Hook by ooverlng the distance in less than six days, or a steaming rate of 20 miles f.n hour; and she has accommodation for 2000 people. In another 37 years even a City of Paris may' b3 thought to be too Bmall for the colonies'' requirements. Dr. James Brown, in his life of tho late Br. Robertson, of Irvine, relates this beautiful story; A few young students were in Dr Robertson's company one day, They were fresh from church history, and were talking of the quant old scholastio question, ".How mary angels are supported on the point of a needle?" "Five," said Dr. liobertson, with precision, and justified his answer with the following Btory: One wild, Btormy night he wbb coming home late through aomo side street at Irvine, and saw a light burning in the window of a low room where he knew a poor woman lived, whose husband was at sea, He wondered what kept her up so late ; and, looking in, he saw her busily sewing by her dim lamp, while the five fair rosy children were asleep around her, and there was a needle supporting five angola. A bright youth, nndergoing examination for admission to one of_ the Government departments, found himself confronted with the question " What is the distance f.-om the earth to the sun ? " not having the exaot number of miles with him, he wrote in reply: "I am unable to state accurately, bnt don't believe the Bun is so near ai to interfere with a proper psrformanoe of my duties if I get tho olerkship. The one sovereign remedy for the ilia of life is work—work from necessity, or work fromchoic9. The man or women compelled to work every dsy, either with hands or head, escapes many of the morbid worries and acxietie3 that beset the man or woman left free to follow out morbid musings on the vanity of human affairs, or melancholy analysis of physical ailments which are often tho result of constant or definite oooupation. No greater misfortune can befall either man or woman than to be born into this world without tho pressing force of work, pushing him on to etesdy endeavor. This morning a first offender for drunkenness wis fined 5s by the Hesidenfc Magistrate with the alternative of 4 hours' Imprisonment. This is tho only case of drunkenness which has come before the Iccal Court for Bome time; bat it need hardly be assumed from this that the people as a body have suddenly become abstainers, It Indioateß rather that the knooker-down of cheques and hie para'itoj the hard oa3e, are at present sojourning in the country, the former gathering that which, so long as it lasts, causes bis companion to stick to him cloeec than a brother, This immunity from drunkenness which the town haa enjoyed for so long is about at an end, we think, and the police may make up their minds for a bußy time of it shortly, Among the honors conferred at the graduation oßremony at the Otsgo University last night was that of Master of Arts on Mr Jameß Bee, son of Mr J. Bee, of Oamaru. To-morrow, at Harris' Hill. Duntroon, at 10 o'clock, Mr Maude will off* by publio auction, on behalf of Messrs K. Campbell and Sons, the lease for one year of 1600 acres of tussock land. Ihe land will ba let far cropping, and haß been surveyed Into blocks of 100 and 100 acres each. It is of excellent quality, and is situated on the Maerewhenaa River, near Duntroon, The ceremony cf presenting diplomas to the students of the Otago University took place laßt evening. Tne Interval was agreeably ocoupied with musical selections by the students, who started tholr programme at 7.15 p.m. with an overture ; after whioh seven of the " capping " songs, all ot them parodies of well known aonga, were rendered, the public In one case insisting on an encore. A toy symphoay by the orchestra was the last item before the proceedings proper commenced. Some amusement was oaused when a large oanvaa was hoisted, on whioh was painted a capital portrait of Professor Black rising from a tin, labelled, "Tinned Stewart Island oysters." Above the likeness of the professor waß the irscription, " My life is ore; I'm <jnned at last." Another oanvaa, depicting the professors who were not present as fleeing from a noble mistiff, typioal of the students, wsb exhibited at a later date, I