A COOL REQUEST. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6497, 8 December 1882, Page 3

A COOL REQUEST. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—What next ? Not content with free education, tho School Committee of Dunedin must needs take up the time of the Minister of Public Works in endeavouring to get him to grant free passes to all the children attending school for one day's excursion into the country. 1 wonder at their modesty. AVhy stop short at free passes for a day ? It would not have been any more trouble, while they were at it, to ask that free passes be given for a year, and they would have had just as much reason in asking this as the idiotic request they did make. They cannot but see that were auch a request granted to the children of Dunedin schools, it must be"" granted to all the scholars in New Zealand. The Minister's reply was to the point: he could see no reason for it being granted, and neither could any other body. • Truly school committees ought to be abolished.—l am, &c, •

Wit, F. Giuhame. High street, December 7th.

Lombardy, although one-half of it is occupied by arid mountains, contains probably the densest agricultural population in the world. According to recent officials reports, the provinces of Milan and Cremona have 161 inhabitants to

the square kilometre, and even in the mountain region of-Como there are 07 dwellers on eaoh square kilometre. On the samo'.area England has only 30, Franco -10, and Ireland GO inhabitants.

During the debate on the so-called " reptile fund," orimponnded money of the royal Btanoverian'House, in the last session of the Prussian Parliament, Dv Windthorst expressed the conviction that the Duke of Cumberland might soon be indnced to listen to reason in a matter affecting his own dearest interests, and come to terms with the court of Berlin.