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Otago Daily Times, Issue 10237, 20 December 1894, Page 5 (Supplement)

Or T. Muir was appointed acting chairman in the absence of Cr A. M'Laren, the chairman, through illness.

DEPUTATION.

Mr O. O'Neill waited on the council in reference to an agreement entered into between his fatber and tae local road board as to a district road leadiug through his property. He pointed out that to ffc-uca the road ou both aides would be very expensive, and he would be satisfied if tbe council agreed to place gates across the road, no opposition being made to this course by any of ihe settlers using the road.—Keferred to the inspector to consult with those interested, and in the event of their concurrence being obtained the gates to be erected.

Accounts for the month, amounting to £i 23 16s 7d, were passed for payment.

inspector's reports.

Meidowbank Kiding.—Tbe Inspector reported that he had examined tbe road complained about by Mr R. M'Elwee at last meeting, aud found that some formation was required aud about five chains of gravelling.—Keferred to the inspector with power fr> act, on the motion of Cr D. iioss, sw.onded by Cr IsbiSteu.

Mr John 'Douglas had applied for a road up to Pleasant river along a dotted track leading tnrough his land. —The matter was referred to the inspector to examine re crossing on dotted roadline.

HIGH SCHOOL,

TO THE KDITOR. Bui,— Tuis year, tor probably the lir-t lime suck the foundation of our Girls' High ycuool, the nrcafc-up ins lmd the result ot uuudiug tne girls aivay, noli with a feeling of light-asarted-uess and gaiety, but witn a feeling of auger aud indignation—iv wrath t&at suca a narrotvmiuderj inuu iw Mr Ailea shows himself to be stioultt have ba.u s*kcd lo officiate at sucii important; pructucsiusa. Mr Alltm naay be taaukfut thus women can occasioaally oe u/pucriiical, and cn*t thuy still uay "It is hoc becoming," for tiad those girla not felt th.m-.fcivda couupjlled to hide oheir true kcaiiug:!, aud (ir-at:iisu deception, Sir Allen's .s^eecu. wouki have oteu received with aisses sustuail oi with ohu mu^sirn and forced applause with wiiicu 10 wks ri-csived. If we t.-.ke in tne first I'utttauue his tirade against the dress reiorm,_ we iiiall ti-.ti t ;j a6 he"is both in tne rigat anj iv lli^ wr..-i'g : lucre arts points both tor auuagaiQSCtUiscn*.ig.s. Tae roform iv dress is oati uaiur.il outcome of a healthy tlesire on tna pave oi women t» prefer comfort lo til gauflc. AH women acknowledge taat our prciieub style ot drees 18 more eUgnut, but, oh ! Uoiv cumberiioiue. Wuiu»u is pnysitaily less rjuoug tb.au mau, must carry ab»uc with hbt liaily a heavier aud more cumocrsotne burden of clolhus LuC Mr Allen walk abouc on a wmdj day in wuimvu'd g>»cb, and Chen give ins opmiuu aa tj wlit.t.*cr wouicu are juaciiieci iuatowupiiujj aret'orra. Moreover, lot rau explain to Mr Allen that • hi original rctoi-fii w»b not visiolo So the eyes oi man—it was a divided Hkiro worn under a ioo»B outar akirt, aud.tbij is tUtt foroi iv which it is now worn by hundreds of women. It there ai-a women who dispense with the outer skirt, &ll ttiac cau be sjiu is that as taere are fools nmjUj,' uieu, i>o there are foois among women ; out Air .ailoa aas no right to hold up these fools au examples of our sex. Toe crinoline, was probably introduced for tne same purpose as the divided skirt—namely, for freedom of uiovetueut, —aud tne majority of our doctors advocate our present reform. As regards the work and duties of woman, the subject is mow almost threadbare. If womau must live, they must go to any kind of work for whicJi they feel themselves capable, l-iow much misery aud evil might be prevented iv ihia wurld it women, who had either lost then: hustmnda or who potraesaed as such orutes who d:»uk and gurubled away all their mouej, were capable of going into the world tied earning a livelihood lor tneir family ! If womau ia to remain an homo in faith and simplicity, then man must be reformed ; man mutt oe educated to be her p;otector dud caretaker, not her oppressor, as he is at present. The simple woman, if left a widow, is not able to battle against the storms of this life in order to sunport a family, but siuka beneath the burden, leaving her family either to the cure of a benevolent iustitucion or to live as best they can by the aid of 'robbery and stealing. If all men thought, Mka Mr Allen, than women shoald do no wt;rk, this world would indeed bo a paradise tor women; but, unfortunately, there aroonly too many men ready and glad to be dependent on a woman for their bread. Why do raeu admire simple-minded women ? Became they are better able to domineer over taem, and mould them to their will. What we want is a race of stroug-mindad women, fitted to fight life's battle, -and to combat she wickedness of men. In mt-.dical work woman does not displace man. The question is, "Why have women not attended to their sex since the beginning of toe world?" Answer, "Men have kept them down." Women will not be satisfied till the time comet! when woman attends woman, and man attends man. As regards the question, of the two sexes working together at this work, the only possible niinfortuae, if such it ! is, that I can suggest, is that such women will learn to utterly ! despise men and their coarss-mindedness; but, on the other hand, they will learn to recognise aud appreciate a noble-minded man wheu such a rarity cros.'es thair path. The combined work j will also have tha good effect of improving tie moral character of the men. Concerning religion, I suppose it is again man's privilege to think for himself—to be sceptic and unbelieving. Woman's mind must be kept down, bound in fetters; she must not give vent to the thoughts which disturb her rjrain. What is - religion ? The name of religion is enough to disgust any woman when sha finds her father and her huabnud a,t dagger's point on account of it. They quarrel because one holds that the choir should appear ia surplices; the other looks on surplices with contempt. Where is religion to be found if not amongst woman ? Certainly not amongst men, nor yet iv the pulpit, for an eminent divine once said, "Doas I say, but not as I do." Religion is a cloak under which many faults are hidden. It' Mr Allen deplores ths loss of religion among women, let him turn preacher and preach not to women but to men ; let him urge them not to set bad examples to women. Once again I say th&t it is the men who are at fault, and who require moral and religious education, not the women. Hoping, Sir, that in future Dnnedin will provide more noble-minded men to officiate at our proceeding.—l am, &c., December 18. Ex-High School Giel.

FROZEN MUTTON EXPORTS.—A SUGGESTION TO PRODUCERS. TO THE EDITOR.