The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1898.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11195, 18 August 1898, Page 4

The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1898.

Everyone must approve of the motive I idea of the Otago High School Old Boys' Club, "and an annual Old Boys' dinner is a natural sequence. Of all " senti- s ments"—using the word in the special '■ way—the school sentiment is probab'.y the strongest. For obvious reasons the university sentiment is a slight thing iv comparison: it is less simple, less concentrated, more transient. "The schoolboy spot we ne'er forget, though there we are forgot!" We shall not attempt to add to the stock of lore and eloquence ; which this perennially, fascinating sub- j ject has gathered, but we are glad to ! note and welcome the steady growth of ' a vvhplesome school sentiment in New > Zealand, where there is no wealth of.; historical association by which the prosaic side of life may be qualified with salutary persistence. A young country can boast no ancient academic halls, i

" steeped in sentiment, and whispering from their towers the. lost enchantments of the Middle Age " ; but long tradition is not necessary to the cultivation of the spirit of school fellowship,—that flower which perhaps only blooms in full per fection when we have become " Old | Boys." The Old Boys of the Otago High School do well to hold an annual gathering, and our only regret is that they do not insist upon taking a rathar more prominent part in the proceedings. For (to be candid) the speeches on Saturday night were not of ideal quality. They were a great deal too serious and a great deal too, prosy. Fancy a sue- , cession of controversial dissertations at an Old Boys' dinner! ( What was the Hon. John MacGregor doing dans cette galere ? True, this doughty critic of the High School was no invited guest: he was not present''in body; but his spirit seemed to be there—menacing, oppressive, ominous. ■• 'Not one of the chief speakers . quite managed to avoid the influence of that '.imminent shadow.. Mr Denniston was the first to succumb. He " had , not followed the arguments" in the controversy,—knew nothing about the matter in fact: yet, despite this sublime and astonishing nescience, he;, must needs (as though impelled by a resistless powec) pay toll to the polemical, demand.1 Mr Denniston's was but a passing reference, and. (considering the admitted scantiness of his acquaintanc.e^w'ith the controversy) it is just as well that he said ao more; but the rector, of the school promptly took up. the cue. We are glad to see Mr Wilson .back; again, and we have praised him so often and so freely in the past that a word of criticism is riot likely to be looked upon as unfriendly w,t. Frankly■ we wish that he had treated his hearers and the .outside public to one of those light • and happy speeches,, marked by fine 'urbanity. and literary suggestiveness',: of which he has time and again, shown'himself to possess the secret, and had left the High' School controversy, at least, §o far as':Saturday's celebration wasl concerned;. to take care of; itself. His general rule' is- excellent-: ."■tie assured them that there was. uothing so distasteful to him as to enterinto what he might call.school.polemics of. any kind, and really if he felt that his position there entailed any annual justification' of the school. or any explnnation^or exposition 'pf- its policy, ho would prefer not to be in the chair— (hear, hear)—but on , the present occasion he must ask them to bear with him," , etc., —and surely the Old Boys must have sighed. Mr Wilson was not "as dull as ditch water,'I—he1 —he could hardly be that if he tried,—but he, was not at his best, because his subjectmatter was out of harmony with the central idea, so-to speak, of the function he was presiding. ;• Moreover (still to be frank) that,fine urbanity was not quite up to its usual form. MrWilson.has a pretty gift of irony, but once ,or twice ..oh Saturday night the ironical note approximated to a sarcasm remarkable for intensity rather than humour. The imputation .of " malice '* would have been ;■ better away> * and the laboured reference'to^ a■:'.'/"reasonable, welHnfbrmedj and. disinterestedgentleman" was auytlii^g;;'but, Hvitty.' Mr Wilson will note,-.iby the "vvaytj' that /the satirised gentleman • appears to be able to look' affcei himself. We may take the opportunity; qf^ expressing:ia Hope" th^tlje 7 oiaims OfGerman as a school' subject, of very considerable importance in these ,days' will be appreciated by.the authorities,.of the; High School'-rshall, we'^ say, rather more adequately in.; the future, than'1 in-■:•■ tlia? ipast ?; Our " disinte.restednessfio.r. ; th^', German language" is, we,, trust, beyond, suspicion; but; as a' matter 'of fact, w-=!, are very greatly interested, from a civic standpoint, in the project of making the High School-as perfect an institution as: possible. There is .an 'idea, abroad that the so-called " modern " side of education' is not sufficiently; attended, to at the school. We believe the idea to bo mainly fallacious, and we are sure that Mr Wilson desires that. the fallacy should be dispelled: his way of referring to the subject of German on Saturday !we take to have been anereiy an error |in tact. :■ j ■' . | We have the less hesitation in giving! utterance to these criticisms because our sympathy with the High" School authorities in their difficulties, our disapproval of Mr MacGuegor's scheme for a nondescript " primary - secondary " school, and our admiration for Mr Wilson's ability and good work, are well known.. Indeed, it is easy to make an allowance for the rector in this matter; He comes back after a well-earned".holiday; ;and-: "finds that inconsiderate* critics'—"hornets " he calls , them—have ; been ;Jbusy !with, his- school.- He is naturally'vexfed;, and,"conscious of' having" a' : good ca-33, he delivers his soul on.the first:—though, as we think, unsuitable—opportunity, j and in the task forgets something of his ; ancient suavity. That the. case is essentially good ,we am quite convinced, 1 jihough so short a time haa; elapsed since we examined Mr MacGeeglor's curious scheme that we need not add much on the' present occasion. Two of Mr Wilson's remarks may .he .emphasised. First: "It seemed to him that a secondary school in this colony was a school where a pupil might enlarge the education he received at the'primary schoolthat ..it■-. was for this-that the "High Schools had their existence,: —and if a I higher primary school was created'at al.l it would be for this purpose., Mr' Mac- - proposed school, though, he. might call it a primary school, was virtually a secondary school, and would teach nearly the same subjects as the High School." This is what we have more than once said, and we are glad to have; the endorsement of Mr WilsoK's special insight. Secondly :, i( The ecoles' superieures primaires of ■France < were excellent institutions, but lie took'-leave to doubt whether, with- the: population and means of-our community, the time was ripe for the duplication of educational machinery Which the establishment of such a school would iuvojve." Tins also is a timely reminder. Even if Mr MacGregor ccoild prove the excellence of his idea, the practical lesson for Dunedin or Ne\v Zealand .would not necessarily follow. . A country with a population of ' something under tlvreequarters of a million must set a limit to the multiplicity of its institutions.

The defeat of Captain Russell's amendment was a foregone conclusion, and though the Opposition have, been praised for the supposed cleverness,of their tactics we are by no means sure that the compliment is deserved. It is true that the perniciousness .of. the. present parliamentary system has puce luore been exposed, and more, than one Ministerialist has again been placed in an awkward position, between the rival claims of conviction and party. But this result may be brought about without' the gain of

: prestige to the Opposition, and we da ; not think that there is much gain on i the present occasion. With the priui ciple and object of the amendment we • are quite in accord: immediate provision ought to be made for an adequate supply of rolling stock, and if Mr Seddon were a statesman first and a partisan afterwards he would have accepted Captain Russell's proposal, and this without any loss of essential dignity. On the contrary he displayed his usual petulant partisanship and gave to the amendment the import of a no-confi-dence motion. We quite agree that this attitude was unjustifiable: Mr Rollrs- . ton did not speak a whit too strongly in denouncing the. Premier's low parliamentary practice; but—and this is our point—Captain Russell, Mr Rolleston, Mr Scobie Macke.vzie, and their friends must,have known full well that the Premier would, as a matter of fact, adopt this improper course. By bitter experience-'.they:''know that the ; interests of party always have the first place in his mind, and that the acceptance of the amendment would be most distasteful to the vanity of the mere party leader. Tt will, perhaps, be urged that the Opposition must do its patriotic duty without any thought of what the Ministerial tactics.may be. This is"ail very well as a general principle, but there is no occasion to play 'into the hands of the master of the Government j majority. The public spirit of the OpI position could have been displayed during the financial debate.Without courting a decided defeai at the very outset, and an amendment of a broader and less special nature might have been subsequently proposed. Captain Russell can hardly have expected Mr Morrison and like-minded Ministerialists to prefer the efficiency of the railways and the welfare of. railway employees to the cause of .party; and if tins object was merely to force these Seftidonites into displaying their ultra-par-tisanship—well, this" end has often been 'achieved and a fresh exposure does, not jcount for. much. . We .certainly think that the Opposition -made a tactical blunder, though the sincerity of tfab motive '13 beyond question. : ■ r if -—.i . i ■ . j . ■

The second.of the series of special articles on " The British Empire," by Sir Charles W. Dilke, the exclusive right to which for the South Island has been. secured by us^ will be found on our second page this morning. ■~ '. : ' ■'..■■■•■;. The Legislative Council met yesterday, but after transacting formal business was adjourned.' ..'. ... ~.V . .•■ • In the House of Representatives yesterday the debate on the Financial Statement was continued; Captain Russell's amendment v re rolling stock for the railways was rejected by 37 to 29, after which the discussion on the original motion to go into Committee of Supply was.continued. .■.!■'; A statement of the board's finances, submitted at yesterday's meeting, of the Educa^ tion Board, in accordance with »: resolution, passed at last meeting, showed that at the 10th instant the general account was in credit to the amount of £6*6 6s Id, and that itid) building account w'a3 overdrawn by £7387 5s j Id. The prospective payments to.the 31st August were'set down at £6150. .-As: against this.Vthe'sum ,of £5786il9sv7d'was .receivable as: grant; for -August frbfe1 the: Government ;and\-'tlie;:'June'.r.<][!^rjteiji' payment frorii the School' Commissioners, the anticipated debit at the bank at the end of the month being . ■thus £7iO3:i?s;sd/;';;/-/ • ; : ":>...-■■■■',' • ■-■ '■ Mr Justice '"Pennefather' was oocupied .in the 'Supreme .Court yesterday .with, hearing argument in the case of Fleming y. the Bank •of New Zealand,-which Was tried at,the-last tjcivil sittings at-Invereargill, when the .plain.tiff was awarded; £2000 damages, the' cause of action l)oing.'.t{ie dishonouring .'by' .the- bank; of pertain cheques drawn by him. At the trial certain points raised on" behalf of. fthe .bank were reserved for further consideration, '•arid it is these which are now being argued.' The case occupied the1 whole of-yesterday, and. will certainly occupy another complete day. ■■ ■• .■•"■.. '' ■ ■■'■■•■ ■' • The regular meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held yesterday afternoon, when there were present—Messrs ■0. Allan (in the chair), R.Wilson, P. Treseder, J. Green, and H. G.ourley. Accounts amounting to £H1 9s 8d were passed foV payment. The Secretary.reported that James .M'Bride,'! 66 years of age,- died in the institution during;. the weak. Foui' tenders for the supply of I drugs were received, and it was decided to' accept that of Messrs Bi Bagley and Son,: About 38 relief cases came up for.corisidera- j tion. '■ .. .' •. ' ■ ■'.'■' .'..: .■•! The business at the City Police -poUrfc^was I considerably delayed yesterday through tlie,| difficulty experienced in' getting a bench. It was half an 'hour after the appointed time i for sitting before the; cases could be proceeded with,' and it was only then by the voluntary offer of two justices who happened to be present that the work was gone on with.,: The minor cases were dealt with by these gentlemen,. and .matters came, .to a deadlock again, onei'pf the justices being engaged in the-'work of the court, and; the j! qther,-'for dljvious'"Reason's,'not.caring to:act. j.Finally., after the waste of about half an I hour's time, one of. them was got to mount [ the bench, and formally adjourn the court : till. 2.30 p.m;, when Mr C. C. Graham, sitting as a stipendiary magistrate, heard.a portion of one of. the charges of perjury preferred against the constables who gave evidence in the'recent sly grog cases at Clinton. ' Lately there have been two or three;, instances ' of the court being kept waiting in the.sa,me j way.' .;;" '• '~.' ..,:■. ■■. -i The Education Board have decided to offer ; 10 senior and 10 junior scholarships this j year. . ■ The Westport Harbour Board has practically approved of Mr C. Napier Bell's proposals for the improvement of Westport Harbour, but the scheme has to be approved by the ■■ Government. The works suggested by Mr Bell are four in number, and estimated to cost £176,670. The expenditure, it is estimated, can be defrayed out of the present loan and the surplus revenue expected to accrue. The works comprise the extension of the wharf to the eastern lagoon, the extension of the lower training wall, the extension j and raising of the eastern training wall and j Orawiti protective works with groins below } the Buller bridge. The present training walls i have done their woik well,.but it is necessary to further extend them into.deeper water, as it is understood there is a tendency to form a bar; 'What the works taave'effected is mentioned by the Buller Mirier in noting the ! visit of the Hawea, which steamed up to a i berth within.2o minutes of dead low water. I And yet not so many years ago persons have walked across the bar. The justification for •the extension of the harbour works is to be found in the statement bjr Mr Joachim, manager of the Westport Coal Company, that the demand for coal has to be kept back, and that 'the Grahity and Denniston mines could deliver 2000 tons per day, while the Cardiff Company could deliver 500 per day. Our readers will doubtless remember that shortly before he was called upon to act for Mr I Justice Wiliiams on the Supreme Court bench Mr Justice Pennefather contributed to onr columns a series, of interesting papers, in which he gave his impressions of South Africa after a short visit he paid on his way out to New Zealand,., The Cape Argus of July 2 . devotes a leading -article to'the series of papers. Our contemporary acknowledges the j kindly nature of the criticism, and admits • that the. ..writer "has regarded us with-a thoughtful eye, and though here and there air opinion may appear to be hastily formed, yet there is much of truth even in what he says about the things he does not like. And with regard to things that.have pleased him | He is exceptionally kind." • j

] The Inangahua Herald of the 3rd inst. de- ! nounces as iniquitous the sale of the goods and chattels on the previous day of unfortunate lessees of mining claims for overdue rent. Previous Governments have recocrnised the fact that in all such cases the lessees must have expended sums varying from £20 and upwards which was a total loss, and the inj variable practice has been to cancel the leases, and thus throw the lands open for applicaI tion anew. The system was equitable. !If the Government intend to check all local mining enterprise no better means could have been devised. The entire ! stock of one lessee, comprising 1179 pairs 'boots, with leather, 'grindery, etc.. was dis- • posed of for £40. In another case the office fittings of a broker were disposed of for £1. while in a third a hotelkeeoer was sold up by his landlord in consequence of his beingliable to the Government for rents accrued and in advance in a sum of £180. Ministers shelter themselves behind the Auditor-general; but our contemporary ridicules the idea, and asks if the Minister for Land's would permit j the 'Auditor-general' to sell up summarily a i settler who was iri arrears with, his rent.. / A considerable audience assembled at the j Garrison Hnll last evening on the occasion i of the final appearance of Mr John Fuller's j Myriorama Company. Each member of the 1 company was received with that cordial app lause that has always been bestowed on them ■in Dunedin, where they have.become such recognised favourites, and the views that were displayed by Mr Fuller's powerful lantern apparatus were much admired.' The company leave to-day for the north, and will appear in several, towns en route for. Sydney, where they will probably arrive towards the closo of the year. '~"'■ A large and pitazled house witnessed the concluding entertainment given ijt the Alhambra.Theatre last evening by Professor Dante, who was in his best form, and kept his audience thoroughly amused as well as completely mystified. Mdlle. Edmunda.also tcok a share in the programme that contributed in no slight degree to its complete success. Professor Dante and the company which, under the; management of Mr M. B, Curtis, is supporting him leave for the south to-day. ;■■•.''■'. ' '. \ . - ' A matinee performance of "Little Lord. j Fauntleroy " will be given in the-Princess j Theatre on Saturday afternoon by the Con- ] stance Hardie Company. On Saturday night a benefit will bo tendered to Miss Hardie and the clever-child artiste, Gladys Hughes'. The company, with the aid of local tajent, will put forward an1 attractive programme. . ■■ ■<" ■■ '■••. i. •♦' ' '•■■ '•' ■ •;•' The arrangements in connection with the'concert iri. aid of the bazaar fund of the Nautical Festival have been Well-nigh brought to' com-pletion,-and. it. is safe, to predict that the standard of excellence which has been reached in the past on similar, occasions will not suffer, on this. . A special feature of the concert..will be the rendering (with full orchestral accompaniment) of the " Kyrie " and '' Gloria " from .■Mozart's."'Twelfth'Mass " by. the full choir .of St. Joseph's Cathedral. ; . . ... . Messrs Maclean and.Co. will hold a' clearing sale of stock, implements, etc., at Benhar, near, Stirling; on Tuesday, 23rd inst. ... Claims against the barque John o' Gaunt must be rendered by noon on Friday. Messrs.Park, 'Reynolds, and Co.'will sell free-' hold'property and residence in South Dunedin en Saturday; 2f)tli inst. *■ Messrs Wright, Stephensonj and Co., will sell■ on Saturday young draught :mare3 and geldings.' A meeting of the Labour Bay Committee will be held at the Hall on Friday evening., At--tcT.night's.-meeting of the Fabian.-Society, -which is open to the public, aid to which ladiesaro>specially invited; :Dr Emily, H. Sied.eber'g, will give au .address on "The Medical Educar tion of "VJomen in.Great Britain and Germany.", TKe City Corporation have increased the price, of Bru'aner coke to SOs^per'''ton...: , ': v . ...J .. John Hisfcop, oldest established Watchmaker'and Jeweller, .74 Princes street. Good assortmerit. Watches, ■ Clocks, and. Jewellery. Spectacles, suit all sights.—Advt. ' . ;. : :Massagb and EiECTßiciTy..—Mr: and Mrs D. EpwjN. .Booth,' Massage Institute, Stuart: street, Dunedin. —U.rJder the patronage of'the: medical gentlemen of Dunedin." ' ''' "■''.- Visitors to Dunedin; during the Jubilee' holidays are cordially, invited-to1 inspect G; and; T.. Young's : magnificent stock ..of watches, clocks,', jewellery, silver .and silVer-plated goods." ,G'..,.and -T. Yburig; supply'the best at" reason-.- ---' able prices.—Advt. ..,.,• . ■■■ ... '\: :•'. : ■■■■ Bargairiisl. Bargains! . Bargains 1 Bargains!. .Dupng Sale:. Men's .Waterproof and Fashion-, able Overcoats at Clotlang Factory; Octagon.— Advt. "'...:■■■■.■■"•■ •"••'.: .-. ■";.;;;,' ,: '■■•■: ••r : i: F6B'PuNC*trA.i,.;. Time!— Peter .-.Dick most reliable Watchmaker ,ahd Jeweller,, opposite Coffee'Pala.ce, Moray place, Dunedin. strictly moderate.—Advt. _■■ ■ .;,... .