GENERAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 16

GENERAL NEWS.

There is great indignation over the way in which the cumulative vote has been exercised at some of the Auckland school committee elections. The chairman of the City Schools' Committee, Mr Gorrie, who hasjserved as such since the Education Act has been in force, and done splendid service, was thrown out, and a candidate placed at the head of the poll whose " public " services have principally consisted in forwarding the interests of the Licensed Victuallers' Association at licensing elections. The city householders were so indignant that a resolution was passed by a majority, in the ratio of 10 to 1, that the incoming committee communicate with the Government requesting them to take steps to repeal the cumulative clauses of the Education Act. At the election men were detected attempting to vote twice, and the chairman (Mr Speight) impounded a bunch of voting papers which one man was attempting to place in the box, not allowing them to be opened. Councillor Crowther, one of the candidates elected, said he had 22 employes entitled to vote, and all he had to do if he had liked was to bring them in and record 154 votes for himself. The whole thing, he said, was simply monstrous, and he declined to be a party to it. Matters were not much better in one of the suburbs. The ex-mayor (Mr Devore) and chairman of the Fonsonby School Committee for years past was placed fifth on the list, the poll being headed by a candidate by 50 of a majority over his fellows, who had got the benefit of the cumulative vote. There is a general feeling that those clauses of the act originally I intended to protect a minority are being grossly abused, and should be repealed. ! The stables and cowshed of Mr R. Cupples, Otautau, were destroyed by fire, together with their contents, including chaff, oaten hay, barley, sheepskins, and cbaffcutter. The National Insurance Company had a risk of £100 on the stable and contents, but Mr Cupples' loss will amount to about £100. Four large stacks of oats, owned by Mr George Aitken, Wendon, and uninsured, were destroyed by fire on Saturday. Some 90 sacks of grain, owned by Mr Kingdon, were destroyed by fire, near Gore, on Saturday. The grain was covered by a tarpaulin, and as no trace of this could be f uund it is surmised that it was stolen and the straw around the grain set on fire to hide the theft. The opening lecture of the session of St. Andrew's Church Young Men's Society was delivered in the hall of the church on Tuesday evening by Mr A. Wilson, M.A., the subject being " Ballad Literature " There was a good attendance, and Mr J. B. Park occupied the chair. The earlier portion of the lecture was devoted to a defence of ballads as examples of literature, Mr Wilson declaring that many of those direct and simple things which were the work of direct and simple minds, existing in a direct and simple" society, would compete in interest with the more complex kinds of poetry that modern poets produced. He then traced the origin of ballad literature, and finally dealt in an able and analytical way with the field of ballad poetry, especially instancing the most prolific causessuch as war, love, and superstition — in the production of ballads. The lecturer, who was frequently applauded, illustrated the various headings of his address by quotations from typical ballads. A vote of thanks to Mr Wilson, proposed by Mr H. K. Wilkinson, was carried by acclamation. The leaders of the abandoned Kermadec settlement, Messrs Hovell and Carve, still remain on Sunday Island. The former was desirous of leaving, but was obliged to stay because of the delicate state of Mrs Hovell's health. In addition to their scanty crops of pumpkins, kumeras, and beans, tbe settlers had laid in a large supply of mutton birds for the winter. Fish are plentiful during the summer, but the dangerous high seas prevent any being caught during the winter. Three of the settlers, Mr and Mrs Bacon and son, having found that Denham Bay was quite unsuitable for cultivation, have leased a portion of land from Mr Bell, whose run is at the other end of the island, and is good rich land with a bunny aspect. Three others— Taylor, Lord, and Andrews — also shifted their abode from the bay to the centre of the mountain, where there is some good soil. When it was found that the supplies were running shorf — in fact only about lewt of flour and a small quantity of tea and sugar was remaining at the time of the Hincmoa's arrival — Mr John Bell most generously placed the contents ,qf his plantation at tbe disposal of the settlers. The returned settlers say they are heartily sorry that they ever went to Sunday Island. Mr Stratford, a Kermadec settler, however, denies that the eettlement is a failure. He says some of the returned settlers bad not the requisite six months' stores, and had not the practical experience required of pioneer settlers, and started the planting season too late to get their crops harvested before the rats' period of cybernation was over. He says the settlement is not a failure, as it has never had a fair trial. Ho intends to remain on the island. Miss Sauadero, bead mistress of the Ashburton High School, was among those who successfully passed the examination for the B.A. degree at the recent university examination. Miss Saundgrs did not keep term, and for this reason apparently her name did not appear in the published list of successful candidates, The twelfth volume of the Clydesdale Stud Book is just to hand. It contains excellent photos of Prince of Wales (673), Prince of Albion (6178), and Chrystal (5387). There are 1394 entries of living foals, the produce of mares formerly entered, 1332 new entries of mares, and 1002 entries of utallions— a total of ,3728 entries, as compared with 3217 in the previous volume. Stone's ABC fiuidp. for May is to hand. This prompt publication when alterations a"0 made in the timetable should be appreciated. Stanley's Rescue of Bmin Pashs forms the subject of a special number of the Illustrated London News, a copy of wh'ch has been forwarded to U9 by Mr W. <i. Prictor, North-Eaat yalley. A 'a r gp coloured reprpduptien of a photo of Stanley by Elliot and Pry, is th£ principal illustration, while the meeting of fimin end Stanley at Lake Albert Nyaniia. and tlje first view of the lake, are also speciafly illustrated. The number is profus&ly illustrated with repregenta* tjons of events and personages oonneoted with tha expedition, and is well worth procuring as a memento of one of the most notable events in connection with 'African exploration. 1 / •