THE FREE RAILWAY PASSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2513, 14 May 1902, Page 14

THE FREE RAILWAY PASSES.

The fallowing telegrams bearing en. the granting of free passes to children, atteuding district high and high schools will be read with interest. The first was sent by the chairman, of the Education Board on March 20: — " To the Hon. the Minister of Education:—" The hoard by a resolution to-da-y requested me to wire you again regarding the free passes for children attending secondary schools, and to ' urge for -definite reply as to when they will be available, as much inconvenience is being oc-casioh'ed-in this district by the uncertainty ancl ■ delay." The Minister replied to the chairman on April 18: — "Your telegram received re free t passes for chiidre.i. Regulations RTa being reconsidered as a whole. The regulations you are specially interested in have had to wait until 1 ! other important questions are considered. I regret the delay so far as pupils attending district high schools ara- concerned." On receipt of this telegram, which is similar! to others received for the pr.fit 32 months, tha chairman of the board sent the following telegram, this time to the Hon. Sir J..G-. Ward, Minister of Railway 3, to the Bluff, April 22: — " You would fa /our this boaicl if you could seed a definite reply as to what data the free passes for children attending district- high! . and aeconda-ry schools will be available. It is a year next month eince the board made its lasfe appeal to you, a-nd the passes weie promised] iv September last." Sir J. G. Ward replied •— " In reply to your telegram, the mattsr is one that requires tha initiative of- the Minister of Education, to whom I hslve referred your telegram." On receipt of the above the chairman again, wired the Hon. Mr Walker as follows on April 25 : — " Referring to your telegram re freo passes that regulations are under consideration, I havej appealed to tho Minister of Railways, and ha wires that the mattar requires tho initiative of the Minister of Education, to whom he haa referred my telegram. Perhaps there is some mistake as to our understanding of your telegrams. I am sure you will excuse my persistency iv this matter, if the granting of tha free pases so long expected can he hastened. Kindly wire." The chairman waited six days, -and, as no reply was received, again wired as follows on May 1 to the Hon. \V. C. Walker, Minister of Education : — " Referrir.g to my telegram of tha j 25th ult. regarding free passes for secondsiyj ! pupils, I shall be greatly obliged if you are ablel to reply early that all obstacles are now removed in the way of immediately gritting them, as there is much felt need of the concession in this province." Finally, on May 6, the chairman of the board wired a3 follows to the Hoa. W. C. Walker, Minister of Ediication, on May 6: — " Considering the fact that the board has communicated' with you on this subject almost monthly for a j'ear, and I have sent two telegrams to which, you have not replied, I should have been delighted if you hai favoured ma with the- courtesy of a reply announcing tho fact that at last the concession has been, gazetted, as I am pleased to read in to-day's Gazette. Though so long delayed, we are thankful for the concession." The free passes are now available, as provided By regulation in ths Gazette, published by us yesterday : Free second- class quarterly tickets will be issued for the,purpose> of enabling pupils not over 19 years of age to attend a district high sciiool or a secondary school, provided such pupils ha-ve oas3ed the Sixth Standard or are holders of scholasrphips. exhibitions, or free places tenable at such district high, school or secondary school. Application for theso tickets must bo accompanied; by a- certificate signed by schoolmaster having charge of the school. These tickets aro available for distances not exceeding 60 miles-. It i 3 so.newhat of a coincidence that the firsb ccrnmunication made to tho Minister was dated exactly a. year" from to-day, the secretary making on. May 7, 1901, a strong appeal by authority of the board for free passes to all pupils attending secondary schools. A happy state of affairs was disclosed (says the Lyttelton Times) by a witness afc the" Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Monday during the course of her examination by counsel. " Did your husband know that; you had bought the bicycle?" she was asked.'; " I presume h© did," wa3 the answer. " Hef did not allow me to speak to him directly,-; so I spoke of my purchase at the dinner table in his presence." Chambbblauj's Cotj&h Remedy is in* tended especially for coughs 7 , colds, croup^ whooping cough, and influenza. It has become famous for its cures of these diseases over a large part of the civilised worlcfc The most nattering testimonials have been* received, giving" accounts of its good works ; of the aggravating and persistent coughs it/ -has cured; of severe colda that have yieldecr " promptly .to its soothing effects..; and of thet dangerous- attacks of croup it has cured^ often saving the life of tho child. Tha extensive use of it fo* whooping cough has shown that it robs that disease of all dangerous results. It is specially prizect : by mothers because it contains nothing;" to* jurious and there is not the least danger ia( giving it, even, to babies. It always cuxesj and euros cmickly. All dealers sell it