GETTING RID OF THE IDOL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9576, 4 November 1902, Page 4

GETTING RID OF THE IDOL.

NEW ZEALANDER'S WEIRD EXPERIENCE

The Australian Star republishes the following:—One of the best-known public men in New Zealand, a wealthy resident of Hokianga, North Island, recently travelled all the way to St. Louis, U.S.A., in a fruitless endeavor to 'have an idol cremated which had cast an evil spell over him. The heathen idol had come to him as. part of a legacy from a grandfather, to whom it 'had been presented by a. Maori chief. Said its owner: "I have travelled 10,000 miles .with the image, and it has brought disaster after disaster upon me. I- have often endeavored to destroy it, but .without avail. ■ "I once threw it under a train, and in running to get out of the way fell, and broke out of my fingers. Then I was arrested for endangering the lives of passengers. When, in London three months ago, I threw it into the Thames, and a drunken sailor who fished it out brought it back to my rooms, and in his rage at not receiving" a. reward -almost beat me to death. "While in San Francisco. I tried to chop it to pieces with an axe, when the axe, rebounding, struck me on the forehead with kilmost fatal effect. The wood is so hard that an, ordinary fire will not destroy it, and I am afraid to get rid of it otherwise because of the evil results." The. image was a crude figure in rosewood and ebony, and about 2ft long. Failing to get it cremated in St. Louis" its owner started for New York, where he was determined to have it destroyed, at whatever cost.

A palmist was charged at the Police Court at Hawea last week with pursuing her illegal calling. This is what she told a constable who consulted her: "You have a strong constitution, good temper, but rather hasty when roused. You will live to be 80, and after you pass 40 will have a prosperous life. Anything you take in hand you will succeed with, if you put your mind to it. You would make a good mechanic, as you are very fond of machinery. You will be married within 12 moutlrs' time. There will be four children; two will die. You will have a chance of changing your occupation during the next three months. If you. take my advice you will accept it, because you will do we 11.".. The Magistrate, who reserved judgment, remarked: "You might as well attempt to tell a man's character by ithe creases in his trousers as in Ms hands."

It is interesting to notice thai the United States navy department has awarded contracts to the Philippine Engineering and Construction Company for l-aising the Spanish warships which Admiral Dewey sunk in the famous battle of Manilla Bay. The contract (says an English paper) includes the wrecking and dismantling of such of .the ships aa are unfit for further use, but 'it is l expected fhait three of ilie'veesels will be raised and repaired. Nine of them are so badly damaged that they are not worth saving. The iVork has already begun, and is to be completed within a year. A large force of American divers i» already at work on the wrecks. It is pro posed to save everything that 'Is available. All the steel plates will be removed and sold intact. Most of the guns have been taken off the vessels, but such ;>s remain.' become the. property of the wrecking company, who have agreed not to sell any part of the available, material of the .ships to any foreign government. Arrangements have been made to work up a large portion of the brass and wood work into souvenirs, which will be put upon the market next winter.

' Thy South Canterbury bTanyh of the Teachers' Institute on Saturday discussed the proposed new regulations for examination <md classification of teachers. It h-;i.s resolved at the outset to the effect that there was no dissatisfaction with the present system, which gives us much satisfaction as could be expected from any scheme for classification of so many ttach.ers. Proceeding to details objection was nraJe to the reduction of the latter grades, tiv.' to three, and four was suggested iu•steud, and the values indicated. Approval was expressed of higher value being attached to teaching ability, but objection wan made, to the limitation of the highest cla.ss li> those able to ma.uage ;i school uv.r 150, on the. grounds thait tjie highest teaching; skill waisl really acquired in single-handed schools, say 35 to 40. It n-;.:s contended that if the syllabus of examination were adopted, teachers in small dkv.ricts like South Canterbury would be unable to prepare science .subjects (except 'improperly from books), unless further ■provision were made to enable them to attend training schools or the University. Tiie meeting strongly protested against the provision of Clause 42, providing for lowering the elaissificaitbii once gained.