The Southland Times PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, Ist MAY, 1877,

Southland Times, Issue 2757, 1 May 1877, Page 2

The Southland Times PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, Ist MAY, 1877,

, -*. . —- As the Premier has announced it to be the policy of the Government that our educational system shall still be administered by boards and committees, it will be just as well it the public consider a little what ia the present position of the school committees with regard to the Boards. It appears from an official statement which we published a short time back that the view of the Dunedin Board is that school committees at Invercargill and elsewhere in Otago ought to occupy the position of servile Gibeonites, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the chosen people of Dunedin. Even the Government inspectors' reports on schools are not to be placed before the vulgar eyes of the very school committees which hare to guarantee the expenses of the schools, and which are supposed to manage them. Of course it cannot be expected that the school committees should have the control of the revenues of the very lands which have been reserved for their benefit These all pass through Dunedin hands, and there can be little doubt do notissue thence without pretty heavy black mail being kvied first. No account is published of what the reserves in each district yield, and whether the money is applied to the uses of the schools in the particular district to which they belong. Knowing as we do the habitual rapacity and dishonesty of the .Dunedin public men —a rapacity and dishonesty so habitual that they themselves are almost unconscious of it,—we should like much to get an inventory of their peculations in this particular department. It will not be voluntarily given, and we are not sure that any of the Southland members bas the pluck to extort it. Why the revenue set apart for the Southland schools should not be placed in the bands of ft Southland Board of

Education it would puzzle the Ministry to say. Only by carrying out the principle of local self- government thoroughly in education aa in other matters can they be really consistent with regard to the Abolition Act. "We have no sympathy with Dunedin nor it with us. " What's Hecuba to him or he to Hecuba ?" we may well ask in this case. Some years ago, when the spirit of independence and self-government was far weaker than it is now, we had a province of our own. It was reunited to Otago, not because of any intrinsic advantages in the union, but because at that time we were hard up for money. The Dunedin negoeiatora drove the hardest bargain they could with us as to the terms of reunion, our own negociators bungled the affair, and in the only particular of moment in which our previous rights were reserved, in the matter of our lands revenue, no duo securities were taken for honest performance of the contract, and of course we have been robbed and swindled out of our land funds ever since. But now that the provinces have been abolished and the principle of local self-government has been thoroughly recognized by both Houses of Parliament, and by the Governor's assent to the Counties Act, what excuse remains for our money being manipulated at Dunedin, merely because that was the case under the Provincial system ? We want a Board of Education of our own, and are entitled to it. It is to be hoped that our representatives will not neglect their duty to their constituents, but will take for their motto, " Southland for the Southland people." We ask for nothing more than to do what Sir Julius Yogel was so fond of calling "to work out our own destiny." This is not a matter of politics, but one of local rights. If Messrs Lumsden, Joyce, Wood, and Hodgkinson care in the least to protect the rights and interests of their constituents, they will see that justice is done in this matter. We are quite able to manage our own schools without any Dunedin help, and would rather not pour out our bag of sovereigns in the street that those keen- eyed gentlemen, the Otago Board ef Education, may pick them up for us, and then tell us, as they have done lately, " It's all right— we are going to make new grants to our high schools, build fresh common schools, and start some intermediate schools to be called grammar schools, all at Dunedin of course." It really seems as if, after all, Governmental peculation at Dunedin had only been lessened, not destroyed.

Retcrn and Departure of the Governor. — Yesterday evening His Excellency the Governor, attended by his suite, and accompanied by tho Hon. George McLean and Commodore Hoskins, returned from Castle Rock Station, where he has been the guest of the Hon. Mathew Holmes since Saturday, to Invercargill. The Marquis of Normanby indulged in a little rabbit shooting, and as he is a fine shot he had excellent sport. He arrived at Invercargill by train at ton minutes past sis o'clock. A fair number of the leading citizens including the Mayor were present. His Excellency only stayed for a few minutes, principally in the Traffic Manager's office, writiDg. After cordially shaking hands with several gentlemen, whoso acquaintance he bad made here, he ro-cntered his carriage, and the train started amidst tho hearty cheers of all present. There is no doubt that the urbanity of His Excellency has created a very favorable impression among the thoroughly loyal people of Invercargill. Photographs of His Excellency and bis Aides-de-camp.— We have been shown by Messrs Nicholas Brothers, photographs of His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby, and of his aides-de-camp Lord Hervey Phipps and Lieutenant Le Patourel. The artists have succeeded in producing likenesses faultlessly true to the originals, and the portraits possess a distinctness of expression which is not always attainable. The Governor's good-natured faco is pourtrayed with particular truthfulness. Lord Hervey Phipps and Lieut. Lo Patourel have beon taken together and also separately, and in both cases the photographer has succeeded in producing fine portraits, Football.— A meeting of the committee of the Football Club was held yosterday evening at the Clarendon Hotel. Mr Buchanan was in the chair. It was decided to accept the challenge of the Dunedin Club to play a match, provided the Dunedin men come here to play it. It was stated on the authority of one of the playing members of the Dunedin Club, at present staying in Invercargili, that it is likely the Dunedin men will assent, and that a match therefore will probably be played in the beginning of June. It was resolved that tho meeting was not a sufficiently fuil one to decide on the adoption of the Rugby rules for this season, but that that meeting would recommend their adoption. Lecture on Astronomy.— Before leaving Invercargill, Mr Clifford, tbe proprietor of the "Mirror of the World," determined to give an entertainment on behalf of our local Hospital. This evening has been set apart for the purpose, and all those who take an interest in the sciences will be glad to learn that A. D. Austin, Esq., the District Engineer, who is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, ' has consented to deliver a lecture on As- J tronorny, which will be illustrated by Mr Clifford. Afterwards there will be an exhibition of views and statuary. We trust there will be a good attendance at the Exchange Hall to-night, so that the Hospital funds may be largely benefited thereby. Campbelltown. — At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Campbelltown, before H. McCulloch, Esq., R.M., on the 30th, Chas. Ed. Johnson sued T. J. Warren for damage, amounting to LlO, done to plaintiff's garden by a brown and white cow, owned by the defendants. Mr Finn appeared tor the plaintiff, Several \

j witnesses were examird, and the [ evidence pro and con was itogether very conflicting,— so much sotbt his Worship having a short time to spar, decided upon himself walking up to to garden and looking over the alleged dmage. On his return his Worship stted that he considered the damage lone had been misrepresented, and awaned the plaintiff L 3 and costs. I.O.G.T.— At a meeting >f the Wallacetown Lodge No. 4, 1.0.GT., held on the evening of the 26th April, the following busiueaa waa transacted :— The Secretary was directed to write to the Temperance Times Company to forward a copy of said paper to the minister of the district —the Rev. A. Stevens—to the Invercargill Athenaeum Coramitiee, Invercargill Hospital Committee, anl the Governor of the Invercargill Gaol. Brother Bussell having retired fron the office of District Deputy, Brother the Rev. T, E. Ash, M.A., of Riverton,swas unanimously nominated as a candidate for said office. The following members vrere nominated to office for the'ensuing quarter :— D. W. Wallace, W.0.T., R. Paterson, W.V.T., W. Russell, W.S., R. Grieve, W.F.S., J. Oockburn, W.T., W. Jtonald, W.C., oister Jane Grieve, W.M., Brother Riddel, W.1.G., VV. T. Tait, VV.U.U. Strawberries.— STesteriay afternoon we noticed in the shop viadow of Mr Cleave, nurseryman, Dee street, a number of ripe strawberries, whici were grown in the garden of Mr Powell at Appleby, South Invercargill. The soil of the garden is rich, and the locality is sheltered by bush, but, allowing this, the fact of such strawberriei being produced at this season of the yrar, is complimentary to the climate of Invercargill. Redistribution of Ministers. — The Wellington Argus makes the following suggestion : —We have an idea that perhaps the wants and requirements of the different parts of the oolony wouid be more fairly £nd impartially dealt with if attended to by Ministers unconnected with local cliques, and uninfluenced by local prejudices. Thus, Mrßeid might be advantageously dispatched to Taranaki, and Major Atkinson sent down to Otago. Dr Pollen might go to Canterbury, and Westland might be the better of a visit from Mr Whitaker, while Mr George McLean would be of use in Napier or Auckland. We fear, however, that Ministers would not be so fond of travelling about on these terms, even though their knowledgo of the colony as a whole would thereby be enlarged. Marriage in Dunedin High Life.— The Dunedin correspondent of the Wellington Argus telegraphs that it is rumored that Darid Proudfoot, tbe contractor, is about to marry the eldest daughter of Mr Macmdrcw. Useful Process.— Sir Julius Yogel has forwarded some specimens to Dr Hector of a process for turning vegetable fibres into silk. He says :— " A most wonderful discovery his been made for turning vegetable fibres' into silk. Cotton yarn, for example, can be converted into silk, not in appearance only, but in reality, and in the operatioa it gains weight and immensely increases n strength. The samples I enclose herewith are cotton converted. The invemor, a Frenchman, olaims to bo able to perform the operation so as to be ablo to prodice the silk at onefifth of the price of silk-woven silk. Very Approphiate —Mr William Archibald Murray, meuber in the House of Representatives for the County of Bruce, has invented an improved wire strainer and Iv\h applied for Letters Patent for the said invention. Mr Murray is one of the most viire drawing speakers in the colony, and tie invention may be regarded as an appropriate outcome of his fine natural genius. Postponed. — Tht laying of the foundation stone of St. Tail's Anglican Church, Gladstone, with Masonic honors, has been postponed till Wednesday, the 24th May . Bluff Harbor Board. — The members of this Board will meet at 2 o'clock to-day. Among the business tc be transacted will be the appointment of a secretary, for which office, we understand, there are a large number of applicants. Ball and Lt/ncheon Committee.— The meeting called for last evening lapsed, only the secretary, Mr J. Garmson, and Mr J. T. Martin putting in an appearance. The Children's Treat Committee were present, and passed their aeoounts, including a vote of-Lo to the baud f'v !, vhidi will be paid on application to Mr Scandrett at the Council Hall. Hon. George McLean. — The Hon. George McLean, who has been accompanying His Excellency tho Governor during his visit to Southland, left Invercargill at 10 o'clock last night bj special train for the Mataura, on his W£y to Dunedin. Projected Retiremeist of Sir George Grey.— The Timaru Herald intimates the probability of Sir George Grey retiring from Parliament. That journal says : — We are not possessed of any absolutely authoritative information on this subject ; but we hear from a variety of quarters that there is little likelihood of the present leader of the Opposition ever taking his seat in the House again. Mr Stout and his Dunedin Clients. —The Lyttelton Times thus closes a sensible leading article on Mr Stout's recent defence of the Dunedin mob for hissing the Governor on his visit to that city : — Because people show their loyalty by honoring the representative of their sovereign, Mr Stout rails at them as worshippers of aristocrats, and tolka wildly of those who assume to be upper crust Perhaps Mr Stout requires physic to make him less bilious. One thing is certain. There is no difference in principle between toadying to a mob and toadying to <a great man. The only difference is in the manner in which the toadying is done. The clap-trap must be considerably coarser for the uneducated ear. The best proof that we live in an enlightened country is that Mr Stout has iv this matter so few followers. "A Voice and Nothing More."— The Saturday Advertiser says that looking at tho index to Hansard last session, it is suggestive to find the number of lines occupied by the small men, the Murrays and such-like, while members of the Stafford calibre rarely speak, save on great occasions. The haverlh talk on every subject, but usually to empty boxes, This mania should be cured by a rule that when only a few men listen, the speech should not be reported.

DEPUTATION"" TO" THE HON. G. fi McLEAN. i . i ■ '<fe — - — — — -

A deputation of merchants and other ' gentlemen waited on the Honorable Gr. McLean at the Southland Club Hotel « yesterday evening to represent _ certain E local wants of the town and district. The more immediate subject to which Mr McLean's attention was directed was the j appointment of a Registrar of Brands for ' the Southland district, though several < other matters were also brought under his notice. The deputation consisted of I Messrs J. W. Mitchell, Jas. Harvey, J. E. Hannah, J. Stock, J. Turnbull, A. | McNab, and P. McEellar. j After a short conversation with Mr Jas. Harvey, who produced the Sheep ' Act of 1876, Mr McLean said that the ( Sheep Inspectors were not appointed to ( take brands. The Act in that respect only ] applied to cattle. Mr Harvey urged the appointment of i an inspector of brands for Southland, as there was no one here for that purpose at preaent. Mr McLean said that he had always been of opinion that where the affairs of Otago and Southland could be kept distinct, they should be. All hia colleagues, he believed, also thought so. At present he held the powers granted to the superintendent. He did not see why there should not be a district registration of brands. Mr Harvey said that the people here were very strong on the subject of the separation of the affairs of the two districts. Mr McLean promised that he would consult his colleagues, and if they concurred with him he would look out for a suitable man as registrar for both large and small cattle. Mr Mitchell said that so long as the Government appointed some person to reside in this town for the publio convenience and attend to this work, that ■ was all that was wanted. Mr Harvey remarked that there was a I strong feeling down here that a distinction between Otago and Southland should be made in all public matters. Attention had been directed lately, for instance, to the educational reserves. Mr Mitchell said that the Southland reserves were valuable, and the people here believed that they could appoint quite as competent men to deal with them and with other educational matters aa the people living 120 miles off. Mr Harvey further remarked that the people here were well satisfied with the abolition of the provinces, and would like to see the principle it embodied thoroughly carried out. Mr Mitchell confirmed the statement, I and mentioned Immigration as another matter which it was very desirable should be managed locally. He asked if a local Sheep Inspector could also be appointed, and then he could look after the registration of the brands as well. Mr McLean said that he was happy to say that there was no scab in the colony, and therefore nothing to do for the sheep inspectors at present. Mr Turnbull stated that local selfgovernment is wanted in everything. He regretted that the members whom the people in Southland elected did not support tbe Abolition policy. But he believed tho preponderance of the intelli gence of the district was in its favor. Mr Harvey expressed it as his opinion that the Opposition carried the election by the votes of the servants of the Provincial Government, who were influenced. Mr Macandrew, he had good reason for saying, influenced them. Mr McLean said that he was in favor of throwing everything in local administration into the hands of the people themselves, Mr Harvey next referred to the need of an endowment for the improvement of Bluff Harbor. Mr McLean replied that that was a serious matter. It should be taken into consideration. Not a great deal, howover, could be wanted to be done. There was a rock to ba blasted, but the Harbor Board had wharf dues and other sources of revenue to do it with. Mr Harvey mentioned that sometime ago the Government said that they were going to do it. There was some delay, because it had been asserted that Captain Fairchild was the only man in the colony who could do it properly. Mr McLean said that he had done his best for the people here last year with regard to the Harbor endowment. But he could not promise anything without serious consideration. It was naturally a good harbor, and now it had a good wharf. Mr Mitchell thought there was work yet to be done. They wanted to get an endowment in either land or money to do it. He did not suppose they would get much in money. But he hoped Mr McLean rould give them his support in getting the land endowment. Mr McLean said he could not promise without taking time for consideration. Mr Turnbull remarked that the seats of Provincial Government had already received a very large Bhare of the public expenditure. It was only fair that the other places should get some reasonable share of it now. Mr McLean said that that was an old affair. The Government could not do much on that account. Mr Harvey then spoke of the defective truck accommodation on the railway — 100 more trucks were wanted. Mr McLean said that there was a deficiency in that respect everywhere. The Provincial railways were made without sufficient rolling stock being provided, but all would work well in course of time. Mr Harvey said that there were many people who were anxious to get the Government buildings completed. Mr McLean had thought that there was accommodation already. Mr Harvey entered into some details, stating that the Police Magistrate and the Post Office officials were accommodated. But as to the Registrar's, Lend Transfer, and Supreme Court offices, they were in the old wooden buildings still. It was inconvenient also that they should be in a different building. It was not a good arrangement, for instance, that the Survey and Land Transfer offices should be in different buildings. Time was unnecessarily lest. Mr Mitchell said that the Judges, when they came down here, were always complaining of bad accommodation. Mr McLean promised that he would bring the matter up before his colleagues. He had always understood that there

vas more accommodation than was wanted. Mr Mitchell said that that was a mis- i iake. Every room was crowded already. < Mr McLean promised that he would send somebody here to report on the jubject. Mr Harvey mentioned that he asked at the Lands Office for statistics of the revenues from the Education Reserves, bui was told by the clerk whom he addressed that without authority from the Government he could not, and would not give the information. ! Mr McLean stated that he could not consent to instruct any one to give public information on the subject, but be would himself ask for it in order that it may be placed before the Government. Mr Stock urged that the Supreme Court building was one of the first wanted. One man had lost his life last year from the want of proper accommodation in the present building used. The present Custom House building was also ! at a moat inconvenient distance from the business part of the town. Mr McLean again repeated that he was always under the impression that the accommodation at the public buildings here was excessive. Mr Harvey referred to the chances of losing the Supreme Court records from fire at the wooden buildings. Mr McLean said that was certainly a very important consideration. But at the same time they must bear in mind that the Government wanted money badly. Mr Stock, referring to the Inspectorship of Brands, said that several brands had been left with the Sheep Inspector, and he had only taken them under protest. Mr McLean replied that it was not his business to take them. A registrar of brands had already been appointed, and resided at Dunedin. Mr Turnbull asked if by planking the bridge at Gore it could be made available for dray traffic. Mr McLean said it could not. It was suitable for foot passengers already. Mr Mitchell was afraid it was too narrow for anything but foot traffic. Mr McNab still urged that it might be done. Mr McLean suggested that Mr McNab might put his wool on the railway and get it across the river that way. When the line was finished to Waipahee, and there was a shed there, it could easily be taken across by rail. Mr Harvey remarked that though the deputation had called Mr MoLean's attention to several things, we are not much of beggars here. We had very little to spend under the Provincial Government, and had got accustomed to it. In reply to a question. Mr McLean said he would let tbem know from Wellington what would be done, but oould not reply from Dunedin. Mr Stack asked if the Regiatrar of Brands at Dunedin could appoint a person here to take brands and forward them to him. Mr McLean replied that he could not. It would be necessary that such an appointment must be gazetted. The business of the deputation then closed.