The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY MAY 21, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume III, Issue 1679, 21 May 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY MAY 21, 1874.

Bachilobs are to pay twenty shillings .per annum towards the education of their .. neighbors' children; so hare the Prorincial Council decreed. The Council hare passed the amendments on the rating clauses of the Education Act as proposed by the Government—the rate to be levied c on the annual rental value of house property; the minimum rate being one pound, and the maximum four pounds. With these alterations agreed to by the 1 Council fresh complications arise. The machinery for levying and collecting the rate will necessarily be more expensive, and the collection —especially of the bachelors' rate —more difficult; otherwise we should imagine that the . rates are fixed high enough to proride.; for all the requirements of common school education, without any .. - assistance from the Provincial funds other than to provide sites and school-houses. For instance, under the rating provisions as just passed many persons who paid the household tax last year will have to pay as much again this year—in some cases three or four times as much; while on the other hand those who claim exemption will .be those who come in under the one-pound rate. With regard to the twenty shilling tax on bachelors, the desirability of such an imposition is doubtful. It partakes too much of the

nature of a poll-tax, and of the most

advanced theorists on educational 1 matters" few have gone so far as to advocate such ; an extreme measure. We believe that a rate leviable upon all real estate throughout the province would been more equitable, and, in the end, more productive of revenue; If education confers such great advantages on communities an well as individuals the owners of broad acres and valuable town sections should be called upon to pay as much or more than the tenant of a small house the annual rental value of which does not exceed ten pounds. By the resolutions come to the Council have not shirked the responsibility thrown upon them—that of

making provision for raising the means

for educational purposes, but whether education will be advanced or the system become more popular remains to be seen. We do not think it will, and as the Council have not yet done with the Act, some other alterations may be made, possibly sufficieni, to make people generally wish that none had been attempted.

A Moiun Improvement Society was * formally inaugurated last night under rery favorable auspices. Tlie proceedings took place in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute. . Councillor Eenshaw occupied the chair, and the Rev. James Hill delivered an address or lecture on the advantages of such societies as that originated as aids to self improvement. Mr. Hill was eminently qualified for the task ■which he undertook, having been—we might say the founder of the first society ' of the kind started on the Thames, besides 1 which he has always taken a great intereit and active part in forwarding education in the district. It is to be regretted that the migratory character of a goldfieldi population militates greatly against the permanency of literary, improveraent and debating societies. This was especially felt in the early days of the field, but it is a difficulty that is lessening every day, and social movements of the character under notico will have a much better chance of surviving their usually ephemeral existence as populationbecomes more settled. They are deserving of every encouragement, and when we see prominent public men taking an interest in them it is an indication that the ad vantagea of such organisations are appreciated. We wish the new society every success and a long career of usefulness. :

Some troublesome lad* hare, it it said, cauted Mr. Foster anaoyanco by flattening their notes against the windows of the house in which he roaides Mr. F. remonstrated with them in gentle terms, and wound up his expostulation by asking one of them what h s "father would say to such misconduct." "My father's di-ad," said the bey. " Well; what would he. have said 'were he alive? "■■: " Yah'!" was the feeriag response, "you ask the table." We learn that Mr. Edward Thomas hag assumed the duties of Inspector, for the Thames Gt-oldmining Company, vice Mr. Boberfc Comer, who goes to the Moanataivi Oompany. ,Mr. Thomas .wagiormerly in the position =of Inspector, and lilthpugh ins reappointreent, does' not 'appear to have given unqualified v satisfaction to .shareholders ' in Auckland, for ourselves we "are glad to jee him back in his old billet. Profiting by the experience of the paßt we have no doubt he will strive to give satisfaction to 1 the directors. Wb learn that Mr Herepatb, an Auckland architect, has beou making a survey of the corner lot where the Union Bank of Australia stood before the late fire. It is not positively decided jet, but 4t is likely that the Bank will erect a handsome brick building on the same site, with sufficient accommodation for the agent under the same roof. ;A. melting house i« also to be erected of brick at the back boundary of the allotment. As soon as Mr Herepath has given*in his plans, tenders for the new building will be e^led for. There has not been the least interruption «f business at the Bank' since the fire. Thb entertainment now being produced in Auckland ifrith guoh decided success by Mr. Thomas Kennedy and his family, and entitled "Twa hours at'haine," will be given at the Academy of Music on the evening of Thursday next, when all who can appreciate Scottish song and humour truthfully rendered will have an opportunity of gratifying: their tastes. Wherever the Kennedys have appeared the press haa been unanimous in their praise, and we expect the verdict of the Thames public will be equally favorable. Although the entertainment is essentially Scotch, it is one that doe* not require that its admirers shall have been bom north of the Tweed to enter into a full enjoyment of the performance. Thb Auckland correspondent of the Coroman del News, on the libel case against the Auckland Star, says:—Tuesday next is the last day on which Messrs Reed and Brett have to file affidavits in support of their case. They intend, I hear, to plead "justification," and to rake up all tho; old scandal they can against Captain Fraser. One of their witnesses is a young man named Armitasfe, living at Coromandel, who was a policeman at Tauranga, seme time ago. He came up to Auckland at the end of last week to make affidavit in support of Reed. That Captain Fraser's character, however, stands too high te be affected by such witnesses us Armitage I need scarcely tell you at Coromandol who have had practical experience of the worth of both men. It is expected that Fraser's counsel will ask for the case to heard either at Wellington or Nelson, as it. v felt that a question of this kind can hardly be fairly trjed in Auckland, where both plaintiff and defendant have a etrong party following. Indeed, Seed's frier ds, both here, and at the Thames it is said also, speak with every confidence of the impossibility of finding a jury 0:1 which at least one of his friends .?ill not be found holding out, and thus necessitating the discharge of the jury without coming to a verdict.