The Star. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1896.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5714, 6 November 1896, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1896.

To the? people of New Zealand it is a matter of the highest moment that the splendid system of National Education the country possesses should be preserved inviolate. That which threatens it is the attempt to return to denominationalism If this were unhappily to come about, there would be the tearing and rending of religious differences, and the National system of education, built up with so much care and at so great a cost, would be as a house divided against itself. Now, the leaders of the National Conservative Association have been astute enough to put forward a Catholic candidate for Christchurch, in the person of Mr Donnelly, for the purpose of winning a block vote from a section of the commurity. When Mr Donnelly, in his address at tho Opera House, reached the Educacation question, he became even more guarded than he had been all along, and that is saying a great deal as to his caution. But he, nevertheless, committed himself unmistakably — and as a co-re-ligionist it was impossible for him to avoid doing so — to the advocacy of Catholic claims for State aid in carrying out their special school. It is peculiarly instructive to note what the Press, which, of course, supports Mr Donnelly as one of the three Conservative candidates, has to say on bo important a matter. The Press says : —

"On the education question we need hardly say that we do not go. with Mr Donnelly. He is in favour of maintaining the present ' free, secular and compulsory system/ it is true, but it is clear that he would concede what are known as ' the Catholic claims.' Now we fully recognise the self-sacrifice shown by bur fellowcolonists of the Roman Catholic faith, and we honour them for the manner in which they live up to their religious convictions in this matter. Unfortunately, however, we see no way of meeting their views without grave clanger to the integrity of our national system of education, the maintenance of which we regard as of the very highest importance to the community as a whole/

'Jr.e Press goes on in a weak endeavour to iis'iiy tho election of Mr Donnelly, on the ground that, the Education question "is not likely to come up for any practical treai uv.jiit iv the next Parliament." All wo need say is that it is better to carefully avoid any " »ravo danger to the integrity of our National system of education," the maintenance of which we regard as of the very highest importance to the community as a whole."

In view of the likelihood of the writs for the general election being issued at an eai-ly date, it is necessary for all those who have not done so to register their votes at once, otherwise they ran the risk of being disfranchised, as directly the writs are issued the rolls will be closed. The main roll for the Christchurch electorate at present contains 15,125 names, as against T2.824 on the jrarged roll after the late bye-election, and it is expected that the main roll will close with about 18,000 names. The Avon main roll will, so far as can be judged at present, close with about 3000 names, as against 3200 on the purged roll after last general election. The Riccarton roll is expected to have slightly over 3000, as against 2900 on the piirged roll after last election. In the two last-named districts, however, a number of persons who registered under a property qualification before the general election of 1893 have now withdrawn. From the foregoing it will be seen that large numbers of people have so far neglected to secure their electoral privilege, and we once more urge the immediate fulfilment of the moral obligation that devolves upon every adult.

That marvellous outcome of photographic and electric science, the cinematographe, has been brought to Christchurch for awhile, and from to-morrow night the public will be enabled to appreciate one of the most remarkable developments of the age. What it does is to present lifesize pictures, wherein every motion goes on just as in real life, even the intricate movements of, perhaps, the most graceful skjrt-dancer of the day being faithfully reproduced. It is a veritable triumph of photography. Each subject presented ha 3 meant the taking — not merely of one absolutely perfect instantaneous picture, but of a series of hundreds, following each other with a rapidity that outstrips sight and even thought. But the cinematographe is a dual invention. Having such a series of photographs, which, by-the-way, would be more aptly described as a long ribbon-like film, the problem was to magnify these pictures by means of a powerful lantern up to life size, and project them on a screen with the same extraordinary rapidity with which they were photographed. The solution of the problem took the form of a cleverly contrived electric motor. The optical result is that when a given subject is shown on the screen, it seems to be only one picture instead of a succession of hundreds, and to be endowed with perfect motion. The only drawback thatexists ia a slight vibratory movement, but this does not in any appreciable degree detract from the wondering enjoyment of the, spectators, nor does it sensibly affect the well-grounded claim that the cinematographo is one of the. greatest wonders ofjfchjß.age.