The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1805, 31 January 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal .m<l i-x.ict jtmtirc to all men, 01 wh itsoi-vi-r state or perbuasion, religious or politic il Hete ill the I'iess the People's riffh* m.-unt.-un, Un.iwcd l)\ mfluonco and unbiibcd by gun

THURSDAY, JAN. 31, ISBJ f .

Such of the reports of the annual meetings of householders in the various school districts as have come to hand indicate pretty clearly that interest in educational matters is reviving. We use the words educational matters, because in many cases a regard for education and the advantages that follow in its train, is not the sole guide of the householders at these annual meetings. It is much to be feared that many are prompted to take an active pxrt on these occasions in order that they may, if possible, vent their spleen on the tejeher, who may be personally distasteful to them. We know that this is too frequently the case. It might, therefore, in the light of this fact, have been expected that when the powers of the committees were increased, the battle between the friends and enemies of each particular schoolmaster would wax much hotter. There certainly does seem to have a greater desire on the part of the electors than formerly to obtain seats on the committees, but we are glad to think that this tendency does not spring from a desire to " make it warm " for the teachers, but rather because education is tilling a larger place in men's minds than formeily. In proof of this it may be pointed out that the elections on Monday were on the whole conducted quietly and harmoniously. At Cambridge, even, where most people expected there would have been a pretty considerable row, nothing of the sort happened, from which we infer that the matters in dispute there are regarded as being altogether unconnected with personal feeling. The truth is, if we read the signs aright, the people, and more especially the intelligent section of the people, are beginning to get alarmed for the safety of our educational system as it it as present constituted. They know, or at least they have no excuse for not knowing, that the enemies of secularism are busily at work, never relaxing in their toil ; and they are beginning to see that united action on one side must be met by united action on the other.

Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the meeting of the Cambridge Knst School Committee terminated on Monday evening last, our report of the proceedings was necessarily brief. The addresses, however, were of a very formal character, anJ nothing startling in tho way of serious denouncement, crimination, or the announcement of a new lino of policy was heard, if we except Mr Bright's evident attempt at the former vhich was cut short by the positive interference of the chairman. A large number of those present seemingly attended with the object of being entertained or amused by the mutual recriminations of parties, but, it is needless to say, in this they were somewhat disappointed, whether agreeably or otherwise we cannot say. At the last minute Mr George Clark, from whom something spicy was expected, and whose candidature was very popular, was informed that he was not eligible for election, he not being a resident within meaning of the act. The choice exercised by the householders who recorded their votes may be taken as an endorsement of the principle for which the late committee (or at least a majority of its members) fought, but the fact that the candidates who, we understand, have proclaimed themselves adverse to the action of the old committee in regard to the remodelling of the teaching staff are nearly equal in number to those of the old committee who were reelected, shows anything but a unanimous approval of the object which the late body endeavoured to carry out. However, let this be as it may, the reformers are in the ascendant, so far as numerical strength is concerned, and we have little doubt that when the first ordinary meeting of the new committee arrives they will not be backward in bringing up the question

of remodel ing onco more, will carry it on the voices, when, on the matter being again recommended to to the Board of Education, the proposal will prob.ibly be given effect to. The principle for which the old committee contended had certainly much to recommend it, but possibly the same can no', be said of the manner in which they endeavoured to give fffrct to it. An erroneous idea soems to have entered ihe minds of a large number of people who voted at the liiee ing on Monday evening, though possibly not of a sufficiently sprious nature to have affected the voting. It was generally considered that voting for either Messrs Thomson, Forrest, or Hughes, meant voting for the retention of Mr Stewart as head teacher of the Cambridge High School. Nothing of the sort. These gentlemen never pledged themselves, so far as we are aware, to any such programme. They pledged themselves to promote the welfare of both the high school and the primary school, instead of the high school at the expense of the primary school, and that in doing so no unnecessary injustice should be inflicted on any person. Even now should the question of re-model-ling creep up in its old form, and be only carried in the committee by one vote, it is a matter of doubt if the board will consent to give effect to the recommendation of the majority in the face of an emphatic protest from the minority.

The Hamilton East high and primary schools re-opened after the Christinas holidays, yesterday. The annual meeting in connection with the Cambridge Public Library was to have been held at Cambridge last night. The new schoolhouse at Tamahere is now approaching completion and should in another few weeks time be ready for handing over to the Education Board. At the Hamilton Police Court, yesteiday, John Warburton, convicted of drunkenness on Monday, was brought up for sentence. The Resident Magistiate sent him to gaol for 14 days. In our report of the meeting of householders at Hamilton West on Monday night, two errois occuned. The number of votes recorded for Mr Peat was 34, not Si, as printed. The other mistake consisted in the inseition of Mr W. Jones' name in the list of candidates. Mr Jones was not a candidate. It is announced in our advertisement columns that the pioposed cricket match between the Zmgari cricket club and the Waikato representatives will not come off after all, owing to the challenge bent by the Zing.iris not being answered. We have been shown a small branch of a plum tree, about a foot long, on which are 55 damson plums, full-sized, and nearly ripe. This prolific twig came from the orchard of Mr D. Salmon, Hamilton West. The weather still continues to be very unsettled, and the grain ciops are suffering in consequence. Commander Edwin telegraphed yesterday, at 1.30 p.m.: — " Expect bad weather between north and east, and south-east, Glass fall very soon, and heavy rainfall after ten houis." The Wellington correspondent of the N. Z. Herald forwards to that journal copies of letters received by the Native Minister from the chief Rewi, which go to confitm the account of the old chief's change of policy published in these columns last issue. Little importance is attached to the circumstance by Mr Bryce, who, it is very evident, does not intend to be humbugged in the matter of the surveys. Messrs Mullinger and Brett, the contractors for the Eureka section Wai-kato-Thames Railway, expect their ballast engine up to-day. On its armal it will cro«s the Hamilton bridge. Those who expect to see the bridge topple over should not lose this opportunity. A large number of Auckland people \ isited Waikato on Tuesday (Anniversary Day), chiefly with the object of being present at the Te Awamutu Races, which were a gieat success in every respect. Few people from the district went to Auckland to see the Takapuna Races or the Regatta, owing to the inability of the Railway Department to make suitable train arrangements. It seems that the chairman of the Waikato County Council has abandoned the idea of getting the Government to find the whole of the money necessary to drain the Victoria road. The present intention is to propose that the Government, the Agricultural Company, the Tamahere Road Board, and the other propertyholders in the vicinity should each bear a portion of the cost. The Otago Daily Times writes :— " One of the most striking features of the Federation movement in Australasia is that it commands the almost unanimous support of Young Australasia. Thoseof our population who have been bom in the colony appreciate the benefits of being citizens oi no mean empire more keenly than those who have been born in England. There is probably no more loyal I class in the Empire than Young New Zealand. At this distance the failings of individual princes and the domestic questions which occupy the attention of our countrymen in England are reduced to their proper proportions, and seem to be i outside the main issue. The chief dangers ' to Imperial Federation aie lest it should be hurried on in advance of public opinion, and lest an attempt be made to make it partake too much of the character of fusion. Federation and Decentralisation should correspond. The following specials to the Press Association dated London the 28th and 2!) th inst. have appeared in the N.Z. Herald.— Sir Henry Parkes, writing to the Pall Mall Gazette, insists on the annexation of New Guinea, as being necessary, to prevent lawless assaults iipon the natives.— The s.s. Cuzcohas arrived at Plymouth. Her cargo of mutton, as well as a shipment of butter, are in splendid condition.—The sculling race between Wm. Elliot and George Bubear over the Champion course was won by the latter. — It is reported that four hundred thousand sovereigns will be shipped to Australia on Thursday nevt.—The relief of the garrison at Sennaar has failed. El Mahdi, attended by forty thousand of his followess, left El Obeid on the 16th instant.— Flowers and Ulyett, two well-known cricketers, have joined the English cricketing team which visits Australia. The team is a very strong one.— The Arab Sheiks have summoned Khartoum to surrender.— The Victorian gunboats sail from Portsmouth on Thursday.— Great precautions have been taken to protect H.R.H. the Prince of Wales on his journey from Paddington to Bristol. The Wellington correspondent of the N.Z. Herald :— The latest information from Parihaka is to the effect that Te Whiti is apparently beginning to chafe under restrictions placed on native visitors staying at Parihaka in any numbers, and evinces a disposition to encourage their remaining, instead of firmly discouraging it as before. He is said to have expressed a strong desire to revive the monthly gatherings at Parihaki, which formerly proved so dangerous and preiudical to peace, and had accordingly to be suppressed. > It is rumoured that the change in Te Whiti s disposition is the result of insidious counsel and representations made to him by certain persons whose interests are directly opposed to the maintenance of the good understanding and friendly relations which have existed during the last two years between Parihaha natives and Europeans. However this may be, it is quite certain that Mr Bryce will no permit the present satisfactory position of affairs on the West Coast to be jeopardised by the renewal of the old tomfoolery and seditious fanaticism. Any attempt to rekindle the embers of the old fires will be promptly and resolutely repressed. As yet there is nothing definite, but a careful watch is kept on matters in that locality, and there will be no indecision or dilatoriness of action should necessity arise for interference. A mass meeting in connection with the Eight Houra Demonstration was held in" the Choral Hall, Auckland, on Tuesday pvwingt Tlw ofoar iw ow u $> l w

by the mayor, and addresses were delivered by Sir George Grey and Messrs Dargaville and Moss, M.H.K, Sir George's speech dealt chiefly with Federation, which he strongly deprecated as calculated to clip the liberties of the people of New Zealand. He urged the working men to use every endeavour to retain aud increase the number of their privileges. The speeches of Messrs Dargaville and Moss also dealt with the subject of Federation. Both declared themselves opposed to the change. The meeting was very enthusiastic. If the following accounts are to be credited, there are worse plagues than the rabbits. At Deniliquin (nays tlio Melbourno Leader) the grass is disappearing through the effects of drought and grasshoppers. " Although the grasshopper visitation," the Pastoral Times writes, " has occurred at a later period of year than usual, it is more numerous and more destructive than tho average plague. Out on the plains the grass has been cut down to the ground, and is blowing in clouds with every change of the wind. The grasshoppers are there in myriads, and a horse will not canter against the moving hosts and insects. In the town the gardens are suffering considerably. Every green thing is attacked — leaves of trees, vegetable climbers, and fruit being vigorously absorbed. Nothing is spared, cind the devastation increases day after day. From down the river wo learn that the viiie^. aud fruit trees at Tumudgcries have not escaped the plague ; and from out towards Pretty Pine the same monotonous tale is told of myriads of grasshoppers, and consequent destruction of herbage ; similar news comes from Oonargo way and the Albury road. The pest is certainly a great one, and there seems no probability of its decrease until nothing is left for sustenance." The North Otago Times thus criticises the financial position of the colony : — "Taking the Colonial Treasurer's estimate, the interest to be paid on borrowed money is £2,500,000; and adding the difference between the value of the Colony's imports and exports to tho above amount, would bring the sum to be annually paid away by coloni&ts up to £4,451,261. It is calculated that there are but 50,000 workers in the Colony, the remainder being women and children ; and, if the President of the Industrial Exhibition's figures can be trusted, the amount to be earned annually by each bread-winner before he actually earns anything for himself is £89. This sum appears to be enormous, but it is based on figuies that have been carefully compiled. How many colonists ever think that the high pressure pace the Colony has been driven along at since the policy of Sir Julius Vogel was initiated, has involved them in obligations of this natuie? If they gave it a thought, they would see how necessary it is to the existence of the credit of the polony that a revolution should take place in the manner of its government. The Shangahai correspondent of the Times has the following relative to the falling off in the yield of China silk. In 1882 the fallincr off was considerable, but last year the quantity for evport was less than half of the average amount. He adds :— " And the worst of it is that there is some reason to suppose that the deficiency is owing to a disease in the silkworm similar to that which committed t.uch ravages in Europe. If it should be so, the effect upon our tiade would be most sei ious. The exports from China are barely sufficient to pay for the imports, and it needs no prophetic vision to see that a peimanent falling off in such an important item as silk would reduce the purchasing power of the country in a veiy short time. The attention of the Pekin Government has been called to the fact by a complaint from this Province, that owing to the falling off in the internal dues on silk, the local exchequer ib unable to meet the calls on it a« heretofore. The complaint in question ascribes the decrease to the adverse season bolely, but it is high time steps were being taken to have the question settled, for if it is really true, as alleged, that disease is rampant, the direct loss to Government in the falling off of duties would be most serious, and the indirect lo&s by the disorganisation of a large part of the foreign trade of the country would be little less than disastrous. Nothing, however, can be done, except by tho Government itself. We have been so jealously excluded from all participation in the preparation of &ilk m the inteiior that the information and assistance which foreigners might ha\e rendered in a case of this kind cannot now lie f oi incoming."