THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 325, 11 July 1879, Page 13

THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

Bo far as is known, there are only two candidates for the vacant Dunedin seat,— Mr. D. Stewabt and Mr. 0. S. Reeves. They are both secularists. The latter is a secularist pure and simple, the former a secularist with a dash of sectarianism. Mr. D. Stewabt thinks the London School Board, which has the Bible read in its schools, works admirably. Mr. Stewabt is easily pleased, or perhaps he has not read the correspondence which lately passed between the London School Board and Lord G. Hamilton, the Vice- President of the Committee of Council. Had he read this he would have learned that in one of the London Board- Schools the cost per head of its pupils amounted to the enormous sum of £44. We hardly think even Mr. Stkwabt would consider this satisfactory. But he might, who knows t We have queer politicians in these days. Mr. D. Stewabt also 6eems to forget, or not to know, that in London there are more denominational schools aided by Government than there are Board Schools, and in that city no less than 25.000 Catholic children are attending Catholic schools which are aided by Government, and that in the other denominational schools there are hundreds of thousands of children. If Mr. D. Stewabt will gain for us the establishment of a similar system here, minvj the enormous expense of secular schools, we shall be contented. So mnch for Mr. D. Stewabt and his political information and wisdom. As to Mr. Reeves we have not much to say. Personally he deserves to be respected. But he now seeks a public and representative position, and as puch and only such we must regard him in reference to this election. He is secularist pure and simple. His policy is only little less unjust and odious than that of Mr. D. Stbwabt. The latter will make us pay for sectarian schools and compel Catholic teachers to teach Protestantism in the public schools. Mr. Reeves does not go quite so far.

Mr. Skbnb reports for the week ending July 9, 1879: Things have at last taken a turn. The demand is now for ploughmen and station and farm couples are more in favour j still a good many men are unavoidably out of work at this winter season. The employment offered on the railway formation haa not proved a success. Shepherds, masons, bricklayers, kc, are still quiet, Female servants are still scarce for hotels, private families, and farms. Cooks, waiters, boots, station smiths and carpenters are frequently needed. W ages : Day labour, 7s to 8s ; ploughmen, £52 to £53 ; milkers, 15s to 25s ; boys, 8s to 12s ; girls, 10s to 15i ; upper do., 15s to 25s ; couples, £65 to £120 ; bushmen, Bs. j statitft gmifeha and carpenters, 85s to 50a and found.