South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Monday 6 July 1885, page 4


LORD LORNE ON IMPERIAL FEDERATION. -

TheMarqui3 of Lome is a fair sample of those men who are both born to greatness and who also have greatness thrust upon them. The fact that the husband

ui .rruicess jlouisb was maae liovernorGeneral of Canada has, no doubt, led many people to regard the Marquis as an authority upon colonial matters. As such he was asked by Mr. Sydney Buxton, M.P., who is editing a series of handbooks under the general title of 'The Imperial Parliament,' to write on 'Imperial Federation.' The little book written by the ex-Governor has been, received with a flourish of trumpets at home. The Marquis of Lome was Governor-General of Canada, and therefore it is assumed he can Bpeak with authority on all matters connected with the colonies. Nobody would quarrel with this reasoning if it could be proved that he had been chosen for fehis position on .account of his fitness for it, but, as matters stand, the general conclusion is a ludicrous non -se^^i----If -readers- wish-to'-garage Bis Lordship's powers as an Imperial statesman— -in the broadest Benee of the For4 Imperil— fey seed go-no ^ortJier

than to the little book which we have named. They will find there a great many words describing things which everybody knows, and two or three pages containing advice. The question of Imperial federation has been for such a considerable time before the. public both here and at home that nobody has a right to come forward as an authority upon it unless he really has something to say. The Marquis of Lome, with the best intentions possible to write a book, labours under the disadvantage that he has very little to say. But in virtue of the hereditary statesmanship which the British Constitution has conferred on Peers he must have a finger in this Imperial federation pie. If he cannot say something new, he will at any rate say something. It has taken His Lordship 12G page3 in which to express his ideas, and we venture to say that no intelligent reader who has followed the course of events can say on closing the book, 'I have learnt something from this book which I did not know before.' Lord Lorna's mode of dealing with hi3 subject may justly he compared with that of a man who sitting down to write a history of South Australia prefaced his remarks by a history of the mother country. There is a great deal introduced which everybody knows. Thu3, in this year of grace it i3 really too late even for a noble Lord to tell his readers that England treats her colonies now in a different way from that in which she treated the North American States, or that it does not take so long now to travel from England to Australia as it once did, or that our colonies are growing in wealth and importance. This migh^ hare been all very we'] some lew years ago, and might then have been new to English readers. What ia wanted now, however, is information of a much more specific nature. We should like to hear from a statesman not that federation would be advisable, but how it can be established. Even as regards Australian federation every one admits it would be a very good thing, but unfortunately there is a difference of opinion about details. If, then, the question how to federate is difficult even when applied to intercolonial politics, how much greater are the difficulties when applied to the relations between England and the colonies ! The one is well within the sphere of practical politics; the second has at present hardly passed beyond the sphere of Bentiment. It is possible to imagine the establishment of a federated Australasia—each colony with its own Legislature, nnd the Dominion Parliament debating and legislating on matters of general or foreign policy. But it is much more difficult to imagine a federated Great Britain. Vested interests— if we may apply to a great question a term which is familiar in smaller matters — are too strong to be lightly brushed aside. Is it likely that the British Parliament, representing the United Kingdom, will be content to occupy a subordinate position in an Imperial Parliament which will represent on an equal footing all the lands over which the Queen rules ] Nothing is more unlikely — at least, nothing appears to be ; more unlikely at present. The Marqui3 is endovrod ?with the imagination of a poet — at any rate, he has written a book of poetry — and he has been a Colonial Governor ; but on the question of federation he has nothing new to advise, and confines himself to stale history and flights of sentiment. Readers who have not seen the book will be interested in learning that the scheme which the Marquis most favours is the 'granting to Agents-General the privilege of membership of the House of Commons without the power of voting.' The fact shows how the ex-Governor is Bwamped by the poet in the Marquis. In an ideal state such voteless representation might be productive of good, but in our prosaic days it would be tantamount to an absurdity. Surely the Marquis might have known that it is not always reason which rules the House of Commons — that there is such a thing as party spirit there. Take a case in point. Let us imagine that Imperial federation had been in force some months back when the New Guinea question waa on the carpet. The colonies would have their Agents - General in the House, and let us supposa that they each delivered a most powerful and convincing speech in favour of the annexation of the whole island. Would their remarks have induced the Ministry to carry out the wish of the colonieB, or would the knowledge of the fact that they knew more about the matter than the Ministers have induced the House to vote against the Ministerial policy if it were pressed to a division? Certainly not The Conservatives might have voted in accordance with the colonial desire, but the Liberals would not have deserted their colours. Or take a stronger case. Here is the Federation Enabling Bill, concerning which the various colonies are not wholly agreed. Each Agent-General would speak, and they would show that they were not of one mind. The question then for the voting members of Parliament would be, Which are we to believe ? Here is New South Wales saying one thing, Victoria sayinganother, and South Australia saying a little of both. These cases show the defectiveness of the plan. The fact is that Imperial federation, if it is to be more than a name, must have a very different starting - point from that which the Marquis favours. The Education Rboulatioks.— The Sta+e school teachers are to be congratulated on their determination to form a Teachers' Association. Similar bodies are found in connection with education elsewhere, andconsiderablebenefithasresul ted from their establishment. It stands to reason that teachers, just &3 much aa, if not more than, other bodies of men, would find it to their advantage in their work to baye the sympathy and advice of their fellows. Teachers of all men must be constantly learning, and it is in the highest degree desirable that they should have the opportunity of hearing the various opinions that have been formed on any one subject. The new Education Regulations are a case in point. Admirable as these regulations undoubtedly are, there is one point at least in connection with them which militates against their good results, and Brhich would in all probability not exist bow if the Inspector-General could

have consulted Buch a body as theTeachers' Association. We allude to the fact that the course waa brought intooperation during the scholastic year. This was hard upon teachers and prejudicial to the scholars. We understand, indeed, that the results of examinationsunder the new system have boon of a most disappointing character— so much so that they will not ba published. Surely the ' inauguration of the new system should have beon deferred until the end of tho year, or ai rangeraents should havo been made to allow of examinations being hold under the eld system. It the Inspector-General could have had tho advice of the body of teachers on tho matter this defect would in all probability havo beon pointed out to him. Generally speaking, it is important that teachers ahould have the opportunity of discussing educational matters* -for the beneiit of tho system. Many thmg3 will occur to a large body of men actively engaged in teaching which might escape the observation of the permanent head of tho department, and a fair and impartial criticism of the regulations could not do thorn any harm. It is well known that many of tho country teachers object very atrongly to the new course of study, and would prefer tho old system, for which tho Minister of Education might havo found a shorter name than the 'perfection of formalism.' Under theso circumstances it is hardly surprising that tho results of the examinations are so low, and any help afforded to teachers generally in the matter of understanding and*. duly following up tho regulations will be most valuable. Hsnco wo aro glad to notice that the State school teachers have resolved upon forming an Association, and that the necessary preliminary steps have been taken. Thero aro, however, two points which demand consideration in the constitution of tho new Society. On the one hand it must forbear, in the interests of tho public, fropi' criticising the acts of tho department in an unfriendly spirit ; and on the other hand the department must not endeavourto exercise a close control over it. It must have 'been BomewYmt ombattaaamg for a body of teachers who had met to discuss the now regulationsto be met by tho Minister of Education and the Inspector -Goneral. ProbabJy these gentlemen were invited to attend, but the mcro fact that Mr. Hartley appears to havo beon tho only Bpeaker besides tho Minister in the recent discussion shows that the meeting was not so much like a body of men who assembled for the purpose of discussion as like a class of schoolboys who had come up to receive a lesson. Thero is plenty of room for the new Association, and we wish it every Buccess. Tnfei-ior Tea. — Tho recent attempt, which was defeated by the smartness of the Customs, to place in the market * quantity of exhausted tea suggests several enquiries of public interest. Fortified by Professor Rennie's analysis, the Collector of Customs ordered tho tea to be exported. But why, if the article was unworthy to be sold here, waa it not destroyed ? Possibly the exhaustion of the virtue from the tea does not render it absolutely unfit for human consumption. At any rate the Legislature has withheld from the Customsthe power to order the destruction of inferior tea. The Collector haa, it seems, only the liberty to fix the terms upon which it shall bo delivered to the importers. In this caao he required them to pay four guineas as fees for the analysis, and probably aa a fine the amount *waa satisfactory. If they wore the victims of a fraud intended to be perpetrated on the Adelaide public their case appears sufficiently hard without the authorities adopting any further proceedings. St'U, why, if the public interest ought to be protected, should half measures be preferred ? This tea is going the rounds of the colonies seeking admission for consumption. Having been, refused elsewhere a year ago, the effort was made to palm it off on the unsuspecting public of South Australia. Fortunately for them the various customs officials keep up a friendly correspondence on subjects of general interest to the departments, and every landing waiter's box in Port Adelaide has boon ornamented with a list of the brands of tho condemned article. When the packages came under notice in the ordinary course of buainesS' an officer named Baldwin discovered their identity. In all probability thisEame tea will be tried again and again until success, in the way of an occasional official lapse, rewards the owner. Then all tho prior exertions of the guardians of the public will be wholly lost, and tho consumer will bo swindled without redress. If ahousoholder found a burglar on his premiEoa ho would fail in his duty if lie did not try to arrest him. Merely to kick him out would be to say in effect, ? ' I havo caught you in tho act. You ought to ba etoppod from. repeating it. But, never mind, go and try next door, thero you may tmcceed.' Moreover, we understand that there is reason for believing that a quantity of exhausted tea has beon placed in the market and is being Bold iu. city shopb. Of course it is not to bo supposed that it came in under this brand when the Customs were on the qui vive for it. Very likely the owner will bo by this time convinced of the wisdom of' changing it in order to respond to the implied invitation of the law_ to ' try it on' elsewhere. And the question arises, what oteps ftrc being, taken to prevent tho introduction of this kind of tea? Do tho oflicors examine samples of all tea imported or samples here and there ? Of course tho price may sometimes awaken suspicions. When tea is invoiced at 7d. to lOd. per lb. doubt may be entertained of its genuineness. But seeing that the duty is, fixed— 3d. per lb. — tho prices may be disguised, and tea which may by Custom invoices appear of good quality may prove quite the reverse, The Customs officials havo not as yet attained a great experience in tho administration of the Food and Drug Act, a3 it is comparatively new 5 but evidently some more stringent measures aro neaded to ensure the protection of tho public against swindling speculator in articles of food. The New Loan.— Wo -anderetand from theTreaaurer that he^has not concluded negotiations with the Associated Banks for placing the new loan, but that ho hopes to do eoby Tuesday next. The Legislative Council ELEcnow.—Th'o election for the Southern DiBtrict of the Legislative Council will take place tomorrow (Tuesday). The polling-bootha will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Accident to the Goveenor.— His Excellency while riding past the Glenelp- train at the Victoria- sq-aare Station on Saturday afternoon was thrown from his horse. The animttf. suddenly shied at the engine, and unfortunately His Exoellency was unseated. Heescaped with a alight Bhakinp-. Depap.Tijee or Navvies fob Sydney.— Not more than a third of the 300 navvies it was announced -would leave by the Ocean for Sydney on Saturday actually took their departure. Mr. Kemp Penney was oa the wharf looking actively after his men. Ha states that the bulk of the applicants forwork are unable to pay the passage-money to Sydney, or many more would go. Another batch will probably be seat shortly. VVOEK FOE THE UNEMPLOYED.— On Saturdiy morning the Conservator of Water dispatched by the steamer 'James Comrie, from Port Adelaide, twenty-four men for ArdroEean. Thirty men had mado application for the work, and six of them did nob put in an appearance. Ths men are to be employed on rasereoir work in the Hundred of Koolywurtie, The Couaervator of Water does not intend to provide work for any more of the unemployed at present, . and all the remaining applicants are referred to «Mt Public .Worka.BepartmeBt. . The-.

Engineer-in-Chief offers work on the railway at Hergott Springs. .' The highest rate of ?wage for a day ia to be 6a. 61, and the lowest 5a. 6d. per day, bat as far as possible the -work la to be by piece. Tents, tools, water, and firewood will be provided free, and the men will be conveyed by rail to the Forty-mile Camp at Hergott. AboutloO appli cations have already been received; of these eeventy-five are to be sent away this morning, the remainder will be dis patched on the following Wednesday. No more applications were received on Saturday. : JJbtice has been given by the Commissioner Of Public Works that no more applications. ?will be received. Ths names already taken, :;' evidently,' the notice states, ' comprise all the unemployed in the city who are prepared to take the work offered. Men who come . fiom the country will nob be emploYed.' ? Eailwat Accident at Port Adelaide.— On Saturday nfcht while the 9.30 train from the Port was proceeding to the Semaphore a Mrs. Cunningham waa crossing St. Yincent street, and eciing the train approaching '. thought it would atop. She ventured too near 'to the train, and was struck by the footboard of the. last carriage and knocked in'o the road. She wa3 picked up and carried into her house close by, but up til last night no doctor had been called in. She was severely bruised and shaken. Eaiewat. Accident ox Natrne Ltstjb.— , On Eriday evening a alight accident, eventuating in the death of two horses, occurred on the Nairne Bail way line at Goodwood. Aa the driver of the 4.15 train to Strathalbyn from Adelaide was approaching the Goodwood crossing he noticed' a man driving a trolly in the direction of the crossing. The driver of the engine blew hia whistle, but the result was that the engine struck the horse3 and smashed them up. There were only t,vo horses in the trolly, which was loaded with galvanized iron. This and another trolly belongine to Messrs. H, Graves & Co. were goinc in the direction of Goodwood. In con sequence of the position of the crossing, it ia asserted that it was impossible for the driver of the first tc see the train approach ing, and the road having been newly macadamized, the. whistle waa not heard. The driver, we are informed, is a steady maD, and did his best to back his trolly .off the line as soon as he saw the train. The trolly was uninjured, and the engine suffered no harm. The traffic was delayed about ten minutes. Case of Deowhetg at the Poet. —Captain Henderson, of the steamer James Comrie, reported to the Port police on Saturday that abont2 o'clock in the morning he heard a splash alongside the boat while she was moored beside the Commercial 'Wharf. He at once jumped on deck, and heard some one gurgling as if drowning. The night; was -very dark, and he could see nothing, tut he threw a rope over at the spot. He re ported the circumstance to the 'Water Police, and Corporal Cornell, with other constables, dragged till 4 o'clock, but found nothing. , They resumed the work at daylight, and in the afternoon picked up a cheese-cutter cap, which was identified aa belonging to a seaman lamed McEenzie. Prior to this discovery Captain Clark of the schooner Spindrift, which was berthed in the Company's Basin, had reported that McKenzie, who had been a seaman of his craft, was missing. There ia no doubt now entertained but that McKenzie is drowned, though no body has been recovered. McKenzie was a Scotchman, who had been in the colony about seven months, and wjs ; a man about 23 years of age, and single. He was related to Captain McLeod of the Victor. He had not been at work on Friday, but Captain Clark states that he was a very steady man. He must have gone aboard the James Comrie for some purpose and thence fallen overboard. At present the river in front of the Commercial Wharf is difficult to drag. The contractor for deepening by spoon barge) ia at work, and the bed is extremely uneven. It is possible that the body has got Into one of the holes, which are sometimes 6 or 7 feet deep. The dragging will, how ever, be continued to-day. On Friday mid night hi the Company's Basin a seaman named Charles Hartfield, of the schooner Lady| Robinson, ftll overboard when return ing to the vessel, but was save! by the assistance of the police. The Shipwrecked Mabinebs. — As show ing the widespread sympathy aroused by the wreck of the Mars and the sufferings of the sarvivonr, the following letter to the mate from the masterand crew of the barque Andes, at Port Pine, enclosing a P.O. orderfor nearly £5, will be read with interest :— ' Barque Andes, Port Pirie, July L My dear Mr. Vray— 'We have read the sad account of the wreck of the Mars on the morning of the 16th. We have been in two porks side by Bide, and sailed the same day; also passed the place of the wreck the same day at 5 p.m., and arrived next day at Port Pirie. We looked for your arrival daily, and when we saw the sad news with loss of lives, your miraculous escape, and anch strange hard ships when so near where help could be had, one could not help shedding a silent tear for you all. lam so sorry for Captain Pringle and Captain Adie— they were my com panions in Melbourne. We understand there is a subscription being made, and send you the enclosed amount from my officers 3nd crew. Hoping you will Boon be all well, I am, &c, William S. Botxjs; Master of the Andes.'1 Proposed Gosse Memorial. — A meeting is to be held at the University on Tuesday at 4 o'clock to devise means to establish a prize or scholarship in connection with the Medical School, to perpetuate the memory of the late Dr. Charles Gosse. Bey. Q H. HAGGAK-The Eev. C. H. Haggar, who preached in the College Park Congregational Church for several months laBt year, has accepted a call to Victoria Parade Congregational Church, Melbourne. Fieb Dr A. Woodyaed.— A constable re ported to the Police Station that about 10.30 on Riday night he observed a fire in a w ood yard in Grey-street, belonging to Mr. C. Emery, of Holden-street. He immediately put the fire out and informed the owner, who told him that during the evening he was burning some wood, but he had |put the fire out as he thought before he left. No damage was done, Thb Beindisi of the South.— With the praiseworthy object of assisting the distressed mariners of the Mars, Mr. W. Hill, of ThebartoD, exhibited on Saturday afternoon in Sfc George's Hall the large panoramic illustration of hiBambitious scheme for making this colony the 'Brindisi of the South.' The scheme is decidedly ' broad and compre hensive,' and Mr. Hill, who considers it thoroughly practicable, ia so confident of it that he ia prepared to answer any question or settle any doubt himself. The painting, Hke the idea, is his own. Unfortunately the superior attractions of lacrosse and football made the attendance almost nominal. COHGEEGATIOK.U, UsiON OP ENGLAND. — The Eev. John Thcmaa, D.D., of Liverpool, waa elected temporarily to fill the position of Chairman to the Congregational Union of England and Wales, left vacant by the sudden death of Dr. Rees, and at the recent May meetings he delivered an address, the principal portion of which wa3 from the pen of the late Dr. Eees, but for the ensuing year the Chairmanship has been, conferred upon the Eev. Edward White, a relative oi the Eev. F. W. Cos, of this city. Deputation. — We understand that a de putation from the Engineers' Association will wait this morning upon the Treasurer in reference to the appointment of an Engi neer as a Government nominee on the Marine Board. Ma. Heset. Geoege and the Rev. W. T Cajetkb.— In a recent letter to a friend in the colonies Mr. Henry George makes special leference to the pamphlets which the Eev. W. T. Carter has written on the land ques tion, and conveys a cordial message of thanks to the rev. gentleman for hi3 stanch advo cacy of the principles with whieh Mr. George's name is identified. 'The Fees Pbsss a^b Easiest Stjb T7BBA5 Eecoeeeb.'— The first number of a paper Hwith the above title has been sent to us by the publishers, It has made its advent at Norwood and announces itself as the 'local organ.3* It has a full-blown policy, nottoeay a comprehensive one. Beginning' »ith the advocacy of land nationali

zation, it : yet finds 4 time to notice the' amusements of which'' 'the' social life of the people is largely made up.' The Editor states that as the Adelaide dailies give the baiest outlines, it is hia intention to publish the 'important speeches' ot the Councillors, which are ' ' quite ignored through ?want of sp^ce.' He has scarcely done this in hia first report of the Norwood Corporation. This suburban newspaper — which, bythe way, is a penny weekly— is protectionist of course, advocates payment of members, objects to the encouragement of a war like spirit, and considers that drill in public schools is made too much of. Finally, it expresses the opinion that ' the Downer Ministry will hang on for a month or two.' Amongst the news paragraphs are items which have been taken from our columns. This new aspirant for literary fame modestly expresses the opinion that 'we shall have a large circulation.' Gold Discoveries rs the Kimbeeley Disteict. — The report of the Government Geologist cf Western Australia, which has come to hand, contains the folio wing reference to his discoveries of auriferous country in the Kimberley district, to which a rush has been made from the Northern Territory:— 'I am glad to be able to report that I have dis covered a large area of country which I be lieve will prove to be auriferous to a payable degree. This country is traversed by the Margaret, Mary, Elvire, Pan ton, and Ord Eiversj and comprises an area of at least 2,0C0 square miles so far as observed, but ib doubtless continues over a much greater ex tent of country. The formation is principally Lower Silurian slate and schist of various kinds traversed by an enormous number of quartz reefs. In some localities many of these occur in the space of a few hundred yards, and it was quite usual to notice twenty five or thirty large reefs while riding over a mile of ground, without taking into account the smaller reefs or veins. The quartz con stituting these reefs is of a very promising character. It is a dull yellewiah-and-grey quartz, very cellular 3nd vuggy, containing quantities of black and other oxides of iron, together with casts of, and often crystals of iron pyrites. From most of the surface quartz the enclosed minerals have been washed away, however, although their traee3 are still apparent. Minute specks of gold have been noticed in a few cases, and I have very little doubt that many of these reefs, when properly examined and tested, will prove to be auriferous. These quartz reefs have a general bearing of N. 10° E. to north east. Many run due north and south. Some of them can be traced for several miles. It is most probable that these quartziferous rocks are a spur or continuation of the gold-bearing; metamorphic rocks of the Northern Terri tory of South Australia, now being worked with some success. The river valleys and flats are in many places covered with deposits, sometimes very extensive, of quartz-gravel and drift; the quartz being derived from denudation of the reefs referred to above. I have prospected these gravels over many miles of country, and I have rarely failed to obtain good colours of gold; in many localities of a very encouraging cha racter. Very often good colours were ob tained in every pan washed, in different trials in the same locality. I have thus found gold to be distributed over about 140 miles along the Elvire, Pan ton, and Ord Rivers, &c, as well as on the Mary and Margaret Rivera, where the indications were very good and the appearance of the country most favourable. In several instances I obtained good colours of gold at considerable distances from the quartz-bearing rocks from which the gold could only have been derived. This, to my mind, seems to indicate that there must be large quantities of gold in the quartz-bearing rocks. and in the driits immediately over [yiig them. The gold-yielding country is well watered by numerous rivers, creeks, and Sullies, which even in the driest part of the peat are never wholly without water. And ilthough during the dry season water is scarce, there would be no difficulty in :onserving water anywhere in sufficient juantity for all mining purposes. On the whole, the indications I have met with point, is I believe, to the great probability of payable gold being obtained in this part of Kimberley, and are I consider sufficient to justify the expenditure, either by the government or private individuals, of a reasonable sum of money in fitting out a party to thoroughly test the country, and I should strongly recommend auch an under taking. I would also suggest the advisability of parties going up for this purpose providing themselves with some simple apparatus for crushing and washing some of the reef quartz, is in one very rudely conducted experiment of this kind I obtained a small quantity of sold.' 11 OldExglasdand the New.'— We have received from Messrs. Marshall & Sons a copy of a patriotic song with this title, com posed by E. Jonghmans. The words are by Harry Adams, and it haa been admirably lithographed by Hopwood & Crew, of 42, New Bond-street, London. It is a fair attempt to give expression to the enthusiasm which animated the New South Wales Government to send the Contingent to aid the British troops during the war in the Soudan ; and we can very well understand that, as stated on the title-page, it was 'sung with the most enthusiastic applause by Charles Godfrey,' say some six months ago. It ia conceived in the style which wa3 so popular at the time when Charles Dibden wrote and Braham sang of the indomitable heroism of Old England's sons. And, were it not that the poetry occasionally degenerates into bathos and the music into common-place, the stng would probably retain its popularity when, as expressed in the first stanza, 'History shall tell how well Australian t oldiers fought.' A -Pebixous Handshaking.— As the steamer Adelaide left the wharf for Mel bourne on Saturday afternoon the large crowd assembled to witness her departure were spectators of an exciting scene. Just a3 the vessel began to move away a young man on the wharf stretched out his hand for a parting shake with a friend on board, and overbalancing himself fell headlong into the water. He appeared unable to swim, and on rising to the surface struggled to make his way to the piles. Another passenger, a young man, at ence sprang from the vessel and swam quickly to the unfortunate man, who was rescued and placed upon the pile support?. Meanwhile ropes were lowered, by one of which the plucky rescuer was hauled to the wharf, while a bowline was placed under the arms of the other man, who also was drawn safely up. Both men looked in a sorry plight, but neither appeared seriously injured. Police-constable Gellento was very quick in descending the piles and assisting to bring the men up safely. The one proceeded on hia voyage to Melbourne, while the other quickly left to make himself comfortable elsewhere. Masonic— The induction ceremony of the Concordia Lodge, No. 28, S.A.C., took place at the Freemasons' Hall, Flinders-street, on Friday evening, July 3. The ceremonies of this Lodge are usually worked in German, but out of compliment to the visitors, of which there was a large number, the working was done in English. The ingoing Worship ful Master was P.M. Brother E. W. T. Pustkuchen, W.P.G.S.D. The ceremony was conducted by P.M. Brother J. H. H. Vockins, and P.M. Brother Philip Sansom acted as Master of Ceremonies. After the induction of the Worshipfnl Master the following officers for the year were obligated and invested :— S.W., H. Schulz; J.W., C. L. Meyer ; Treasurer, F. Gaetgens ; Secretary, A. Ornstein j S.D., H. Brumlop ; J.D., E Jens; Organist, J. Shakespeare; LG., G. Joachimi; Tyler, N. Kildael. After the conclusion of the ceremony the brethren ad journed to th8 supper-room, where a pleasant hour was spent, the usual loyal and Masonic toasts being presented, and the proceedings being enlivened with some excellent singing. Conference of School Teachebs. — A meeting of State schoolmasters and teachers was held in the Grote-street Girls' School on Saturday morning, July 4, for the purpose oi discussing the new regulations issued for the purpose of directing the work of instruction! and also to consider the question of forming a Teachers' Association. The hall was crowded, and the liveliest interest was takes in the proceedings. Mr. J. A. Hartley, ILA., 1% Sn i1u- TmmAfitnr.flener&l of Schools, intro

duced the new Minister of Education to the ; meeting. (The Honl Dr. Cockburn, who was received with applause, said it was with the greatest pleasure that he bad availed himself of the opportunity of being present, to make the acquaintance of so many ladies and gentlemen who were permanently engaged in the came work as he was now associated with. He wa3 surprised to see such a large staff and yet to be told that it was inadequate; The quality of the staff, he hoped, would overcome any difficulties. They had to over come a fresh point of departure in the educa tional system. He believed that they had been in danger from their old system on accoant of its having arrived at a state of perfection that induced formalism. The step that had been taken in these new regu lations was most fortunate and timely. The; would require an altogether different system, and must no longer be satisfied with arbitrary rules that carried with them only the husks of learning. Teachers must approach their subjects from the centre, and not irom with out, and the child who began bis studies under the new regulations would start almost from that point to which the old rules led him. No doubt the new regulations would involve a great deal of additional work on the part of teachers and inspectors, but children would be led instead of driven to Iheir tasks, and would learn their lessons with pleasure. (Applause.) Mr. Hartley said he was sure all present had listened with the greatest pleasure to the Minister of Education's remarks, aud would in future regard him not as a shadowy abstraction, but a real flesh and blood being who was ready to help them in their arduous duties. (Applause.) The question of the new regulations w*s pressing upon them all. Teachers, inspectors, and children had been so far disappointed with the results achieved. He did not blame those who did their best to follow them out, but he was convinced that any apparent difficulty was dne to a want of proper comprehension of their scope and the method of applying them. There was no difficulty so great in the path of the elementary teacher as the necessary monotony of his existence, and it was with the object of introducing greater variety into the lessons, and making the path a smoother one, that the new programme of regulations had been introduced. Mr. Hartley then illustrated the processes by which a junior class should be instructed in arithmetic by means of observation. Children learned by having the numbers presented not in the abstract, but in a concrete form, and the new method caused the child to discover hia errors, and gave him something to do. Instead of loading the memory with words he was enabled to demonstrate facts by em ploying things, and thereby get a clear idea of the lesson. At the close of the address Dr. Cockburn expressed his interest in what he had heard and seen, aud said that if a Teachers' Association was formed he believed !i would be attended with the best possible results to all concerned. He then left the meeting amid applause. Mr. Whittler afterwards exhibited a counting-board, and showed how a first class might be led to analyze numbers . oo the new method. Mr. L, G. Madley there after advocated the formation of a Teachers' Association, for, the purpose of holding dis cussions and giving practical demonstrations aa to the best plans of teaching. Ho thought the Association should also be of a benevolent character, and that annual conferences might be arranged for, at which interested outsiders should be invited to attend. He moved — 'That it is desirable to form a Teachers Association for Adelaide and the sur rounding district' Mr. W, C. Grasby seconded, and Mr. Phillips supported the: proposal. Mr. Hartley remarked that the Education Department were glad of criticism, and the Association might be a he'p to them. The motion was carried unanimously, and the following gentlemen were appointed a Provisional Committee to draw up a scheme :— Messrs. Neale, Xonng, Smyth, Gill, Warner, Whillas, Mueller, Kemp, Kennedy, Peate, Bernard, Plummer, Griffiths, and Holloway. Laceosse.— There is every probability of this game besoming popular in Adelaide. On Satnrday about twenty-four players practised on the South Park Lands, near Chance's Corner, and as the weather was fine a moat eDjoyable afternoon was spent. Messrs. W. Pateison and A. Wilkinson, captain aud vica captain of the club, picked sides, and the match, which lasted for about two hoars, re sulted in a win for Mr. Paterson's men, who ccored two goals to one secured by the opposing players. There is a great demand for bats, which at present are not procurable. We hear that in several country towns it is intended to form clubs. About 200 people watched the play on Saturday. THE LATE MR. ROBERT NAPIER.— There are very many old hands who remember the paddle-steamer Moolgewanke, which was put on the Murray by Captain Webb and Mr. Napier. She had a chequered career, but Mr. Napier will also be remembered with Captain McCoy in the p.s. Leichardt. A short time back he visited the colony by one of the Orient steamers, but it will be seen by the following notice from a paper received by the last mail that he has passed away :— "A large circle of our readers will receive with regret the notice in our obituary of the death of Mr. Robert D. Napier, senior partner of Messrs. Napier Brothers, engineers. Mr. Napier was the last surviving son of Mr. David Napier, the original founder of that eminent engineering and shipbuilding firm, and whose connection with the early rise and progress of steam navigation is now a matter of history. Robert D. Napier re-ceived his academical training in the High School of Glasgow, and along with his brothers John D. and Frank Napier assisted his father in the shipbuilding and engineer-ing works which they carried on at Lance-field, and afterwards at Millwall, London, to which they removed in 1837. After remaining for some years in London, pro-ducing steamers which for speed and novelty of construction eclipsed all competitors in those days, the works at Millwall were given up, and Robert D. Napier proceeded to Australia, where he entered upon the management of the dredg-ing operations in Sydney Harbour, and while engaged upon this duty the idea of the 'self-holding brake' occurred to his mind, which he patented, and considering it an in-vention capable of being adopted in many ways he returned to his native city about fifteen years ago to prosecute its introduc-tion. In conjunction with his brother, the late John D. Napier, the application of this invention was adopted to ships' windlasses and other machines, the manufacture of which has been carried on under the name of Napier Brothers. The invention of the self-holding brake proved itself of so much value that on the expiry of the patent right a few years ago Mr. Robert Napier applied for and received an extension of that right, a concession rarely made. Although solicited to accept municipal honours he declined, but his city's welfare was always his greatest pride. He contributed letters and papers on many occasions to the leading scientific journals, and was the author of a very searching investigation into the laws attending the flow of steam, for which Professor Fliegner, of Zurich, paid him a high compliment and translated into German. Quiet and unobtrusive in his life, he was a man of upright integrity, and much beloved by all who knew him. He had reached the age of 64, and the state of his health was such that he looked as if he had many days yet to enjoy." Maes Relief Fund.— Received £1 Is., John Primrose & Co. Blacefellow Football. — To-day the Point Macleay natives Tplay a match on the Adelaide Oval against twenty from the combined colleges, consisting cf seven from St. Peter's College, seven from Priuce Alfred College, and six from Whinham College. The natives will be dress? I as on Saturday in white. MOBPHECT-STBKET PBIMITIVB ' METHODIST Church.— Special tea and uublic meetings will be held in the above Church this even ing. 'I he Immigbation Question.— In accord ance with a request, signed by 142ratepayere, the Mayor of Adelaide has convened a meet to be held in the Town Hall 'to-night, to con Bider the immigration question. The Funebal of Db. Gosse.— Amongst those present at the funeral of Dr. Gosse were Dis. Corbin, Mitchell, and Symons. .