The Bee-Hive. — 1872-12-07 (London, England)

LONDON SCHOOL BOARD.  Several interesting topics occupied the London School Board on Wednesday. A proposal to grant the use of schools for adult evening classes was made by Mr. Lucraft and agreed to on condition that no expense should be thereby entailed on the Board. Motions of Mr. Macgregor, for the prior accommodation of neglected children in the schools, and for compulsory attendance of children until sufficient reason had been shown for the parents' choice of some other school, were rejected by large majorities. Mr. Lafono called attention to the number of children who were being employed in connection with the Christmas pantomime. He said that between 800 and .1,000 children were the other morning surrounding a theatre on the Surrey side of the water waiting to be selected. The same kind of thing was going on in every district of London. A letter was sent to the Home Seoretary inquiring whether the children might not be brought under the operation of the Factory and Workshops Act. The reply said—" I beg to inform you that in rehearstug for a performance and performing at a theatre, children are not exercising any manual labour by way of trade, and, therefore, no action can be taken under the Factory Act." It was agreed that, although the Board could not move in the matter, some steps ought to be taken, perhaps by the Education Department. .  The Rev. Canon Barry gave the following notice of motion:—" That, whereas the Board has directed that, as a general rule, in its schools, 'the Bible shall be read, and there shall ho given such explanations and such instruction therefrom in the precepts of religion and morality as are suited to the capacities of children; and whereas all religious instruction is, under the Education Act of 1870, excluded from the cognizance of her Majesty's Inspectors, it is incumbent upon the Board to provide for some efficient inspection of such religious instruction as is given in its schools, and that it be referred to the School Management Committee to consider a scheme for such inspection, and to report thereon.''  A meeting of the new Judicature Commission was summoned for Wednesday, and was adjourned in consequence of the absence of the Lord Chariot)llor, who was unavoidably prevented from attending.  A. serious riot took place near the Town-hall, Lowestoft, late on Monday night, between English, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, and Greek sailors. Knives we:e drawn, and several persons stabbed, though none seriously. A Dutch fisherman throw a Greek sailor through the window of a fish-shop in the High-street.  Early on Wednesday morning the screw steamer Nellie, of Whitby, put into Dover harbour with her fire compartments full of water, having been in collision, off Dungeness, with a foreign barque, the name of which was not ascertained, and which, it is feared, has since foundered. The London, Chatham, and Dover express steamer Breeze, in leaving Calais harbour on Wednesday night, ran down a French punt, which, without showing any light, had got into the packet's course. One man was saved, but the other persons on board are believed to have been drowned.  An examination has recently boon made of the accounts of the borough treasurer of Newcastle, which has resulted in the report that the balance forthcoming is defiqient to the fAteut of over X 5,000. No error was discovered in the books, and the treasurer denies having made any misappropriation of tho money which is not accounted for.  A widower is in custody in G tteciltead on suspicion of murdering a girl, who is missing, and who wss last seen in his company.  Private G. Bryant, 62nd Foot, has been deelarei the best shot in the Army for the year 1871-72, and has been awarded the prize of £2O and a silver medal. Private Smith held the same honourable position the previous year.  , The Archbishop of Canterbury has conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upqn the Rev. Edwin. Abbot-Abbott, M.A., Head Master of the City of London School.  We understand that her Majesty the Queen has been graoiously pleased to command that, the officers and men of the Looshai Expeditionary Force shall be awarded the India medal of 1151, with clasp for " Looshai." Such officers and men who are already in possession, for other services, of the India medal, will receive the clasp only. Officers commanding regiments and the heads of departmental staffs have been directed to prepare nominal rolls. Claimants who have been discharged must apply through the officer commanding the regiment or department to which they belonged at the time of the expedition.