The Approaching School Elections.

THE APPROACHING SCHOOL ELECTIONS .

IN continuation of our remarks of last week , we now take into consideration the claims of the various candidates who will compete on Monday , 14 th April , at the election for the Boys' School . There are sixteen vacancies to be filled on that occasion , and the names of

sixty-eight candidates appear on the ballotting sheet . Of this number forty-eight are provincial , four foreign , fifteen London , and one is described as " London and Essex . " Twenty-six of the Provinces have candidates accredited to them , viz : Hants and Isle of Wight , and

Lincoln , five each , East Lancashire four , Devon and West Tories three each , Bristol , Dorset , Kent , North Wales and Salop , Surrey , Warwick , and North and East Yorks two each , Berks and Bucks , Cambridge , Derby , Durham , Norfolk , Northampton , Northumberland ,

Somerset , Suffolk , South Wales East and West Divisions , Wilts and Worcester one each , while Essex has one candidate besides that accredited to the Province in connection with London . The four foreigners hail respectively from West Indies , Bengal , Nova Scotia , and Singapore

Twenty-three are first applications , twonty-one second , eleven third , six fourth , three fifth , and four sixth . There are nine candidates whose chances of election will cease after the next contest , their ages being such as will debar them from competing again .

Among the London candidates there are two " last applications , " Nos . 5 and 10 . No . 5 , C . P . Frost , has both parents living , but his mother has been deserted since 1871 ; he is one of four children dependent on her , and he now makes his fifth application , with about ten

votes brought forward . No . 10 , F . A . Giles , fourth application , three votes forward , is the son of an old W . M . of the Kent Lodge , No . 15 , whose widow is left with four children to provide for . Of the other London candidates , No . 33 , W . R . Thorn should command

especial sympathy . He is one of four children who have lost both father and mother ; this is his second application , and he starts with 418 votes to the good , an evidence that he has friends who will eventually secure his election . No . 26 , W . Tracy , one of eight children

dependent on their mother , has 93 votes brought forward from his one previous application . No . 34 , E . G . Beckett , appears now for the second time , his friends having recorded 272 votes at the last election . He is dependent on his mother , who has five other children to provide for .

Nos . 51 and 54 , A . Salter .-and A . Fellows , both first applications , are members of families of four , and in each case have lost their father . No . 2 , P . 0 . Wilkinson , has both parents living , but they hnve three children relying on them ; he has already made five attempts ,

during which 919 votes have been recorded in his favour . No . 43 , H . S . J : Crane , second application , two votes brought forward , has no father , and his mother is left with three children . No . 57 , F . A . Urnvin , is also one of three relying on the mother . His father was a member

of Vitruvian , No . 87 , the members of which Lodge should be able to secure the return of this lad at an early date . No . 48 , C . 0 . Wagstaff , is the only child dependent on a widowed mother . No . 67 , P . B . Garstin , is one of six

relying on their mother , he has already a brother in the School . No . G 4 , F . S . Watid , five children , father dead , has a sister in the Girls' School , as also has No . 17 , J . S . Scott , who now competes for the third time , with

The Approaching School Elections.

203 votes recorded at the two previous elections in which he has taken a part . His widowed mother has three children to provide for . No . 15 , R . H . Nicholls is the case accredited to "London and Essex , " his father having been connected with Lodges Nos . 87 and 1343 .

The present is this candidate ' s third application , and unless he is successful at the coming election , his age will debar him from entering the School . His chance of success , however , is pretty secure , as ho starts with 1013 votes to his credit . His mother has six children lookinr ?

to her for support , The Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight puts forward five candidates . No . 46 , G . W . Steinhauer , is one of eight children left without father or mother ; the present is his first application , and although we cannot

hope for his election , we trust something substantial will be done on behalf of this large family , left to the charity of strangers . No . 8 , G . S . Parker , an only child , has 708 votes brought forward from three former attempts . No . 29 , G . F . Gauntlett , one of four fatherless children ,

was a candidate at the last election , and then polled 212 votes . No . 45 , H . M . Fellows , also appeared on the last list , and has 7 votes to his credit ; there are two other children dependeut on the mother . No . 68 , W . H . Woollons , appears for the first time . His mother is

living , and has to provide for four children . Lincoln also has five candidates , two of whom , No . 1 , A . T . Cole , and No . 20 , R . T . Winter , are last applications . In each en so the father is dead , and five children are dependent . Unless something very different is done for these two

candidates than has been the case at their previous attempts , their election is impossible ; we are afraid that the mothers are doomed to be disappointed . The former has takon a part in five previous elections , and yet has only 10 votes to his credit , while the latter has not received a single

vote , although he has been an applicant on two previous occasions . This is also the case with No . 16 , W . Black , whose mother is called upon to support four children . No . 21 , P . Marshall , has not fared quite so badly , as he has 50 votes brought forward from two elections ; his mother

has two children to maintain . No . 61 , R . W . Pratt , is the only new candidate from Lincoln . If we may take the other cases from this Province as a guide , outside aid will have to be relied on . Of the four East Lancashire cases , one has but this chance of being elected . No . 25 , G . F .

Bowman , a candidate for the second time , but with no votes at present recorded on his behalf ; if the Province has taken the case up , it is in their power to carry it at the coming election ; let us hope such will be the result , as it would be a great relief to the mother—who has five

children dependent on her exertions—should she thus got one of her children provided for . No . 9 , J . H . Bell , has had 15 votes recorded in his favour at three elections ; ho is one of two fatherless children . No . 23 , J . Reed , has but two votes , which represent as many previous

applications ; his mother has four children to provide for . No . 42 , J . G . Landless , is also one of four orphans , and has already made one attempt , on which occasion he had three votes placed to his credit . All theso cases we can safely leave to the care of their Province , the affairs of

which—especially in the matter of charity—are too well managed to allow us for one moment to fear that either of the candidates will be forgotten . No . 36 , H . Norrish , one of five children dependent on the widow of a Devon Craftsman , has 340 votes from one former trial , which number will doubtless be added to until his election is secured , No , 49 , E . E . Hawke , also one of five fatherless