UNKNOWN. FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1892.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 119, 20 May 1892, Page 2

UNKNOWN.

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1892.

For the cause that lacls assistance, For tlio wtohs that needs resistance. for the raturo in the distance. And the good that we can do. ,

"Tools and thi Mao," the subject proposed by Carlyle for a modern epic, is a theme that has not yet been folly honoured, but every day is giving further proof of the prescience of the Seer of Chelsea on this and kindred matters. The dignity of labour, which he was never weary of exalting, has to-day asserted itself to a degree never before dreamed of; the voice of associated Labour—of the Men who use Tools—is now all but omnipotent in affairs of State, and, despite the croakings .of pessimists, the minds of the toiling masses are dealing deftly with knotty problems of Government, as their hands have erstwhile moulded with cunning skill the stubborn material elements. The epic of Labour is now being written in the history of the world, and that it will be worthily written no one can doubt who properly apprehends the spirit of the times.

To dignify Labour still further, and do something more to convert the primal curse into a blessing to humanity, some far-seeing friends of the democracy have ordained that the use of tools shall be taught in the primary schools, while at the same time moral lessons are inculcated, asserting the worth of honest toil. The French people have taken the lead in this great movement, which, as we have pointed out, has obtained a foothold in Great Britain also, while a step in the same direction is proposed to be taken in New Zealand. It is claimed that the effect of manual training in schools is to stimulate the mental powers, to interest the pupils, and to induce active exercise of the judgment and the originative and adaptive faculties. From the age of six years, French children are now compulsorily taught the use of tools-—the boys to model in clay, wood, and iron, the girls to use the needle, scissors, etc. In Paris alone there are over 140,000 children being so educated in the public schools, and Normal Schools are annually turning out 1,500 teachers who are specially trained to impart manual training along with the ordinary public school course. And when we say that manual instruction is " compulsory," we must qualify the word by saying that no compulsion is required in regard to this branch, for the 'pupils are only too anxious to be taught, and the severest punishment to a boy is to be debarred the workshop.

The French people fojind, as the Swedes had done before them, that if they wished to train a class of artisans who would take an honest pride in their work, and uphold the nobility of labour, they must take the workshop into the school, and lay the foundation of habits of industry and craftsmanship in the minds of the young. In Germany this has long been recognised and acted upon; a handicraft is not only looked upon there as honourable, but as necessary even in the case of young nobles: and .princes. Similarly, in France, the axiom-is laid down thaf «to elevate the workshop is to elevate

the country." Hence the use of tools is, by being taught in the State schools, placed on an equal footing with professional or literary training. In illustration of this, we may quote some remarks of M. Jules Ferry, made at the opening of one ofthe National Schools in 1883, to show how that eminent man apprehended the French idea of education. He said :

" We wish bo abbempb here, and to realiso on a large scale, an idea which the Firsb Republic pursued and cherished, which it formulated with remarkable precision, and which has found renewed favour in tho public mind whenever Democracy has made a step in advance. This creative thought, this settled purpose, is that the National School in a Democracy of progress like ours should be essentially a school of work. .... The supreme purpose, the final aim, the essential mission of tho modern school,, is bhe educabion of bhe Democracy of working mon, who are nob only „ majority in numbers, bub whose vigorous virtues make the strength of the country To ennoble manual labour is our earnest desire, and this purpose we have inscribed in large letters upon our programmes. The programme of moral and civic instruction, decreed by the Superior Council of Public Instruction, contains an article with thi3 title, * The Nobility of Manual Labour,' and in order thab the nobility of manual labour maybe recognised, hoc only by those who exerciseit, but by tho wholo of society, tho surest and only practical means have been taken— manual labour has been placed in the school itself. Be well assured thab when the plane and tho file shall have taken the same place—a place of honour —by the side of tho compass, the charb and bhe book of hisbory, and shall be theobjoctof an intelligent and systematic instruction, many prejudices will difappear, many antagonisms of classoß.will vanish, social peaco will begin on the benches of the primary school, and concord with ibs radianb lighb will illumine the future of French society."

These are noble and pregnant words, and are well worthy of being taken to heart in this country, where the general and repeated complaint is that our youth of both sexes are growing up with a marked distaste to manual labour. New Zealand has all the requirements for a great industrial country; her minerals, timbers, and other products will probably, for centuries to come, afford work to millions of toilers, who cannot hope to maintain the exceptional rates of wages that are now largely due to our isolation. Our sons must be fully equipped so as to compete with the best-instructed youths of other nations, and in order to that end, they must be provided with manual instruction in the primary schools.

Not unnaturally, however, the proposal to teach every child the use of tools has been viewed askance by large bodies of trade-unionists. The oldfashioned methods of trade-unions still prevail in many trades, and every effort is made to limit the number of apprentices and prevent a fall of wages through competition. To some of these people, the imparting of manual instruction in the public schools simply means that the power and resources of the State are being devoted to turning out an unlimited supply of youthful biacksmiihs, carpenters, and so forth, with the result of bringing down- wages to the miserable pittance that is now given to clerks and shop assistants, who were manufactured wholesale in years past, and are still being made by the thousand in our public schools. If such were the intent or probable effect of manual instruction 'in the State schools, we should be the first to oppose it; but in France, where the system has now been in vogue for ten years, the labouring classes have hailed the manual instruction as a blessing and boon, and the same is being recognised by the masses of F,ngland.

Manual training, as imparted at the public schools, is not calculated to educate youths for any particular calling or trade. It, in fact, bears the same relation to the making of artisans as the ordinary bookish course does to the making of litterateurs. As was well said by the late M. Salicis, a French enthusiast on the subject of manual training, " The State should no more attempt to turn out accomplished workmen after a course of simple manual training, than it claims to graduate thirteen-year-old literati and historians on a pen and book instruction. But just as it ought to provide the pupils as far as possible with the knowledge to spell their own language correctly, and also with the elements of a tolerable style, just so jn manual courses it can spread a knowledge of the correct use of the principal tools, and of the ordinary operations with them." That is all that the State has any right to attempt, but surely it is its bounden duty to do so much for people's children, 95 per cent, of whom are probably destined to engage in industrial pursuits of one kind or another, necessitating a knowledge of the use of tools.

It has been found in France that boys who have received manual training at school make more apt apprentices when placed to any trade, are earlier entitled to receive wages, and earn journeymen's pay two or three years earlier than apprentices who have not had the benefit of the school course. This is a vast economy, though not quite according to tradeunion ideas ; but, as already remarked, French workmen are more than content with the new state of things. After all, it is the sons of tradeunionists who receive the benefit,, and it would be opposed to nature if men objected to their children being fitted for the battle of life. Tbe chief utility of manual training, perhaps, lies in the fact that it educes the special aptitude or predilection of the pupil for certain pursuits, enables him intelligently to choose a calling in life, and gives him a general, dexterity and knowledge which free him from the specialising tendencies .of modern tuples, w}*cb frequently reduce the aftisan^jnhe level of a mere machine*.

New Zealand working men have already shown that they are superior to the prejudices of an effete ideal of trade-union exclusiveness, by the warm support that they have given to schemes of technical education. The Trades and Labour Council of Auckland has in the past vainly urged the Board of Education to lend some assistance to the cause of technical instruction, and we have no doubt they will as warmly support the proposal now formulated by the Minister of Education for,authorising the introduction of manual instruction—that is, training in modelling and the use of tools—as part of the elementary course in the public schools of New Zealand. This training will not increase the number of applicants for work, but it will make these more expert and apt to learn. It will make the coming race of New Zealand artisans equal to the best types of all countries, and will enable them worthily to help in working out the destinies of this nation. And even as an aid to mental culture, manual training is of great value. In the United States of America great attention is now being given to this subject by the "triumphant Democracy," and there an authority has declared that manual exercises are more fitted to train the head than the hand. "Manual dexterity is but the evidence of a certain kind of mental power. . . .

Without teaching any one trade, we teach the essential mechanical principles of all." The friends of industrial progress will join in the wish that this colony will provide such manual training for its yodth as will fit them for the duties of life and maintain the healthy balance of the mental and bodily powers.

The Auckland Harbour Board meeting on Wednesday nexb promises bo be a scene of a lively sbruggle for bhe " loaves and fishes " in the shape of granbs for wharves. The question of erecting a wharf at Lake Takapuna will again come up for discussion, and the point of " Harbour Board etiquette " involved in this connection will also be fully threshed oub. Mr Malcolm Niccol has given nobico of motion of his intenbion to move ab the nexb meeting of bhe Board, "Thab the Foreman of Works be instructed to prepare specifications and ostimabe for repairs and improvement to the outer eastern bee of Queen-strceb Wharf." This tee, which stands in need of heavy repairs, has aboub served its life-time as a wharf, and for some timo past ib has been proposed to renew ib. The cost of the renewal of this portion of tho wharf, together with widening and improving the jetty, will be aboub £10,000. Mr S.T. George, the Parnell represenbative on tho Harbour Board, appears to consider his district unduly neglected in the matter of wharves, as he has given notice of his intontion to move at nexb meeting bhab bhe Board approve of a proposal to erecb a wharf ab Parnell.

A man named Dayid Stewart was charged ab bho Police Courb tbiß morning wibh having assaulbed Jano McManus. Complainanb did nob appear bo support bhe charge. Mr G. N. Brasaey appeared for bhe defendant, and sbated thab ho had received a lebter from the informant in which she sbabed Bhe did nob desire to press the charge,' aa Bhe was undor bho intiuonco of liquor whon she gave bhe defendant into custody, and was by no means clear whether or not ho was the man who had assaulted her. Mr Brassoy handed tho lebter in, and asked thai; bhe defendanb might be discharged. Sergeanb Major Pratb objected, and tho Bench decided thab as bhe lebter waa not a declaration sworn to, they would adjourn the caße until to-morrow, bhe informant bo be summoned to appear.

The lambing season has sbarted. A number of fine lambs were dropped recenbly in bhe Otara and East Tamaki disbriebs.

The nomination of one candidate for the oflico of Councillor for the Borough of Onohunga bakes place to-morrow ab noon.

Ib appears thab thero is some probability of the " dusb nuisance " being transferred from bhe Mounb Alberb disbricb bo bhe Newton Borough, which, if carried out, will affect a portion of the Ponsonby residents. A special meeting of bhe Newbon Borough Council is called for this evening to consider tbo matter.

Alexander Bromner, farmer and settler ab Papakura, died ab his lace residence bhero on Monday, tlie 16th May. The deceased was in failing health for several weeks before his death, and was aged only 48 years. The funeral took place on Thursday, and was largely attended by many sympathising friends, who paid their lasb tribute of respect by following his remains bo the Preabyberian Cemetery, where the service was performed by the Rev. T. Norrie in an impressive manner. The deceased has left a widow and four young children, an elder brother and many other relatives, to moutn their loss.

The London correspondent of the "Dublin Evening Press" gives an extraordinary account of the career and death of a man believed by the police to be "Jack the Ripper.-' Some years ago (says the correspondent) there resided in a country village in Norfolkshire a medical man who was was much respected, and who enjoyed an extensive practice. A woman of respectable appearance came bo reside in bhe village, no one knew whence or for what purpose. She became acquainted with the doctor, and gained such an influence over him bhat he neglected his practice, and eventually became so heavily involved thab he suddenly disappeared to avoid his creditors. It ■was known that he came to London, thab hia evil companion had abandoned him, and thab he was picking up a precarious existence by scavenging and other odd jobs in Whitochapel. Thab he was in that districb during the murders is certain, and bhab he was almosb continually drunk is also equally true. I.ate one winter's night, after the latest murder ascribed to Jack the Ripper was committed,'ho was thrown out qf a low public-house in the Easb End, and run over by a heavy goods van. He wa3 baken to a hospital, and died withoub regaining consciousness. Since then there have been no murders, nor any of that character which made Whitechapel notorious expected in the future.

The business ab bhe Newmarket Borough Council lasb evening occupied only a quarter of an hour. There were in attendance Meuro G. Kent (Mayor), Whyman, Angus, Laxon, Lumpkin, and Edgerley. The annual reporb of the local Fire Brigade Inspector, which was presented to the meebing, debailed bhe Brigade's work for the past year. It was decided to supply coal for the use of bhe Brigade during the winter months, lb was decided to leave a quantity of stone suibable for road mebal on the reserve and on Osborne-sbreeb broken up for meballing purposes.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has received from the Government instructions bo fix a day on which naval and military claimants of land grants may selecb sections from cerbain blocks. The 18th of Juneanniversary of the Battle of Waterloo—is bhe day appoinbed.

Tenders are invited by advertisement for the supply of a band of four instrumental-, ists for" the Ponsonby Social, commencing on Friday, the 27th inst.

The following circular has been issued by Mr L. Hanlon, Government pomol.ogist, to all Fruitgrowers' Associations known to the Agricultural Department: —" Wibh a view of ascertaining what New Zealand orchardisbs have done in the way of fighting the codlin moth (carpocapsa pomonella) and the mussel scale (mytilapsis pomorum), I shall feel obliged if you will submit the following questions to two or more fruitgrowers in your districb, who have had experience with either or both of these pests : 1. Codlin moth, whab means have been taken to fighb bhis pesb, and the result favourable or otherwise ? 2. If srjrayed with arsenites, in what proportions, and wibh whab kind of a sprayer, how ofben, and was bhe foliage damaged ? 3. Were bandages used, how ofben removed and grubs killed ? 4. Mussel scale, wliab means were taken to fight this pest, and tho result) favourable or otherwise ? 5. Sbato proportions of remedies used, and whether the trees and fruit were damaged by them or not." Ib is hoped thab fruitgrowers will send in replies to Mr Hanlon, Head Oflice Agricultural Department, Wellington. All secrebaries of Fruibgrowers' Associations who are nob in communication wibh bhe Deparbmonb should send in their namos, thab they may receive any pamphlets, etc., published for the benefit of the fruib,industry.

The Auckland Choral Socioty have now under rehearsal " Comola" and "Zion," two of Gade's compositions. " Comola "is a dramatic poem, after Ossian, set to music byNiel Gade. It bears the same Nordish character as all of Gade's works. It is very dramatic, and the instrumentation is very brilliant throughout. The solos for soprano (Comola) and baritone (Fingal) are both of a very dramatic character. There aro some fine choruses for both male and female voices. Miss Murray, who made her debut in " The Messiah," will take the part of Comola ; the second soprano solos are allotted to Mrs Alexander, and Miss Edger will take tho alto solos. " Zion " is a cantata by Gade, comprising baritone solo, chorus, and orchestral work. The vocal portion of the composition is almost entirely chorus, the work being descriptive of the departure of Israel from Egypt, the captivity in Babylon, and the return to the new Jerusalem. The instrumentation is very elaborate, and thero is a lot of hard work for tha chorus. The baritone solos in "Comola" and "Zion" have not yob been allotted.

Mr Henniker Heabon says thab France and Ibaly pockeb £50,000 or £60,000^ a year for transmibbing bhe mails bo and from India and Ausbralia via Brindisi. You say I may possibly be wrong. Fortunately, 1 am in a position to prove bhab I am nob wrong, bub bhe case is worse bhan I picbured. I received from the postal aubhoribies an official statement that the mails despatched from England via Calais and Brindisi on Friday, October 10th, amounted to 3,4101b ot letters, and 41,1601b of newspapers. For this we paid bhe French and Ibalian Governments lOf 80c a kilogramme for the letters. He bases his calculations on a recent mail which cost altogebber £1,209. Of this sum the French Government paid thoir railway companies £198, and the Italian Government paid their railway companies £118, or a tobal of £316 for doing the work, so the joint profit pockebed was £893. Bub bhere are bwo mails, one in each direction, every week, and ib is only necessary to mulbiply this profit by 104 to geb at the resulo.

Amy Vaughan's Amazon Company will give another of their popular Saturday enbercaintnents at the Academy of Music, Lome-street, on Saturday evening. All the old favourites are announced to appear, and new songs, dances, quartettes, sketches and farces are menbioned in bhe programme. Amy Vaughan will appear in yeb another of her dramatic descriptive scenas. Miss Amy Vaughan, having been asked several times since her return to Auckland from bhe South to produce tho burlesque •' Black-eyed Susan," takes the opportunity of presenbing ib at bho Acadamy of Music on Queen's Birthday for one nighb only.

Erneßb Benzon ha 3 again been broughb bofore our eyes by, of course, some legal proceedings at the Bankruptcy Court. There seems to be an impression abroad that Mr Benson came inbo some property of great value a year ago, bub this is a mistake. Ho enjoys an income of between four and five hundred a-year. In a few yoars' time bhe presonb bankrupt will.come into a good deal of money. Will he then acb up bo the admirable maxims in his book, which some one else wrote for him ?

The usual weekly meeting of bhe Pibbfbreeb Wesleyan Mubual Improvement Socieby was held lasb ovening. There was a fair abtendance. bub bhe weather waa very unfavourable. The meebing was opened and closed wifch prayer. Miss Berry rendered a pianoforte solo. After discussion, ib was decided to accept the Rev. Scotb Wosb's oiler of a lecture for nexb week, in place of Mr Berry, who, through indisposition, will be unable to give his promised lecture. The business for the evening was impromptu speaking. The following subjects were discussed :— " Australasian Federation,'' "General Booth's Scheme,'' "Is Woman Man's Mental Inferior ?' "Is Smoking Injurious ?" etc. In reference to the third subject a very able speech was delivered in tho affirmative by Miss Berry, who referred to the big strides woman is taking in America in temperance work, and in working up the woman's franchise question. In the unavoidable absence of both president and vice-presidents, the chair was baken by Mr Prosser.

Rather a good story of Canon , a popular London clergyman, is going the rounds. He was having a friendly game of billiards at the squire's. The Canon lost a 'life,' and took from his pocket a threepenny piece to pay for ib, ' Oh,' said Barrister Wigsby, another of. the guests, ' I see, Canon, you have had your fijVJiT in ihe plate.' The Canon drew himself up to his full height (a good six feeb), and looking the man of law full in the face, said, ' I'm surprised that you, Mr Wigsby, in bhe presence of bhis respectable company, have the audacity to recognise your own paltry contribution.' /

Mr Pegler, bootmaker, of Onehunga, who is now retiring from bho trade, has sold his business bo his son, who will continue to supply the public with every description of boobs and shoes at the same popular prices as his predecessor.

'Truth' says: ' The selection of Lord Glasgow lor the Government of New Zealand has excited the fury of the voracious horde of place-hunters who swarm about the Tory cluhs. He has, perhaps, been chosen for this Government in consideration of the services of the late Peer to the Scottish Tories and the Scottish Episcopalians.'

Association foobball is now making good

progress. Three matches will be played at the Domain bo-morrow, viz.:—H.M.s. Ringarooma will play the Rangers, and the Druids will engage bhe Alliance Club just formed.. An advertisemenb appears elsewhere calling on intending players to join the clubs now forming, so that the Club matches may be sbarted wibhoub delay. Mrs Kendal, Mrs Langtry, and Jane Hading have the three finest heads of hair of any ladies on the stage. None of them use dye or bleach, although Mrs Langbry tried dye once to her regretLillian Russell wears a wig on the stage always, as she.does nob care to ruin her own hair by crimping and curling it. Rhea has beautiful red hair, and Modjeska covers her dark brown hair when on the stage with a blonde wig. Mrs ; Dion Boucicult has yellow hair, yellow as corn, and Patti's hair is. now a dark brown, bub much injured by bhe variety of shades ib has gone bhrough. Christine Nilsson's hair is pure flaxen, and Pauline Lucca's hair is black.

The addition bo the Museum in which the big war. canoe has been placed, is now practically finished. Workmen are now engaged filling in bhe hollow groundfront| ingtrinces-streeb. .This gives a finish to the building. , ' Undaunted by bhe heavy downpour ot rain last night, aboub-60 .CWedoni^Msembled in bhe Foresters'. Hall,. Karangahape Road. Under bhe circumstances ib was decided to forego the concerb and spend the time in dancing.

Mr Cornelius Vanderbilt, according to an American contemporary, is about to buiia himself/i new house, which is to be the finest residence in New tfork,_ and to cost at least £400,000. Some time ago he acquired the entire block-of buildings be-bweenFifby-sevenbhandFifby^ighbhstreets and runuiuf, half-way from Fifth to bIx.CD Avenues. On this site the new mannonw to be builb. It will stand back 1001. feet from the avonue, and the grounds are to be enclosed, nob by a wall, bub by high iron railings. There will be a private theatre, a monster ball room, and a supper room to match. . There was a large abtendance ab the Tabernacle last evening bo hear Miss Arnold deliver, another of her lecbures on the mission work among bhe zenanas .or India. The Rev. J. D. Gilmore presided. The lecture was in the main descriptive or the mission work in India, and concluded with an eloquent appeal for help, beyerai girls arrayed in Indian cosbumas were on the platform, while there was also displayed a map and chart, besides numerous pictures of Indian life and scenery scattered round the Tabernacle. Hymns were rendered during the evening:, and a collection was taken up on behalf of the foreign mission fund.

Mr Thomas Butler, driver, North Shore, informs us that our account of the bolb was misleading. He says thab ib was nob correct that his little son was holding the reins prior bo bhe bolb. Also, Mrs Bub er and child were inside bhe coach. Mr Bu«er says thab he could on no accounb allow bhe impression to go abroad that there was any possible neglect in the matter. 'In bhe course of a debate upon Sunday observance before the Diocesan Conference at Manchester, Dr. Moorhouse made tha following remarks wibh reference bo Sabbabh observance. Afber declaring bhab works of necessity were allowable on the Sunday, the Bishop referred bo the amusemenbs. which were practised, and remarked : —" As to football and crickeb, ib was certainly the early practice of Mr Keble to: play on Sunday, and ib was also the practice of that most excellent and distinguished clergyman, Canon Kingsley. His own opinion was bhab bhey might-in-dulge in any recreabion in harmony with the spirit of the institution. He greatly doubted whether rough games resulting in violent excitation of the more unscrupulous emotions were altogether in harmony wibh the spirit which it. was desirable bhey should main bain on bhe Lord's Day. The question had been asked whether on Sunday ib was proper bo read books like bhose of Sir' Walter Scotb and papors like bhe 'Spectator.' Ho said certainly, if it did nob inberfere wibh worship. Probably ib would be positively a good bhing, and an aid bo worship. As to cyclists, he could nob conceive that any violent emotions would be started by bhe effect of wheeling the wheels round. There was nothing in cycling oub of harmony wibh the Lord's Day. If during church Service bhe cyclisb pub his machine againsb the wall of bhe church and went inside to worship, ho saw nothing in bhe world wrong in ib. Again, aa to museums, if they did nob enter into competition with divine worship their opening on Sundays would do good, and nob harm. Bub always bhey musb recognise the facb bhat the great purpose of the Sabbatical institution was to bring bne soul into communion with God. If the institution were lost i'o would assuredly contribute to the downfall nob only of bhis nation, bub of civilisation."

Ratepayers should note thab all rates due require to be paid bo ensure bheir names being placed on bhe burgess roll. Those who do nob pay by the 25th insb. will be disqualified, from voting for a year.

Tho concerb and social bo be given in the Public Hall (Sb. Patrick's), Panmure, on Tuesday next, the Queen's Birthday, promises to be very successful. There will be no lack of musical talent on the occasion. A 'bus, will leavo Auckland on the above evening at 7 for Panmure.

On Tuesday nexb Messrs Elder Bros., implemenb makers, Newmarkeb, will hold a public brial of bheir New Zealand Diamond Clipper and Jubilee Sulkey Gang Ploughs on bhe farm of Mr Shorb, Mangere. These implemenbs have been perfected after several yearu'. work in the field, and the trial should be of greab inberesb to all engaged in the practice of agriculture. To meet the convenience of the public ib will be continued from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The members of bhe Pakuranga Hunt Club meeb bo-morrow ab 12 noon at bhe top of Green Lane. .

Try C. G. Laurie's eucalypbus tablets ; good for coughs, colds ; sore throabe, etc.; sold in £lb bottles by all storekeepers, chemisbs,"and ab both his shops in QUeen r street, opposite Smith and Caughey's and the British Hotel.—.(Advt.)