The Press. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1868.

Press, Volume XIII, Issue 1718, 27 August 1868, Page 2

The Press. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1868.

The manner in which Prussia conducts Jier educational system is well worthy our most careful study. In I that country not only are the means of acquiring a thorough elementary training placed within the reach of all, J but no effdrts are spared to qualify Ijeverjmemberof the State for fulfilling [•with intelligence his chosen occupation. Every facility is given for Ecquirifigthat technical knowledge of which every ono who follows any calling or profession stands in need. It is, however, to the attention which is devoted to tile subject of agriculture, to which we wish to refer particularly at present: for yve believe, that some , useful lessons might be learnt of great yaltie. to us in New Zealand, from; tiiet system adoptedNo one at all acquainted with the mode in which agriculture is carried on by a large number of Canterbury

farmers, can shut his eyes to the fact that a vast amount of useless labour and misdirected energy is lost in profitless- farming. A sad want of knowledge of the nature and capabilities of the 801* is displayed in too many instances. We see the same crop grown year after year without variation— tul the soil is" rendered utterly unfit for cultivation at all. The rising generation of farmers trained in such a school will, we are afraid, be but poorly qualified to cultivate our forms, when owing to the exhaustion of the greate:: part of our virgin soil, science and skill will be so much more necessary than even at present. We have before us some statistics showing the vast progress Prussia has made since her adoption of a system of agricultural education. The production of many articles of export has increased a thousandfold ; tho rural population has increased by one mil. lion since 1846, and the value of rural land has risen as much as 100, and in some cases 200 per cent. The Australasian gives the following account of how this system is carried out: — In the first place, four Royal Academies of Agriculture are maintained : the course of instruction occupies two years, and the student's fees are less than £8 a year. He obtains tuition in the theory and the practice of farming, in political and rural economy based on statistics in farming, the management of trees and woods, the mode of manufacturing sugar, beer, bricks, and draining tiles. He has also the oppotunity of studies in mineralogy, botany, geology, and chemistry, with experiments and excursions, and also in mathematics, trigonometry, land surveying, practical mechanics, veterinary surgery, rural law, the history of the country, and constitutional law; and excursions into districts best calculated to illustrate such studies complete the programme. Most of the students are persons who have to make their living by cultivating small farms. Under the four academies are nineteen provincial schools of agriculture, but these latter are hardly any expense to the state, the aggregate subsidy being only £2000. They have sprung up since the founding of the academies to which they are feeders. Such a school is usually kept by some large farmer, assisted by the neighbouring apothecary, schoolmaster, and veterinary surgeon. Besides these, there are special schools for particular branches, like market gardening, the care of fruit-trees, cultivation of meadows or woods, &c. Finally, ther are a number of travelling teachers, who visit the districts in turn, criticising the cultivation, &c, and offering suggestions. It will be seen from the above that the system is inexpensive and mainly supports itself. But then the maintains seven "experimental institutes of organic and agricultural chemistry, which on different soils and under different circumstances are engaged in verifying and completing the theories of Liebig, and in testing the purity of the artificial manures of commerce." Independent of these educational arrangements, there are numerous agricultural societies—no fewer than 513 in the various provinces—with their conferences, exhibitions, and prizes. They are wholly voluntary. Above all is a central commission, presided over by a minister of agriculture, and its expense was no more in 1862 than £177. The outlay from the public exchequer may, therefore, be said to be confined to the support of the seven experimental institutes and the partial support of the four academies, and yet at this petty, almost nominal, expense on the part of Government, the rural population of an extensive empire have within thirty years been rendered skilful agriculturists. But though the state has needed to disburse little money, it furnished an admirable organisation, and has exercised much judgment in selecting instructors. Says the writer in the Revue de Deux Monies, who gives us the above particulars: —"This miracle of farming progress, of the multiplication of food, has been worked by the knowledge of physical and moral laws. Such a result of education comes slowly and insensibly, for in the intellectual field we sow to-day, but wait twenty or thirty years for harvest." Of course we do not advocate the adoption of such an expensive and elaborate system here. It is beyond our means. But it is surely well that we should turn our attentiou to the subject. It is on the agriculturist and the sheep farmer that we have to depend for the production of the greater portion of our wealth at the present time. jA

Akaxqa.—Our correspondent writeA—A ■ shock of earthquake waa felt here oa Monday • morning the 24th, at about three o'clock a.m. Tite Light Bbioade.—Our readers will 1 be glad to learn that the immigrants by this ship have arrived in good health, and will be landed to-day. Acclisiatisatiox. — The usual monthly i meeting of the Coancil of this Society will be held, on Friday, at three p.m., at the Literary Institute.. ISBVJtenoy ov Volvnteebs. —Owing to ' the inclemency of the -weather on Tuesday > liisf, no inspection of the Northern Volunteers took place, Foqtbaxi..:—The return match between the boating mea and cricketers of the province, will take place on Saturday next, should the weather permit. A large muster of playera is expected. ■■ ■ •'■ -'• - CnAMBEB of Commerce. — The annual meeting of tho Chamber of will be heW io day ofr three, ihe committee wilt meet at one to receive the report. The Weatdjeb.—A fall of snow began on :"• Monday night, and continued, with short ititenmasions, during Tuesday I £ was driven by a strong spiifh weeterj and Tuesday was certainly' the most unpleasant day we have had during a severe winter. In the eveiring the weather partially cleared up.

Mb. OiLivrKji'a Lectttbe.—Mr Olltvier will lecture in Kaiapoi this evening, in aid of the Institute. Hau-Haus in Waikottaiti. —From the letter of a correspondent of the " Qtago Daily Times " it appears that this superstition has taken, hold of some of the, natives on this island. The prophet held a service in the church, to which none bat disciples were admitted ; all who refuse to join, only a few, have been ordered to quit the pa. Acclimatisation;— One of the English trout, wh')3e escape from the breeding box lust summer created bo much discussion, was yesterday seen in one of the lower ponds by the Curator and Mr E. Fereday. Means were at once successfully taken to effect its capture. We understand the truant fish will be retained for a few days, to satisfy the doubts of the incredulous. School ov Design.—We understand that an attempt is being made by Mr St. Q.uen'iu to form a public library and school of design. Ho proposes to do so either by subscriptions or donations. These donations will afterwards be disposed of at grand lottery. The object Mr St. Q.uention has in view is no doubt a very laudable one, but we are afraid in the present state of business here, he will find great difficulty in carrying out his plans. Meeting- op Ceeditobs. —A meeting of the creditors of Williaai Turton was held at the Registrar's Chambers yesterday morning at eleven o'clock. Debts were proved to the amount of £49 16s lid. Mr J. E. Graham was appointed trustee, and Meeers J. C. Angus and S. Grassland were chosen to act as supervisors. The estimated liabilities of the bankrupt are £730 14s 5d ; assets, £536 4s 3d. A meeting if the creditors of Thomas ELellaway was held at one o'clock. Mr J. E. Graham was appointed trusteeo; and Messrs W. Gavin and James Holdaworth were appointed supervisors. The estimated liabilities are £614. 13s 5d ; assets, £206 10s 9d. Gale. —On Tuesday last Lyttelton was visited by a south-easterly gale of considerable violence, accompanied with a very heavy down-pour of rain and sleet during the forenoon. The gullies became flushed with water the one leading down Oxford street in particular, and which passes under a number of houses. Beyond flooding the back yard of the Queen's and filling the cellar of the Canterbury Hotel, little damage was austained by the water. The barge Mystery, which was lying alongside the screw-pile jetty, lost her bowsprit by fouling the wharf, and several of the small craft dragged their anchors; but no serious casualty occurred. Welcome to theßishop of Christchubch. A social gathering to meet the Bishop of Chrietchurch, takes place at the Town Hall this evening. We understand that the following arrangements have been decided upon. Tea and light refreshments will be served in the old hall, and when they are disposed of an adjournment is to be made to the large room adjoining, where a'public meeting is to be held, at which Mr Harman, as churchwarden of the senior parish, will preside. An address of welcome from the church officers of Chrietchurch and the adjoining parishes will then be presented to the Bishop; afte which his lordship and other gentlemen will address the meeting. The Christchurch choirs will siDg several pieces at intervals during the evening. We recommend all those who may be desirous of hearing from the Bishop personally an account of what took place at the Lambeth Conference to avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded to them. Winteb Enteetainments. —The sixth of the series of winter entertainments was held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Mr Dobson, C.E., delivered the opening address, in which he alluded to the subject of " technical education," and stated, that it was proposed to follow up the entertainments by a series of lectures on this subject. He also expressed an opinion in favor of the institution of examinations, like the middle class examinations at heme, by the Provincial Government, at which the self-instructed might obtain certificates of competency in the various subjects to which they had directed their attention. During the evening the Cavalry Band played the overture to " Martha " and selections from " I Puritani,';" and the members of St. John's Choir gave two glees and a chorus. There were also the usual readings. At the close Mr Ollivier stated that on Tuesday next admission would be gained by ticket, and the platform would be reserved for the use of the committee. In epite of the bad weather there was a large number of people in the hall. Fiee Policb:—A meeting of this body was held last evening in the Fire Brigade room for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing year. Thirty-nine members were present. Before the meeting began th.~ee members, making the fifty, were sworn in by Mr Wilson. Mr Mitchell moved a vote of thanks to Mr Wilson for the trouble he had taken in attending, which was carried unanimously. Mr Wilson, in reply, would just cay before leaving, that if the fire police should appoint one of their number to act as a fire inspector in- connection with Captain Wilson, he, as Mayor, would be most happy to endorse tho nomination. Mr Thomson then took the chair, and the ballot for officers was proceeded with. The following were elected: Messrs Cole, Mitchell, Thomson, Alport, and Anderson. On the motion of Mr Nathan, Mr Mitchel was requested to act as secretary for the ensuing year. He also received a vote of thanks for his services during the past year. The rules in force during the past year were read over and adopted. Mr Alport then moved that the lion, secretary be requested: to write to the officers commanding corps or companies of volunteers in Christchurch with a view to combination at fires. He did so because he believed some of the volunteers thought themselves passed over now that the police force was organised. The resolution was carried. Mr AngU3 moved and Mr M. B. Hart seconded, that Mr Cole bo nominated as fire inspector. The resolution was carried unanimously. 'It'was-also resolved to hold the future meetings of tho force in the brigade office. A discussion arose as to the advisability of having an inaugural dinner, which Mr M. B. Hart liberally offered to provide. The offer was accepted, and a vote of thanks tendered to Mr Hart for his liberality. A proposition made by Mr Hislop that the present caps should be altered, was, after some discussion, referred to a committee to report upon. The meeting then broke up. WIKTEQ ENTERTAINMENTS COMMITTEE. — A general meeting of the Winter Entertainments Committeo was held at White's hotel yesterday afternoon, at two o'clock, for the purpose of considering how to dispose of the surplus funds. There were present— Messrs Ollivier (in the chair), McCardell (hon. secretary), W Wilson, St. Quentin, Crosbie, -Alport, Packer, and Hesketh, Captain Wilson, the Revs. C. Fraser and W. ITabene. It was announced that the receipts of the last entertainment amounted to £4 Is Bd, the expenditure to £4 6a 3d. Tho chairman read a letter from J. P. Jameson, suggesting tbat the committee should endeavour to induce merchants and others to give the persons in their employ a half-holiday in the middle of the week, say on Thursday, end ■ expend--auch portion of their eurph.s funds as might be necessary in effecting this object. Mr 01.!----vier also reminded the. meeting of the purpose for which it was assembled, end said that the not balance now to the credit of the committee was about £29, which would probably bo increased to £35 by the proceed, of next Tuesday's entertainment. Mr St. Quentin moved that the surplus funds be appropriated to the establishment, m nart of a free public library. He proposed that'the money should form the nucleus of a fund to bo raised by public eubscnpUon for he estaWishmentofa library, to which anght be added at some future time, a echoo. of (i , n Captain Wileon seconded the motion. The Rev MrHabene- thought the cum at the d of the committee w>. co « woXd be-of tio the carS?out' of Mr St,Q«entni'e proposal j an.a & would suggest-that ifcskm dbe devoted to

plnce on the Thursday half-holidaye, if Mr .Tnmeson's suggestion could bo carried out. The Chairman considered it would be better to retain the funde in hand until nest year, and then expend them on illustrations to" lectures given in connection with a courso of winter entertainments. After a long discussion, during which a general opinion was expressed in favour of ft free public library being established, but that the cost of it would be so great, that it would be useless to expend tho smnll amount at the disposal of the committee ou such a project, tho following amendment, moved by th-s Rev Mr Ilabens, and seconded by tho Rev C. Fraser, was carried—" That the funds at tho disposal of the committee be devoted to the purpose of promoting future public onteitainments of an entertaining and instructive character." It was rosolved, on the motion of the Rev Mr Hubf m, seconded by Mr Alport —" That in the event of any motion being brought before tho Chairman, aud carried at {the last entertainment, inviting the continuance of the series, that tho meeting be informed that arrangements will probably bo made for that purpose." It was al»o resolred that Mr Jameson be thanked for his suggestion, and be informed that, whilo the committee concur with him in his desire for the establishment of a half-ho'iday, they regret that tho scheme does not wholly come within the sphere of their action. A meetiag of the sub-committee was then held, and the following programme drawn up Jpr next Tuesday :—Part I—Opening address, Bishop of Christchurch 5 reading ; part song—" The Chapel Bell;" reading, Dean of Ohristchurch ; instrumental solo, Mr H. Packer; reading ; pianoforte solo, Mr H. Waddington. Part II —Reading, Mr A. Cottrell; gleo, "Come Bounteous May;" reading, "Sa;:~y Gamp ,, (Master Chuzzlewit), Mr J. McCardell; instrumental septette ; reading, Mr W. Smith ; glee, " Blow, Gentle Gales;" concluding addrees, Mr C. C. Bowen, R.M.; " God Save the Queen." Tickets of admission can bo obtained at Messrs Wilson und Alport's after noon to-morrow.