SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 10

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Something Said for the Classics. Miss Gillam, formerly on tho staff of tho Napier Girls' High School, who is pursuing her stndies in Franco, in a letter to tho eecretarv of the Board of Governors, says:—"This is rather a critical time in the educational world in France. Newspapers are crying_ out against tho modern system. Business moo object that the clerks they got avo not nearly so well trained as heretofore, and big engineering iirms are declaring that tho boy who has learnt his 'uuiall Latin and less Greek' is much more capable in that branch of work than tho bov who has gone through tho school taking only those subjects as are 'useful.' After all even in these prosaic utilitarian days ihuch is to bo said for teaching one thing thoroughly, even if it bo Latin. The laborious hours spent at Latin are after all not wasted. lam nioro and more realising that this ono thing well done does not tend to narrow tho power of the intellect but rather braces it up and makes it moro efficient, and at tho samo time disciplines character also."

Death of a Pioneer. The late Mrs. Sarah Barrd, of The Wharf, Otahuhu, who passed quietly away during the last week, in her 85th year, was ono of tho remaining links with tho early days of Auckland. Sho came to Auckland with her father, Mr. Thomas Baird, who in 1850 purchased and settled \ipon tho land just beyond the Tamaki Bridge, at Otahuhu, over since known as Fairviow Farm. Her brother, the lalo Mr. S. C. Baird, farmed Fairviow for many years after his father's death; and elie resided with him until sho married her cousin, Mr. S. Baird, and went to live at The Wharf. Her younger sister was married to tho lato Mr. John Hall, who came out to Sydney in 1810, and after filling a business position thero for threo ywrs, camo on to Auckland. Those wero tho days when communication between Auckland aDd Sydney was by such vessels as the schooner Shamrock (Captain Daldy), 90.tons, and tho schooner Terror ;(Captain Dunning), 70 tons. Mr. Hall hold o mercantile position for a year or two in Auckland, and then purchased the business at Otahuhu carried on in his namo ever since. Otahuhu was for somo years tho headquarters of tho Imperial troops, and was in those days a busy and lively place. Fairviow was situated on tho Great South Eoad leading from Auckland to tho various military outposts and settlements between Auckland and Waikato; and tho Fairview homestead was tho scene of much quiet but genuine hospitality. This, however, was iu tho 'sixties, or in comparatively modern times. Mr. John Hall in his later years was fond of relating how ho spent the Christmas of 1846 lons before the war in tho Waikato. > In company with Messrs. Crumher, Sims, Nicholas, and Captain Brown, ho travelled from Auckland by way of tho Thames River to Matamata, Tauranra, and Rotorua, visiting Mokoia Island. The party returned to Matamata, and then Mr. Hall, getting a native to accompany him, struck across by way of Maungatautari to the Wesleyan Mission Station on the Upper Waipa, then iu charge- of tho Rev. Air. Buttle. Then potting another native ho canoed down the Waipa and Waikato Rivers, calling at tho English Church mission station in charge of the Rev. Mr. Ashwell, at Taupiri, then on to Tuhimata, near Mercer, wliere the nativo Buide deserted him. Seeing from a neighbouring height, however, what ho deemed to bo the hills surrounding Auckland, ho started alono iu tho morning, and following nativo tracks, reached Sliortlaud Street, Auckland, _ late iu tho evening, fording tho Tamaki River near the present bridge and passing in tho dusk tho solitary hut that then lay out in tho wilds abont midway between tho embryo city of Auckland and tho waters of the Manukau. The deceased ln<!y throughout her long life of 85 years, and her sistor Mrs. John Hall, who predeceased her by o good many years, were greatly esteemed by a generation that is gone for their many acts of kindness and genuino hospitality.

Mrs. Salmon, of Sea Point, Capo Town, arrived in Wellington last week by the Remuera. and is now visiting her son, Ur. C. T. Salmon, of Palinerston North. Mr. Henry Baigent, of Nelson, returned on Wednesday from a visit to Great Britain and Europe, and yesterday, accompanied by Mrs. Baigtnt, he left for Nelson. Mrs. Buchanan (Mastorton) has Iwcn on a visit to Wellington. Mr. and lire. D, A. Strachan returned to Blenheim yesterday from Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. F. Carey are leaving Mastorton. very shortly for Hawcra. Mr. Carey, who is manager of tho Loan,a> Mercantile Company, has been transferred to that district. On Wednesday erening next Mr. Leo. Buckeridgc's pupils' concert takes place in tho Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall. An interesting programme has been arranged for the occasion, and a very pleasant evening should bo spent by those attending it. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Beetham (Mnstorton) have gone on a. visit to Fcilding and Eangitikei. Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Barraod, who havo lately been staying at "Keuilworth," left by tho Sydney boat yesterday on routo for England.