SCHOOL OF ART OR DESIGN.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3970, 13 May 1870, Page 4

SCHOOL OF ART OR DESIGN.

To the Editor of tho Daily Southern Ckosi. Sir,— On arriving here from the mother country some seven years ago I waa agreeably surprised to find that Auckland could boast of its Mechanics' Institute, Choral Society, Young Men's Christian Association, and several other literary societies and institutions to further both the moral and intellectual advancement of its inhabitants. Within the last few months there has been established the Auckland Educational Society, "which shows there are those among us who see that there is room for improvement. I agree with the above Society in the step they have taken, and also in not attempting too much at once. Still, we want something more, and I am sure that our already named institutions would prosper better if a foundation was laid for ' a School of Art or Design- I simply wish to suggest that if a competent drawing-master was to commence an evening class (and a day class, if hia time allowed), twice or three times a week, and receive the support of the Educational Society, a self-supporting school could be established, so that our colonial youths and young men may gain a better knowledge of the theory of the trades they may follow, and assist the love they may have for natural beauty by enjoying the fellowship* of those whom they may seldom meet except in a School of I'esign. — I am, &c, B. S. C. May 9, 1870.

One of the latest " Yankee notions " is a pea-ahelling machine for domestic use. It resembles a small coffee mill in appearance, oan be screwed to a kitchen table, and receives three pods at a time, dropping the shelled peas at one end, and extruding the emgty husks at the other. , Nothing that grows is put to so many uses as I the bamboo. Its appearance is beautiful ; its shade most grateful. The Chinaman sits under it and upon it ; lie eats it jhe sails in it and by it ; he is rocked in it ; his furniture is made of it ; he' is buried in it ; he writes : upon it and with it ; he clothes himself with it, and spanks the young ones with it. In fact, the_" graceful bamboo" is as useful as it is ornamental. \ The Calif ornians, say that they need three improvements jto ,make .their farming what it should' b"e-^-a, trespass law, , an irrigation) system, and tree-planting.