CURRENT TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10662, 24 May 1895, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

ENGLISH KABMS AT HALS’-A-CBOWN AN ACHE,

Mr J. F. L. Rollestone, one of the largest land agents in the Midlands, and the Conservative candidate for Leicester at the next general election, mentioned while addressing a political

YYUUU <* jiwiiwivw* meeting six or seven weeks ago, some remarkable facta with regard to the agricultural depression at Home. Ho said that the present condition of farming caused dismay even to the most sanguine. In some of the Midland Eastern counties whole tracts of land are now a waste, and during the present year there would bo a general exodus of tenants from Ease Anglia. He had himself in hand several largo farms in good condition, with good houses and buildings upon them, within three miles of a main line of railway, with good roads, and free from tithe, which he should bo glad to let at 2a 6d an acre. l r et twentyfive years ago every one of these acres cost ;SSO of bard-earned money. At present they were farmed and kept in condition at

even though they had not a penny of rent to pay. Notwithstanding all this supply of land, which could be had in many counties absolutely rent free, there was no demand whatever. The owners, indeed, would be only too glad to get rid of it. The tenants were tired of it, and were leaving it in large numbers, and there were none to succeed them. Of course, Mr Kollestone, like a good Conservative, attributed this deplorable state of things to the Liberal Administration 5 but, politics apart, it is strange to find in a country where thousands and thousands of people are] without bread and without employment, large areas of land—the source of all wealth—lying idle. The spectacle should bring home to English legislators the fact that the admission of the starving people to the waste land is the surest solution of the problem of poverty.

SUNDAY SCHOOL FAILURES.

Dnco a year newspaper readers in all parts of the colony are confronted by a long list of the names of Presbyterian Sunday School

scholars who have achieved a creditable measure of success in the pursuit of scriptural knowledge. There is, probably, another list containing the names of the young people who have not made the best use of their opportunities. But this, of course, is never published, and it has been left to the Secretary of the Victorian Presbyterian Aesomivy to give us some idea of the sort of performance that earns for the names of dull and witty children a place upon its ample pages. Here are a few of the samples this gentleman gives of replies returned to recent .examination papers:—Question; “What is effectual calling?” Answers: (1) "Calling two or three times at once, or calling all the time.” (2) “ A work of God’s grace, whereby we are removed into another world.” Question s “ What is required in the tenth commandment ?” Answer : “To do everything without covetousness, and look upon ourselves with full contempt.” To the request l for a brief text showing that prayer should be offered up for what is required for the support of life, a scholar answered, “We should pray that Christ would be kind to our parents, deliver us from all evil dinners, breakfasts, bread and meat and other requisites.” Another question put was, “ What two classes of men came to sea the child Jeeus ?” To this one boy replied, “ Wild men of the East j” while another wrote, “Wise men of the Bast offered Jesus the franchise.” The Secretary explained that the hoy probably referred to frankincense. The following ate a few other answers :—Question: “ Who was the first Christian martyr, and what were his last words ?” Answers : “ Martin Luther. His last words—* I am the light of the world.’” “ Agrippa. He said, * Be sure and kill David.’” Question; “What would have saved Sodom?” Answer: “Water. They had no fire brigade.” Question: “ Name three or four ways in which the Sabbath was broken in Nehemiah’s time?” Answer; “They married infidels, worshipped asses and trod wine-presses.” It is no wonder that the reading of these comical replies amused even a solemn gathering of Presbyterian elders.

TECHNICAL E EDUCATION 1 OP GIBES. C £

Schools of technical instruction for girls are fast becoming a feature of colonial towns, and though some may think thoir

establishment savours of innovation, the contrary is really the case. We are only following the example set us by the Old World—a long way off. In Germany and Belgium great facilities are placed in the way of girls who wish to acquire a commercial and industrial education, in addition to the usual knowledge of dressmaking and fancy work. By this means girls are enabled to fill situations in offices and counting-houses, as well as to execute designs in porcelain and textile manufactories. In Brussels, the professional school for girls is an example of what can be done by a few public-spirited persons. The idea was taken up by two or three citizens, who appealed to the public for help, and the result was that a large number of subscribers speedily came forward promising subscriptions of at least thirty-six francs a year, that sum being fixed at first as the school fee. The Municipal Council promised an annual subscription of S6OO francs, and with this income the school was opened. The school has met with great success, and has now an attendance of several hundred giris, Among the subjects taught are book-keeping, industrial designing (chiefly such as is applicable to dressmaking and millinery), and the manufacture of porcelain. Besides these, the students are instructed in painting on porcelain, dressmaking, the cutting out and getting up of linen, and the manufacture of artificial flowers. As an example of the thoroughly practical nature of the instruction imparted, the method of examination in dressmaking ■ may be cited. A certain amount of material is given to a girl, which she is required to make into a dress, fitting a lay figure. In judging her work, the taste displayed and the exactness of the fit are taken into account. As might be expected, the girls and young women on leaving the school find little difficulty in obtaining employment in the business for which they havo received thoir training.

deedging at dyttelton,

A good deal of discussion baa taken place in maritime circles during the present week concerning the action of the Lyttelton Harbour

Board in discontinuing dredging operations at the port. In November last the Board chartered the Duaedia Harbour Board’s dredge No. 222 for sis months, with the option of re-chartering it at the expiration of that time for a similar term. The charter expires to-day, and it is the fact of the local Board having, so far as is known at present, declined to renew the arrangement, that is exercising the minds of a section of the shipping community. People argue that if Lyttelton is to retain her position as the premier loading harbour of the colony, the facilities of the port must bo kept abreast of the requirements. With the advent of large cargo, steamers and a tendency on the part of naval architects to design still larger vessels, it is probable that Lyttelton will be made the final port of departure for the majority of our ocean carriers. For the. past six months the dredge has been employed in increasing the depth inside the moles, and it must bo admitted that it has done excellent and very necessary work. But to-day the Board finds itself in this position: It has spent between £BO,OOO and £90,000 during a period of tea or twelve years, chiefly on the inner harbour, with the result that the depth of water insido the moles has been increased beyond the depth outside by probably several feet. The largest steamers can be safely loaded to almost any depth at the wharves, but the trouble ia to get them

trouble, it should be understood, can only arise in the case of vessels drawing considerably over 27 feet, and at present it ia of little concern; but having regard to the tendency to increase the size of the cargo steamers, it must soon be considered. But wo are disposed to think that the Board acted wisely in declining to renew the charter of the dredge for a term of six months. To bring the harbour up to probable requirements a channel from 500 to 800, or even 1000 feet, wide, and perhaps a mile long, should be dredged down abreast of Eipa Island. This work would* roughly speaking, occupy three or fons years, and would cost something approaching £30,000 or £35,000, To satisfactorily carry out this huge task the Board would requite a considerable addition to isa available funds, and a thoroughly;efficient dredging plant of its own.