WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12539, 28 June 1901, Page 3

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[From Our Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, June 27.

A considerable number of teachers in the Wellington district are spending their mid-winter holidays listening to the proceedings of the Teachers’ Salaries Commission.

The Native Land Court to deal with the Chatham Island case will sit here to-mor-row, bub probably will adjourn till a later date.

The Westport Coal Company’s arch, which cost £SOO to erect, was to-day sold for £l4 10e. The coal exhibits were sold for 30s 6d per ton. The Wellington Harbour Board has decided to support a proposal for an amendment of the Trustees Act, so as to include the securities of Harbour Boards in the list' of those in. which trustees may invest trust funds. The Board' has decided not to insure against claims under the Workers Compensation Act of last .session, but will form an Accident -Fund 1 by annually, setting aside a sum of £6OO. Mr R. Wakefield, brother of Edward Wakefield, once a well-known journalist and parliamentarian, has arrived in W ellington, and.intends remaining in the colony. He states that Mr Edward Wakefield is still living in London, and following literary pursuits. Canterbury residents may be interested to learn that the I sitter's two sons, who, when-they left Timaru were mere boys, have been through the South African campaign. A memorandum from the North Canterbury Women Teachers’ Association, signed by the President, Miss Christina Henderson, 8.A., has been submitted to the Teachers’ Salaries Commission. It is principally an appeal for equal pay for equal work, and says that the minimum salary for women teachers should be such as will enable a teacher to secure something more than board and lodging and clothes, and. should take into consideration the special cost and wear of clothes and quality of lodging required, the cost of going on holiday, etc. Special consideration should be given to the case of teachers in sole charge of schools, and 1 all classes thereof, in repots ports. Under the heading “ Women ■'as Teachers,” the memorandum says: —“From reports furnished 'by the newspapers, it appears that statements have been made before the Commission to the effect that women are neither physically or mentally capable.of teaching higher standards. Wc have no hesitation in saying that the capabilities .of women teachers in this respect have; never been called in question- in North ; Canterbury,: where it has been the practice in mixed schools to assign anv Standard to a woman teacher. , If it were necessary, numerous instances' could be cited in support of this statement, while reference to Inspectors’ reports will show that Standard.® did not suffer. We can also confidently assert that, as a rule, women manage their classes without, the assistance of the strap. In town schools, where tire sexes are separate, the work done in the girls’ departments is quite equal to that done in the boys’, while the average size of classes is at least the same; indeed, in one of the Christchurch schools the Standard V. girls department contains one hundred pupils, and is taught by an assistant, mistress, with the help of a third-year pupil-teacher. Standard V. boys’ department contains eighty-eight pupils, and is taught by two assistant masters.”

Some very satisfactory reports concerning land settlement, wore made to the Land Board hy the Hangers to-day. Regarding the Te Matua Settlement, of 701 acres, near' Fedlding, it was stated that the total area is divided into thirteen holdings, occupied by thirteen selectors. Improvements to the value of £265 should have been done. The amount actually ‘on the land ,is £1941, including £1676, the value of ; the improvements on the land at the time of selection. The stock on the estate consists of 599 head of cattle, 26" horses and 162 pngs. Twelve new houses are being, built, 445 chains of new fencing have been erected, and 26 acres of land ploughed. The Ohakea .Estate, near Feiiding, has been cut up into fifteen holdings. This property is on tbs Bangitikei. The amount of improvements required by law was but the total amount effected is £3510. The stock consists of 228 cattle, 46 horses and 1807 sheep. Seven houses have been erected, and 994 chains of fencing constructed. The settlers on both properties speak hopefully of their prospects, and are apparently carrying out their work m a whole-hearted manner.