NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13397, 28 January 1907, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

BREWERIES IX the COLONY

Thk number of breweries in the colony shown in the census returns for 1906 was somewhat fewer than that returned 10 years previously in 1896, but the hands employed were more numerous, and the quantity of beer manufactured considerably greater. While in the year 1895 there, were 5.249.278 gallons brewed, the output for 1905 amounted to 7.634,362 gallons, being nearly 2.400,000 gallons of increase in a 10-year period. Tin- money value rose from £336.754 to £572.579. The quantities of beer on which excise duty was paid for consumption were for 1895, 4,936,400 gallons, and 7.796,160 gallons for 1905. These quantities are in close agreement with those returned in this census as manufactured. The imported

beer entered at the Customs for home consumption only increased in quantity from 201.770 gallons in 1895. to 218.270 gallons in 1905. which tends to show that the colonial made beer is by degrees displacing the beer brought from abroad. In the year 1892 261,391 gallons were brought into New Zealand, when the population was only 650,433 persons. The consumption of beer per head of population, which whs 7.421 gallons in the year 1895. reached 9.150 in the year 1900, since when it lias been almost stationary, the figures for 1905 being 9.212. Census Years. 1906. 1396. Number of breweries ... 7.: 83 Number of hands employed 7jl 465 Amount paid in wages ... £92,303 £57.327 Approximate value of land 82.590 51.533 Approximate value of buildings 156,541 115,033 Approximate value of machinery and plant 95.800 63.350 Beer made in 1905. 7.634.362 gallons, valued at £572,579; 1395, 5.249.278 gallons, valued at £336,734.

A COUNTRY SCHOOL FOR CITY (lIILDIIKX.

The interesting and almost unique experiment of a country school lor city children made by the city of Manchester is described, by Mr. 1,. Smith, in Macmillan'e Magazine. On a site of live acres, secured at a peppercorn rent, at Knolls Green, in Cheshire, 16 miles from Manchester, a building was erected, containing a schoolroom for two (lasses of 40 each, two dormitories each for 40 beds, a diningroom. a kitchen, and a. scullery, rooms for the teachers and permanent staff, and a covered play-shed. with, of course, a large garden for culinary ami educational needs, and a large playing-field. The school hours are almost the same 'as in the city. In the morning the lessons are on ordinary lines, with nature-teaching accentuated : in the afternoon the instruction is devoted to nature alone, and the lessons are given in the wood, or at the farm, or in the garden among the flowers and fruit. In the house the single bed is an amazing luxury—" A little bed all to myself, just like a hospital," in the words of one boy : and with plenty of good food, the school is a veritable land of Goschen. ft is open from April to October, and batches of 80 boys and 80 girls go alternately and stay a fortnight, each set of 40 or 80 being drawn from one school, so that their own teacher can accompany them. During the three, years that it has been at work. 800 children have been received each season. Recently tents for an additional 80 have been set up, and a permanent dormitory for 40 is to be built. The buildings cost £2200. the furnishing £400, and £200 was expended on the garden and grounds, these sums being provided by Mr. Phillips and a few other helpers. Roth hoys and girls share in the domestic work, and the accompanying teacher gives the main part of the instruction. Upon staff, food, etc., the committee expends about £500 a year. Half of this sum is raised by subscription. Seven shillings is paid by the parents or friend: for each child, and, deducting one shilling for railway fare, the remainder makes up the other half of the annual expenditure.