The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, MAY 20 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 962, 20 May 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, MAY 20 1879.

Whatever may be the excellences of the Education Act, it has one great fault. 1 Amongst other things, it says that drawing 13 to bo taught in schools ; but mcroly saying this will n»>t make children proficient in the art of drawing. Yet, so far as we can see, all that the majority of children have a chance of knowing about it is that it was intended by Parliament that they should be taught drawing. Tin's is satisfactory as far a3 it goes, for it is proof that the intention wa3 that children in our public schools should enjoy the same opportunities as the children of other places of developing latent talent, and of adding another qualification to the store knowledge that might help them through the world, if not lay the foundation of their future callings. But the fact i 3 that, like most young measures, the Education ; of New Zealand is not perfect. Some of its promises are similar to those of the particularly young and inexperienced person who announces his or her intention of making all sorts of extraordinary purchases with a penny. The one great barrier to carrying out all the pro\ isions ;of the Act in their integrity is the want of money. True, parents and guardians do not complain much of the poverty of the curriculum observed in the school, although it i 3 not that laid down by the Act, for they forget that they are paying for the education of their children, because they are not paying directly, and think that they ought not to " look a gift horse in the month." Butif they were payi ing school fees the matter would be different. ;The curriculum of the Education Act is [meagre enough aa it stands for a pauper 1 school, and, when one of its most imporf; tont subjects is omitted, it is worse. It 'is not the ignorance of our legislators of the importance of giving our children the best possible education that has been the cause of the introduction of a system that compares unfavorably with any that has preceded it. It is the want of moneyDrawing, singing, and drill would be taught in our schools, if education was not paid for out of the consolidated revenue. lender the school fee system, the extent and nature of the education to be given are first established, and then fees are levied to cover the cost, and we ; think it would be better if additional subjects were taught in our schools on the payment of fees. But thero is one thing that we cannot understand, and that is why, under the present system, some schools should be favored more than others. In Dunedin there arc five drawing masters, headed by Mr. llutton, teaching 3400 children. There are 1500 school children in this district, and we h:»ve not one master. "W edo not ask that the proportion of drawing masters given to Dunedin should be given to us ; but, as we have to. pay our quota of the expenses of education into the public chest, we think that this district should not be entirely neglected. Mr. Peattie shows that he takes an interest in school matters which extends beyond the precincts of the school over which he presides, when he 'announces that he intends to bring the matter before the Schools Committee for their consideration. There is no reason : why because children live in Dunedin they ! shottld be treated with more consideration than those who have the misfortune to live in the country, and we think that if it were proposed to the Board by the Oamaru Schools Committee that a drawing master should be devoted to this school district, to teach at Maheno, Kakanui, and Otepopo on one day, in Oamaru on another day, and on the Plain on another day, no objection could be raised to such a proposal.

cantile firm was the only course open, if we except that of appealing to Sir Julius Vogel aa well aa that of sending a negotiator Home from here. The name of the firm and the terms upon which the business is to be transacted have not transpired, as they will, of course, first be made pnblio through the | nwdism of the Council, -which will meet on Thursday to consider the matter. But we imagine that the which was foreseen from the first, and which it was thought might be avoided by sending Home a negotiator—the necessity for realising a certain amount in anticipation of the loan—will not, we presume, be absent from the arrangement which is now proceeding. Nevertheless, it will be satisfactory to know that the Council, having been compelled to go beyond the banks, have succeeded in getting a private firm to undertake the loan, even if waiting for the proceeds should cause them some inconvenience. It was desirable that the Council should go into the market whilst money is plentiful, and we are glad that there is now a prospect of their doing so. In our paragraph commenting upon the state of the grain market in Melbourne, and the prospect of Oamaru growers being able to compete in that market in consequence of the misfortunes winch have occurred to Victorian growers, a misprint occurred. In giving the probable price of prime Oamaru wheat in the Melbourne market, a figure 4 crept in instead of a figure 5, making 4s 9d instead of 5s 9d the price that would probably be realised, as 9d in Melbourne being equal to 4s in Oamaru. It is a matter for surprise and thankfulness that, long ere this, a serious accident has not occurred at the Thames-street railway crossing, for no more dangerous piece of railway line is to be found in the Colony. The presence of a signalman has some effect in averting accident, but still very narrow escapes from being run over arc occasionally seen. One such escape occurred yesterday, to a lad who was riding a horse at a rapid rate towards the crossing, apparently totally oblivious of the fact that a train was within a few yards of the street. Some of those who were spectators of the scene, however, succeeded in attracting the boy's attention to the danger, and the lad just managed to pull the horse round on to the footpath in time to avert a collision with the train. The Municipal Council will meet on Thursday evening next. Business —general. We woidd remind the baud of the Philharmonic Society of to-night's rehearsal at Mr. Earle's rooms. The B tine Jin Age, which originally started with the name of the News, has again been subjected to metamorphosis, and appeared on .Saturday last as the Tribune. In a short prefatory article announcing the change, it 3a y S : —"ln placing this first edition of the Tribune before the public, we desire to place on record our aims and objects in doing so, which are, in reality, to deserve the name under which we sail, firstly as the Tribune, the chosen defender of the liberties of the people." A company to be called the New Zealand Implement and Carriage Company (Limited), with a capital of L 30.000, in shares at LI each, 13 projected at Milton. The provisional directory is a very numerous one. The C'hristchurch teetotallers are establishing a band in connection with the Good Templary Lodges. Could not the teetotallers of Oamaru follow this example ? It would be an additional means of keeping their youth out of mischief, and a great boon to the town. It is notified that the sitting of the Licensing Court for Hampden will be adjourned until 4th June, and that for Maerewhenua until the 6th June. As it is intended to organise cheap excursion trips from England to Sydney during the Exhibition, there is some hope that the fares between New Zealand and Sydney will be reduced on that occasion. There is really no reason why the people of New Zealand fhould not be induced to see the produce of the world. Indeed, it i 3 highly desirable that all who can possibly do so should visit the Exhibition and keep their eyes open when they get there. The monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee will be held this evening. Mr. Lindsay, the newly-appointed head master of the North School, has lost no time in entering upon his duties. He took charge of the school yesterday. We are requested by the Postmaster to state that mails for Australia, by the Albion, will close here on Thursday next, at G am., as already notified. The horses engaged in the Grand National Steeplechases are arriving in town. Mr. Markey's pair, Moonlight and The Lad, arrived by express train to-day. Members of the Philharmonic Society are reminded that the first practice for the second concert of the season will take place to-morrow evening, when the "Creation" and miscellaneous selections will form the objects of study. A Committee meeting mil be held at Mr. Booth's office to-morrow, at four o'clock.

A meeting of those desirous of joining a division of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance will be held this evening, at halfpast seven o'clock, in the Tees-street Hall. It may be mentioned that this order is one which, while reqiiirin:.' its members to be total abstainers, is essentially a benefit society, bestowing relief in cases of sickness, death, fee., in a similar manner to other friendly societies.

The trustees in the estate of Mr. Andrew Bell, farmer, Duntroon, yesterday afternoon hold an inquiry into the affairs of the estate, at the Courthouse. The witnesses examined were Mr. Allen, Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, and Messrs. Burbury and Montagu, of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and the examination lasted about five hours. Mr. Hislop attended on behalf of the trustees, and Mr. Newton for the Bank and Company. The proceedings were somewhat lively. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M., Sarah O'Conner, for baring been drunk and disorderly in Usk-street last night, was fined 10s, with cab hire, 3s, with the option of going to gaol for three days. The same prisoner was also charged with having made use of obscene language, and for this offence ! she was fined 20s, with the alternative of I four days' imprisonment. The evidence showed that the accused had been so drunk that it was necessary to obtain a cab to convey her to the lock-up. The usual weekly meeting of St. Paul's Young Men's Association was held last evening in the session-room of the church, the attendance being moderate. Mr. Mollison occupied the chair. After the usual preliminary business, an interesting paper was read by Mr. Moir, on '.' Adelaide and its surroundings." This was followed by a very fair criticism, in which all present took part. The meeting then closed with prayer. A debate is arranged for the next meeting.

Mails for the Australian Colonies and Tasmania, per Albion, close at 11 a.m. on Thursday, 22nd inat., at Bluff. Mr. A. M'Lean, being about to relinquish the management of the Waikakahi Station, the employes met together on Saturday, and presented him with a valuable gold watch, obtained from Mr/ Lumsden, and /accompanied by the following testimonial, illuminated by Mr. Millhouse, of Waimate "To Alexander M'Lean, Esj., Manager Waikakahi Station. We, the undersigned, on your resigning the situation you have so long and worthily held, present you -with this testimonial and accompanying token, as a mark of the esteem and-affectionate regard in which we hold you. We have: always felt that, though in a superior position, by putting a willing and effective shoulder to the wheel, you have' endeavored to. render our labor light, and while expressing our regret that circumstances compel you to leave us, we assure you. that in whatever sphere your future lot may be cast, you will carry with you our earnest wishes that prosperity may ever attend you. Bidding you an affectionate farewell, we subscribe ourselves your attached friends." [Here follow the signatures.] During Mr. M'Lean's connection with the station, he has, by his quiet, unassuming manner, won the esteem of all engaged under him, and this has found expression in the testimonial given above.

Wc understand that Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach have determined to close their Wellington branch, and that the topsail schooner Maggie Paterson has been chartered by them to carry their stock to Dunedin, where the head-quarters of the firm are situated. Vincent County has made an annual grant of L 25 to the Otago Benevolent Institution. The first half-year's instalment has been received by the Institution. The amount of counterfeit coin in circulation in the United States (according to the New York Sun) is said to be 2,000,000 dols., besides the great number of genuine pieces made fraudulent by the removal of part of the metal. "Stationery" in the United States comprises more than pens, ink, and paper. Such at least appears to be the case as regards stationery supplied to the House of Representatives. One of the American papers has lately published some items from the stationery statement of the Clerk of the House, which includes, among other articles, a razor, razor strop, and nail brush, four opera glasses, a pair of dumb bells, one pack of cards, a copy of the " Baby Opera," one of the " Songs of the Sanctuary," a hymn-book, a copy of "The Bible for Learners," and a family Bible. The articles thus ordered as stationery by member of the House, although perhaps not coming within the strict;signification of the term, are, with the exception of the "pack of cards," not only unobjectionable, but afford gratifying evidence of a simplicity of taste and a yearning for all that tends to cleanse, strengthen, and elevate humanity. An assembly, the members of which demand to be supplied with nailbrushes, dumb-bells, and hymu-books, is one that can hardly fail to inspire confidence and win the sympathies ox all right-minded persons. The Melbourne correspondent of the Camperdown " Chronicle" tells the following story : —Some very smart criticisms, and very strange stories, are afloat as to the chief occupant of Government House. You know, just as well as I do, what an utter absence there is of ostentation of manner ■among the English nobility, except, perhaps, in a few instances. But the Marquis of Normanby- carries the severe simplicity of his style of living to the greatest extent, and some of our " stuck up" people hardly know what to make of it. He is, in fact, the plainest of plain men. His Excellency is provided with an orderly, of course, but does not think it his business to wait for his orderly, but his orderly's business to wait for him. Rather than have that state of tilings reversed, the Marquis of Normanby would dispense with an orderly, not thinking perhaps that he stands very much in need of [ one. Well, His Excellency, who drives in I a buggy as- an ordinary farmer, and not in i appearance very unlike one, had occasion to ' drive into town one day. last week, and left his orderly, who had not had time enough for his toilet, behind him. This might have escaped notice, had not his orderly been observed coming, exasperated and perspiring, on a high stepping horse, at a great speed after His Excellency, as he came along askiug, "Did you see the Governor?" The question was put to one of the police on Prince's Bridge, and the answer was, "No, begorrah, but I seed an old man dhrivin' by, who had just come from Gover'ment House." " That's liim," said the orderly, and increased his speed. ' •