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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1024, 1 August 1879, Page 2

Mi:. F.':ae : lias taken the initiatory step towards scecuring justice for country districts in the matter of tuition in drawing. He yesterday, at the Education Board's meeting, gave notice of motion that if the various School Committees are agreeable the Board arrange for Mr. Hutton to visit periodically the High Schools at Milton, Lawrence, and Qaynairu, "If the School Committees are agreeable !" They will be positively delighted with such an arrangement, for although they may very reasonably consider themselves ontitled to rather more attention than Mr. Hutton would be able to give to country schools under such an arrangement, they will, we feel sure, reckon that half a loaf is preferable to no bread at all. We are indebted to Mr. Fraer—and so are all the country districts that would be benefited by the arrangement he favors—for having shown a little consideration lor us, and we can assure him and his fellow.-Boardmcn that we shall always register our gratitude where there is the lea3t excuse for doing so, whilst we shall not be backward in doing the other thing when we consider ourselves neglected. If Mr. Fraer should follow up what he has already done, by suggesting some means whereby our country school scholars could be taught the rudiments of vocal music, he would increase our obligation to him and the Hoard. The application of the Chairman of the Oamaru School Committee for a new building in lieu of the South School, met with the old response that the limited funds of the Board would not admit of such a drain as that to which such a work would subject it. Tliis is to be deplored, for not only has the attendance at the South School out-i'O" n the building, but the building is about as miserable an apology t'or a schoolhousc in an important di-trict as could be conceived. It is a pity that the Board has not set apart at least a small portion of their funds for school biiiMiir.'s in country district-; such as this. r;,e Education Act will virtually be inoperative in Oamaru until increased school accommodation is provided. It is well that the Oamaru School Committee did not bring the compulsorv clauses of the Act into operation. Had they done so, and had the children been crowded into the present school buildings, there would have been room for complain: Ui.it ttio health «.f flie cliil.bwi av.is lining impaired. The present meagre accommodation, in fact, acts as an ellective preventive to the adoption of compulsory education in this district, whatever may be the case elsewhere. Here is another matter in which Mr. Fraer might act as our champion.