EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10179, 13 October 1894, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

ACETIC ACID. TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—The local M.H.R. asked for a bonus for acetic acid, and I notice a letter from the Drug Company in your issue of to-day stating " we have been making acetic acid in the colony for many years, and we can make locally more than the colony can consume." It seems Mr Kelly, has "struck oil," else why should this company be up in arms. I should liko to enlighten the public on a few points connected with acetic acid in the hopes they may develop the resources of thoir country and find profitable work for the unhappy unemployed. First, I believe there in no duty on acetate of sods, and a more nominal duty on imported acetic r.cid. To make acetic acid from local wood it ia necessnry to convert it to charcoal in an enclosed vessel at a red heat. The process is similar to gas making. Instead of the ammonia liquor being formed Bnd tar, an acid liquor and wood tar containing creosote result. It seems the driest wood will yield 20 per cent, of its weight of a sherry coloured liquor about the strength of vinegar. An excess of lime is added, and the acetate of lime is filtered off. This is decomposed by adding the proper quantity of sulphate of soda (worth 7s per cwt), and acetate of soda and sulphate of lime result—the first | most easily dissolved, the last insoluble; no filtering, therefore, is needed. So acetate of soda is born, but still it is contaminated with impurities most difficult to get rid of. For at a temperature of 600 it ceases to be acetate of soda' and becomes carbonate. Often have I anxiously added the acid and a brisk effervescence shown me.. I had used too much heat. Acetate of soda is worth £25 per ton in England, and as the drug companies quote it at ls 6d per lb here, it must be worth £168 here. To make the strongest acetic acid it is necessary to drive off the water of crystalisation, and by doing so 2'331b become I'3lb; on adding lib vitriol to this and distilling lib of glacial, acetic acid is produced—selling for lOd per lb in England and 2s 6d here. I have mado acetic apid in New Zealand from broadleaf, manuka, and maple, and hold a, certificate from a Government analyst " that it was pure." One cord of these woods is capable of making 801b acetate of soda, or 3*-lb of glacial acetic acid, besides two gallons methylic alcohol, value 12s, also tar containing creosote, and 12-bags charcoal. I shonld now like to ask Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Company if their company havo ever made a drop of acetic acid from New Zealand woods, for importing acetate of soda made from English wood is quite a different thing. I pause for a reply.—l am, &c, H. M. Levins-, M.B. Invercargill, October <*■.

— The princesses of the English Royal Family have, on the average, married at the age of 22 ; the princes at 28. 7

THE LOWELL LECTURES ON " THE ASCENT OF MAN." TO THK EDITOR. Sir- —Our Parliament will scarcely have done its labours for the session till we will havo this latest book among us, aad all the professional aud educated portion of the population will be discussing its merits. Professor Thomas, of Auckland, has dulivcred a popular lecture on " Darwin" before the Auckland Institute, and ss tho newspapers have scarcely done him : justice, I shall tak** the liberty of correcting them, and also give a few extracts from a paper I read the Bama evening beforo the Otahubu Association. Dr Darwin in a note to " The Origin of Species," says:—" It is rather a singular instance of tha manner in which eimilar views arise at nbou t the same period, that Goethe in Germany, Dr Erasmus Darwin in England, and Geoff sy St. Hilaire in France, came to the same conclusions oa the origin of species in the years 1794-5." A writer reviewing Dr Darwin's book in 1860, says: " Demaillet invoked the operation of the external influences or conditions of life, with consentaneous volitional efforts, iv order to raise species in the scale, as the fish, e.g., into the bird. Buffon called in the same agency to lower the species, by way of degeneration, as the bear, eg., into the seal, and this into the whale." Hugh 'Miller is, perhaps, the most famous modern expositor of the " theory of degeneration," though there are not wanting others, e.g., Dr Anton Dohro, of Naples, and Professor E. Riy Lankester, of University College; London. . Bat if we admit that human beings sometimes make a bad use of their free-will to account for degeneracy in the lower animals, we would havo to say that they instinctively go astray. One of the Auckland papers says Professor Thomas " showed how the germ of the evolution theory had been in the mmd of Buffon," and the other says he referred to it as "an interesting speculation." But Buffon's opinions on tho subject were very fluctuating, and, as I have shown, were in the other direction,.for, on his theory, a gorilla would be a degenerate mau. Neither was Lamarck a pupil of Buifon's. When he published his "French Flora," iv 1778, he was a hawker's clerk in Paris, and the book so pleased Buffon that he obtained for the author a situation In the botanical department of the Academy of Sciences. In the degeneration theory of Buffon man is one of the primitive types, the created apes and monkeys are derivatives. And he would have classed the crocodile as an insect, seeing the hardness of the external casing resembles the hardness of the casing of a beetle, but the crocodile, being so large, would make "altogether too terrible an insect! " Wa may trace evolution from Aristotle to Linnreus and Bonnet, and from Demaillet and Lamarok to Robert Chambers, Alfred R. Wallace, and Charles Darwin. Lamarck added to the outward influences of Demaillet the effects of inoreased or decreased use or action of parts, The1 author of- "The j Vestiges," availing himself of the ingenious i illustration of a pre-ordained exception, occur-

many times thoir volume of water and thrown on some portion of worked garden ground, bub never twice in the same spot, and not in same trench as the ashe3. —I am, &c , October 10. Bimplk Sanitation-.

OTAGO CENTRAL MISRBPRE" SRNTATION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —I have just road your sub-leader of Friday last, referring to tlie Otago Central railway, and while I am not going to criticise you for your advocacy of the Otago Central railway's speedy prosecution, I cannot help taking strong exception to the very unjust tone of the article in question.

This time last year, when the Government had on a large number of men (about 200), your cry was that they hud been put on temporarily for purely political purposes and to influence the Waihemo election; and now, when they again endeavour to absorb as muoh labour as possible at a dull season of the year, you again cry out that they are not doing what they ought to do, and personally accuse our member of having a down on Central Obago. Now, Sir, be fair. One ounce of fact will dispel all the illusion you conjure up, and show that the Otago Central is not beiDg neglected.

Firstly, then, let me tell you that, on an average, 150 men have been employed during the past year; secondly, that there are now about 200. meu employed ; aud, thirdty, thai; the work now being dove is of more importance than this little "rabbit burrow" which you prate so much about, and the whereabouts of which every writer seems to be supremely ignorant. This tunnel will not take very long to construct, but will consume a large amount of material in the shape of lime and bricks, and therefore provide less employment than the work which is now being done. Your readers may perhaps be interested to know something tangible concerning the line. The distance from Hyde to Ryan's will' be approximately 12 or 13 miles. Ou the first portion, from Hyde to Capburn Creek, say 44 miles/the cuttings were fairly easy, and most of them are Hearing completion. The proposed tunnel is between Capburn and Hyde, and will be merely a small bore through the corner of a spur; but the country from Capburn to Ryan's is nearly all rock, very difficult and dangerous to work, and of much the same nature as the cuttings between Hindon and Barewood. On that portion of the line the officials are now concentrating all their energies for. two reasons—firstly, because it absorbs more labour than the other portion, and secondly,- because it will take much longer to complete ■ than the portion between Hyde and Capburn. The tunnel is by no means all that is required, however, between Hyde and Capburn, because there ore no less than four bridges to be erected, so that your readers will at once see how superficial a knowledge those who write and talk about the work have, one writer having even said that the tunnel was wanted to pierce Capburn

ther with a little discussion on the reason why prices have not fallen lower than they have). If "Inquirer" really wants to know my opinion as to the causes of tho general depression of tM.de, I must refer him to a paper published in your columns during the latter half of July, where he will also find those "statements of fact or theory established by reference to well-known authorities," for which his seul seems to yearn.

" Inquirer" then objects to my using the phrase "artificial dearth" without proving both the adjective and the noun. He seems to be quite unaware that my letter wa-s not ft com-., prehensive treatise on bimetallism, although in ita very first paragraph it, iv so many words, took for granted as the standpoint for the argument not only " the evils due to the demonetisation of silver," bat also "that all the bimetallists say is true." In spite of this explicitness on my part, '* Inquirer " presumes that my letter contains a full statement of the cause of the depression, and complains of me not having proved the present dearth of money, and ita artificial character ! I notice, however, with regard to this last point, that he is far too cautious to suggest Jiny possible alternative to the legislative action in closing miats against silver to account for the fall in the prico of tbat metal and for the reduction in the amount of money. This ia probably because he knows that no alternative to this legislative, or artificial cause, is tenable. If he does not know this, 1 must refer him to the writings of Laveleye, ; Walker, Nicholson,, Foxwell, or almost any other modern economist; or, if he wants a shortcut to knowledge, he can find the fact clearly shown in the little handbooks published by Barclay, Archbishop Walsh, and other men. As to the " dearth," he says, "Between 1886 and 1892 the,total gold coin and bullion reserves iv the banks of {Curopq and America have grown from 225,000,000 to 330,000,000 sterling." Now these figures are not of much value without the particulars from 1873 onwards, and, more especially, without an estimate as to how much less there was in circulation in 1892 thau in 1873 (per cap. if not iv actual sum total), for it is a characteristic of times like the present that money passes out of active circulation to a considerable extent, and is locked up in the banks. Taking " Inquirer's" own figures, however, he cannot pretend that this increase of gold would suffice to make up for the needs of an increased population, for the silver demonetic-'d' and for the reduction in exchange value of an the silver money remaining. He objects to my estimate of about a hundred millions sterling as the amount Of silver demonetised' (I said "some hundred millions." If I had meant, '* some hundreds of millions " I should very likely have said so.) The estimate may be a very bad. one, but his figures do not show it to be so. (He seems to imply, by the way. that there was no silver in the United States 20 years ago, or else tbat it was not legal tender!) I mentioned that I had not been able to obtain the correct figures on this point. If.'.' Inquirer " has them

The monthly meeting of tbe Dunedin Branoh of tbe Otago Educational Institute was held at the Normal School on Saturday, when there were present: Messrs W. A. Patterson (in the chair), R. G. Whetter, A.. Stewart, D. E. White, C. Mahoney, W. Davidson, J. L. Ferguson, J. Reid, W. Eudy, W. Milne, J. S. Tennant,, J. Garrow, J. Robertson, W. Ballanty-e, . R.Huie, H. Fisher, J. Southwick, W. Reniiiei, J. A7Johpson (6eoretary)' and Dr Chilton.^-:' .""' 7"' ™B classification' b*?,.sca6oLs.::' <;.' '-7

rMr W7 Davidson, of Waitati, intrbducetf'* discussion on the classification' ot'sohodls, ci« plaining hie ideas on the subject by the aid of a tabulated statement; The Scheme: of classification he proposed was much' the same as that brought under the notice of the institute.by him about two years ago. .He, however, .refrained en Saturday from dealing with the question of salaries. He had, he said, given a good deal of consideration to the subject since it was last discussed by the institute' and he was mere convinced than ever. that it was possible' to classify the schools ih a manner that would ;ba of great benefit to teachers. The tabulated statement referred to by him showed his classification to be as follows:— ■ •'• '

Class V.—Thirty-eight schools with an average attendance of from 20' to 30—One.head teacher of the fifth class., Forty-five schools with an average attendance of from 31 to 50—One head teacher of the fifth class and one sewing mistress.

Class IV.—Twenty-Bix schools with ah average attendance of from 51 to 75—One head teacher of fourth-class, one female junior teacher, one pupil teacher, and one sewing mistress. Twenty schools with an average attendance of from 76,t0 110—One head teacher of the fourth class,' one female assistant of the fifth class. Five schools with an average attendance, of-from 111 to 150—One head teacher of the fourth class, one female assistant of the fifth class, and one pupil teacher.' Two schools with on average attendance of from 151 to 180—Ono head teacher of the fourth claBS, one female assistant of the = fifth class, and^ two, pupil teachers.•-. .-■- : ••■'.. Clasß lll.—Three schools with an average attendance of from 181 to 230—One head teacher of ths third class, one female assistant of the fourth class, one female junior, and two, pupil, teachers. Two schools with an average attendance of from 231 to 270—One head teacher of the third class, one female assistant of the fourth* class, one male 'assistant* of the fifth' class, and three pnpil teachers. 'Five schools ,with an average.atten-. dance of from 271 to 320—One head teacher'of,the third class, one female assistant of the' fourth class, one male assistant of the fifth class, one female'junior,.and three pupil teachers.:' —— schools with an average attendance of. 320 to 35C>—■ One head teacher of the.third class, one'femals assistant of the fourth class,' one male assixtant'of the fifth class, one female junior, and four pupil teachers. ■< ",',7- : .•• .: .- •. •'• ..*-.-■ ■'-. . .Class ll.—Three Bchbols with an average attendance of from 351,10 400-0116 head teacher of the second class,' one female assistant of the third class,:ohe male assistant of the* fourth class„bne female assistant of the fifth class,, one .male junior, and four pupil teachers. Two schools with an average attendance of from 401 to 405—One head teacher of the second class, one female assistant of the third class, one male' assistant of .the fourth class, one female assistant of the fifth class, ono malejunior and five pupil teachers, Four schools with an average attendance of from 451,t0 500—One head teacher of the second class, one female assistant of the ' third class, one mala assistant of the fourth class, one female assistant of the fifth class," one male sssistant of the fifth class, one female junior, and five pupil teachers. Class I.—Two schools with an average attendance of from 501 to 550—One head teacher of the first class, one female assistant of the second class, one male assistant of the third class, one female assistant of the fifth class, one male assi_tantof the fifth class, one female junior, and'six pupil teachers. One school with an average attendance of from 551 to 600—One head teacher of the first class, one female assistant of the second class, one male assissant of the third class, one female assistant of the fifth class, one male assistant ( of the fifth class, one female junior, and seven pupil teachers. One school with, an average, attendance of from 601 to .650— One head teacher of the first class, one female assistant of the second class, one male assistant of the third class, one female assistant of the fifth class, one male assistant of. the: fifth class, one female junior, one male -junior, and seven pupil teachers.. Three Bchools with an average attendance of from 651 to 700—One head teacher of the first class, one female: assistant of the second class, one male assistant of the third class, one female assistant of .the fifth class, one male assistant of the fifth clasß, one female junior, ene male junior, and eight pupil teachers. One school with ah average attendance of from 701 to - 750—One head teacher of the first class, one female assistant of the, second class, one male assistant ef tha third class, one female assistant of the fifth class, one male'assistant of the fifth class, two-female juniors, one male junior, and eight pupil teachers. Unclassified schools (with an average attendance under 20), 39. ■■• •■.-.:."■

Total number of schools, 202. Approximate number of head teachers: Eightythree of the fifth class, 53 of the fourth class, 10 of the third class, 9 of the second class, and S of the first class. Mr Whetter had devoted a little time to the consideration of the scheme, and regarded it in a favourable light. He thought it was necessary that schools should be classified." There was a sort of classification bf teachers ._ at present, and the time* was evidently coming when there mußt be a classification of appointments. If there was a-elassification of appointments, there must necessarily be a classification of schools. He thought the scheme should be referred to the Committee of Management for their careful consideration.

Mr Feugttson was of opinion that the scheme was a thoroughly practical one. The only defect about it was that female teachers did not seem to be able to rise above the position of second-class teachers. Nowadays women would not be satisfied until they reached the top of the tree.!—( Laughter.) Mr Milne said one radical objection to the" scheme was that teachers were graded according to an imaginary scale of five classes, whereas teachers were really divided into nine* classes. He did not think they were likely to get-the present classification changed. They would, therefore, have to classify teachers into nine grades, instead of into five. Mr Mahoney thought that the scheme would end in smoke so long-as the teachers were classified according to their teaching ability. The first thing to be done, in his opinion, was to repeal the present laws with regard to the classification of teachers before attempting to adopt a new scheme of classification. Mr White was of opinion that it was necessary, for the proper administration of the schools, that they should be claesfied. The first step thafc should be taken was to classify the teachers; and in order to carry out fche education system more efficiently, there should: be some classification of fche schools, corresponding iv some degive to the classification, of teachers. So far as the classification of schools was concerned, he not only approved of the principle, but he believed that Mr Davidson s scheme could very easily be made applicable ta the existing schools of Otago. Mr Reid, Dr Chilton, the Chairman, and Messrs G.irrow, Rennie, and Tennaufc also took part in the discussion; the three first-named gentlemen approving of Mr Davidson's classification, and the three latter pointing out what they considered to be objections to the scheme. Mr Davidson was subsequently accorded a hearty vote of thanks for bringing the matter before the branch. Mr White moved—"That -this branch approves of the principle of classifying schools, of fixing a minimum classification for appointments, snd of grading salaries so as secure a system of promotion that will give experience in the management of different classes of schools."

Mr Reid seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent. Mr White than moved—" That the Committee of Macagi'meut be requested to taka steps to bring Mr Dsvidson's system of classification under the notice of the Education Beard." Dr Chilton saconded the motion, whie*; was carried, only five members voting against i&,

(NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.)