OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 10

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

, FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS,

<Con<luoi#cl by Maoistis, to w'oom tjl coia- ' muuications must to addressed.)

[Uagisteh will be glad to receive I4aiuro notes, marked papers contsuning cduaiional '-•tides, diagrams, details of experiments, ctc., of scholastic interest to teachers and psrpils. Correspondents using a pen name must, also tend name-and address.]

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

1 nm hoping that the time will sooU'Come jdicn wo shall bold Anniversary Day as next aii imporlamo to the Sovereign's Birthday and Empire Day—(lie .religious ■ testivals. Christmas and Easter, stand, of ~ course, by themselves. I should like, too, to see, perhaps, the Caledonian or .flip Old Identities' Association, or both, or some large-heartcdl man or woman with & long purse, do for tho cliildrcn of Dunedi/t, on Anniversary Day what, Mr H. Skinner did. for 7800 children in Melbourne tho other day—only it wasn't, done, as far as I know, to celebrate any historical or other noteworthy event: it was a. wholesome overflow on behalf of children. Rend this: —

"'J'hore wore 7800 happy children ul. the South Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday who enjoyed to the fullest extent the liosjjilality of Mr 11. Skinner, who provided midday lunch and afternoon refreshments and unlimited pleasure in tho shape o r merry-go-rounds, pcrformmg dogs, and all the amusements in which childhood delights. Every school of all denominations ■in .South Melbourne received invitations, •which included the tanihers as well as tho jpupils. As a school holiday was granted hy the Minister of Education the occasion was a grand one. Each child, on being adjnilled lo 1 ho,ground, received a bag containing fruit and cakes, and'at half-past 12 . o'clock a Jiugc picnic wan licld for thcni. ' tho. bags wore opened, hud tho Indies of tins South Melbourne Bowling Club served out diluted raspberry vinegar to clamorous customers. It took Jio less than 16 glassiuls to 'sotisfy one email boy. Directly lunch •was over the bags were collected and the ttports began. Each school ran its own events, and a gold medal was awarded to tho boy who gained tho greatest number ot ■points, rnd a similar ono was given to tho tgir] with an. equal record. A largo number 'of minor prizes were also given, all of which wero tho gifts of Mr Skinner. Among the events of I.ho afternoon was tho distribution of a ton of lollies. The clover juvenile band of the St. Vincent and St. •''.Paul's Orphanage played selections during tho tiflcrnoon, and their ijcrformancc was deeidrdiy good and interesting. In addition to the entertainment of children, Mr Skinner invited 300 adult; guestfi to lull- , -chcon, which was served in the gymnasium. Mr J. Ilcaly, head master of the Ciiyltoad 5311601. proposed tho lioallli of the host end Mrs Skinner. At the end of the afternoon. when the prizes were distributed, Mr W. It. \V. Rail, the head master of ,the Dorcas Street School, presented Mr ''Skinner with a gold medal in coinmomorajiion of a most successful entertainment. /.Air Skinner also presented to every member •■' of the executive committee, and to the Rev. I'alher Collins, representing tho Roman ; Catholic schools, a neat commemorative gold medal."

HISTORICAL LECTURES, Then I should like lo sec something else, The Old Identities' Association has a pretty jjood set of slides illustrating the " Olden Times," such as our oldon limes arc. Why doesn't this association develop an educational side? What a good opportunity it has of entlnising young folk with a Jovo'of history by giving in an attractive form a series of illustrated Icclutm on tho eoncentric system, commencing witli Dunedin, , the circle growing largor lo include Otago, then New Zealand, and then ilm empire, •In work of- this nature our Athenamm, '(Free, Library, anil University might well join in. lam sure that a. most interesting series illustrating history from Dunedin uiilwarda could ho drawn up. "THE SCOTCH COLONY OF OTAGO." 'Mr Waile, one of the employees of the Otago Daily Times and Witncsn Company, •knowing tlio interest I take in the early history of tho settlement of 01 ago, has kindly lent me volume VIII, of Chambers's Hdinbtti'gh Journal (new series), dated 1847, because of an interesting article on tho }ie\v Zealand Association in No. 194, September 18. > Here u.ro some extracts from itj with connections and comments:— "A remarkable plan of colonisation has "just been brought, under public notice in •Scotland." After thus introducing flic subject, a general description of New Zeaj land is given, an outline of tho history of '■ tho New Zealand Company, especially of the difficulties it had to contend with, with a comparison between the colonisation of New Zealand by settlements connected with the various churches and the colonisation of the. Eastern of tho United States by tho same means. The article then says: — . '• Without imitating the general intolerance or the American colonisors, the New Zealand Company proposes to carry out the ipfineiphv, of denominational settlements. Having acquired by ils charter vast tracts of land, it offers to deal with parties for . erecting colonies of a particular religious denomination. In this manner it has ■ ; arranged to plant, a settlement in connee- .- lion with the Free Church of Scotland, the latter l>cing a numerous body of I'resbyleriuns, occupying tlio position of dissenters -from tho national church. . . '.

"Tho district apportioned to this Scotch colony is situated in tho Middle Island of Now 'Zealand, near il.i southern extremity, lout It latitude 45 degrees 40 minute to 46 degrees 20 minutes. It comprises 400,000 acres of land, and is called Otago; such, wo suppose, being the name given lo the 'spot, liy the Natives. Tho capital of Otago is' to be called Dunedin, that licing the Collie name of Edinburgh, and therefore appropriate. ... It is ' believed that there are no more than one thousand Natives in Ihe whole of tho'Middle Island; and in tho large district of Otago there aro only about, 50 men. women, and children in ail, none of whom am likely to give offence. The (settlement has a. coast line of 50 to 63 miles in length, lying.between tho mouth of Otago Harbour and a headland called the • Kuggetfi. If- extends an average d.etancc inland of seven miles lo the foot, of a- low mountain range ".The New Zealand Company is the seller of ihe.lands. . . . No one, liow-

ever, is accepted who is not recommenced through Ihe agenev of the 'Lay Association of Ihe Free Church.' This is a bouy of respeutable individuals, whose headquarters are in Edinburgh (5 George slreol) and in Glasgow (3 -West Nile sirec ), and governed by arrangements sanction! d and approved iiy Ihe. General Assembly of their couruunion. . . . The allotments differ in dimensions and character: Of the 400,000 acres of which the settlement is composed, Iho quantity lirst operated on is to consist of 144,600 acres. These are to be divided into 2400 properties; and, each ■property is to cuusist of 60J acres, divided into three allotments—namely, a Town lor of n quarter of an acre, a suburban lot of 10 acres, and a rural allotment of 50 acres.

"... The price of Ihe land to be fixed iu ihe first instance at 40s an acre, or £120 Ife a property. . • ." :Il<hv the properties are lo be appropriated and how the money obtained from -silos was to bo distributed I shall not relate, but go on lo give an extract or two from tlio concluding paragraph: — "Only one thing more requires a word of explanation. All hough avowedly a eolony'in connection with the Free Church, Otago is open to all classes of religionisis. Every rospoelalile man, no matter wlmt be 'his creed, is received as a brother; but all, of course, go with rlie uiwlowiandincr ihat the religious ordinances and educational establishments of this Presbyterian body are alone to be guaranteed supjior! from the fund sot aside for purposes of this nature. If Episcopalians, for example, join in forming the settlement, they must look to tltemedvos for moans of religious and secular instruction suitable to their own feelings. liy this arrangement it is ox--1 >coted (perhaps too confidently) that- all wrangling about division of funds for churches and schools—such as have vexed society iu the northern settlements of Now Zealand—will be effectually prevented. . , . Afforded every desirable means of currying out tlioir'own notions and secured the', invaluable privilege of self-govern-ment, wo shall seo whether a body 'of Scotsmen can realise the opinions formed of their perseverance, lovo of order, and sagacity. Tho first- ixxly of settlers, wo are told.'-are expected to leave the-Clyde some time in October, headed by Captain iWilliam Cargill the recognised agent of the company for Otago, and who. on lauding, will act a-s justk-e of peace till tho municipal government is formed. Tho 'day of departure of tho expedition will be an interesting one for Scotland. Who will not, in the language of tho old blazon, wish that 'God may send the good ship to its destined port."' ODD IDENTITIES. This year's list of those who arrived in Otago iu or before 1848 is, as far as possible, brought up lo date, 'My last Joar's list- brought to light otlicif who had

the" hall-mark .necessary to bo included, and rnvealed the fact that one name 011 ought not to have Iwcn included. Tlic. ■list, as amended, is as accurate as I could get it. During tho year Julius Jeffreys and .Tames Wilson (.Win Wickliffe) and Mrs Joseph Beal and William Kennard (Magnet) have passed away. Mrs \V. 11. Mansford's name was on last year's list, but si® passed away on March 22—t00 late for mo to remove the name: — Survivors by JOBIC WICKLIPFB, arrived March 23, 18-18. Ifrs W. H. Cutteii (nee Christina Oaigill), Andersou's Bay. Mrs J. R. Johnston (nee Marion Cargill), 3iaiior place. Lieulwiant-coJonel Spencer-Cargill, India. .Intius Jtfireyn. Mrs Thomas Ferens (neo Margaret Weailand), Jlornington. ,lo!m Rolwrti Monson, Tort Chalmers. Robert Sidey, Sydney. Alfred Blaich, Clilden, Southland. Mrs An'll Watts (nee Blateh), .Mmuigatua. Thomas H. Blatch, "Woodside, West 'l'aieri. Adam Brebner, Dunedin. John Finch, Milton. Jits Elizabeth Titchcner (uee Finch), paversham, Pet PHILIP LAJjSXf, arrived April 13, 3848. Bannerman (nee Jane Bums), Kaikorai.v , . . _ lira ,A. 1?. Livingston (nee Annie Bums), Queen s'Tcot. Mrs Htf,sry Livingston (nee Frames Bams), ltoslyn. Miss Agitts Bums, George street, lira J. T. Thomson (neo Jane Williamson), Invercargill.'. Mrs John M'Cartncy (neo Seaton), Portobello. Mis William Allan (nee Seaton), Waimate. Alexander Williamson, Koikorai. James WUlimnnon, North Taicri. J-ames Adam, it'-Hon. • Robert Barr, Infer cargill. Mrs,Cbaric3 Fmcßay (neo Elizabeth Bair), Dunedrai. Gilbert' Buchanan, West raien, John Callcnder, 'Saddle Hill. Alexaitfier C'idlcrxler, Saddle Hill. Mrs A. .Brown (neo "Winton), Wellington. James A. Callcnder, Taicri. Pcler Crawford, Great. Island, John Christie, Canterbury. Robert Christie, Hostel. Robert Dafaiol, Boslyn. Adam Dad. Oamaru. Mrs James Strain (nee Eiiza Duff), Dimojin Mrs William Churchill (neo Annie Hair), Dimedm. Thomas Hastie, Oamaru.

"William llaffray, .Saddle Hill. Mrs .Tames Cunningham (nco Kate Jlahone), Kaikorai. Matthew Marshall, BaJelutha. , Francis Marshal), Mosgid. Charles M'Dcmald, Rcotyn. Miss Lclitia, Wallace, Dunedin. Mis Mawnon (neo Mory Millar), Purakamti. Mrs Thomas Harrison (neo Agues RobertSon), Pclichet Bay, Thomas Eobcrtaou, Peninsula. Walter Watson, West Taicri. John Winton, Dunedin. Mrs "William Wartsli (nco Crawford), Sling Point.

Per VICTORY, July 8,1848. Laclilan Langlauds, Dunedin.

Per BLUNDELL, September 21, 1848. Charles R. Chapman, Dimediii. Mrs Janet Wilson (neo Begg), Anderson's Boy. Mrs Robert Chrislio (nco Janet Law), Glenom&ru." Mrs Alexander Callender (nee Graham B. Law), Sii'dlc Hill. Robert- Law, East Taicri. John Sidev, Cavoinham. Miss Elizabeth Somcrvillc, Whangaroi, .fames SomcrvilJo. Forti(iea£ons. J." A. D. Adams, Dunedin. Adam Auderson, Otepopo. William Black, North-East Valley. ' Andrew Robertson. Korth-Easfc Valley. Robert Gibson, Mosgiel. Mrs Pearson (ncc Elizabeth Gibson), Mosgicl. ■Mrs Swallow (noo Margaret Harrison), Hampden. Mrs Robert Blair (neo Ann Harrison), East Tttieri. Mrs Robart Law (nee Jean Harrison), East Taieri. Mr Robert Law.

Mrs Thontas Black (lice Janet Hill), Dunedin.

Hts Henderson (nee Elizabeth Poppelwell), Wellington. , Thomas Thomson, Dunedin. Mrs .T. Ca-llaghan (nee Christina- Harrison), Christchurch. Mrs James Parlano (neo Mary Harrison), Milton. Mrs F. M'Cuilock (nee Agnes Law), Henley. Per BER-NICIA, December 12. ISIS. As this ship'arrived in 1848 also, I intended adding survivors of her, hut, leaving it rather late, I was unable to get details. Mr Langlands informs me that Mr 1?. W. Brown, of South Dunedin, is a survivor, and thr.t there ara other members of the family on the Taieri. I shall bo glad of a list for inclusion next year. Arrivals Bui-ore 18IS. Tho following, who were in Otago before the arrival of the ships I have mentioned, aro also surviving:— Per MAGNET, from Sydney, March IG, 1810. Mrs Joseph Bcal, Waikouaiti. Mrs E. W. Durdcu (neo Anuio Bcal), Waikouaiti. Mrs Wolsoy (nee Mary Coleman), Port Chalmers. Mrs Shanks (nee Phcebo Coleman), Port Clvalmers. William Kcnnard, Waimate. Mrs Mary Burns (nee Kcnnard), Woodlands. ' Per HENRY, from Nelson, 1813, Mrs J. It. Monson (neo Mary Arm Roebuck) P.ort Chalmers.