THE BOARDING OUT ANT THE COLLEGE SYSTEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1319, 10 March 1877, Page 4

THE BOARDING OUT ANT THE COLLEGE SYSTEMS.

The Melbourne correspondent' of the Sydney Morning' Herald writes :—" Notwithstanding the unanimity that 'prevailed about the desirability r of' boarding-out' the children of our refuges for the destitute, and the demonstrated advantages" of the system since it has been tried, we have had a hot controversy over the question of boardingout the children of ;our Protestant Orphan Asylum. The Committee of Contributors have, under great pressure from without, at last determined that the system .shall' be fairly tried. As the present .'asylum at Emerald Hill has been sold, the "questions have been agitating the subscribers — first, as to the extent to which the boarding out will be practicable ; and second, .whether the provision for the other inmates shall take the old-fashioned shape of a large ' barrack ' building or a set of , cottages? mittee was appointed to report on the best pl&ns to be adopted, and they recommend that provision be made for housing 150 children (which is about half the number of the present average) on the cottage plan. It is proposed to build five separate nouses, each capable of accommodating 30 children under the care of a married couple, in addition to which there would be the school building, bakehouse, laundry, and other offices. The advantages of the cottage system over the ordinary asylum are said to be— lst. Greater freedom from danger of coniagiqus diseases. 2. More natural and hcmelike life for the children, and better facilities for their proper classification. 3rd. Industrial training of a character more suited to after life. The colony has been spending large sums of money during the past few years in the erection of massive asylums, but it is becoihing pretty evident that, both "as regards the neglected children and the unfortunate insane, we have been making grave mistakes. Boarding out, where practicable,- and the cottage system for those who must) be retained under direct State training and control, appear to be the best both for the State and its wards. Some of the managing committee of the Orphan Asylum have "persistently contended that, however' good the boarding out system may be for "neglected" chiidren, it may not be suitable for orphans; but the contributors do not see the difference.

In the government of Tamboff, in Russia, a peculiar religious«sect, which has for some time existed in Siberia, is making many proselytes. Its leading doctrine is that all mußt marry on becoming of age, but' that the husband must be subordinate to the wife, recognising her as the head of the family/ and at least once a week confess his sins to her. la other respects, the' members of this sect are orthodox (Greek), and attend the Russian Church. They call themselves* Purifiera!'' or Puritans. - /, :■,.;=.(,'