CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7652, 10 June 1896, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

■ TECHNICAL AND MANUAL INSTRUCTION. [To THB Editor of the Heeald.] Sib, — When recently in Wellington I called upon the secretary of the Education Department to ascertain what technical instruction was now being given in the colony. He most courteously gave me all the information I required. I came home more decidedly of opinion than ever that Gisborne cannot afford any longer to ignore technical and -" manual instruction. We have had our public meeting, so ably and so kindly presided over by Judge Barton. We have had,' too, the inevitable committee, but so far the result is not promising. The School Committee have touched the question, but had to drop it as too difficult for it under itd circumscribed sphere of i duties. It does appear that a practical movement to succeed must be guided by those who are practically interested. These, no doubt, require the aid of all those who may bonefit indirectly as citizens, but like most depend upon themselves in the first instance for organisation, definition of object, and management. Two things are requisite — first, to asoer- '"■" tain how many men there are who would bo willing to combine, at some small sacrifice, : -■■' : in order to organise and run technical classes " ' upon lines which would receive Government aid under the present statute. Secondly, to - discover instructors both in theory and - practise who could satisfy the Education Department as to their capacity to give . - technical and manual instruction. * Many young men have started in Giuborne as tradesmen who have no more technical knowledge than they have been able to acquire in the district. I do not wish to suggest that these are not good tradesmen, but it is obvious that they cannot keep up . with the advance of science and art in their . . respective trades unless they are taught. 16 is true that there are many books. It 'is also true that the multiplication of books makes it difficult to find the right book. . When found it is often very difficult to get ,"- such book. The time, seems to be ripe for a start ', • without moire writing. The reasons for this opinion I may give, with your leave, again.— : -' I am, etc, C. A. de Lautoub.

■■'■'-' The D.1.C., Wellington, is a deservedly popular institution. Many of our thrifty "/ and -fashionable people find it to their ;V. advantage to order their requirements in • ""• 'drapery- and horise-furnisbing from the Comr> rJ'-aivy'B Wellington Warehouse. Reliable -', ': c<K>d"i at moderate prices, is the feature of '": ' -'-tb&''D.l'O. Samples and catalogues are 1 1^ n&jled jpogji free to any address.— Advt.