PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1893. Aided Schools.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 4, Issue 37, 16 May 1893, Page 2

PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1893. Aided Schools.

Mr. J. Duncan lias given notice to move at the Education .Board meeting that more assistance be given to the aided schools than has hitherto been the case. As far as we understand the matter he wishes the aided schools to be placed on the same footing as the lowest grade public schools. In the first place it will affect the regulations of the Board, which, if we are to judge from the Picton difficulty, are as unalterable as the laws of the Medes and Persians are said to have been. Secondly we presume it will mean an increase in the expenditure. These are matters within the province of the Board to deal with, and their united wisdom should enable them to overcome the difficulties of the position, Looking at the subject from a purely public point of view we should say Mr Duncan’s request is most reasonable, and strictly in accord with the present advanced ideas on educational questions. There is no denying that settlers in isolated places labour under very great difficulties in providing education for their children and if there is any possible means of assisting them nothing within reason should be allowed to stand in the way. As far as possible every child in the colony should have equal advantages in the matter of education, for It is fist as likely that a second James Garfield or John Bdllance ’ may be located in one of these out-of-the-way places as in the heart of a large city. Therefore it is in the interests of the State that all should have an equal chance to obtain this great aid to success. This question opens out the still broader one of giving as far as possible the children in small centres equal opportunities with those in large towns. In a letter to the Post the other day Mr J. H. Reynolds, of the Havelock school, pointed out how unfair the drawing regulations were to country teachers and the disadvantages under which both teachers and scholars laboured. In the large towns they have schools of design, drill instructors, and also instructors in gymnastic exercises, and in many other ways are taught things which gives each one a chance to excel in whatever may be most suitable to thtir natural talent in any particular direction. This is not so with country schools. If the teacher has a knowledge of drawing those children who have an aptitude in that direction receive a greater advantage than those who have not, but who might excel in some other subject if they had the same opportunity. The ordinary educational course may be acquired by most people, but drawing, music, &c., are gifts which are not so generally possessed by all alike and of course require special teachers. Thus it follows that if we intend to carry out the present system to its legitimate limits country schools and children in isolated places should receive all the attention it is possible to bestow upon them, that they may, as nearly as practicable, receive equal advantages in the matter of those accomplishments which may be outside the ordinary subjects taught. We do not see why we could not have a drawing master and an instructor in gymnastic exercises to pay periodical visits to country schools and not only instruct the children but direct the teachers as to what was required to be done until their next visit. Whether anything is done in this direction or not we are glad Mr Duncan has brought the matter forward and we hope the subject will be given that consideration which it undoubtedly deserves.

Mr C. H. Mills, M.H.E., will address the electors of Wakamarina at the school-house Deep Creek, on Saturday eyening next at half-past seven. A letter on prospecting, &c., from Mr H. M. Reader will appear in our next. In the opening cricket match with a strong team picked by Lord Sheffield, the Australians were badly beaten by eight wickets. The Australians won the Warwickshire match by ten wickets. A four-roomed cottage is advertised for sale or to let. Those with large incomes should take a note of the advertisement from the Commissioner of Taxes in another column. The instruments for the brass band, which is about to be formed in Havelock, will arrive by the Waitapu on Friday next. The next winter entertainment will be held in about two weeks, when a laughable comedy will be produced, besides other attractions. It has been decided by the Opposition Party in Wanganui, to nominate Mr Gilbert Carson for the coming by-election. We have to express our thanks to Mr E. D. Hoben, for a copy of a pamphlet he lias compiled on the late John Ballance, more particularly referring to his illness and burial.

The result of assessment under the Land and Income Assessment Act 1891, made as at November Ist, 1891, shows that our Bounds County was valued at £171,095, which included £46,615 for improvements; Marlborough County was valued at £1,887,682, which included £493,512 for improvements; Pelorus District alone is valued at £243,397, which includes £69,816 for improvements; and the Havelock Town District by itself shows a total of £21,202, out of which amount £14,530 is set down for improvements. The great value of concentrates at the Sylvia Company’s works, in the Thames District, where the Cassell process is used, is shown in the Mines Report for 1892. Dr. Scheidel, who is managing director, states that out of 5,300 tons of quartz put through the mill, the total quantity of concentrates obtained was 440 tons, valued at £12,033, while the value of the tailings going to waste varied between 9s and 15s per ton. Practically they saved 80 per cent, of what had been previously thrown away. In a return recently to hand showing the value of all the Native Reserves in this Island as fixed by the last assessment, we find it comes to the respectable sum of £534,231, and yet we find in this district other claims still unsettled. Now, future legislation must effected, that in the large blocks to be set aside hereafter, improvements must be enforced, and thus prevent the absolute locking up of large areas to the detriment of the whole community. It has been decided to allow the law to take its course in the case of Scott, the Waikomiti murderer, and the execution will take place next Monday. We are glad to see a little stir in the building trade in Havelock. Besides those already mentioned, Mr J. Newcombe has commenced a large comfortable house on the section recently occupied by the late Mr Davies, near the quay. There are also several other buildings in course of erection, while we hear of others likely to be taken in hand shortly. The social atmosphere in this district is generally calm and peaceful, but it was very much disturbed last week, for a Picturesque Atlas man “ came down like a wolf on the fold,” and “ there was weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.” A large importation of blue paper is said to be the result of this dreadful visitation.

The Astonishing Parcel. —Shot Cheviot Serge Dress for 12/6, xyrd shot corduroA for trimming 3/6, 4yrds skirt lining for 1/6, 2yrds body lining for i/-, 2 pair black cashmere hose for 3/6, 1 pair cashmere gloves 1/6. The whole lot, carriage paid, for 23/6 from Te Aro House, Wellington. Ladies’ Black Cashmere Dress Parcel.—Full Dress length blue-black Cashmere 10/6, lyrd black fancy silk for trimming 4/6, 4yrds skirt lining for 1/6, 2yrds body lining for i/-, 1 pair ladies’ corsets for 6/6, 1 pretty white apron 1/6. The whole lot for 25/6. carriage paid, from Te Aro House, Wellington. A Wonderful Parcel. —Melton Tweed xress in navy, grey, brown, or claret, 10/6, lyrd shot velvet trimming 2/1 x, 4yrds skirt ining 1/6, 2yrds body lining 1/-, 6yrds striped flannelette for 3/3, xeyrds white calicoe for 4/6, 1 pair ladies corsets, any size, 4 16. The whole lot for 28/2, carriage paid, from Te Aro House, Wellington. Colonial Tweed Dress Parcel.— dress, eolouial tweed, exerlasting wear, 23/6xyrd corduroy velvet for trimming 3/6, 4yrds skirt lining for 1/6, 2yrds body lining 1/-, 6yrds colonial flannel for g/-, The whole lot for 38/6, carriage paid, from Te Aro Home, Wellington.