THE COLONIST.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 124, 28 December 1858, Page 2

THE COLONIST.

NELSON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28,1858. We confess we are surprised at the perseverance of our contemporary in his running his head against a post, and indulging in his ebullitions of wounded feelings and personal abuse upon all those who will not take his version ofthe subject of our postal regulations.; and we will quote his own words, which stand side by aide of those we complain of, and justly so, that in public discussions (of which this is one) at all events it should be recollected, that an unfounded assertion recoils upon him who makes it, and throws douht and suspicion, perhaps un deservedly, on all his other statements.'• Now, we ask our contemporary, upon what he grounds his assertion that the Postmaster at Melbourne (Dr. Evans) again refuses-to pay any attention to the requests of the Postmaster-General, or to the Government of New Zealand, by again taking the Southern mails and again forwarding them to Wellington ? Did he apply to the Colonial Secretary for any information as to the real state of the matter while he waa here"? If he replies in the negative, then we have no hesitation in saying that he ought to have done so.;, and on the other, if he did, then all we can say is, that unless his iriform«btion from that quarter was very different from what we took the trouble to obtain., he is venting his vituperations on the Mcl bourne Postmaster moss unjustifiably. We cannot clearly make out whether by the term "Postmaster-General" our contemporary means of the Home Government: If he doe 3, be ought to know that the Home Government are not in the habit of requesting their subordinates in the various colonies to do sucli and such things. Their instructions are issued as mandates, and as implicitly obeyed; and we have no hesitation in so fir answering for the Melbourne Postmaster, that when he receives further and other instructions respecting the forwarding the New Zealand moils, he will not wait for the confirmation of those insti'uc.ions from the Editor of the Nelson Examiner before he carries them out. If. on the other hand, our contemporary means the New Zealand Postmaster, and the New Zealand Government, then we say that the Melbourne authorities, however desirous they might be to attend to any requests from such quarters, may have other instructions under which they act which utterly preclude their compliance with such requests^ particularly upon so vitally important a, subject as the due forwarding of the mails to their destination. ] Again, our contemporary observes, "We do not know how his.interference may be regarded by a Melbourne ministry, but were Dr. Evans au official of the Home Government, it would ensure his speedy and unceremonious dismission." Woe be (o the Dr. if some other Dr. we know was the Home Government. But firstlet it be proved that .in what he has done the Dr. has interfered with any orders of tlie Home Government before we pronounce a ver- I diet of guilty upon him. We are afraid, with ou? contemporary, until the proper authorities will see into; tbe matter, we have only the melancholy pleasure of waiting perhaps a fortnight for our letters and newspapers,. for "there.is no help for us" but patience. But how does our contemporary wind up his lacrymose and melancholy tirade. He says, we hope this btate of things will not last long, though it i 3 said (by whom ?) that until orders shall have reached England to the effect that the mails for the several provinces be packed in dfferent boxes, we may expect the practice of sending the mails for this province via Wellington be continued. We wonder he did not add a friendly hint to the Postmaster-General of England, that if he presumed so far to neglect his duty he might expect his speedy and unceremonious dismissal at the hands of weof the Examiner. We perfectly agree with our contemporary that one would really think the Dun Mountain was by-this,time really " done up;" tnd ye think rafter X the ample materials furnished by the supplement to the Examiner of last Saturday, people may now judge for themselves; and with these few remarks should willingly have taken.our leaveof the subject, but there are one or two points in our contemporary's leader which we think call for notice. "The first of which would afford a fine field for special plead-' ings is the following:-—At a late public meeting it was boldly affirmed respecting Mr. Gibbs, that he was never on the Dun Mountain in his life, when it happened to be within our own knowledge that ha had gone up by himself to the mine, and drawn his own conclusions. Now, how anybody can assert for a, positive fact what he was not an eye-witness of, we confess is beyond our comprehension. We can understand one man having 9uch implicit confidence in another that lie would swear to the tru'h of what that man might assert. Again: there is a vast practical distinction between the fact of a man going up to a mine which may he at the foot of a mountain, and going up on to tbe mountain into which the mine may have been opened. The next is—lt appears out of eleven thousand shares reserved for New Zealand, about eight thousand were disposed of, j and that many of these, honestly bought and I paid for, were left in the hands of the Local

Committee, Ac. What strikes us as ambiguous, and throwing, out an insinuation against some parties, is tlie phrase " many of these honestly bought,"- thereby implying.that there were some that had been dishonestly come by. Whether such was the meaning of pur .'contemporary, of course we can ha[ve no possible knowledge ;-aiul it may be our grammatical'ignorance which lias caused us to put our foot in a mare's nest, which we should sooner have imputed us. than to suppose that such,an insinuation should have been hazarded under the -capacious cloak of the edi-* torial we. " The Mails.—The Burnett, Captain Scaplehorn, . brings yus the intelligence that the Boomerang, steamer, with the mails, from Melbourne, arrived at Wellington on the afternoon of Thursday last, and the Canterbury, schooner, left thence in the evening with the Port Cooper mail, so that they will be in possession of their letters some time before ourselves ; the return ofthe White Swan by way of Wellington being the first known opportunity by which ..yip shall get .the Nelson mails. The Excursions.—The Tasmanian Maid left the Wharf- yesterday morning for the Croixelles and French Pass excursion, but it was, to our surprise, very thinly attended. On Wednesday another opportunity Will be afforded to visit the other side of the bay, atKai-teri-teii and Motueka; at the latter place she will call bolh going arid coming. The trip advertised in the list for New Year's Day will not take place. '~.,' ' The Roads.—The recent road-mending operations has made the Waimea travelling more pleasurable than previously. From mar Richmond to the River Wairoaythe roads have been ploughed on both sides, and the loose earth thrown into the middle, to form a crown and to properly drain it. South of the river much has yet to be done. At Wakefield they are in progress, but further on the same dilapidated state they were before in still exists. Whatever road works are in contemplation, we advise the further avoidance of the previous practice of mending roads in the rainy season, and thereby rendering them impassable. y The ; Wairau i SfepARATiON.*-*-This question i will be again agitated at tbe Wairau Hotel on Saturday, January 15th proximo, in compliance with the regulations of the New Provinces Act, and petitions in accordance with that act will be ready for signature upon the general approval of the meeting. NELSON COLLEGE. On Friday, the i7'th instant, the public examination of the boys educated at this institution took place, and attracted a good many visitors. A. Domett; Esq., was in the chair. The examination had been previously conducted by the Venerable Archdeacon Paul, the Rev. P. Calder, Messrs. A. Domett, D. Rough, and J. D. Greenwood. Great progress had been made since the last examination, and the examiners expressed themselves highly satisfied with the prompt manner in which the various questions were answered, and with the amount of knowledge and general intelligence displayed by the boys. The reports of the different Masters were then read as follows :— To the Council of Governors of Nelson CoLLIiGE. Gentlemen—lt becomes my duty to-day to present the First Annual Report ofthe Masters of "Nelson College," since its incorporation by act of the Colonial Parliament; and, in doing so, I may be permitted to refer to the history of its foundation, and to make a few observations on its present state and prospects. . . 2. This Institution, founded and liberally endowed by the Trustees of the "Nelson Trust Funds," was'first'opened as "Nelson Collegiate - School," on the 7th April; 1856. In the month of November, 1857, a Deed of Foundation was executed by the Trustees, transferring the property and management ofthe institution to a Council of Governors named in the deed; laying down tl c course of instruction to he followed, fixing tlie principles of the institution, and giving to it tlie designation of Nelson College; under which name it has become an incorporated body/ 3. We have now completed one year since tlii; change ; and it is to you, the Governors of.Nelsoii College, in this, respect the legal successors ofihb Trustees of the Nelson; Trust- Funds, by whom the Collegiate School was originally; established, ard : from whom I received my appointment bis jits first Head Master, that I now make^this report: 4. The object and aim of the Institution, as laid' down in the Deed of Foundation, is, to provide-^-----more especially for the youth of this settlement— a liberal education, ill the ordinary sense of those words, based on Christian principles; Education, i.e., and not mere Instruction._ This intention has been kept in view in the gradual,organisation of the Institution, the arrangement of classes,? and tlie introduction, from, time to time, of the study of the Latin, Greek, and French languages, of Mathematics, and other hranches.pf learning contemplated in the Deed of Foundation;.as the years and previous training of the pupilsallowed. 5. Acting on these principles, it has been my aim from the first to introduce the different branches of study at sufficient intervals; allowing time for one class to make a moderate advance, as the years of the pupils demanded, before the ne_tt commenced the study of the same subject. In an entirely new state of things, and with pupils for the most part but ill-prepared, such a course;;was absolutely necessary, although attended with much elementary labor, and with many disadvantages to the present masters, under which future masters will not labor. How far we/have been successful, it is not. for. me to say; others must judge of this. The seed has been sown, and the fruit will, it may be hoped, hereafter appear. 6. Looking at the circumstances and wants of a colonial population such as this, the course to be followed in carrying out the object and aim of tlie foundation should,, in my judgment, be, not to allow classical and mathematical studies (how useful and ornamental soever theyb may be in other respects) to overlay and set aside more necessary branches of learning—more neJess.vry, I mean; to the present circumstances of the youth of this place. In other words, the aim of this Institution should be, fo give, hot so much a classical education as it is commonly termed, as a thoroughly sound and good Englishaiid .commercial education, by means of the classics. An examination of the course of study hitherto followed uudeibmany disadvantages, will shew that more hours, are devoted to the study of'the English, language, of history, and geography, and kindred.subjects., than is generally thecase in institutions of this cha-. racier. And I cannot but believe . that such a system as. this will prove to be the most desirable course for a colonial population like that of this province. 7. Where youths are intended for one ofthe learned ■professions, or propose to matriculate ait a , British or Colonial University, a more extended; course of classical studies will necessarily be required. But I apprehend that such cases are not likely to occur for some years. The work and mission of this institution are, if I mistake not, to prepare youths for an active life of a somewhat different 'character. 8. For, two difficulties, and those most-serious' ones, against which all colonial schools and edu— oational institutions have equally to contend^ meet us at the outset. You have to overcome (1) the apathy and indifference of parents as to the education of" their children ; and, as the result of that indifference, and, want of. appreciation ofthe value j'of'edu.ait^ arc allowed to vemaiibat school. ;

9. Hence it too often happens that a boy leaves school at the v.e'ry time at,.which he would make most progress: the elements have been mastered —early difficulties overcome—the ground prepared—the foundation" laid. In the next two or three years a fair progress would be made; when, unfortunately for themselves and to ,the* disappointment of their teachers, the pupils are withdrawn. In the last two years we have lost several boys of'considerable promise, whose removal I regret exceedingly. While, however, the labor of boys is so valuable, we can scarcely hope to overcome this difficulty. " • : 10. The number of pupils on the roll, in each quaiterly term since the opening of the Collegiate School, is as follows:— " Annual average. 1856—1st term 24, 2nd 33, 3rd 37- Sl' 1857-1 st term 42, 2nd 47, 3id 5!, - 4th 50 . . i . . .... 47 -• " 1858—1st term ; 46,2nd45,3rd41, ' 4th 40 ..... 43 The entrances and removals in ench year being—in 1656—Entrances 42, Removals' 4 IR.-.7— „ • 23, „ 13 V - 1858— • ~ 12, " „ ' 20 , ' ' 11. As shewing further how short a time many boys are ordinarily allowed to remain at school, I may mention the following, facts:—37 pupils have j already passed through the Institution ; have entered, and have been removed. Of these, '4 remained 3 months; 5, six months; 12, nine months; 3, 12 months; 4, 15 months; 4, 18 months; 3,1| year; 2, 2 years. I would, therefore, take this opportunity to-day earnestly to advise parents to make an effort, at any cost to themselves, to enable their sons to .remain under instruction for a sufficient period. ■ It cmnot, it ought not, to, be .expected that ■ boys should complete their elucationin a colony, under many and great disadvantages, in three or four years,; education which, in ordinary instances, in England, with all its manifold advantages,-is spread over from six to ten.years, at the least. 12. For, unquestionably, the best inheritance which a parent can give to his children, next to that fair name which . every true hearted man values so highly, is a good education; ;an education based on Christian principles:. this is a heritage far beyond the possession of those broad acres and flocks and herds, which, the colonial mind so earnestly desires. 13. It will be observed that the average .number of pupils has slightly declined in the year now ending. Many causes may have operated to produce this result,'independently of the uncertainty which is always felt, to some extent at least,.when, changes are about to take place iti the management of an institution of this nature. But Ido not, by any means, think that this slight decline, is to be taken as an unfavorable sign. On the contrary, it is exactly what was to be expected. . . . - 14. For it must be borne in mind that when the Collegiate School was fust opened, the means of education in the town, and throughout the province, were very limited. ■ We were obliged, therefore, to admit boys and youths, ranging from'the age of seven to tlut of seventeen, whose p'e/ious training and preparation were, in most instances, as varied as their years. Such were the rr.ate.ials out of which to organise and establish an edicational institution of a superior class; in addition, even the necessary school buildings and furnittlie were wanting. Everything had to be done* AU was new. " - , 15. It will be evident to any one at all experienced in the instruction and control of youth, that the presence of boys of advanced years with those much younger than themselves, is not altogether | free from evil results. Colonial youths of fourteen or fifteen and upwards have, unfortunately, in the majority of instances, as all of vs rwell know, too much of forwardness and self-reliance, not to say conceit, too great a pretentiousness*to a precocious manhood, to beadmitted.to mix freely in tliss and the playground with boys much younger ; unless they have grown up together, or have passed under proper training and discipline. Our colonial boys need to become more boyish. 16. I h .v endeavored, as far as possible, to correct the evil effect of" the preser.ee am >ng v i of untrained youths of this character. I confess fiat I feel strongly on> this point. We have suffered from the evil spoken of. I, therefore submit whether it may rot be desirable to provide hereafter, that no youth above the age of, say fourteen, shall be eligible for admission on the junior side; that is, as distinct from any collegiate classes, properly f o called, whenever formed; unless he is qualified to join, on entering, the class of a correspcniinsr year. 17. The earliest age of admission is fixed, by the Deed of Forn lation, at nine. The pupils have been divided for instruction into six firns or classw. Allowing, then, one year for each form (and this would be a fair average time for a boy well-grounded at entrance), a pupil would pass tlir ugh the institi tion in sixor seven years'. "He would then, if moderately indusirioi'S; be qualified to join senior collegiate classes for lectures, or, it may be, to matriculate at a university. 18- In the earlier period of the Collegiate School, boys were received and admitted, who v o lid riot be" pdmitted at the present time. In the almost total absence of schools, this was a simple necessity. We did not, at hi time, feel at liberty to lay down a'iy absolute rjle of admission. This state of things 'has, however, hap} ily passed away. The standard of admission ought to be raised gradually from year to year. This would hive Ihs effect of at once assisting to raise the character of tl • schools of the province,- and also, by thdr means, of providing a supply of suitable candidates-for admission into the College. , ~--,; • 19. The course of "instruction now embraces ,the study of the English^ Latin,Greek,and French languages; in mathematics, Euclid, and mensuration; book-keeping, ancient and modern history and geography, astronomy, drawing, and vocal music. ■ .'"■'■ V' ' .■.-.' ::■:"'•.■' ""''.'. . :; '■ " 20. Of the state of the iris'iuion and of,the. progress al «idy made by the pupils, it does not become me to ypsak; the reports of the. examiners will do this. On the whole, perhaps, as fair a measVre of f d/an re has been made as could be expect d,,when we take into account tl • r> cent establishment of the College, and .the • ate of the puji'.s on entering. Cf many of those now with us, I can speak with satisfaction and pleasure. Many shew a desire for improvement, and use diligently the means placed in their|]o;ver. We have, however, a fair share" of idle and careless youths, who," I fear, will profit but little by any advantages placed ri their reach, and from whom hut little can ever be expected. ; ,. ;; ,• 21. Let me earnestly press, upon parents and guardians the necessity of strengthening the hands of the teachers of their children by at all times, supporting the discipline of the Institution, and by making it conscientiously a matter of duty tosee that their sons prepaie the usual studies out of school hours. Let me say once for all, that teachers, whatever their ability, can do little unless supported by the parents themselves. 22. To the Assistant Masters my best thanks are due, for the cordial support they have always rendered me, and for the regular and efficient discharge, of their duty. Finally, earnestly desiring, as I do, the future welfare of this Institution, allow me, gentlemen, to express ray trust that the end and aim of the foundation may ever be kept in view by those to whom its government has been committed. You have no light charge laid upon you. Your discharge of duty is not altogether free from difficulty and danger. Itn ■ I shall be pardoned for expressing my earnest hope that no desire to try novel theories of education, no educational empiricism, no yielding to uncertain and unsound-de-mands, no pressure fiom without, will ever tempt you to depart in the slightest degree cfrotn ihe Deed of Foundation under whichyou are constituted ; or to weaken that confidence which has been placed in you by the founders—a .confidence easily lost, but with difficulty-regained.- - J. C. Bagshaw, M.A., a . .Principal. Nelson College, Dec. 17; 1858. ■•• > •French. ■•• - - '-'■ Instructions in the French language wefe^commenced at the Nelson College in January, 1858, at the re-opening of this establishment after the midsummer vacation.

The pupils were at that time but insufficiently provided with grammars; and not until about six months afterwards, when an additional number arrived, could this want be supplied. The system pursued of teaching this language was to commence with the rudiments of grammar, as—alphabet, pronunciation of combined letters, the different parts of speech, their peculiarities in comparison with English by illustrative examples and exercises, &c. . Reading was practised, as also declension ot nouns and pronouns. Conjugation of the auxiliary verbs occupied our attention next, and then the conjugation ofthe four branches ofthe regular verbs, impersonal, reflective, and irregular verbs. Conjugation and declension have taken up a considerable part of our time, as I consider these to be the most essential parts, in fact the framework of a language. Conversation and phraseology have been considered of secondary importance until the scholars have arrrived at a more perfect knowledge of *irrammar. Translations, besides examples and exercises, are very desirable when a certain degree of grammatical knowledge has been attained, and this will be our object for the ensuing year. The progress made by the pupils was, as might be expected, different, according to diligence, perseverance, and talent. Generally, however, and with the exception of a few, I have reason to be satisfied with the industry shewn and progress made ; and when the difficulties in pronunciation have been overcome, there is no doubt that a gratifying and satisfactory result will be obtained. The following boy's have distinguished themselves, and deserve my commendation :— First Class.—Acton Adams, for industry and good conduct;- Manson Sjnelair, for good con"second^ Class—George Elliott, for industry and good conduct; James Henderson, industry and talent. ." , , Third Class.—Walter Ladley, industry, good conduct, and talent; Robert Kelling, industry and reading. Aug. Weyergang, French master. Nelson, December, 1858. Drawing. , The course of study which has been pursued since the time when drawing was made one of the studies of the college, has been principally confined to the delineating of objects consisting of simple lines and curves in different directions, with the object of training the eye to a knowledge of form and size, and the hand to practise the drawing of the same. ln consequence of the almost total want of education in drawing, less progress has been made than might have been expected ; but, considering the shortness of the time of instruction, I think the advance made very satisfactory. During the next term a course of Practical Geometry will be commenced. T. W. Downes, Drawing Master, Nelson College. 18th December, 1858. NELSON COLLEGE CLASS LIST. Christmas Examination. —1858. sth Form. .Adams ) Wilkie ( Otterson. 4ih Form. Henderson) Xadley j Black. 3rd lorm. "Marsden Kelling Connel. 2nd Form. -Otterson, A. Winter. Ist Form. , Macshane Mackay. SPECIAL PRIZES. French.— Adams, Elliott (G.), Ladley. -Mathematics. —Adams ) Wilkie] Writing.— Adams, Elliott (A., sen.), Marsden. Regular Attendance.— Kelling, Henderson. * head-master's prize. Diligence and Good Conduct. —Adams and .^Henderson, if * In the case of these pupils, neither of them had; tbeen absent or late once in the year. .f This prize is never given to tlie same boys twice.