THE COLONIST. Published Daily-(Mornings). Nelson, Friday, June 26, 1891. A DEFECT IN EDUCATION.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7048, 26 June 1891, Page 3

THE COLONIST. Published Daily-(Mornings). Nelson, Friday, June 26, 1891. A DEFECT IN EDUCATION.

No statement is accepted with more readiness than one that makes out our boys to excel in mischief and idleness. Some strange oomfort seems to foe drawn from the supposition, affirmation, indeed, that after all the expenditure on schools and schoolmasters, the product is becoming worse morally every year, nay, to believe these sombre preachers of decay, even tbe results of the teaching are steadily growing more nnsatisfaotory. It might be fancied by those who know no better, that in former times boys never allowed themselves to be led away by high spirits or want of thought, that they always and everywhere conducted themselves with perfeot decorum, and above aU, that all the instruction they received was conveyed in the ordinary school course. These desponding assumptions are sojutterly and absurdly opposed to tbe truth, that their mere mention is enongh with ordinarily reasonable people, who may be led into endorsing What they do not believe from lazy good nature, and to eEcape the tronble of thinking. The faot is, the boy as a human being is too little considered. His natural and desirable love of play is the necessary outcome of that vital force which, possessed in a less degree, would leave him a poor oreatnre, incapable of contending with the simplest of the world's troubles. His failure, whan it does actually exist, to make nse of his sohool teaching to acquire more knowledge, aud suoh as would specially fit him for elevating his position in the oalling to whioh he has been devoted, is more rarely due to want of interest than want of opportunity, and especially of friendly counsel and aid. Tbe boy is left, as soon at lepst as he begins to earn something towards his own living, withont any means of pursuing useful studies, and what in the long run proves still worse, withont any convenient place of recreation. Thus advantages often enjoyed by the fathers before leaving their native land are unknown to their sons. The continuing schools or night sohools, where the defeots of early education could be repaired, have till j recently been deemed needless in most parts of the Oolony ; while as for places of amusement, the publio streets, with all their temptations and evil influences, have alone been available. The Free Library, where it is accompanied by olasses, may do something to snpply one part of the want, but it is only part, and that by no means where the chiet danger lies. Wellington has seen what the want is, and some of her citizens have begun to move. A proposal, made at a public meeting well attended, is to establish an institution to provide gymnastic and other amusements for boys who now have-only the streets to resort to. An entension of the scheme in the direction of adding classes for giving of teaching beyond what our pnblio sohools snpply, was suggested during the evening, and seemß oertain co be given effect to. The Mayor, who was in the chair, said well and wisely that he believed the boys of to-day are no worse than those of thirty years since, but with the growth of population the difficulties in their way conimually increased, and the help of the well-wishers of all should be given. Such is the feeling in Wellington, such are the needs of every town in tbe Oolony. Oannot something be done in the same direction in Nelson ? Our local teachers have shown they are no sluggards where they are called in a good cause. The task, however, has no right to be imposed solely on them, though they have proved their readiness to aid. Olasses may be established with excellent results, but they will not fill tiie place of the gymnasium. The most hazardous part of our boy's life, hazardous that is as respects the formation of habits that may for good or evil govern his whole life, is the early time after he leaves school. Tb keep boys from falling into pernicious practices, and to gratify an "instinctive desire, recreation is needed. Oannot something be done for our boys? Endeavors are being made in Nelson in this direction, Will they succeed ?

Stud Shmi*?— We-ftre glad to learn that Mr H. Faulkner, of Wakefield, has recently purohased some valuable prize sheep for breeding purposes. In face of the frozen meat, trade the Border Leicester has oome to the front rank in general estimation, for not only is its wool of fine quality, commanding a high prioe, but when crossed with the Merino is particularly fine as well aB long in the etaple. For butohers' purposes, too, and the frozen meat trade, the Border Leicester and the oross alluded to stand second to none, Mr Faulkner is giving his attention to this breed, and recently he purohased some improved Border Leicester rams, which took prizes at the last Christohuroh chow. On Saturday last he also received from the South, several prize ewes of the came breed, one of which took champion honors in her class at the Christohuroh show. These ewes have a first class pedigree, and 'hey have been put to a ram that was champion :;•, Christohuroh, Oamaru, and Dunedin last yecr, so that Mr Faulkner * will soon be in the possession df a numerous flock of these fine Sheep. We wish him every success in his enterprise, wbioh will considerably benefit the whole district. 11 An Houb in Faib* Land."— There was again a large attendance at the Wesleyan schoolroom last evening, when this pretty cantata was repeated and richly enjoyed, as also were the very effeotive tableaux. In compliance with a widely expressed desire, it has been arranged to again repeat the performance this evening for the benefit of the young people, find consequently the performance is to commence at seven o'olook, while the. price for admission all round will be sixpence.

Thb Piokon Va-llby-Dovedam Road.— We have reoeived a complaint as to the condition of this road at a place near Mr White's sawmill, and where, during the late froata, owing to the water table being in bad order, the road became covered with water, wbioh speedily froze. It is reported that some accidents have ooourred on this pieoe ot road whioh is covered with a sheet of ice, and tt at anything like heavy traffic has been entirely stopped. The cleaning out of the water table, and tbe execution of a very little additional work woald, we are informed, remove the cause of complaint. No doubt the matter only needs mention to ensure the attention of the County Inspector. Pateut Cooking Utensim.— Mrs Robert Maokay, of Wakapuaka, has recently taken out a patent for an improvement iv utensils for cooking vegetables, boiling eggs. &0., and has sent for our inspection Bpeoimens of these very useful artioles. The utensils referred to are practically doable saucepans or a combination of saucepan and colander, the latter, whioh fits within the former and has a separate handle, being intended to hold the vegetables or eggs for boiling. The lid of the saucepan fits olosely over the handle of the inner vessel," such handle being of similar shape to that of the . saucepan, the two handles projecting within convenient distanoe of one another. The inner receptacle is perforated to allow the water to drain off, and a convenient stand is furnished with the appliance, whioh being placed over the pan the colander like vessel may be stood thereon. We have shown these utensils to several practical persona, who are most favorably impressed, with the patent cooking vessels, which should prove a great convenience in the kitohen.

■• The late Minister for Lands (Hon. G. F. Richardson) calls for a return showing tia thousands of pounds which his successor stated at Palmerston South were spent by Stock Inspectors without control from headquarters, as well as the names of the Inspectors alleged to oharge for tbe use Of their own houses, and those who oharge for tbe hire of their own horses.

Wmbarapa papers notice with regret tha death of Mr John Jury's son, William, a promising youth who not long ago finished his education at the Native College at Te Aute. He is believed to have died from the effects of a kick reoeived in playing football while at College, by whioh he sustained internal injuries which produced fatal resuits.

This is the peroration of Sir Charles Dilke's speech in the Forest of Dean: ''Even the knowledge of undeserved opprobrium, loss of congenial work, domestic peace, and the frightful misery of a few weeks of 1885, leaves, thanks— humanly speaking — to her who sits beside me, no trace of care behind. I can say, with Gcethe's hero • I do not know what kingship is like ; but I have won a happiness of which 1 am not worthy, and which I would not barter against any in the universe.'

Mas Grimwood, whose plucky conduct at Manipur bas exoited so much interest, is only twenty-five years of age. She is an accomplished horsewoman, and from her rides with her husband had acquired a thorough knowledge of the country. All her belongings were, of course, destroyed in the Residency.

General Booth's Shelter fund has reached £110,000, and that large olass in darkest England who have no roofs begin to be enoouraged.

'« Hard Times Parties " are being given in some parts of Nebraska. The invitations are sent oat in fanny rhyme, written on coarse brown paper and enclosed in brillant yellow envelopes. They invite the receivers to be present in "rags and tatters, and tatters and ragß.

It is expeoted that the bridge over the Mokihinui river, on the Karamea Bough and Tumble road, will be opened for traffio in about four weeks time. The finishing touches are now being given to the structure, whioh is stated to be a very substantial pieoe of workmanship, reflecting muoh credit npon tlw contractors, Sangster and Co, It is aIBO satisfactory to notice that the Government are having the read on the Bough and Tumble side of Mokihinui put in order, bo that it willbe available when the bridge is opened. Men are employed, on the cooperative system, clearing slips and performing other necessary repairs under the supervision of Mr Turnbull, Government Inspector, who has had charge of the bridge since its commencement. All these works are expected to be completed together, about a month hence, when, it is said, the Government intend to hand the road over to the County Council, which will mean an additional burden upon the already impoverished exchequer of that body; Engineebing skill and boldness are among the wonders of this age. Flauß are now before the London County. Counoil for tbe construotiou of a new tunnel under the Thames river, which shall be twenty-eight feet in diameter inside with a 16-foot roadway and two footways. The oost of construction is estimated at £80 per foot. It is the intention of the Government to shortly increase tbe maximum amount for whioh postal notes may be issued from £1 to £5.

Mb B. H Beeves intends to move for tbe imposition of an import duty of 5s per ton on coal.

A be wabd of £10 is offered for the discovery of the body of Mr James Toung, who has been missing since a day or two after the fire in Greymouth when his bakery establishment, was destroyed. Some years ago another baker in Greymouth disappeared in an equally mysterious manner without .any trace of him ever having been found. An Amerioan paper called ' Once a Week ' offered prizes to readers Who should name the most famous men ahd women living. According to the favour Bhown io the replies the editor gave hiß deoision, and he has awarded tbe first prize to the correspondent who drew up the following list : Statesmen, W. E. Gladstone ; General, Count von Moltke ; Novelist, Bobert L. Stevenson ; Poet, Lord Tennyson ; Painter, Meissonier ; Actor, Mr Irving; Vocalist, , Adelina Patti ; Lawyer, Sir : ; Charles Bussell ; Historian. E. A Freeman ; Scientist, Tyhdall ; Doctor, Pastenr ; Composer,, Verd i; Engineer, Ferdinand de Lesseps; Inventor, Edison. The greatest living man of allWilliam E. Gladstone, "beoause he is tbe champion of the pause of humanity ; his life work the elevation of ideas among men, among nations; his physioal nature being purified through inspiration to that degree which perfects his conceptions of roan's duty to others, which gives him courage to reveal them,' and intellectual and moral force to illustrate them."

The erection of an immense gasholdersaid to be the largest inthe world— has beerentrusted* to Messrs Clayton, Son, and Co (Limited), of the Moor End Ironworks, Hunslet, -Leeds, by the . South ' Metropolitan Gas Company; London, far their Bast Greenwich Station. _ Some idea of the magnitude of the structure may be bbtained when„it is?stated that it will have a capacity of 12,000,000 feet of gas ; that it will be 8000 feet in diameter, with an altitude of 180 feet when* at its full height; and that its total weight will be 2220 tons.

Mb Edison arrived at Chicago on May 19, and was entertained by some members of the World's Fair Commission. In course of conversation the great inventor waa asked il he had not got an electrical novelty in store for the Columbian Exhibition, Mr Edison replied:—" lt is my intention to have ready for the World's Fair suoh a happjf combination of photography and electricity as will enable a man to sic in his owa parlor aad behold depicted upon a ourtain before him the forms of the players in an opera upon a distant stage, and to hear the voices of the .singers. When the system is perfeoted, which I hope will be in time for the fair, eaoh little muscle in the singer's face, every glance of the eye, and eaoh expression wili be seen at work. Every oolor in the performer's attire, too, will be exactly reproduced. Moreover, the spectator, seated hy his own fireside, will see each person in the play move to his or her position in a natural way, just as though they were the very gereons themselves."

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