LATEST TELEGRAPHIC

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 93, 25 February 1879, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAPHIC

(per PRESS AGENCY.) Taueanga, Monday. THE TAUPO. The chances of getting off the Taupo are hopeful. By the Hawea there arrived yesterday two centrifugal pumps and three Cnliforninn pumps to be used in attempt to pnmp the water out of the Taupo. The former one has a six-horse power boiler, and will raise at the rate of 20,000 gallons of water per minute ; the other has a three-horse power toiler, and raises about half that quantity ; tho Californian pumps work in sluices, something in the same manner as those used by gold diggers. Should the combined action of the pumps have the effect of raising the hull at all, it is intended to pass a sail under her bottom and then pump her dry, and tow her to Auckland. Should this not be practicable, she will be beached. The chief officer and crow are working under the directien of Captain Worsp, the inspector appointed by the Insurance Companies, at 10s per day and rations, and have already completed arrangements for receiving boiler onboard, the main yard having been run out mid properly rigged up, and the topmast yard converted into a derrick.

London, February -IG. LATEST CAPE NEWS. The latest Cape news is that a British force, under Colonel Pearson, lias safely established itself at Eutope (sic) in Zululand. There are now no hostile Zulus in the' Colony of Natal. '■•••••• February 18. THE ZULU WAR, Sir Charles Dilke has given notice in the House of Commons of a resolution condemning the Zulu war. LOOKING UP. New Zealand loans are one per cent, higher. VICTORY, A British column was attacked by 4000 Zulus, when the British gained a complete victory, with trifling loss. London, February 19. WOOL SALES. At the wool sales the prices ranged about the same as last series. . MAIL SERVICE. ■ The P. ancl O. Company have sent in a tender for a fortnightly mail service for £85,000. KARATIANA DEAD. Napier, Monday. Karatiana the Maori member for East Coast died this morning at Maori, club. Wellington, Monday. AMATEUR CONCERT. An amateur Concert gat up by Mr Parker organist at St, Pauls and, warmly supported by the Mayor, is to bo held shortly in aid of the widows and children left destitute by the Katangi coal mine disaster, THE ASSAM. King George's Sound, Monday. Arrived—P. and O, steamer Assam, from Galle, with tho following passengers for New Zealand Captain and Mrs Tonwell and family, Mrs Jeffreys, Mrs Richmond and family, Irs and Miss Atkinson, London, February 21st. LATEST FROM THE CAPE, Later Cape news states the British column under Colonel Wood whichsuccessfully repulsed an attack by five thousand Zulus, as since fallen back, SEUZ MAIL SERVICE, Melbourne, Monday, It is officially announced here that the P and 0 Campany tender for tho Victorian Suez Mail service is £85,000, there were no other tender.

To th Editor of tk WAiiuiurA Daily.' Wellington, Feb, 20,18??, Sir—l have read Mr Wakelin's letter in your issue of the 17th with . somewhat mingled feelings. While sympathizing deeply with him on account of the position in which he is' now placed, it is only right to say that he and the rest of us took office as teachers perfectly aware that our tenure of office was not "advitam aut culpam," and that we are liable to be removed or dismissed at aiiy time, on duo notice, and without any right on our part to demand the reason or claim an enquiry. This seems to be our real position, and it is as well to look it full in tho face. Ido not say it ought to be so, as I know tho ablest teachers will generally set more value on security in their office than on high rates of payment j and this tends also to the advancement of the schools aa well, for teachers who are moving from one school to another every two or three years aie not likely, to' take very great interest in education in any particular school, and the school is- often most in l debted to the teacher who nitikes the least shew.

The article, in tho New Zealand Gazette of the 26tli September last is a kind of Education Code for the colony, and it is quite competent to make regulations therein for tho re-examination of'any school by another Inspector if the teacher is dissatisfied with the Inspector's report, r I do not think any difficulty would ba

found in getting such a regulation inserted next year, as it caii bo dono without any Act by the Legislature. But Ido not see what good it could do to teachers with - their present tenure of office, unless it helped them to a situation in another district, I must, in the mcnntiine, beg to' doubt the correctness of some of Mr Wakelin's charges against the Inspector of this district. I have had far more experience of Inspectors than Mr Wakelin, and cannot see how his frown can make a meritorious school look discreditable, Cliildren are far better judges than'grown up children are of strangers. They , will soon pass an unchangeable vote of confidence or no confidence, on .tKla teacher.--and if the former, no' frown ';)4 will put them down while the teacher stands there. I may also state that some members of the Wellington Education Board are well qualified to inspect amy school. In the old standards the pupil was expected to pass one standard every two years, and in the new one every year, Now, it seein3 to me, this could be done by judicious I :teaching .without injury to the health of any child except a debilitated ono. As a rule, it is not too hard for a year's work. But a child's health may be injured by injudicious teaching and learn very little at the same time; just as a man may injure his health by injudicious eating or working, while the body is t'ery ill nourished or very littlo work is done. It is also fair to state that though the Inspector may recommend tho removal of any teacher, he neither cart nor docs remove any teacher; this is the function of the Education Board.' My experience of Mr Leo has been altogether different from Mr Wakelin's. I have been a teacher for a quarter of a century, and have had Inspectors coming and going during that time, and I am bound to say that for faithfulness, fairness, and patience Mr Lee will compare favorably with any Inspector that ever stood in my school.— I am, &c., ■ A Wellington Teacher.