CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4493, 3 August 1893, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

IZlosterton Town Lands. [to the editor, w.d. times ] I do not wish tn dictate to those gonlleruen who have been elected to fill the positions of Trustees of tbe .Mnstciton Town lands, yet I should fcnl obliged ifyou could / n"llow me sufficient space to mode 1 public a few ideas for the consideration of the Trustees and the public of Miisterton, As far tis I .■can understand the founders of the / Maatcrton Town Lands, originally / intended that the income seeming i from the lands should bo devoted to f education, but as tbe Government f subsequently inaugurated a system of juvenile education, the income of the Trust bas been expended in numerous other directions. At present there appears to bean inclination on the part of the Trustees to establish scholarships, this ib very good in a way, especially as far aB the lucky winner is concerned, benefitting perhaps one in a thousand, but what about the nino hundred and ninety-niw, some of whom are nearly as smart as the winner ? Is not this contrary to the spirit of the age ? The greatest good to the greatest number being the popular idea in this Liberal ago, No doubt our education system is very good as far as it goes, to the sixth or seventh standard, but what about our children whon they have left school ? This appearß to mo to be the weak link in the chain and the one in which the income from the Town Lands could be well expended in strengthening. Clinch the instruction imparted at our schools and extend it by diffusing knowledge of such a nature that all our children majl&fifiut and become better fitted than their parents wero to gain a livehood, and successfully compete with their productions in th 9 markets of the World, where the competition is continually getting keener. As bj far the greater portion of our youths are likely to gain a living as farmers or from the soil in one way or another information in all subjects in connection therewith would beoffirstimportance. This could beimparled by establishinga small free library consisting of y a good collection of the best works on Agriculturo in all its branches, especially agricultural chemistry, horticulture, stock, veterinary, etc. Besides this, now and again courses of free lectures could he given on tbo above subjects, and. any others thought advisable, such as Physiology, Geology, Astronomy, etc. Many of us prido ourselves on being a little in advance of onr cousins in England, but wo shall soon find we are mistaken if we do not alter our tactics, . In at least some of the country districts at Home, lecturers are employed to give free, or nearly free lectures, and to induce the labouring class to take an interest, prizes are offered to those who can gather the most information out of a course of lectures, Thisffiems to answer very well, and there is no doubt but that the British farm labourer of the future will fce qyito a different man to tho labourer ofafowyearsago.-lam, etc, Knowledge is powek, An Explanation,

[To the Editor Waibabata Daily Times,l Sir,—ln reference to your subleader of yesterday, I simply have to Btate:—First! That your statement that I v/as consulted hy Mr Haro is incorrect, Second: That i was under the impression that the porson in questigppd been in Masterlon for Borao considerable time, but even if I was wrong surely the error was pardonable, seoing that I do not seem to be so well acquainted with the length of residence of the person in question abd other details connected with her,as yourself and the persons who signed the various petitions,including the Women's Morality League. Yours truly, 0. A. Pownall. Masterton, August Brd.