The Evening Herald. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1873.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 1678, 3 February 1873, Page 2

The Evening Herald. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1873.

Noav that the examination of teachers under the Education Board is oA^er and their consequent distribution imminent, it may not be amiss to give a hasty sketch of the kinds of school requisite, and the methods, of teaching in them. But Aye must first make a feAv remarks upon one or: two of the educational questions. of the day bearing on the topic before us. In countries Avhere the Jaw of compulsory education is in full vigor,, it has ; been found that no other is so easily enforced, and that no other taxes, are so easily collected as the educational, i If: therefore public opinion in this Province could be'constitutionally pronounced iii: its favour, it would soon happen that legal penalties Avould /have fa,be seldom enforced, since the public voice, would constrain every man to bind himself ito send his children to school. -By :Compulsory ecK-»,tion, is meant the enforced attendance of every child, but it by no means fblloAvs that they are all to be sent at once, or all to be sent; for fiA^e hours a day. For it Avill be found .in. agricultural districts especially—and they are the very backbone of the ProA'iiice—the small farmer Avho constitutes the strength of those districts, and to-, whom labour is most expensive, will not agree to any scheme of education Avhich practically robs him of his children's time,' and the money that time represents. For, by sendinohis children to school under the present five-hour system,,he not only loses their labour between' the hours of nine and tSvelye, and tAvo and four, but he also loses it for the hours Avhich interA^ene betAveen morning and afternon school, in Avhich there can be evidently little or no work done, and the total of which time makes up the very best part of the Avorking day. In seasons of harvestinohe probably Avould not send them at all. The ages betAveen AAdiich children in'the North of Germany attend school are from six to'sixteen. No child is :alioAved to :do any Avork until; he is twelve, being, kept at school from his sixth year until that age. From tAvelve to ; fourteen; : he, is compelled to be at . school for three hours, a day,

and is not allowed to be at work for more than six. From fourteen to sixteen he has to attend school six hours a week. Now,although Englishmen would not in all probability submit, as yet, to a legislation which regulated the time of their children's labour, yet, by detailing the school-hours, and accomodating the attendance to the locality, the size of the family, or the season of the year, much the same practical result might be attained, and the burden of compulsory education considerably softened. For instance, setting on one side the prohibition against labour, it might be proposed that every child up to a certain age should attend school on each day of the Aveek either in the morning or the afternoon, that after that age it shoidd attend for so many hours during the week, that, where there were many children in a family, half should go in the morning and half in the afternoon, and that, in agricultural districts, the school should be closed, not at stated times twice during the year, but when the attendance was smallest, that is in the shearing and harvesting months,' since the education of children, and not the due observance of midsummer or Christmas, should be the great object to be attained. . That bran new- schools on a bran new principle, shoidd be immediately scattered over the Province would be as pleasing to the mind's eye as the spectacle of uniformly built school and toll-gate houses would be to the physical sight, but the one is as attainable as the other, and from the same unfortunate cause—impecuniosity. Therefore, since the value of good teaching is always the same, the Board Avould plainest show its Avisdom by availing istelf of every means of diffusing education. The erection of neAv buildings is very ulterior to the circulation of learning, and, in the present state of the ProA'incial Exchequer, the Board should be content to take temporary charge of whatever buildings the various districts may be in a position to place at their disposal, alloAving their teachers a proportionate rent in those districts in Avhich no house is attached to the school. Their teachers also should in certain parts be required to take two schools, on alternate days, at a sufficiently remunerative but smaller salary than Avould be given in those places Avhere separate schools Avere needed. For the purposes of monetary assistance, all kinds of existing schools should be taken into account, subject, of course, to pre-arranged conditions. Thus, learning grants for the individual progress of scholars, and the improvement of the appliances of instruction, might be given to^ every school indiscriminately ■ but' on those Avhich Avere immediately under the Board an additional sum might be bestoAved for regular attendance. If a portion of these grants Avere given to the teachers, a system of payment according to results Avould be established, in Avhich masters of all kinds Avould have an interest, and certified teachers Avould have the additional benefit of the attendance grant. And this system Avould make the Board more popular, and consequently smooth its difficulties, for it avoulc! in a great measure overcome the delicate question of religious instruction, since the examination on Avhich the grant Avould depend could only refer to secular objects. Those parents, too, Avho, from AvhateA-er cause, did not like to send their children to the Government schools, might send them to any they chose Avhich Avould be still under the inspection of the Board, since that body Avould have, by examination, to satisfy itself of any particular school to receive the grant. Again, in a proAince like ours, Avhere the central department cannot easily supervise the Avorkings of its remoter districts, school boards might be established, controlling the affairs of their various districts subject to the sanction of the Education Board. They might, for instance, have power to aid existing schools, to provide neAv ones, or to make neAv bye-laAvs for the better compulsion of attendance; and the Education Board should have power to unite several of these school boards so as to make one contribute to the support of the other. No scheme, however, Avill be successful unless it be so graduated that the meanest may clearly perceive the fault to be entirely his own. if he do not gain for ■himself the best possible education the State can give. The loAvest, but most, important, link in the series is the " Elementary School, " : which should be of two kinds ; single schools Avhere there are a sufficient number of children to Avarrant their, formation, and alternate ones, under the same master, in those thinly populated districts Avhich are unable separately to furnish tlie requisite quota of scholars. Although it will, be found that country settlers cannot; and as a rule will not, send their children for the Avhole of the day, these schools shoidd, nevertheless, be kept open, as noAv, from nine till four, so that parents may have the option of sending their children for the Avhole time if they can spare them, or of sending them either in the morning or the afternoon. In those places Avhere there are not enough children to fill a single school, a system of alternate schools -would Aye think be found to work better than the one now in A rogue, by Avhich a teacher is required to take two schools, one in the fore, and the other in the afternoon. For in neither case is there any choice left to the respective settlers. They must send theii-children at the timep when the teacher is in attendance, or not at all. This they would not

always be in a position to do, and the children Avould accordingly suffer through no fault of their oavii. But by requiring the teacher to attend for the full time on alternate days, a resident of either district could send some of his children in the morning and the others in the afternoon, and Avould not thus be entirely deprived of the value of their labour. The teaching required for these elementary schools Avould be of course of the simplest description, and Avith no difference betAveen the instruction afforded to boys and that given to girls. Next in the scale are those Avliich may be designated " District Schools," that is, schools situated in some important centre of two or more districts, to avlucli the residents could send their children if they Avished them to receive a higher education. Pupils leaving an elementary for a district school, should not be alloAvecl to do so until they Avere found to have been thoroughly grounded in all primary branches, and the question of such eligibility might be left Avith the respective school boards. In this class some distinction might be made betAveen the teachings of boys and girls, in that the latter might be initiated into the mysteries of hoitsevvifery. Thirdly, any pupils wishing to qualify for the University, or as trained teachers could, after an examination by the District School Boord, enter the " Provincial School." A training school for masters and mistresses could Avith advantage be attached to this institution from Avhich to recruit the staff of teachers, and an industrial school might also be a part of the provincial school Avhere youths could study mechanical arts, and the science of agriculture ; and young avomen, especially those detailed to be teachers, could perfect themselves in the various branches of domestic economy. So far Avith regard to provincial education ; but the scheme Avould not be complete unless candidates could matriculate and hold scholarships from provincial schools in either island to a common university in each, composed of colleges endoAved by the various provinces. Some such method as this is needed to promote an honorable rivaliy betAveen different schools, while to fuse them all into an harmonious Avhole, degrees, carrying with them an ad eundem to the universities of the mother country, and her principal colonies might be granted, as Aye believe they are now intended to be, in the University of NeAv Zealand ! But so desirable an end will never be attained until each district, throAving aside petty jealousies, heartily assists its neighbour, nor until Aye can improve the tone of our elementary schools by hitting upon some plan Avhich Avill prevent parents from taking away their children at the most teachable age. And this latter will not be accomplished by compelling them to forego, as at present, the value of their children's labour.

A sample of petroleum obtained at the Sugar Loaves in Taranaki was forwarded to Melbourne for analysis, and the following is the result :—" Industrial and Technological Museum Laboratory, Melbourne November 20, 1872. Sample of petroleum submitted for chemical examination by Sir Redmond Barry. The sample gave 72 per cent of a good illuminatingoil, with a specific gravity of 0,917. The residue, after distillation, closely resembled asphalt, for all the uses of which it is suitable. Owing to.the smartness of the sample, the per centage of oil and specific gravity can only be taken as approximate. The distillation of a larger quantity might give slightly different results. Should this petroleum occur in quantity, it Avould be of great commercial value. Cosmo Newaery, Analyst.

We learn (says the Taranaki Herald) that Mr Emanuel Bayly has made the distance between Hawera and New Plymouth (trotting all the way), in something over eight hours. Mr Bayly left Hawera at G a.m. on Sunday morning, and after stopping three times on the road to feed his horse (fifteen minutes.'at each place), reached town at 3 p.m.. The distance is seventy-five miles, therefore he must have travelled at a speed of nearly ten miles an hour, which, considering the nature of the road, and that he trotted all the way; was a very short time to complete the journey in.

One of our oldest residents, Mr David Nathan, has left Wanganui and commenced business at Bull's, Rangitikei. We are sorry to part with so straightforward and estimable a citizen as Mr Nathan, who during his long residence amongst us earned the esteem of all who had the plesaure of his acquai ■: tance. If uprightness and application to business Avill obtain for him success in Rangitikei, he is sure to merit it. We hope he will use his energies to get a daily coach to Bull's, Avhich is a want much felt by the inhabitants.

Sergt. Loftus' squad resumed class firing in the second stage this morning. Four members attended, none of whom succeeded in passing. The scores made were : Sergeant Loftus ... , ... ... 29 Captain Parkes ... .... ... 26 Corporal Jones ... ... ... 26 Private Tingey ... ... ... 20

Mr S. Coleman advertises an opening sale at his neAv mart, Bulls, Rangitikei. We are pleased to notice Mr Coleman's enterprise, and trust he will receive the support from the Rangitikei settlers that he merits.

The National Bank of New Zealand have taken the premises adjoining the Ncav Zealand Insurance Buildings, Auckland, lately occupied by Mr J. M. Lennox. We have been requested to intimate to the Wanganui Rifles that it is the desire of their Commanding Officer that they should parade at 6 a. m. on the Market Square to-morrow (Tuesday) morning to practice Funeral Drill. The class firing for that morning will stand adjourned till Friday. —g—s— ___j_Hl2_K-ra_rectt»waw.—ear;t-T»-CT— «i.-rrTs_CTj—_i^ Death of Mr. Richard Day. 1 The announcement of the death of f Mr. Richard Day, yesterday, took | many by surprise.. It appears but I a few days since he appeared the 1 very impersonation of health jj and strength. He had been con-1 fined to his bed only a fortnight, at | ; last succumbing to that fatal disease 1 -tjq:>hoidfever,caused,itis supposed, | by the defective drainage and nox- 1 ious smells which arc prevalent in | Wanganui. Mr Day was well 1 ! known and respected in the district | * for his open-hearted and generous 2 I disposition. For many years he I « held the position of Lieutenant in I I the Wanganui Cavalry, and Avas 1 1 recognised as a dashing Hiorseman 1 and first-rate drill. Peace be to I his memory! a i I A very competent authority, says the ' Ballarat Miner,' estimates that the cost of working the Education Act for Victoria will be over £700,000 per annum. Referring to Mr Bunny's election, the Post says :—For Wairarapa West a change of members is probable, but, although Mr Bunny may have to go to the poll with other candidates, the electors can hardly do otherwise than place bun at its top. Mr Bunny has become identified with the work of progress now going on in the Province, and his re-election should follow as a corollary to that of Mr Fitzherbert. The electors of Wairarapa on this occasion are bound to consider not only their own needs, but the requirements of the whole Province. Vv re do not say that Mr Bunny is indispensable—that cannot be said of any politician—but he has shewn himself to be so able a coadjutor of Mr Fitzherbert, that it would be a pity if he were shut out from further anticipation in the schemes of improvement which have conduced so largely to the welfare of the Province. We look forward with confidence, however, to the Wairarapa electors doinotheir duty; only let not Mr Bunny's friends be careless in the matter.

The Wairarapa Standard says ;—" We cannot help thinking that such a laAy [the Homestead Act] in New Zealand avoulc! be far preferable to the one Avhich has been substituted in this (Wellington) province of selling land on a sj'stem of deferred payments. It Avould be more likely to attract settlement, and it Avould prove equally as beneficial to the land revenue. The subject in any case is Avorthy of consideration on the part of the Government of Neiv Zealand, and also of the public at large." Our contemporary is evidently living in blissful ignorance of the fact that such a Lw does exist at the present time in NeAv Zealand. For a couple of years the Homestead Law has been in successful operation in the province of Auckland and additional blocks of land are being thiwn open for settlement under the provisions of this Act as the trigonometrical surveys are completed. This fact should be more Avidely knoAvn than it evidently is. Some fine farms have been acquired under the easy provisions of this Law, but eAidently more publicity requires to be given to the fact that farms of from 40 acres and upwards, of the finest agricultural land, can be obtained in the province of Auckland upon the easy terms of occivpation. —Southern Cross.

The Hon. Mr Waterhouse is trying to obtain a run at Taupo.

Want of space compells us to hold over a lengthy report of the cricket match played at Marton on Saturday last. The contest Avas an excellent one, resulting in the Adctory of the country team by four

Avickets.

The principal and seconds in the recent fatal pugilistic encounter at Westbury, Tasmania, were tried at the Supreme Court, Lauiiceston, on Jan. 12, for the manslaughter of Thomas Lindsay Field, Avho was killed after a couple of hours' fighting by the other combatant, Seton Williams Williams was charged Avith causing tha death of the^deceased, and Charles Watson with being accessory. No fresh information Avas elicted at the trial, which ended, to the surprise of many, in the acquittal of the defendants. The facts could not be denied, and the law we are informed by the Lauiiceston Examiner Avas "most clearly laid clown by the learned judge,Avho all but told the jury that they were bound to find the prisoners guilty." This journal censures thd jury for returning a verdict contrary to evidence and direction of the judge, and remarks :—■.' It Avas distressing in the extreme to see a young man stricken down by an erstwhile companion, with others lookag encouragingly ; but it is appalling to find a jury of 12 men, under the most solemn obligation to deliver a truthful verdict, deliberately adding their approval."

The speeches of Mr Win. Hutchison and Mr Wm. Finnimore have been unavoidably croAvded out. The interesting

wordy war between these well-known radiators will be faithfully pourtrayed

in our next.