The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.l FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1901. A WRONG MOVE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10523, 20 December 1901, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.I FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1901. A WRONG MOVE.

Thosb best qualified to express an opinion on the subject are unanimous in condemning the proposal of the Wanganui Education Board to remove tho pupils of the Sixth and Seventh Standards from the Boys' School to the Technical School. The headmaster of the former put the matter very strongly and clearly in hin last annual report, which appeared in our last issue, in which he laid stress on* the undesirabliity of removing the elder and more advanced pupils from the Boys' School just 'as their presence npd example there was beginning to be of benefit to the younger "boys. We suppose no one will question the late Dr Arnold's opinions" on this and other school subjects, as he, during his headmastership of the Rugby School improved that institution so much that it quickly, took its place at tho top of the list of English public schools. One of the chief levers used by Dr Arnold in tho uplifting of the school was the use he made of the elder boys as prefects, and the wise discretion he exercised in his choice of such valuable adjuncts to the teaching staff. Arnold impressed the boys with his own high 'aims, and drew to his side those of them who were anxious, to lift the public school abore the very low- level it had sunk to, owing to the evil example and bullying propensities of somo of the elder pupils, whose morals were of the worst typo and example harmful to the last degree. In that delightful book, "Tom Brown's Schooldays/ tho author, the late ,"'Mr T. Hughes, M.P., gives a graphic and realistic picture of the celebrated Dr Arnold and his methods, which were chiefly in tho direction of drawings to his aid the best boys of- the upper forms, who in turn influenced, those below them, until the whole tone of the school became elevated, and the school itself looked upon as an institution where • boys were not -only made soholari, bat gentlemen — the latter term we use in its truest and best sense.

The Bishop of Wellington and the Hon. Captain Russell, 'during their remarks on the 'occasion of the late presentation of prizes at the Wanganui Collegiate Seliool, referred to the value of the- assistance rendered the principals of that institution by the prefects. Captain Russell especially laying stress thereon. The intention 'of the Wanganui Education Board to remove the

more advanced pupils of the Boys' School to the Technical' School building to receive their further and higher 'education, in the face ot the overwhelming evidence of the lolly of such a step, seems inexplicable, except on -utterly indefensible grounds. It is therefore to be hoped that the members of that body will reconsider the ques- | tion, and take the trouble to inform themselves of the opinions of those best able' to give weighty testimony on the "subject. Mr Aitken has in his report given his firmly, but respectfully, as behoves on employe, bat it is none the less convincing on the latter account, and will, we hope, be. carefully considered by the members of the Board before they take a step which all the leading educators of youth condemn. Tha Technical School oughf ' to be nlled with its own pupils, but for some unexplained reason it is not, and has, been more or less nu educational I "white elephant." This should notj hare been the case in the past, nor should it continue to be so in the. future in a place like Wanganuai, ' where large numbers of boys and young men are engaged in work of .a mechanical typo and in want of technical education of a practical nature. It may be that <he lads themselves prefer spending then* spare time in amusements or idle jess to attending such an institution and' preparing themselves for the higher positions of their occupation, which can o»ly bp secured by those who take the trouble tl? make fhemselves masters of^ their trade. To those dying, soothe Technical School ought to; be of the most invaluable assistance, *nddraw to its classes far greater numbers of pupils than it has yet done, more ib the pity.

Amongst interesting reading matter to be found on our first page is a complete report in connection with tho Wanganui Convent Schools — the prize list and entertainment; also cricket, the reported accident to the s.s. Botorua, and some startling evidence in the Ariadne case. Mr 'W. M. Barratt, of Sydney, has been appointed city surveyor at Nelson.

The National .Bank of New Zealand has declared an interim dividend of 8 per cent. , Captain Edwin telegraphs: — North to west and south-west gale; glass fall, but rise after ten hours from now; indications for heavy gale after the glass rises; tides very high and sea very heavy.

We have to thank the editor of the' Dunedin Evening Star for a card conveying Christmas greetings and best wishes for A happy and prosperous year," which kindly sentiment we cordially reciprocate.

A lage area of native land in "Hawkes Bay is infested with noxious weeds. The Agricultural Department has called upon the Maoris to clear off the weeds, but owing to the multiplicity of owners it finds it difficult a oenforce the law. ,

Professor Smedley asserts that a large number of children, .naturally left; handed, who have been laboriously trained to use the right hand, are thereby made defective in speech, owing to the nice balance of the brain being disturbed. An advertisement appears in another column stating that 1 the Becruiting Board will sit in the Drill Hall at 10 a.m. on the 27th inst. for the purpose of selection, and medical examination. The selection will be. made from those in attendance only. - j At a public meeting at Waihi it was unanimously resolved to take steps for I ihe formation of a borough. The town-l-ship is in a deplorable Btate. There IB no water, no drainage, and no light, and a large proportion is consequently stricken with disease. An alarm of fire was raised about 11 30 last night, but the incipient blaze at a tinsmith's shop in St. Hill Street was promptly squelched by a couple of buckets or water, therefore not necessitating the services of the IHre Brigade. The'heavy rain of the past few days, together with the snow water from! the mountains, has caused a heavy freshet in the river. So far not a great deal of debris has come down, though a large pine tree has been deposited on the flats nearly opposite the Hospital: In the prize list of the Wanganui Boys' District High School, published yesterday, the names of Boy Comyns incT Gilbert Dust were omitted (through printer's error) from those in the Third Standard who had gained first-class prizes for regular attendance — never absent. Some senile individual yesterday narrowly caused the demolition of the monkeys' cage attached to the Public Museum by throwing therein a lighted match. The monkey in this case was master of the man (?),' in putting out the smouldering fire, otherwise there would have been a different tale to tea. In a few weeks the whole of the 1200

new 12-ton iron high-side waggons ordered will be running on the Canterbury lines. Eight hundred out of the 1000 imported from England have been erected, and also 200 of those supplied in the colony. The Addington Workshops have managed to complete the waggons at tho rate of 40 a week. There were considerably over 300 peoplo present to witness tho ballot of the Wanganui People's Building- S<h ciety, which was held at the Church) of England School-room last night. Messrs Aitken and Molloy acted as scrutineers. Tho shareholders present took keen interest in the proceedings. The lucky number was 955, the owner of which, holding two shares, is entitled to JB3OO. Tho mortal remains of the late Mr S. H. Drew were conveyed to their last resting place this morning, at 9.30, when there was a representative attendance of town and country residents. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. H. R. Dewsbury, in the absence of tho Rev. A. O. Williams, who was called to Wellington on important business. Referring to the absence of the Crown Prosecutor 'from town, and his consequent inability to conduct the prosecution in the Dudley Eyre case today, Mr 6. C. Kettle, S.M., remarked that in the event of the Crown Prosecutor being absent from town some provision should be made for the Crown being represented, as holidays should not interefcre with the administration

of justice. Mis Williamson, gratefully acknowledges the following nelp for the little ones at the Jerusalem Borne: — 'Inasi much as ye have done it" 10b, (this donor *js thanked, also, for his kind letter), Mrs H. S. Harrison ss, Two Young Friends ss, A Friend 5, A Friend ss, K.N. 2s 6d, Miss Willis 2s, Master Bernard Kitchen. Is; a handsome gift of toys and books from Messrs V H. ,J. Jones and Son, six beautifully-dressed dolls from Miss Winnie Hatrick, scrap books and dressed dolls anonymously. The recent examinations in law have resulted in a terrible "slaughter of the innocents," and tho successful candidates are very few and far between. In the Empire City the failures hare, to use a ELrugGriam, "staggered humanity" and all earthly joy has pasßcd out of the lives of numbers who have failed. While sympathising with those who have not passed, we must congratulate Mr Gonville Saunders (who is with Messrs Barton and Wray), on being the only successful candidate from the loqal offices. In the Magistrate's. C.our£ yesterday, before Mr 0. C. Settle, S.M., a case was heard arising out of a buildingcontract in which J. A. Petherick, of Wanganui, builder, sued John McCartney, of Castlccliff, for .£3B 10s, balance of contract moneys. Mr Borlase appeared for tho plaintiff, and Mr Wray for tho defendant. The defence raised was that the contract was not carried out according to specifications, and after tho evidence of both Bides had ben taken, judgment for £5 14s was entered by consent for tho plaintiff, without costs. A telegram signed by a number of our prominent citizens, on both sides of politics, was despatched to the Premier congratulating him on his offer of an Eighth Contingent for South Africa and on his reference to the unpatriotic utterances and conduct of cortain British statesmen. Mr Scddon replied as follows to each of the signatories: — "Many thanks for your kind congratulations respecting despatch of Eighth Contingent and plaintaikin" to those misguided public men at Home, who by their injudicious actions and speeches have encouraged the Boors and prolonged the war. In actiiisr as I did I was only, voicing the feelings of the people of this colony. We are 'all anxious that the war should terminate, and for some of those at Home to be undoing what we are doing and have done is reprehensible and shows a lack of patriotism — R. J. Soddon." .