The Waikato Times, THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1906. A HORTICULTURAL SCHOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8073, 6 December 1906, Page 2

The Waikato Times, THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANY DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1906. A HORTICULTURAL SCHOOL.

A }iov km km was recently started iu Wellington with a view to having a school of hoiiieulture established there. Some yeais ago several enthusiasts took the matter up and considerable iuterest was aroused in t lie snhject. The 11 utt Borough Council considered the question of establishing such a school in its district, and at its request .Mr Robert Lee, a wellknown horticulturist, submitted a report to the Council. In this report Jlr Lee dealt with the whole matter of providing technical instruction for the district, and he pointed out that the nature of the country and the existence of large nurseries and market gardens made the 11 utt district an ideal situation for a technical school of horticulture, a school which he hoped might in time become an institution of colonial importance. A school of horticulture would come under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, and would therefore be entitled to subsidy, in his report Mr Lee said that the scope of instruction iu horticulture for a time would probably be very limited, but it was designed eventually to include the flower garden, kitchen and market gardens, the orchard, bee keeping and vine culture. Speaking broadly, the objects to be attained would eventually embrace a systematic and scientific course of instruction in the constituents of plants, soils, and manures, a knowledge of the functions of the several parts of plants, the economic tillage of laud, the best methods of culture and improvement of species, tasteful arrangement and colour effect in the growth of (lowers, entomology as bearing chiefly on insect pests, and generally the diffusion of a knowledge of the best methods of cultivating the soil. The full course of such a school would consist of (a) a fair knowledge of the subjects of a drawing syllabus; (b) attendance at the science classes in chemistry and botany ; (c) a knowledge of carpentry for men ; (d) a course of instruction iu theoretical and manual horticulture. Amongst other things suggested by Mr Lee with the object of furthering the project was the formation of a Horticultural Society—which lie himself was mainly instrumental iu getting established. The scheme outlined by Mr Lee, did not, however, reach fruition. The Borough Council sent out circulars to other local bodies, and to intending students, who were to be instructed at a very moderate fee. So little interest was taken in the subject, however, that only two signified their intention of joining the classes. Mr Lee considers that if a similar undertaking were gone in for now, it would meet with a great measure of success, and would become a most useful institution. Since the time when the project was tirst mooted, the work of a school of horticulture has been considerably encroached upon by the experimental farms and gardening at schools, but there can be no doubt that there is still a wide field left for such an institution, which would take more detail work than is possible at the present seats of such knowledge. Gardening and horticulture generally are growing in popularity both as a means of pleasure and as a commercial pursuit, and of the importance and future of the apiarian industry there can be 110 question. The movement again started at Wellington will probably a.-,-.;.nie a wider scope in the near future and lie but the precursor of the founding of a colonial institution.

TilE HOSPITAL HOARD

\V K may frankly congratulate the various districts sending representatives to tlie Waikato Hospital Board upon the business-like character and capacity of the present body. In Mr <l. >S. Jsond the Board has appointed an admirable Chairman, whose wide local experience will be of great value to the Board and to the ralepayers contributing. At yesterdav's meeting' two most important matters were discussed. The necessity for having the loan upon terms which will fully protect the Board and its endowments was recognised as of paramount importance, and the subcommittee now appointed will lie careful to see that those interests are not jeopardised by the wording of deeds which protect financial institutions but no one else. The projected extension and rebuilding of the Hospital is a serious call upon the ratepayers, but it is an absolutely necessary work, and must be carried through. I'he experience of almost all public bodies is that the estimates of probable cost are one thing and tho ultimate actual expenditure another, hi the present case it will probably be found that the architect's original estimate of £ lu,i n m w ill , uu into Hourly £K>,OW before the work is complete. The need, however, is urgent. The plans provide for a complete supply of water, by means of a water-tower and power engine, and the vital question of a copious and pure water supply will thus be solved very soon. The plans give an admirable range of buildiugs, continued in a similar style to the extension recently opened, and when finished we may expect to possess one of the most up-to-date hospitals in New Zealand.