HORTICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 658, 3 November 1882, Page 2

HORTICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the committee was held on Tuesday evening. The minutes having been read and confirmed, Mr Weetenra was elected Chairman, in the place of the Rev. Harry Stocker. Regarding the Oddfellows' Hall, Mr Westenra reported that they and Mr Grarwood were in communication with Mr Gutberlot on the subject. It was agreed that Messrs OJarwood and Westenra should be empowered to conclude the negotiation, and report to the committee next meeting. Letters were read from Mr Oldfield, teacher at Governor's Bay, asking if there was any special copy set for plain writing in small hand by boys and girls under 15 and 13. Further, suggesting a prize for a good essay on some subject, and also stating that ho intended to contribute towards tho funds of the Association. The same gentleman also wrote, asking respecting maps for exhibition, whether there would be preference piven to maps showing division of counties, or whether it was intended they should be of provinces only, or if it would be advisable to send both. The Hon. Sec. reportfd ho had answered the letters. From Mr E. C Latter, offering £2 2s for some special prize. In reference to this, Mr Watkins said that he had written io Mr Latter, asking him if he had any special object that he wished the money given for, or whether he would leave it to the committee to decide, requesting him if he had any special wish on the subject to write before that evening. As he had received no reply, ho was of opinion the committee could allocate the money as they thought best. The following letter from Mr Spurr was then read :—

" Robinson's Bay, October 25, 1882. "Dear Sir, —Having been asked to suggest the kind of examination the children should he put through in the bookkeeping, I beg leave to loiward for the con ideration of the committee the following questions, which, I think, would thoroughly test their knowledge of single entry; said questions to be answered in writing :—(1) Explain fully the use and manner of keepine the following books :— Day book, invoice book, caeb book, and bill hook. (2) Describe minutely, and also show by example, the manner of transferring the accounts from each of the above-named books into the ledger. (3) Why is it necessary to keep a ledger? (4) Suppose you had to find a person's name which was somewhere about the middle of a large ledger, how is it to be ! found without turning over every leaf till I you come to it ? (5) What is the use of a balance-sheet ? Show the process followed to ensure a correct one. (6) How do you find out the profit or lose you have made during the year or any other shorter time (say three months) ? I would further beg to suggest that it would be much more convenient to all parties concerned, if the committee would kindly allow the children to be examined in the different branches on the Saturday afternoon before the Exhibition day. If they began between one and two o'clock they would have ample time to get through all the work, and the judges wduld get more time to examine. With reference to the maps, may I ask, would the girl in Christchurch, who did the map of Australia, have got a prize had she done the map of Europe ? If she would, I must respectfully request that we be allowed to do our maps as well as possible as regards finish, as well us the solid work. Her map was undoubtedly by far the best in the room, but would not have been so had we not been restricted in our endeavors to finish them off as well as could be done. If you cannot allow us to do so. please give us instructions as to what will pass, a? really after all we have no rule to limit us. The best maps in the world could be done in ordinary school time (.that is the time allotted for geography) if you begin soon enough, which, of course, I always take care to do. Any teacher could fairly interpret the term ordinary school work, as meaning what his own capabilities enabled him to teach his scholars; and when one is preparing for a public exhibition it is natural that he would endeavor to send the very best work that could be got out of his scholars.—Yours, etc., " R. M. Spurb." Mr Watkins said he had only just received the letter, and had not replied to it. A diecoaeion ensued. It was thought in reference to the idea of a Saturday

examination, that it would be quite impracticable, as at that time the exhibits would be coming and being arranged. _Mr Watkins also explained that the examining judges would not bo present on the Saturday, and that it was easy for them whilst judging to set the tasks, and then go on with their other work till the children had finished. It was the unanimous opinion ot the committee that anyone doing a map not specified in the prize list would be disqualified from competing in that clasa. It was agreed to meet again on Tuesday, Nov. 14th, in order to arrange financial matters, to decide regarding certain rules suggested by Mr Westenra respecting the Horticultural Show, and also to hear the final report of the sub-com-mittee elected to arrange about the taking of the Oddfellows' Hall. The meeting then adjourned,