CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 33, 8 February 1905, Page 10

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE CRICKET MATCH, !(To tbf Editor. - ) Sir. —As there is a likelihood of a large number of country enthusiasts visiting Auckland next week to witness • the Australia v. Auckland match. I I would like to suggest to the Cricket Association the great boon they might con- ] fer on these visitors (and perhaps, as well, on many local residents) if they followed the practice carried cut in the larger cities of posting on the telegraph hoard on the ground the order of each team in."' A good many. I am sure, arc not only entire strangers to the Australians, hut the Auckland players are not all known to those likely to attend, and this suggestion if carried out would add greatly to the interest of many and be highly appreciated.— [ am. etc.. COUNTRY ENTHCSIAST. I A BRASS BAND FOR AUCKLAND. (To the Editor.) Sir. —A couple of months ago. when writing on the subject of a public band for Auckland. I promised 1n write for •certain information as m first cost of same. 1 wrote to Messrs C. "Mahillon and Co.. of Condon, on the subject, and am informed in reply that this firm will supply the instruments and stands for the military band (21 instruments) for ±.'123 nett: Ibe years supply of reeds will cost about £ 1 8/. The brass band instruments 110 in number) will cost £90 nett. and a year's subscription to a good brass or military hand journal will be about. £2. There is no ruling rate of pay for bandmasters in London, but the lowest scale is in the case of bands employing ex-army bandmasters, who. in consequence of having a pension, arc satisfied with from £60 to £80. per year. In the event of steps being taken to form a public band. 1 can send full particulars of these sets of instruments, etc.. To the promoters to any address they may name. Tt may be pointea out t-bat in forming a -band Tbe attendance of members can best be secured by giving a fairly liberal remuneration to players, and by taking caTe not To Trench too much on their spare time: also, that £10 spent on one reliable player is l>clter spent than on two players who stay away on the slightest pretext. For these three reasons, if fundi are limited, the bras;s band of 16 Jnstr.umtents. played by men who could be depended on, would be better than a larger number who could not : also, that a fairly liberal retaining fee and rate per hour for one or two band-practices and public performances per week would be the best means to secure this end. I ihink a subscription list should be opened to lest how far Auckland is prepared to support a good band. — 1 am. etc.. HAUTBOYS. THE TRAINING OF TEACTTBRS. (To the Editor.) Sir.—Referring to the remarks at the University Senate on the urgent necessity of teachers being trained for the work, allow mc to point out that in the Education Department (so-called) neither the teacher's efficiency nor his length of service, nor his experience, nor his degree of vsoholarship, count for anything. Of no other public department can the same lie sail, and yet that is the most important of all. When such is the case, must not there be something very rotten about I lie state of Denmark? Men who have hud no training for the discharge of their most important duties now occupy the chief position in our education system, as headmasters and inspectors. God save the mark. They were, you may be told, born teachers and inspectors, who were able to Jearn their business in doing it. That the present Minister of Kducation has done his utmost, to remove abuses and glaring anomalies is quite true; but the same cannot be said of tbose beneath him. on whose services he irrasfc as Minister largely depend; but if the educational welfare of the colony's youth is accounted of much value an end should soon be put to incompetence, that is the cause of irreparable injury thereto.—l am, etc.. MARTIN SMITH. UNIVERSITY DEGREES IN DIVINITY. (To the Editor.) Sir.—You report that the Senate has decided to take steps toward t-he founding of a Faculty of Divinity in tbe University of New Zealand. It may be worth while to point out that hi pursuing this enlightened course the Senate can refer to precedents far more pertinent than that afforded by the American U-nrversities, to which the liberalminded promoter of the scheme alluded in his speech. Loudon University was remodelled in 1900; certain colleges were affiliated to it. and most, of the examination courses recast. Among the more radical changes was the establishment of a Faculty of Divinity. For years previously the multiplicity of creeds barred the way Towards a common examination looting: but by perseverance, chiefly on fhe part of one man. all obstacles were at last surmounted, and now the degrees of B.D. and D.D. are open to students of every religious persuasion. Another young and healthy University is that of Wales, -whose Divinity School is in a condition no less vigorous than are the Schools of Engineering and Medicine. I can conceive of no scheme better calcnlated to foster liberality of thought and harmony of feeling among our religious teachers than this meeting on common ground in our younger Universities. The largeness of their agreements as set over against the smallncss of their divergences will become more emphasised every year, and this will mean gain to t-he rammunitv. Sir Maurice O'Rorke deserves the best thanks of our religious leaders for so courageonsly taking the lead in this important matter. I wish 1 had the chaucc of reminding him that the bitterness of opponents, and the lukewarmness of friends cannot in this case be jhalf so pronounced as in the case of j London University, yet the point was i won.—l am, etc.. -I. M. STOOPS. | Onehunga. February 3. 1905.