THE ARYAN DISASTER. SCHOOL GARDENS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16420, 14 January 1919, Page 7

THE ARYAN DISASTER.

SCHOOL GARDENS.

SEARCH FOR MISSING BOAT ABANDONED. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 13. The Hineinoa has returned With the Aryan survivors. The search for the missing boat with its eight occupants was fruitless, and they must now be given up. The alarm of fire was given at 1.30 a.m. on December 24th. The flames had then a good hold. The crew worked for nine hours to get tho flames under, but the fire spread in all directions, the tallow and flax providing good fuel. Tho decks burned through, the hatches fell in, and tho masfts threatened to fail. At 11 a.m. tho crew were driven to the boats, three of which put off. Not! long after tho masts fell into the sea, and the flames spouted high all over the vessel. The weather was fine, with a heavy easterly swell. When darkness fell the missing boat had dropped astern, and was never seen, again. A heavy swell got up } and the second ftiate's Boat also got into difficulties and was nearly swamped, which was doubtless the fate of the missing boat. Christmas Day was passed miserably. Tho baling was .constant, but good progress mas made, and tho men. were very glad when land was sighted on Boxing Day. None of the survivors 6aved much. Most of them saved nothing but the clothes they stood in. !

to THE EDITOR O* "THB PRESS." Sir, —It was with pleasure that I noted tho Education Board had approved of a scheme for arousing interest in tho beautifying of ecliool gardens. Such a scheme has been in operation in this locality for a number of years, having been suggested by Miss Callaghan (a former toachcr in this district), who induced tho Agricultural Association to offer prizes for collections of fruit, vegetables, and flowers from school gardens. This aroused a very keen competition among the schools, and caused garden plots to be cultivated, where previously' there had been none, and as a result there were some very fine exhibits at the annual shows. The prize-money. I believe, was expended in buying snrubs, seeds, or tools for tho winning garden and evidences of this are now to be 6een in the flowers and orchards in sorne_of_ the school gardens in the Oxford district. But what a pity it is that tho Education Board has not done something to make it worth while for our progressive toachers to remain in the country, instead of going into the city schools. However, the Board is to be congratulated on what it intends doing, as it is better late than not at_ all, and the sooner more people realiso that New Zoaland is a producing country, then more facilities will be provided for the training and education of the country children.—Yours, etc.. OXFORD WEST.