DAILY NOTES FROM WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 597, 27 August 1909, Page 6

DAILY NOTES FROM WANGANUI.

. education'questions. (By Teleeraph.-Spcclal CorrcßCond«nt.) "■ l . , Wanganuli August 25. Much satisfaction is felt here-at the continued -improvement of , tho ■; now 'straight; ohanhel over tho bar, soundings, ft'day or, two ago having given the leasts depth 'at eleven feet, two hours before high*water neaps, or. practically -the same depth as recently existed in tlio .old crooked channel; at high; springs. It, is expected that;at next' spring -tide;, tlio , soundings will givo, about fifteen 1 Toet. ■, The' effect-.of - thjs:'inoreased.water isjseen.iin.'.tbe fact"; that some steamers aro now. dblo '.to enter,is discharge, load up,, andget, away again on the samo tide;. which never iliappenod. in the previous .history>of the. port. Even- witli the pi'esent depth, the improve-'' ment is .a .decided benefit to Wanganui, and with the- expected, twenty v t-o ■ twenty-tTyo .feet' when the harbonr , works arc finished) at not easy, to estimate the-possibilities of .too development of. this town's '.shipping .'trade.;- ■ ■Reporting, to the.Education. Board'on:tho matter of. asriculiural training in the district high schools, as proposed by the Education Department, Mr.: G. D. : Brails;.;i,ohief'_ in* spector, . deprecates ' ; the adoption of any system of teaohing which'is- neither scientifio lipr educative, and, vvliioh would only , result in "thinking, by, proxy." Mr.Braik, says further: "It appears to be; tho. intention-of the Department that young weople destined to agricultural' pursuits, ,"should • ; study-: tho practice and. principles of their, acienco while the! mind- is' plastic, ..so that there will - be- no lack df'initiative-when- they, are-: actually :pn the. «oil. 'The' groat difficulty, in the way ,ol . carrying out- tJ>6' Department's ■ [jropuscu; want -of -qualified teachers. . This' does' not seem to- enter into tho Department s calculations, but if there is one educational need greater '• than , 'anothot • it: is .'that rtrwiWtechnical instructors should be aviylabhi to do , technical work. The ))rublom'is not go, eust as. appears 'at first sight!; •; Boys ; and'.;;- girls giving- proof of. exccptioiiaUiteraryor mathematicar ability ■ should be: trained for -tin industries, professions,': aid>' Civil- Service, It would-be ail irreparable'loss to tho if: they were not. ~vOn , the othe.r hand, children.', with' abilities of a oiiler should'bo "discouraged >from-~, ceasing after , the'examination 'will-o'-the-wisp. ..

i- 1 '~ '■ ' ■''"August 26. ■' a b'ushfellor, J named Charles .Shanks, a s ed fo'rty-tive, : went'- .up -the river: about. a ( \veek ago, and, was brought down front Abu.Ahjiyesterday -in a stato of collaps6 v It appears that he*was put ashore at AbiisAbtt, ..and. spent the night there. 'Ho. then disappeared, being 'found yesterday ill'a ,weak and' delirious, condition, and was brought down to tlio hospital, where, lie died last night. Ai? inquest , will be held to-morrow'.,