DAILY NOTES FROM WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 643, 21 October 1909, Page 5

DAILY NOTES FROM WANGANUI.

AN INSPECTOR ON AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. * . (By Telegraph.—Special CorresDondcnt.) Wanganui, October 19. ' Indications seem to point to the fact that 1 building trades here will be fairly active this • summor, and, in the nest few a start, will be made with the erection of , several large structures. Tho completed plans for the new Boys 1 College have been finally passed by the trustees, and tenders are. to be called by ;the end of the week. Tenders are also to be called within tli© next few; days for. the erection of the new premises of the Bank of Australasia, while the new building for the Bank of; Ne w: South 1 Wales will likewise be commenced shortly. A start has already been made with tho rebuilding: of Pipiriki House,'., which f was destroyed by fire some time.-ago,'and'the completion of a new up-to-date hostelrv will, no doubt, bo greatly appreciated by tourists. In addition to the foregoing, it is-almost certain that, within a short time plans will also be out for a new. theatre in > the Avenue.. All the i now buildings will considerably enhance the appearance of the . 1 Owing to unavoidable, circumstances oon- ' nected the work of. repairing the town bridge, a block .occurred to the traffic this morning,- and a 6tring of vehicles of all shapes and sizes' were hung-up for a couple of hours on both sides of the river waiting to cross. 1 This is the first, time since .the Eoads Depart-" ' ment first took' the --work in hand that any block has occurred during daylight—a fact-. **hich speaks > well for tho way' in which ~ stajff. has- carried-put a difficult, and, at, times, risky work. Occasional. rfecessary_ stoppages inthe traffic have been made but, escept-on this. occasion, all stoppages occurred, in',tlie night^ v ! time, and never-exceeded the time advertised. The wdrk should bo finished in a little over a month's, time. . Prom November 18 part of St. John's Hill 1 will be included in the . Wanganui Borough. The area .included eighty houses, and, by the change, the borough will gain an added population ■of about 450. ' . According,to a report presented to-the Education Board, 393 primary schools, are now ?ESL-V I '* , 8 d ls trict,' ana are attended by 13,878 scholars.. Out of 462 . adult, teachers engaged in themi no fewer than Ili'are uncertincated. , . . Chief Inspector Braik, reporting to the -Edu- 1 cation Board on the'question of free passes ,to . teachers, points out' that the board'iriight safeguardthe. interests of the Railway Department by Tequiring from each' instructor a re.por on the work and conduct of each student at the Saturday classes. He • has submitted a confidential . report on the work .of each student at such classes in this district, which, ho says, • should' convince the Minister that the : students h«re attend'purely with 'a view to professional improvement. : " , : . •.Sneaking- of agricultural education, ilr. ' Braik- regretsrthat little progress has been made in technical instruction in, relating. to agriculture." He states that this is, exactly what 'farmers'have refused in this district. •• -Tliey do 1 not -.wish • for. "subjeots relating 'to .agriculture/', but' for agriculture ! pure and simple; FarcAere 1 will see'bye . and bye,' he • adds that agriculture pure and simple is . no concern 'of the"' Education "Department, but subjects relating to agriculture such, as ohemistry,. biology,' botany, aiid -geology;/are the concern, of 'the Department,, and it will, presently -be; seen s to . be'.the concern of far- ■ mers' also. v. Efficient, • "ih subjects relating to agriculture has teen offered' over and over again"in 'the 'different' .centres .of .thie district, but'have 1 received- r scant o6nsideration and very little. practical-support. . ' Seven' Australian -.scullew, • including Hagney, but ; .not..George' Towns/ will enter for . the I Wanganui. Sculling' -Handicap at" New Year, i so 1 -says advice received from Sydnoy. to-day. i The. men are described as the "pick ,of the , Commonwealth." "The handicap is r an inyita--1 tion one, and .is A liinited .to ten • menj. Arnst, ! Webb/and Whelch representing New Zealand, i The handicap will prooaljly be framed by Mr. , i J;Blackman. ("Trident, of the r< Sydney ! *:: : ; i i .Wanganui, October\2o.. I 'At' a meeting of . the 'Wanganui i subscribersit; was • decided to. appoint .a/com- , mittee' to consider •: the ' new building scheme ; view to moving the ' institution ;to one ! of ; the suburbs. •" ; ' •' •,x■ •• '• ' • i A' man l named John Hogg was to-day . fined ; by . the .£lO. in default two months, for assaulting Har t old Abbott, «of All-''Black.-.fame,. ! by striking him' in -the face ;with a piece"of : road inetal.'' * . '>! ": • '• •. , 'As the'-'remarkable growth •» of business 'of the - municipal gasworks, 'over a 1 are-now.-paying .in.-on.. "la§t!*disco'unt "day]" comp&red :, with ..about 500 fohr-years ago. ,Over 150 new connections have been made during the la.st six months, and ! fresh, applications are daily received.. .-'••Local',land'agents report an awakening in the 1 land market,' and a large number of-inquiries from persons .desirous of settling in this' 'district; •; More'-money ' seems nyaiiable) 1 for" investment than* has been the; case for i sotoe time, arid\ thy .building trade* is look-ing.-up well .in'.both town .and suburbs. , v This, : ! with the'faot "that the interior lands are'being' ' steadily, if; slowly,' opened-' up, is considered « I a good augury'for prosperous , times in the I near future. ; ' -