The Evening Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2754, 14 December 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1871.

AVe were not surprised at the manifest interest taken in the proceedings in connection with the Girls’ Provincial School last evening. It is the close of the first year of its existence. It was instituted after long opposition, and in spite of doubt and mistrust of success. Old prejudices, of what the education of girls should be, were reiterated by those who brought them across the sea, and had learnt them from their grandmothers: and even younger men, married and unmarried, seem to have had in their minds model women, brought up only to dress, flirt, and take their places gracefully at the

head of a table. We can easily imagine the dismay that some of these idealists would feel to be placed in the midst of such a bevy of handsome, intellectual, graceful, girls, who were educated at the High School during the past year; especially if they were called upon to answer questions in each of those branches of science and literature included in the curriculum of thenstudies. We should feel amused still more if they were called upon to undergo a competitive examination with those, who we have no doubt, right-worthily took away _ prizes in science, languages, and music, after an intellectual wrestling with gills scarcely, if at all, less deserving than themselves. Not the least advantage of this higher education of women is that if men will maintain the lead they must work. Woman’s nature is not altered by education. She still looks to man as to a being on whom she can rely tor counsel and for aid : and if a man will render himself worthy of the position that would be so willingly accorded to him, he will have to fit himself for it by persevering effort, or be content to be guided, and pitied, and despised, where he should be admired and honored. Highly as we appreciate the Boys’ High School and the education given there, and much as we rejoice that our Univeisity provides the means by which men may reach the highest attainments of human intellect, we look upon it that the greatest aid to these results will be found in the future home education provided by the Girls’ Provincial School. One hundred and thirty girls for the first year is not a bad beginning : especially when it is considered that these must be above ten years old, and possess certain preliminary knowledge before admission. Fractional as is this number compared with the population of the Province, year by year several will be drafted off, some in a short time to take part in the highest responsibilities of domestic life, and their places will bo filled by others who will receive like training. But it must not be supposed that the influence of such an institution rests there. Henceforth education in all the district schools must be conducted with a view to a removal of the pupils to the Provincial school, and thus an education differing only in degree adapted to age, must be ini parted. The report of the Lady Principal, Mrs Burn, points to the advisability of this system being kept in mind by district school teachers, when she alludes to the progressive character of the studies pursued in the school. They differ only in adaptation to the ages and capabilities of tbe girls » tbe curriculum of eacli class is the same in kind, and differs only in degree. We have always felt the chief defect of our High school system to be that no provision is made for examination, independent of the school itself. Thus a degree of responsibility in awarding prizes is thrown upon the teachers, from which we are satisfied they would gladly be relieved : and, moreover, they themselves are placed in the unsatisfactory position of being judges of their own work. Mrs Burn was to a certain extent relieved of this, last night, by Mr Pork, whose testimony as an experienced teacher is worth remembering. It points to what is of the utmost consequence in every school, the esprit de corps. He said : The main difficulty which teachers usually have to contend with is, not what should he taught, or what will he most valuable in after life, hut to get pupils to see the good of learning anything at all. That defect, however, so far as the girls attending this school are concerned, is wanting; they have always responded with the utmost alacrity to all demands made upon them; indeed, 1 may say that, during an experience of fourteen years, I never met with pupils who have ('ivcnsuch thorough satisfaction as the girls of the senior class of the Provincial High School. Where this spirit is, there will be progress. It is evidence not only of eager thirsting after knowledge in the pupils, but of talent and effort in their teachers. We may dispense with certificates of progress where this spirit is evinced, lor it could have no existence without advancement. It Graves satisfaction, and without it dies. The Lady Principal alluded to the difficulties incident to a new work, hut with such pointed testimony to successful grappling with them on her part and on those of her assistants, we may look forward with increased interest to the result of another year’s work.

The .School or A kt.-v- -AA r o Lad intended to give a notice of Mr Kulton’a exhibition of drawings by his pupils, but are obliged to hold it over to another day. Excuksions. —The Harbour steam company are announcing cheap trips to Northern ports. We understand that return tickets, which will be issued at single fares, will be available for return during the mouth of January. Obituaev. Sergeant - Major AY. Murdoch, whose death we regret to have to announce to-day, Joined, the 42nd Royal Highlanders at an early age-. He served with his regiment in the West Indies, an fj. shortly after its return to England, the Crimean War broke out, when the 42nd wore ordered on service on the held. SergeantMajor Murdoch served hi the Highland Bri-

cade under Sir Colin Campbell and took part in all the actions from 1855 to 18d7, including the battles of Alma, Inkermau, and the sortie in the rifle pits on the 18th June. He was at Balaclava, and the storming of Sebastopol, never being absent from the front. A widow and family mourn his loss. Cool,— The Argus says the watch-house-keeper at the Saudridgo Police station was the victim of one of the coolest tucks ever perpetrated by a drunken man. Two men, named Thomas Southing and John Lo ,r an, wore lodged in tim lock up for drunkenness. Upwards of LIS was removed from the former when he was arrested. As soon as he recovered his sobriety he applied to be liberated on bail, and the locii-up-keeper agreed to release him on condiiion that he deposited Lit) as security for his reappearance. While he was perfoiining his ablutions preparatory to his departure, his companion in misfortune coolly walked up to the constable in charge and applied for the balance of the LlB, remarking that he wanted to be off. Not doubting for a moment that it was Southing who was addressing him, the lock-up keeper handed over the money, and, obtaining a receipt for it, allowed the wieng man to "n free. Shortly afterwards the owner of °thc money presented himself, but it was some time before he could convince the constable that he had been imposed upon. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Logan. Concert. The usual fortnightly concert in connexion with the Dunedin Abstainers Union, was held in the Oddfellows Ball last evening ; Mr J. Hughes, vice-pre-sident-, in the chair. Owing to unavoidable circumstances, the singing was neither so good nor plentiful as the committee would desire, but trust that by the next meeting they will be able to make such arrangements as will give entire satisfaction. The readings and recitations, however, were excellent ; a dialogue between two members of the Mornington Band of Hope neing especially worthy of notice. Mr G. W. Draper occupied the attention of the audience for a short time with a few well chosen remarks, free from big words or hackneyed platitudes, on “moderate drinking and its evil effects.” The members of this soeiety arc steadily, but certainly increasing in number, and the good being done by them in the cause of temperance is not small. Wo understand that the next concert will be given on Wednesday, January l()th, one night being missed on account of the many holidays close at hand. To-Day.—Being tlio Presbyterian half-yearly Fast Day the Banks, Government offices, and places of business wore closed. During several hours the silence of a churchyard prevaded the whole town, and it was only in the outskirts or outlets from the town that any symptoms of life were apparent. The arrival of the English Mail at mid-day was quite a diversion. Ihe fine weather induced a large number of persons to avail themselves of the excursions to Fort Chalmers and Fortobello provided by the Harbor Steam Company. On the South Dunedin recreation ground there was some animation, two cricket matches being played. The Scottish Company of volunteers met at the Anderson’s Bay range and flred for the Company’s Belt, which, on this occassion, was taken by private Bower, who scored 45 points. At the same place the Artillery lired their first competition for representatives, in which Sergeant -Muir scored greatest number of points, viz., 51. The weather was we understand very unfavorable for good shooting, a strong gusty wind blowing the whole time. The attention of Volunteers is directed to a “ general order ” which appears in our advertising columns to-day.