The Evening Star. THURSDAY SEPTEMBERS 3, 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3598, 3 September 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY SEPTEMBERS 3, 1874

One of the most interesting papers laid before Parliament during the last session contains reports on Native Schools by the Inspecting Officers. The work of educating the Maoris is an important one, as it tends to do away with those differences of idea that are the mainsprings of dissension between races. Nor is it the least interesting feature in this work of benevolence that the pupils are instructed in the English language. However romantic the idea of preserving the Native tongue may be, the practical utility of it can b® but small. In time to come it will be the subject of philological curiosity to savans, but can be of no use beyond ; for all Maori traditions, and all that can be known of Maori history, are recorded in our language and not in theirs. To our narratives the Natives themselves will be indebted for the most reliable accounts of their ancestors, should they desire to perpetuate the remembrance of them ; which, however, is about as unlikely as for us to desire to know the habits and customs of our sylvan forefathers; who, according to Darwin, had such noble instinct in natural selection continued through countless ages, as to emancipate us from growing wool and wearing tails. We consider these investigations, however, quite as respectable as indulging in curiosity as to cooking wives out of pure love for them, and other delicate feasts of kindred kinds, which most probably our own ancestors, in their generation, enjoyed, but of which we, their descendants, may be well ashamed to own even the remotest family connection. We cannot give a complete analysis of all that is being done in the way of educating the Maoris ; but the summary attached to the reports contains statistics which r ill enable us to form some idea. Throughout the Colony there are sixty-six schools, in which 1,017 boys and 47*0 girls are thUght. The approximate cbnshs of the Maoirl

population gives an estimate of a total of 4G,016, of whom 25,056 are males, and 20,960 females. This estimate includes half-castes, who are all reckoned as of the Maori race. In the North Island, 7,820 males and 6,821 females are under fifteen years of age. It is, therefore, fair to presume that most of the pupils in the schools will be of that class. In some of the reports there are exceptions to this : adult pupils are mentioned, numbering as high as forty years, but that is not common. Most of the inspectors speak of their pupils as children. As, therefore, the exceptions are so few as not to affect the average materially, it may fairly be assumed that one-tenth of the Maori children in the Colony are receiving instruction in different branches of knowledge. Naturally there is much greater difficulty in teaching them than should be experienced in training Eng-lish-speaking children. The Maoris have to learn a language that is to them a foreign one, abounding in forms of expression and in words relating to ideas having no equivalents in their native tongue. There is necessarily an amount of drudgery both to tutor and taught, of which little idea can be conceived by those who have not experienced it. Yet some of the reports speak of very fair progress having been made. Nor must the effect of an English education be estimated merely by our common test of efficiency—reading, writing, and arithmetic. With whatever romance primitive man may be surrounded by imaginative writers, intimate acquaintance with savage races invariably discloses similar habits—indolence, filth, and sensuality. If, therefore, education of the Maoris is to be successful, these results of home education have to be battled with, as well as to induce a desire after studies involving abstractions, very often distasteful to children born of civilised parents. In the face of all these difficulties, too much must not be expected; and had less been effected no surprise should be felt. Probably the reports before us, which tell of the devotion of the teachers to their work, may be more or less tinged with the views of the inspectors themselves as to the extent of the attainments that may be expected. But, making every allowance for different standards, the reports themselves tell of praiseworthy efforts and fair success. In one school, although the day was wet, there were fifty pupils, where, we are told “ the progress in English and writing was most satisfactory.” In another, “ The proficiency of the pupils in geography, English (writing, reading, and speaking), and arithmetic was most striking”: far in advance of what the inspector anticipated. In a third, “The children (of whom there were fifty-nine) were neat and clean in their appearance, and had made good progress in reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, and geography.” The maps had been turned to good account, and the children could point out upon them the different countri«s of the world without difficulty. At the Whirinaki school the teacher had no proper building, nor had he been supplied with “school books or material of any sort,” excepting a few books and slates purchased by himself, at his own expense. Yet even there the children were getting on with their studies. Throughout the reports, the main difficulty seems to be the want of suitable school books to render learning attractive. It is a pity but the sum wasted on the Maori lexicon had been devoted to the compilation of suitable elementary works; it would have been far more usefully spent. The total cost of these important civilisers, the Native schools, is £9,531 —a small sum when it is considered that the result will be to gradually fit the Native race for all the duties and privileges of British Colonists. It must not be forgotten, however, that, although much is being done, much remains to be done ; for there are many tribes who stand aloof from ug, and refuse to accept our friendship, our teaching, and our government. It is wise to let them “ sulk it out,” for, sooner or later, they will be glad of that material and intellectual help they now, so suicidally, reject. But, deducting the children thus withdrawn from our influence, the number of those receiving instruction forms a large proportion of the whole.

The * Daily Times’ of yesterday published the following :—“ Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs as follows :—Mr Vogel has strongly urged Mr Stafford to join the Ministry, offering to resign the Premiership in his favor and go Home himself. Mr Stafford positively refused to join on any consideration, and objected strongly to Mr Vogel’s leaving the Colony Until after next session. He said financial difficulties, for which Mr Vogel was responsible, were looming, and he must stay and face them.” We are authorised to say that the statements which have appeared as to what took place and transpired in eonversation between Mr Stafford and Mr Vogel, are altogether incorrect. Another batch of immigrants has been poured in upon us—the ship Tweed, from London, which port she left on June 18, having arrived at the Heads this afternoon with 680 immigrants. Ihere was another successful performance by the Combination Troupe last night, all the members convng in for their usual amount of applause. A few novelties wore introduced, and more will bo added to the programme for to-night. The lower part of the house was again crowded to success. A complaint was made at the last meeting of the Queenstown Municipal Council that the Town Clerk bad been absent from his office for an entire week, ai,d when called on for an explanation, that functionary said he hj id gone down to Kingston in a sailing boat, and had been unable to pull up again, ©wine to contrary winds, * H The Poyal Horticultural Society of Otago Krill in Heb'etabci-, 1574, ah 4

in March next year. Their schedule of prizes for December comprises thirty-six gardeners and thirty-three amateurs’ prizes, exclusive of special prizes for a fl >ral design and other specialties. There are sixty-one gardeners and fifty-nine amateurs’ priz ;s for March, and additional special prizes open to all, and prize medals. Nearly all the single girls ex Otago and Corona have now been engaged at from L 25 to L 35 a-year. There are only two or three m the barracks unemployed. Of vhe single men ex the Corona nine were to-day engaged as farm servants and ploughmen, at from L4O tc 145 and found Some married couples also obtained situations. There are now about thirty-five single men unemployed m the barracks ; they are immigrants by the Corona. A Maori, who does not give his name complains that the Natives of Stewart’s Island have not received any of the purchasemoney paid by the Government for it, and thinks the matter should be investigated, as he suspects it has been misappropriated Re thinks it unfair that the Middle Island Maoris should have money distributed amongst them, whilst those oa Stewart’s Islaud have not had any. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, Mary Lloyd, an old offender, was charged befote Captain Thomson and Dr O’Donoghue, J.P.’a, with bre iking s;x windows, of the va'ue of 9s, the property of Daniel Beadle. She was ordered te pay the amount of damage done, together with coats. On a further charge of using threatening language to Frances Beadle, she was bound over to keep the peace, herself in the sura of L2O and two sureties of L 5 each. We hear that Mr R. W. Atkinson, B.Sc., Univei sity Scholar, London, and Demonstrator of Chemistry at University College, London, has been appointed Professor of Chemistry at the Imperial College, Tokei (Yeddo), Japan. It would appear from this and other similar appointments which have been made in the Japanese Empire, that the late visit of the Tycoon to Europe has net been without results. Professor Atkinson is a native of jNewcastle-npon-Tyne. and is a nephew to Mr A. H. Ross, of this City. The raining reporter of the Cromwell * Argus’ reports that the past winter is said to have been the most severe experienced on the Cardrona goldfield for the last eight or nine years. The frost and snow have caused great damage to the and it will be some time before work can be fairly recommenced in many of the claims, as the damage done will have to be repaired, both as regard* head and tail-races. All the sluicing claims in the creek are at a standstill, but the deep-sinking claims are working away steadily.

At the sitting of the Supreme Court in b no, this day, Mr Macassey moved for a rule nisi in arrest of judgment in the case of Isaac v. Gallagher. The Court abstained from granting a rule pending consideration by counsel of a case cited. On the application of Mr Macassey, the Court granted a v. sting order in the case of the Bank of New Zealand v. Wissenden, and a rule nisi for a new trial in Harding v. Campbell. Arguments in respect to a rule nisi to inspect telegrams in Dodson v. Macandrew ( uperintendent) were being heard when our reporter left.

The ‘ Southland Times * says ;—“ The immigrants who are at present residing in the old barracks in Esk street are an amiable lot. They are, it is true, but few in number. and nearly all women, with tawdry clothes and outworn faces ; but for pawning their goods and chattels for strong spirits, and for drinking, lighting, screaming, blaspheming, and in making night hideous in a general way, they are, we should say, simply unsurpassable. They seem to be fit for nothing useful, and the life they lead is truly a pitiable one, Still they are human beings, and must exist somewhere or other ; but it is galling to think that the colonists’ money should be wasted—literally thrown away - in bringing out people who, instead of being a benefit, are a burden to the Colony.” , A deputation, consisting of Messrs Muir, Esther, M'Lenahan, and' Deudney, waited upon his Worship the Mayor yesterday afternoon. Mr Esther said the object that the deputation had was to ascertain if he would assist them in obtaining the use of the steam dredge to clean the Pe’ichct Bay Baths, as at present there were fully three feet of mud in the baths. sThe deputation thought the dredge could do all they wanted in one day. The Mayor said that nuisances of every description could get into the baths if they were deepened lower than the channel, but he believed the Council woul 1 con* aider the best means of carrying out the wishes of the deputation. His Worship hj iving promised to bring the question before the Council, the deputation thanked him and withdrew.

installation of Bro. John Hislop as Kight Worshipful Provin -ial Grand Master of 'ew Zealand and officers of the P.G. Lodge, S.C., took place last evening in the Masonic Hall. There was a large gathering of the brotherhood, among those present bidug the W.G. M. Brother J. Hyde Harris, and officers of the D.G. Lodge ; the W.M Rro. Geo. Wilson, and officers of the Port Chalmers Marine Lodge; the R.W. M. Bro. Henry Aitken, Oamaru Kilwinning, S.C • the R.W.M. Bro Duncan M‘Kellar, Grom’ well Kilwinning, S.C., and representatives of the various lodges in Dunedin holding under the Grand Lodge of England. The ceremony of installation and investiture of officers was conducted by the P.P.G.M. Bro. Vincent Pyke, assis ed by the Director Ceremonies, Bro. Jules Lanseigne At the banquet which followed, the chair was takeu by the newly-installed P.G. Master, supported on the right by the D.P.G.M., and on the left by the R.W. M. of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge, the vice-chair being occupied by P.G.S. W. Bro. G. F. Reid. The following are the officers of the P. Grand Lodge appointed by the P. Grand Master : Bro. George F. Reid, P.G. SW. ; Bro. Walter J. Barton, P.G. J.W. ; Bro, Alex Livingston, P.G. Treasurer; Bro. Spencer G. H. Smith, P.G. Secretary ; Brother John B. Park, P.G. Chaplain The following officers were also invested : Bro. Franz Beissel, P.G.S.D. ; Bre, Henry M‘Donnell, P.G. J,D. ; Bro. Alfred H Burton, P.G. Director; Bro. Nathaniel Y. Wales, P.G. Architect ; Bro. Wilhelm Bremner, P.G.S, of Stewards ; Bro. John M Brown, P.G. Director of Ceremonies; Bro. James Black, P.G Marshal ; Bro. James G M‘Leod, P.G. Director of Music ; Bro. Thos. Moodie, P.G. Sword Bearer; Bro. George Smith, P.G. Tyler; Bro. William Patrick, P.G. Steward, Owing to the inclemency of the weather the concert which was to have been given to-night in the Waikari District School has been postponed for a month. Mr Braithwaite, corner of Fleet and High streets, has forwarded us a copy of the ‘ Young Ladies Journal ’ for August. It is a good number, with a large fashion plate, which will be found useful. A concert and dance, in aid of the lad who lost his hand at Messrs Guthrie and Larnach’s sawmills a short while ago, will be given in the Masonic Hell to-morrow evening. We hope to see a full house, as the boy is an orphan and in much need of assistance.