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Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 210, 10 January 1894, Page 2

MORTALITY AMONG LAMBS, AND THE WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAK. Sir,— T thank Mr W. P. Pearce, of Colyton, for his letter of the 6th hist., as it gives me a further opportunity of writing on the above. Mr Pearce asks what I consider is a very childish question : "If the treatment and weather were favorable to the ewes, why should the wethers die ?" My answer is that it was unskilful or brutal treatment. Mr Pearce evidently misunderstood the tenoxir of my letter. When the papers report losses of 25, 30, and even 50 per centum of lambs at docking time, I think that it is an imperative duty for anyone who knows the rations d'etre for (tuch loss to make such reasons known through the; press. Any man with the milk of human kindness in his breast will do so, but a selfish, grasping man would keep the knowledge to himself. I have to thank many settlers for hints regarding my own stock, and in return for such genuine kindness I am at all times willing, nay, gladly willing, to give other settlers any information that will be of the slightest benefit to them. In reference to the weather for docking, I I lay great stress on having a high glass and drying wind if possible. If Mr Pearce is not aware of the fact, perhaps he will consult his medical adviser and he will find that in warm weather, with the barometer at 27*5 to 28 - 5, many persons frequently bogin to bleed at the ! nose. "With a high barometer, there is of course greater pressure of the air on the blood vessels. The same law holds good for lambs ; and a fundamental principle of this kind ought to be taught to every boy in our public schools who has passed the third standard, and every sheep farmer ought to be aware of it and also act on it, then there would be fewer losses to record. Doubtless Mr Pearce knew this, if so, my. letter was not for him. Mr Pearce has chosen to word his letter so as to make his readers believe I have called the Wanganui Education Board " nonentities ;" if he will kindly turn again to my letter he will find I did not do so. My own opinion is that some of the members of the said Board take great interest in their duties and do their best in the interests of education, as far as their lights allow them. Their intentions sire good enough, but what are the results of their labours ? How few of the lads leaving our country schools know how to measure a few acres of crops ? Mr Pearce is again astray when lie says I was a candidate for a seat on the Wanganui Board of Education at the last election. Such was not the case. But if I had stood, and been elected, it would not have been with the object of making it "interesting" for the Secretary and Inspector. I leave such condnct for Mr Pearce as it is evidently more in his line, judging by the tone and style of his letter. No Sir, my object would have been to urge strongly upon the Board the advisability of making provision for teaching subjects of more practical nse for our country schools. At present the general tendency of the syllabus is to make all our boys into clerks. Is that a result to be desired ? If it is, then, I will cry " /)cccavi." There is another matter, that if a member of the Board that I should move in— though with caution. Our country school grounds and gardens ought to be patterns of neatness, etc., and somewhat of an experimental type ; but this cannot be brought about, unless there is more fixity of tenure for the teacher. At present there are more pupil-teachers trained than the Board can find schools for without shunting older and fur better men. The number of pupil-teachers taken on should be on a pro rat a principle. Dare Mr Pearce justify the action of the Inspector and the Board in dismissing the headmaster of the Bulls school? This case was brought before Parliament last session, vide Hansard. Did not the teachers at a Conference held in Wellington a year or so ago, pass a resolution against the terrorism or' the Wanganui regime ? I am, etc., George Wixks. Clare Lea, Feilding, January 9, 1894.