The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2046, 5 April 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1907.

Yesteuday wo published somo information from tho Rev. 11.I 1 . W. Chatterton in regard to what is being done to introduce religious teaching in our local public schools. The rev. gontloman does not say that tho matter has yet reached tho proportions of an organised movement, although information which we have received from another quarter avers that it is so, and that one of the main objects of the organisation is to put up a sufficient number of candidates at tho forthcoming Committee election to carry out the scheme in obedience to the wishes of tho organisation. It is admitted by the llev. Mr. Chattorton that “a number of persons were considering whether it wouTd lio desirable or possible to introduce something of the nature of tho Nelson scliomo,” and this scheme Mr. Chattorton has explained in a way that would lead one to suppose that it has proved a success from the moralists’ point of view. Of that wo have something to say anon; but first let us say that any proposition to upset or disorganise tho present routine of school work should not, be dealt with in a surreptitious manner, and that no attompt ought to bo made to placo a number of men on the Committee for such a specific purpose, or for any specific purpose for that matter, without first giving due publicity to the proposal and enabling parents who are interested in the conduct of tho schools and tho nature of the tuition which their children receive in them to consider t'lio matter beforehand, and express their approval or disapproval thereof, as tho caso may bo, before tho scheme is bumped on to them nolens volens. Probably it is not the intention of those gentlemen who are “considering” tho matter to do anything unfair, or to force their opinions upon all other interested parties; but the secrecy with which the matter has so far boon surrounded justifies the suspicion that a surprise may await somo of those who assemble on election night. Now as to the merits of the scheme known as the “Nelson scheme,” which Mr. Chattorton claims to bo “a great success,” and which it is evidently sought to introduce here. It has one merit, inasmuch as the teaching and the attendance is voluntary, and it is a curious fact that its one merit has proved its weakness, as will be presently shown. On the other hand .it has serious drawbacks, because it interferes with the routine,,, of school work; shortens the hours for other lessons; and makes it compulsory for teachers to drop other subjects on the syllabus for want of time. Already the syllabus is too' long for the available teaching hours, and if another subject be added and even half an hour a day taken for it, there is l>u,t one thing to be done, arid that is to curtail tho syllabus in some other direction. Those who think that religious education is of more importance than some of the subjects now taught would readily consent to that until they actually become aware of the experiences of the proposed scheme in Nelson itself where tho scheme has had more than a fair trial to be a complete failure. Being interested in the matter the writer some two years ago made personal enquiries into the question *in Nelson itself, where the system had then been in vogue for a long .time, and the information gleaned from Mr. Gibbs, head-master of the Central School there, was to this effect, viz., that a special room was set apart for Bible lessons from outside teachers (volunteers) for half an hour each morning, and only those children were allowed to go in there whose parents consented. For a short time only after the system had been inaugurated the teachers turned up promptly; then they began to bo unpunctual, and finally tho few children who attended (for they wore but a small proportion of tlio 300 or 400 children attending the school) after remaining in the room romping while they waited for tlio teachers, wore filed back to tlieir respective classes without any religious instruction, and the system was discontinued. This was Mr. Gibbs’ story of the experiment in tlio only school wherein, to our knowledge, it lias been tried, and it must be acknowledged that it is not a very encouraging one. Whether tho plan lias been resuscitated fiom the ashes of its former failure we know not,, nor is it very important to know whether it lias or not, for it is quite reasonable to assume that its life is but a temporary one, and that the pupils who have been attending have gained little instruction and lost much, having, necessarily, to lag behind in the subjects from which tlio experiment imposed their absence. in the face of these facts, and they are authentic, there is no inducement to repeat tlio experiment here, were it admitted that* the public schools .are the proper places to impart religious ipst'rnotion, and upon that point alone there is po possibility of securing an unanimous opinion, blit there is no necessity to advance it in this 'connection ; suffice it to say that the experijneiit where given the fairest possible trial has died of its own inherent inanition, and those parents who desire to see the school routine undisturbed will do well to guard against surprises on election night.

One judgment summons came before the Magistrate yesterday morn ing—-that of A. M. Lewis v. M Rice, claimed £2 14s lOd. Mr Blaii explained that £1 bad been paid and an order was made l'or tin balance or in default two days’ imprisonment.

Maoris have fre- uently in the past brought forward objections to ißowing Maori girls to enter domestic service, fill*. Koliere, who is a strong advocate of the system, and who is to address the conference at present siting at Awapiini on the subject, lias shown that be is really in favor of the system by placing some of bis nieces in domestic service in Gisborne.

At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr Barton, S.M., John O’Halloran, charged with being found drunk in Aberdeen road, pleaded guilty, and was fined £1 and costs.7s, or four days’ hard labor. William Smith appeared to answer a charge of using indecentlanguage at the Turangamii Hotel, and pleaded gnijty. Detective Maddern explained that •-tbs language was very disgusting, and used in front of a barmaid and Constable Irwin, wlio arrested him. Accused expressed bis regret, but His "\vorsliip was not inclined to take a lenient view of tlio offence, which be characterised as aggravated, and inflicted a fine of £5 and *2s costs, or ju default Ji dap’ hard labor.

Dogs found worrying sheep in tho Abattoir paddock will ho shot. A voting “ill to assist in photographic studio is wanted at tin IClWbock Studios. Mr. Goofflroy Maclean, To Hau-o-to-Attia Station, lias tor sale IUU or GOO owes (in lamb).

Mr. AV. Lissant Clayton has a change of advertisement to-day, somo excellent properties being oiforod for salo.

Porinanont employment is ofloiod to good fencers; application to bo made to Mr. Geoffrey MacLoau, lo llivu-o-to-Atua Station.

Mr. IS. P. Joyce issues a warning against anyone removing grave from Kaitaratnlii river bed on J )ttl , sections 61, 62, 63, and 64, without his consent.

The following is Messrs. Nelson Bros.’ shipment yesterday by tlio Mimiro: Olio day’s barge loading ol moat, 900 hales and 650 packages wool, and 106 casks pelts. Notico is given that liorsos with voliiolos attached must bo driven over tho Tarulioru bridge at a walk ing pace onlv. A warning is also givon that tlio number of cattle to bo drivon over at one time must not oxceed five.

A young man named Cunningham mot with a nasty accident a day or two ago. While riding over Mr. JoxBlake’s' station at Mangapoike, Ins horse stumbled, and tlio rider was thrown on his head, receiving many cuts and bruises. Ho was convoyed to town, and is now progressing favorably.

There was a fair number present at the monthly euchre party at St. Mary’s schoolroom last night. Air. AV. Lund Avon tho gentleman s prizo (silk handkerchief), Miss Stevenson tho ladies’ prize (silver-mounted hairbrush), and the booby foil to bather Dignan. Miss Neill (piano), and Mr. J.ichtwark " (violin), played the musical items, and songs wore, contributed by .Mrs. Phil. Barry and Mr. Donovan during tlio jlio arrangements ivere entirely satislactory, and tho company spent a pleasant evening.

There was a large attendance at the meeting, of the Gisborne Co-oper-ative Building Society last night, the Chairman of Directors, Mr. L. Symes, presiding. A total of £I7OO was dealt with. T’avo ladies Avere successful at the ballot, Mrs. Duggan securing tlie first sum oT £3OO in No. 1 issue, and Miss E. H. Nolan tlio second sum for a like amount. There Avas keen eonqietition for the loan money. The first £3OO offered in No. 1 issue Avas disposed of at' £22 per £IOO, and tho second lot in No. 1 issue was disposed of ill tAA'o lots, a sum of £IOO going at £27, and £2OO at £2l tier £IOO. An appropriation of £SOO in No. 2 issue Avas taken in three lots. £2OO going at £35 por £IOO, £IOO at £3l. and £2OO at £3O. The Acting Chief Postmaster, Mr. S. Cummiug, ad Arises: —The folloAAing alterations are notified in reference to demurrage charged on parcels as from 2nd April, 1907. A parcel (other than one containing joAvellery or any article of gold or silver or an yprecious stones) received from a placo beyond Ncav Zoalaiid addressed to a post ollioe “to be called for,” or for other reason required to he at post office is to bo charged demurrage at tlio rate of one penny a day after it has remained in the office seven clear days excluding Sundays or holidays. A parcel containing jewellery, etc., as described above, similarly received is to he charged demurrage at the rate of one per cent, per diem on the declared value after remaining fourteen days. No demurrage, hoivever, to ho charged ivliero there is no liousG-to-liouso delivery or for a person on ship-hoard.