The Globe. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1068, 29 November 1877, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1877.

The report of the Ladies’ College in Adelaide, just issued, contains reference to a subject which wo venture to think interesting to us here. The institution referred to is similar in its aims and constitution to our recently established Girls’ High School, and therefore we may fairly expect that an experiment which has been tried there and successfully, might also be tried here. After referring in general terms to the progress made during the year, and the proficiency attained in the respective branches of study by the pupils, a large portion of the report is devoted to the working of the school of cookery attached to the College. This, from the [results given, appears to have been a complete success. The Adelaide authorities appear to have gone most thoroughly to work in the matter, and endeavoured really to make the school what it should be. —a public benefit. Those attending it are not allowed to play at cooking, as an agreeable means of passing an hour or two; nor are their efforts confined simply to the ornamental branches. They have to commence at the beginning and pass through the varied operations by which a well cooked dinner is placed upon the table. If it is wished to educate our girls so as to make them good wives for colonists, and not merely ornamental appendages to an establishment, this is one of the proper means to accomplish so desirable an object. By a careful instruction in household duties —not, of course, neglecting altogether the other accomplishments our girls will be thoroughly fitted to take their part in the battle of life. It does not follow that in all cases the knowledge so gained will be required practically to be brought into use. Many of our girls will take such a position as will not require them to use their knowledge of cooking practically. But it will, even under these circumstances, be found of infinite service to them in directing their household. How much more so will it be to Those who assume the actual and positive working charge of their home ? In view, therefore of this, and the success attendant upon the establishment of similar classes elsewhere, it is matter for regret that the Governors of the College should have omitted them from the course of study at the Girls’ High School. Properly carried out, and with a view to making the instruction and practical knowledge imparted useful, such an adjunct to the school, it appears to ns, would be an exceedingly valuable one. It is not as if we were venturing on an untried experiment. The success of Miss Fuller in Dunedin must be fresh in the memory of our readers, and this, coupled with the Adelaide report to which we have referred, seems to us to warrant the authorities of the Girls’ High School hero in adding classes for cookery to the course of instruction.

Had tlie House refused to vote the £3OOO honorarium to Sir Julius Vogel, it would have heeu guilty of ingratitude. His action had saved the colony many times that amount, and as it is well known that Sir Julius spent the whole of the sum in the service of the colony on his last visit to England, it is only fair that he should be reimbursed for actual expenditure, It is ouly, after all, a very small sum in recognition of the splendid services rendered to New Zealand by the Agent-General, both during his colonial career, and since he has taken up his residence in Loudon. During the last few months, by his pen and otherwise, Sir Julius has kept New Zealand prominently before the English public. It is therefore a great pity, we think, that the vote was not agreed to unanimously. The majority, howevex 1 , 33 to 21, is sufficient to show that the House can throw aside party feeling, and by a decided majority express the gratitude of the country to a statesman to whom she owes so much.