The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1902.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 73, 25 April 1902, Page 3

The Motueka Star PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. “Te Ora Mota Iwi.” FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1902.

The t:'m is change, and we change with them. The last ten years have witnessed a i-evolution in both the spirit I and practice of educaton in this colony. Ten years ago the rank and file of the educationalists of New Zealand would have held that the inclusion of Technical and purely Manual work in the primary tchool “syllabus was quite outside ti e range of practicability ; today, Technical education bids fair to become one of the main features ©four educational system. . The latest regulations i sued by the Government under the Manual and Technical Education Act of 1901, are designed to bring the benefits of the Act within reach of every portion of the community where ever settled. The regulations contemplate the establishment of Schorl Classes, Continuation Classes, and Technical and College Cl isses, all for the purposes of Technical education. In order that fees for instruction may be reduced to a very low scale, the Government w’ill give grants varying in amount according to subjects taught, per capita of attendance at the classes. The range of subjectsalloweu is wide, and varies from work in wood and iron . through useful oceupat ons as gardening, dairy and laundry work, to exercises in the practical sciet ces ; and thence to art, as modelling and drawing, with all its various applications. For most of the classes a good deal of apparatus is required, but the Government invite applications for grants for this purpose for intending classes. Besides this, where special buildings are required subsides will be given either to cover the whole costs or to supplement what can be raised locally. With such a liberal scheme as this, it will be strange if advantage‘be not taken of it; at least in all considerable centres of population. There seems to be no reason why Motueka should not, in addition to, and as the complement of, the District High School, have its Technical School; so that while in the the mental powers are being strengthened, in the other a manual dexterity may be acquired, which will render the student a more useful citizen whatever trade or profession he may ultimately take up. The discussion of the scheme could be usefully undertaken at the forthcoming meeting of householders to be held in the public schoolroom next Monday evening, the 28th instant, at eight o’clock.

A meeting of the Management Committee of the Motueka Football Club will be held this evening at seven o’clock, at the Motueka Star office, The following team has been selected to play a scratch football match against all comers at the cricket ground on Saturday afternoon, commencing at three o’clock sharp : Full back, D. Budden ; three quarters, W. Reuben, A. Talbot, D. Manoy; five eights, M. Petifaa ; half, P. Knapp ; wings, B. Stillwell, T. Morgan ; forwards, J. Penney, J. Bbundy, I. Macfarlane, W. Hunt. 11. Trewavas, A. Clifford and F. Delaney ; emergencies, G. Gilbert, H. Bradley, and H.. McGlashen. We are informed that the representative of a firm of jam manufacturers at Wellington has secured contracts for the supply of next season’s raspberries, the price given being stated at 2|d per lb. Mr Stanley Fowler, the well known mail contractor, has secured the lease of Mr II Neal’s property, facing the Woodland’s road. We remind our readers of the annual School Committee Election, which will be held on Monday evening.

Mr J. S. Wratt notifies that having been nominated as a Candidate for the Mayoralty he respectfully solicits the support of the burgesses on Wednesday next. When a man’s collar gets unbuttoned in church and begins to climb the back of his neck, he might as well get up and go out, for the sermon will not do him very much good.

The Art and Hobby Exhibition, held in connection with St Thomas’ Church, was opened on Wednesday last, when, despite the inclement weather, a considerable number of persons attended. In order not to disappoint those who intended being preseut had the elements been more propitious, it was decided to. open the exhibition this afternoon and evening, when we feel assured there will be a full attendance of the public to witness the display of industrial work, the excellent collections of curios, to patronise the kiosk and stalls, and to take part in the competition for the best whip cracker, for hat trimming by the male sex and to enter for the spelling bee. A full report of the exhibition will be .given in our next issue. ■

Mes srs Rankin and Sons, merchants, notify that they carry complete stocks of farm implements, and that besides being sole representatives for tha well known firm of Booth and Macdonald, they are agents for the famous Oliver ploughs.

The programme of events drawn up by the Riwaka Athletic Association to take place on the 24th of May, is circulated with this issue of the Motueka Star. It will be noticed there are eighteen items, very good prizes being offered. We hear of several athletes who have gone into training for the occasion.

Mr A. Manoy’s up country van met with a mishap on Thursday. It appears that when at Neudorf one of the wheels came off the conveyance ; luck- - ily, however, no serious damage was done. The van was driven to Dovedale by Mr Caigou, who afterwards rode into town. We hear that several of the leading residents of the district have in mind the formation of a Bowling Club in Motueka. Wb have often wondered at the absence of such a club, or any similar club, one of the great wants of the district being a centre where men can meet for social intercourse and enjoyment. Judging by the enthusiasm with which this game is followed by its votaries in Nelson and other places “where men most do congregate,” we have no doubt that a Bowling Club will yield manifold enjoyment to its members, and add another to the many attractions for which this district is noted,