The Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 286, 4 December 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1871.

A" memorandum by Mr. - RestelJ, the iDßpector of Schools at Canterbury, recommending the training and employment of pupil teachers iv the Government schools, has been laid before ths Board 6f N Education of tbat province, ond as it is a matter tbat is of interest to Nelsou as well as to Canterbury, it is worth while to bring it before the notice of the public. Mr. Restell divides his memorandum into four parts; first, The want of such help, and the grounds for granting itj second, The service and its cost; third. The efficient training of pupil teachers; fourth, How to finally dispose of them. On the first of these heads he commences by statiDg that the difference of attainments of the children, even in a small school, renders assistance necessary in almost every instance, but that under existing circumstances the costline&s of such assistance prevents its beiqg afforded to the masters. He recommemds therefore that pupil teachers should hi trained and employed on the following stale: — where there is an avarage attendance of 40 children and upwards one such teacher; of 40 and upwards, two; of 100 and upwards, three. As the training of pupil teachers would necessitate a superior standard of attainment ou the part of the masters, he suggests that a higher class of certificate should be required of those who are entrusted with their charge. In referring to the proposed service and its cost, he states his opinion that candidates should be selected from the youth of either sex at the age of thirteen, and that the term of service should be the same as in England, namely, four or five years, such services being secured for the full term by articles of apprenticeship. . The effective work of tbe pupil -teacher in agricultural districts — those chiefly to be provided for — would consist of teaching during the usual school hours for eight months iv tbe year, besides assisting the master just before the opening, and after the close, of school iv arrangements conducive to discipline, Neatness, and order, so that he would have ample time for lessons from the master, and for, private study out of school hours. The

cariying out of such a scheme would involve two iteniß of expenditure, namely, the stipends of tbe pupil teachers, and the remuneration of the teacher for instructing them out of school hours. It is not necessary for us to give here the proposed scale of such payments, which Mr. Restell furnishes at some length io his memorandum, but it is sufficient to say tbat he estimates the cost of the system in Canterbury for the first year at £300 if limited to the vested schools, and at £1500 if all special grant schools were included. The efficient training of pupil teachers, it is suggested, should be conducted during the school terms by masters holding " certificates of proficiency," and should compose, in addition to the ordinary school routine, greater expertness in slate aud mental arithmetic ; the study of mensuration, bookkeeping, linear and freehand drawing, diagrams, and mapping. Besides this, it is recommended that a series of classes should be formed, and lectures given in connection with a Normal School, or School of Science, Buch lectures to be given, and classes held, during the harvest season. With regard to the final disposal of the pupil teacher, Mr. Restell reminds us that at the end of his term of training, the subject of it will only be a trained' pupil teacher, 17 or 18 years of age, and not a trained pupil, aud that consequently, the question arises, what shall be done with him, and for him. until he is old enough to take charge of a school. In England and some of the older colonies, we are told, there are Normal Schools open to him when he has satisfactorily concluded his term of service, and where the course of training is continued for one, two, or three years, until the student is able to acquire a certificate qualifying him to take charge of a school. Here, however, we have uo such institution, and it would therefore be advantageous to provide from out of the number of "adult" pupil teachers, a class of "assistants," and to , grant help from that class at the rate of one assistant instead of two pupil teachers. But it is highly probable that eventually there would be a greater number of trained pupil teachers than of vacancies for them as schoolmasters ; and it is for this reason desirable that they should go out of office at an age not too great to take up with and learn some other vocation, and with qualifications adapted to such an end. The above is but a brief sketch of a scheme which itappears to us might be adopted with advantage in this Province, where there are many schools in which the master has more pupils than he can instruct in such a manner as to do justice either to himself or to those entrusted to his care. The main question 13 that of expense, but if it can be shown that the great work of education can be carried out with greater effect at a slightly increased cost, the Provincial Council could not devote a portion of the revenue at its disposal to a better purpose, even if our public works were to suffer to a proportionate extent. Not only would the ordinary scholars benefit by such assistance being granted to the master, but we should be training up from among our own population a class of young men and women who, on arriving at maturity, would be fully capable of filling the offices that are at present, in nine cases out of ten, awarded to entire strangers. Christ Church Organ. — This longexpected instrument has at last arrived from England, and may be expected to be erected in the course of the next two or three weeks. Charleston Races. — Amongst the events at the races arranged to come off at Charleston, during the Christmas holidays is the Ladies' purse to be competed for by ladies — horses aud riders to be subject to the approval of the stewards. About 150 sheep, says the Alexandra Times, were found in a deep shaft in JohDsoo's Creek last week. It is supposed that one of them, under some impulse, had jumped into tbe shaft, and the others, with that peculiarity which tbe animal is known to possess, had followed their leader. Nelson Board of Works. — A special meeting was held this afternoon for the purpose of receiving tenders for making aud carting bricks for the proposed sewerage works. The only one sent in was from James Patching, and was as follows : — Invert Bricks, at per brick Bd.; Wedge Sewer 5 brisks, at per thousand, £5 55.; Nine-inch gutter bricks, at per brick complete/ ls. 6d.; Six-inch gutter bricks, at per brick complete, Is.; Common bricks, at per thousand, £4. The general opinion was tbat this was extravagant toa degree and aa attempted imposition on the public, and, on the motion of Mr. Webb, it was resolved that fresh tenders be invited, and that tbe Surveyor be instructed to advertise the same in the Wellington papers.

Shipping. — The Bay presented quite a lively appearance yesterday afternoon, when H.M.S. Basilisk was ly'mg at the outer anchorage, and, beating down against the S.W. breeze that was blowing, and at various distances from the shore, were the barque Ann Gambles, from Londou, the brig Gazelle, from Newcastle, and the brigantine Stranger, from Adelaide. H.M.S. Basilisk, en route for Sydney, arrived at the outer anchorage on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of receiving her despatches by the Rangitoto. On the latter vessel being signalled this morning, she got up steam and started for her destination, with the intention probably of meeting the Rangitoto in the Bay and securing her mail. The Labor Traffic — More Massacres. — The labor schooner Cambria was recently attacked by natives at the Solomon Islands. Messrs. Warburton, Kington, Robson, and Whit taker, settlers at Levuka, and a sailor named Medera were all massacred. The perpetrators of the deed — recently arrived Solomon Islanders — were being conveyed to Liviuna when they rose on the crew. After tho murders they went off with the cutter Mewa. Four vessels have been sent in pursuit. Gold. — We learn from Brighton that the southern diggings of tbaf place are returning heavy parcels of gold. So firmly do the miners of tbat district pin their faith on the results likely to accrue from a more extensive working of the neighborhood, that they have decided on sending Mr. Surveyor Greenwood out, with the object of making a detailed survey, and thereby getting at the probable expense of the undertaking. A meeting has been called in order to petition the Executive of the Provincial Council to spend the £1000 placed on the estimates for the, purpose of constructing the Fox's and Razorback road. It is also intended, we [believe, to construct a wire suspension bridge across Fox's river for the purpose of facilitating traffic. . yLCHRiSTMAS Festivities on the Buller. — It seems the good people of the Buller do not mean to he 'behind-hand in doing honor to Old Christmas this year, which is again so close upion us. We see by printed announcement 'that the magnificent piece of country kaown as the Four Eiver Plain is to be the scene of horse races, cricket matches, and games, and general merrymaking, and that good fare, good liquor, and good ale are to be in plenty for the occasion. Mr. Ribet is having a large lean-to added to his commodious ten-roomed new. house. This addition will be finished in time, and we are informed that accommodation will be provided for one hundred and fifty guests. It has been suggested that the occasion of these festivities will afford a capital opportunity for residents in the town and settled districts to pay 'a visit to tbe diggings, the comparatively dry state of the roads in the summer time being an additional inducement. May be, some of our sporting men will think fit to dispute the prizes in the horse races which are to be run, and which are open to all comers. When the writer left, the stewards had not completed their programme, but it is fixed that there will be dne prize or stake at least of not less thjan £25, and other sums amounting to £50 in all will be run for. Some of the races, are to be competed for by packborses, a decided novelty iD horse racing. The Buller district is daily becoming more and more interesting to us, and it is possible that many residents in the town and settled. districts might do worse than fall in with the suggestion which has been thrown! out to them, to take a trip to the Buller, and, in addition to participating in the enjoyments of the occasion, avail themselves of the opportunity of elevating tlieir thoughts and feeliDgs on the scenery of the grand old Buller, and the vast and mighty ranges drained by the Matiri, { the Maruia, the Matakitaki, and the Ljell, and feeding tbe lakes Rotoiti and Ro^oroo, the localities of which lakes and surrounding scenery may be compassed in the trip. Rowe's store and farm, Mahon's Jacklin's, Oxenham's, Jepsom's, and Ream's are all within a short distance of the ferry at Ribet's. — Communicated.