EXTRACTS from BLUE BOOK- 1851. NATIVE EDUCATION.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 657, 31 July 1852, Page 3

EXTRACTS from BLUE BOOK- 1851. NATIVE EDUCATION.

Copy of a Despatch from Governor Sir George Grey to Earl Grey. Wellington, New Zealand, January 29, 1851. My Lord, j 1. In reference to my Despatch No. 33, of the ! 22nd of March 1840, upon the subject of the manner in which lands are to be secured for the production of the agricultural supplies required for the support of the children to be educated at the industrial schools established in New Zealand for the civilization of the native race, and in reference to your Lordship's reply to that Despatch, of the number and date specified in the margin, by which, on account of the great importance of ■ the successful development of the proposed plan, authority was given to me, if I found it requisite to do so, even to allot gratuitously lands for for the support ot such institutions. I have now the honour to report — 2. That several large institutions, conducted respectively by the Church of England, the Webleyan body, and the Roman Catholic Church, are now in full and successful operation in New Zealand; and that grants for the portions of land requisite for the growth and production of the necessaries of life required by the children, and for their training in agricultural pursuits, have been issued gratuitously to these institutions I conveying the lands in trust for the use and towards the maintenance of such schools, so long as religious education, industrial training, and instruction in the English language are given to youth educated therein or maintained thereat, such grants being made in the names of the persons who are authorized by the Education Ordinance to exercise entire control and supervision over the schools. 3. These institutions are founded, in the first instance, jointly by the Government and the religious bodies who conduct them, and each school is then supported by the religious body to which it belongs, by the produce of the land allotted to it, and for the first few years, until it becomes self-supporting, by the Government. 4. The funds supplied by the religious bodies are chiefly derived from the large Missionary Societies in England; the lands granted to the schools are also the property of the Crown, and the value which these lands are rapidly acquiring from cultivation and improvements is imparted to them by the children educated at such institutions, and by their teachers, who are, I think, in nearly all instances, paid and supported at the entire expense of the English societies, and must be so for a considerable number of years. These institutions, which must shortly exercise so extensive an influence, should therefore be regarded as to some extent being not colonial but British property, which should be administered for the welfare'of the entire empire. 5. I have on several occasions called your Lordship's attention to the condition of the many islands in the Pacific Ocean in the immediate neighbourhood of New Zealand, and have pointed out the absolute necessity which existed for the protection of the interests of Christianity and civilization, as also for the protection of the interests of our commerce and shipping, that the inhabitants of these islands should be converted and civilized, and that they should be encouraged to adopt our language, laws, and customs, and to use such articles as we could advantageously supply them with, in exchange for the many commodities which their islands produce. 0. Your Lordship is also aware that the Wesleyans and Roman Catholics have already extensive missions in several of those islands, and that the colonial Church of England is about to establish missions in other of the islands. Many of them are, however, so unhealthj', that English missionaries cannot advantageously reside there during the entire year ; and the missionaries with whom I have consulted are anxious to remove the most promising children from those islands, and to educate them in New Zealand, where they will be surrounded entirely by Christian associations, and where, also, they will be brought up in British customs and habits, with British tastes and with a knowledge of the English language. 7. In order, therefore, to give every facility to the development of a plan which I regard as essential to the interests of the empire in this part of the world, I framed the grants of lands for the support of the industrial schools, now under consideration, in the enclosed form, in which it will be observed that I have inserted words which make these institutions available for the education of poor and destitute persons, being inhabitants of the islands in the Pacific Ocean, the effect of which words will, in fact, be to make such institutions a component part of that great system of missions which the piety and benevolence of Great Britain has established throughout the Pacific, instead of confining them to New Zealand alone 5 and although such a proceeding undoubtedly vests considerable discretion in the hands of the'missionary bodies, I am sure, from long experience of their proceedings, that this may be safely done. As, however, the objects I have contemplated by the issue of these grants is a very extensive one, embracing rather imperial interests than those which fall within my immediate jurisdiction as a colonial Governor, I have thought it right to report what I have done for your Lordship's information, in order that, should it not meet with approval of Her Majesty's Government, no such grants may be issued for the future. 8. In as far as the interests of the colony of New Zealand are concerned, no valid objection to the issue of such grants presents itself to me. For New Zealand would still enjoy the greater part oi the benefit of these educational institutions, whilst their establishment in this country would propably lead the missionary societies to continue their operations in New Zealand, and to lend this country their aid for a much longer period than they would otherwise do ; and New Zealand itself, being made the centre of education and civilization for a large number of islands, and for the missionary establishments, would'from the great resort from its shores which would spring from these causes, become in a great measure the metropolis for a considerable number of islands, and would certainly enjoy an extensive and lucrative commerce. I have, &c, (Signed) G. Grey, The Right Hon. Earl Grey, &c., &c., &c.

Cop\' oe a Despatch tuom Earl Grey to Governor. Sir George Grey. Downing Street, Atigust 3, 1851. Sir, I have received your Despatch, No. IG, of the 29th of January last, on the subject of the establishment of industrial schools for the civilization of the native race in New Zealand, and representing the benefits likely to arise from these institutions, not only to the inhabitants of New Zealand, but also to the natives of the other islands in the Pacific, from the measures now in progress. The principle of the scheme appears to me to be salutary and politic, and I have to express my entire approval of it, as well as of the general sufficiency of the instrument by which you propose to convey the land set apart for the Jnah> tenancc of the schools.

I have, however, had my attention called by the Church Missionary Society to one point in connexion with this arrangement, on which it appears to mo that some modification would be desirable. I enclose for your information a copy of a. letterwhich I have received from that Society upon the subject. They object, and not unnaturally, to that provision of the Education Ordinance of the 7th October, 1847, by which all the schools which are already or which may be hereafter established under the snperintendance and management of the Society's missionaries, and which may receive Government grants, would be placed under the Bishop of New Zealand, who would have the power of appointing and removing the teachers at his pleasure. I should wish you to bring the subject under the consideration of the Legislative Council, expressing my opinion that the Society's objections to the Ordinance as it at present stands, are not unreasonable, and my hope that it may be amended in such a manner as to remove any obstacle to the continuance of the valuable assistance given by the Society in promoting the education of the natives of New Zealand. I am, &c, (Signed) Grey. Governor Sir George Grey, &c, &c, &c. [

Church Missionary House, July 16,1851. My Lohd, The Despatch from Governor Grey, dated Wellington, New Zealand, 29th of January, 1851, which you have done us the honour of transmitting for the information of the ChurchMissionary Society, respecting Educational Giants in New Zealand, has first directed the attention of the Committee to an Education Ordinance passed in the Legislative Council, 7th of October, 1847. It appears from the Governor's Despatch that he regards all the schools of the Church Missionary Society whiph have received Government grants to be placed by virtue of this Ordinance under the superintendence and management of the Bishop of New Zealand, who shall have the power of appointing and removing the teachers of such schools at his pleasure. The Committee direct me respectfully to state to your Lordship that the schools in question are already under the superintendence and management of ordained Missionaries of the Society, and therefore the Committee cannot consent to their being 1 brought under the provisions of the Ordinance. The, Committee have no objection to any system of inspection which the Governor may establish, or to submit any points of difference which may arise to the decision of the Bishop, or to place their Mission Schools under such superintendence as is exercised by Bishops at home ; but the provisions of the Education Ordinance go far beyond these limits and are inconsistent with the principles upon which the operations of the Society are conducted. The Committee observe that the Schedule to the Education Ordinance places the Wesleyan Schools under " the Superintendent of the Wesleyan Mission," and other schools under "the head or minister of any other religious body." The Committee trust therefore that the schools of the Church Missionary Society which receive Government grants may be still continued imder the superintendence and management of the missionaries of the Society. I have &c, (Signed) H. Straitpt, Secretary, Church Missionary Society. Right Honourable Earl Gvey, &c. &c. &c.

Chimb in France. — One of the most extraordinary cases evpr brought before a criminal court Ins just been tiled by thp Court of Assize of the Ule-et-Vilaine. The prisoner was a woman, named Helena Jegado, who for several years past has been a servant in different families of the department. She stood at the bar chargpd witii several thefts committed in and since the year 1846, and with seven murders by arsenic in 1850 ; but the evidence showed that although only seven cases had been selected as more recent, and therefore more easy of proof, not less than lorty-three persons had been poisoned by her with arsenic. The victims were either her masters or mistresses, or fellow servants, who had incurred her hatred. 1 In some cases no motive of interebt or hatred could be assigned. The prisoner appeared to have been actuated by a thirst for destruction, and to have taken pleasure in witnessing the agonies of her victim^. She attended in many instances with nppaient solicitude on the persons whom she had poisoned, and so successful was her hypocrisy that even the deaths of the mother and another relative of a physician in whose family she lived raised no suspicion of poison in his mind. The frequency of deaths, however, in the families by « horn she was successively engaged excited suspicion among the peasantry. The prisoner herself frequently exclaimed after the death of a victim, *' How unhappy I am, wherever I go death follows me !" The cases on which she was brought to trial were established by the evidence beyond the possibility of doubt. The prisoner anticipated an acquittal from there being no proof of her having had arsenic in her possession It was proved, however, that in one of the families in which she was a servant some years ago, there was t large quantity of arsenic, which had suddenly disappeared. This arsenic had, without doubt, been taken by the prisoner, and had served for the commission of the successive murders. The only defence set up for her was founded on phrenological principles. It was contended that the organs of hypocrisy and destructivencs* were developed to a degree which overpowered the moral faculties and that although it would be uns fe to leave her at large, she ought not to be condemned to capital punishment ; the peculiarity of her organisation rendering her rather an object of pity. This defence failed entirely, and the jury having delivered a verdict without extenuating ciicumstances, the court condemned her to death.

Marriage op Jenny Lind' — Married, in this city, on the sth Febiuary, at the residence of Mr. S. G. Watd, by the Rev. Charles Mason, assisted by Rev. Dr. Wainwright ; of New York, the Swedish Consul. Hon. Edward Everett, Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Ward, Mr. N. J. Bowditch, her legal adtiser, and other friends being present, Otto Goldschmidt, of Hambuigh, to Mdle. Jenny Lind, of Stockholm, Sweden. J?nny Lind was married by the Protestant Episcopal rite. She is thii iy one years old and her husband twentytour. He is a gentlemen, and a man of genius ; of Hebrew origin we believe. We well remember his per formauce on the pianoforte, too good ior the popular appreciation, and never deviating from the sevevit)' of art to draw out the public plaudits by tricks of claptrap, which he had dexteiity enough to do if be had chosen. On those occasions Jenny, who wus not on the stage at the momenc, useed often to stand forward in her private box, and clap her hands vigorously in sight of the audience, who by no means seemed to share her admiration for the pmnist. However she understood bis merits a great deal better that they did. — Boston Newspaper.