The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, FEB. 19, 1853.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 715, 19 February 1853, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, FEB. 19, 1853.

15e just and fear not; Let all tlie ends thou aim’st at, tie thy Country’s, Thy God's, and Truth’s.

M f. tins day transfer lo our columns the Reports in full of ilic Inspectors of Schools receiving support from the Public Funds, so far as they were laid before the Legislative Council at Wellington by His Excellency the Governor-in-Chicf. They will be read with interest by all the friends of Education, especially of the Education of the Native and Half-caste children of New Zealand ; and they merit—(whether they will rcceicc is

another question) —the attentive and candid consideration of our contempotaiy ( n Southern Crons, and of any (if any there he) who are inclined to sympathise in the charge of “sacking” and “lingering” the public money which he has had the hardihood to prefer against the directors and managers ol the Schools. . The Reports hitherto published are throe in number. The first is on the Homan Catholic School of “ St. Joseph’s Providence” at Wellington, established for the education and industrial training of natives and halfcaste girls, of whom sixteen arc now participating in the benefits of the Institution. Having been oidy two months open when the Inspectors visited it, much could not be said as to its actual efficiency ; but the little that is stated is highy satisfactory. V- ith a building so systematically constructed, ground so judiciously laid out, interior arrangements marked by such perfect order and excellent management,” and a lady prethe establishment of such “great merit,” as Messrs. Clifford and Johnston have described, there are here materials capable of being rendered available for much future usefulness. Wc have to remark, however, that no financial statement of any kind appears in the Report. Wc arc unable to account for this, as the Ordinance specifically provides that the Reports of the Inspectors shall set forth, amongst other things, “the funds out of which the school may be supported, and the amount thereof respectively, the salaries paid to the Teachers thereof, and the yearly cost incurred for the support and education of each pupil maintained therein.” The non-compliance with this requirement deprives ns for the present, so far as tins school is concerned, of the data which we should like to have at hand in in dealing with the “sacking” and “fingerin?” accusation. o

The second Report is on the Church of England Schools at Wftiucka, under the superintendence of the Rev. F. L. Judor. Here, the financial statement will be found given with a particularity that seems to challenge scrutiny. A very interesting feature iii t!iesc Schools is the education of Maori and European children together. We arc aware that prejudices exist in some minds against such association and free intercourse of the races as is here maintained ; Jjut—provided, of course, that the management of die Institution bo vigilant and judicious—wo have never heard any objections to the plan sufficient to counterbalance the great advantage to the Maories which may reasonably be anticipated from it. ft is certain that native children will learn the English language, and acquire the habits and even the" feelings and motives of European society far more speedily and effectually by means of inlercourse-r-both in study and in recreation —with European children, than from the most skilful and painstaking efforts of adult Teachers. We can easily conceive that this plan might be carried out—(especially when (he children are taken into the Schools at a very early age, -which, for various reasons, would be most desirable) —in a manner that would render it one of the most powerful levers to raise the' Native race in the scale of civilization. So fctr the experiment has been tried at Motucka, it appears, judging from the Report, to be eminently successful. The Inspectors Major Richmond, Dr. Greenwood, and Mr. Stephens) strongly recommend that, whatever other change it may be deemed desirable to make in the establishment, this pernliar character of it should be “carefully preserved and add that the good effects already resulting from the system of free association of the children of both races, and their instruction in common justify them in “looking forward with much hope and interest to its further development.” The total numbers in the Day School, and the Night School for adults, were thirty-four English, and forty-eight Maori; and gratifying mention is made jf the perseverance and docility of the adult Natives, “grownup men not only readily but eagerly availing themselves of the help of mere children for the purpose of instruction.” The third Report is on the Wesleyan School, called the “ Grey Institution,” at New Plymouth, which appears to owe its origin and much of its progress to the exertions, and, in no inconsiderable degree, the personal pecuniary support of llie Rev. 11. 11. Turton. This Report is the longest of the three, entering into various rather minute details. The number of pupils “on the commons of the Institution” when the Inspectors (Mr. Flight and Dr. Wilson) visited it, was thirty-two, including twentyeight Maories, one half-caste, and four Europeans, (for It appears that the principle of educating both races together is practically admitted here also, although it has not been made so prominent a feature as at Motueka). As respects financial matters, it is reported that the cost of the buildings (erected in 1848) was conjointly defrayed by the Wesleyan Missionary Society and the Colonial Government; —that “the boarding and clothing of the scholars with the concurrent expenses of the Institution, have been about equally provided by the above two public bodies for the year, and by the Mission alone for the remaining time ;” —that the cultivation of the farm (a portion of the land appertaining to the Mission) has been effected, stock purchased, 'and agricultural implements obtained from England “ at the expense of Mr. Turton;”— that the stipends of the Superintendent, the Master, and his Wife, “ are paid by the Missionary Society —that, in short, the sum total of the “sacking” and “lingering” from the Colonial Funds reported by the Inspectors amounts to—just the stipends of the Farm Overseer and the Housekeeper,—and that, although a good foundation has been laid for the future independence of the Institution by means of the produce of the farm, yet at present there remains a heavy debt on the concern. (This debt Mr. Turton suggests might in a few years be wiped off entirely by the proceeds of tne Farm, if the Colonial Government would in the mean time undertake the support of the Institution. But this lias nothing to do with past “sacking” and “ fingering,” being merely a proposition of his oten, having reference to the future , and one in which

the Governor of course, may, or may not, acquiesce at his discretion. And yet on this are founded some bitter sarcasms on the Report, the Institution, and Mr. Turton personally, which we observe in the “Original ' Correspondence” of the Taranaki llmild received yesterday.) The copious descriptions of the manner in which the scholastic and industrial engagements of the pupils are conducted will be found interest! n" ; and we commend the whole, (financial, Educational, and all) to the perusal of our content; orary, who has before now honoured this very Institution with his ft ieiulhj notice. As our memory of what he has written on some subjects really appears to be belter than his own. we would remind him fas one instance of such notice) that, outlie I Oth of December last, in quoting a passage from a congenial-minded writer at Taranaki “respecting the funds of the Grey Institution,” he remarked, ' “ It will he seen that the financiers of Taranaki arc quite as impassable as our Rev. friend the Financial Secretary of the Auckland Institution. However, the hour is at hand when these mysteries will lie solved, and the people made acquainted with the manner in which their cash is disposed of. - ’ lias not the hour come for the solution of the mystery? Here is a detailed Report on this particular Institution, signed by two respectable and responsible gentlemen, duly •appointed to investigate its affairs. Now is the very lime for our contemporaiy to “make the people acquainted” with the manner in which they are “ fleeced by the educational “financiers ol Taranaki. The Schools in the North are, for obvious reasons, especially important, and we shall await with much interest the publication of the reports of the gentlemen appointed to inspect them, who, we believe, have now nearly, or altogether, completed their ■visitations.