New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4402, 29 April 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1875.

The session of the Provincial Council will be opened on Friday, when, if we nustake not, the Superintendent will have a generally satisfactory record of the past year s transactions to submit, so far at least as the construction of bridges, and works calculated to promote settlement, are concerned. It is not our intention, however, to anticipate in any way what his Honor Mr Fitzherbert may tell the Council. In good time we shall endeavor to analyse his Address, fairly and dispassionately. But in anticipation of Friday s event, we may direct attention to the state of Education in this province. It certainly is not what it should bo. Our system of primary schools is perhaps as perfect in design as any system could well be ; but it is only in design. The province does not possess sufficient money to give effect to the scheme of the Inspector, as sanctioned by the Board. It will be the duty of the Provincial Council to take this matter up, and assist the Executive with their most serious advice. The question is one of vital consequence to the entire community, and neither party nor personal considerations should have any weight in its determination.

This brings us naturally to a most mischievous resolution, passed at a small meeting of the Education Board some time ago, directing the amalgamation of the offices of Secretary to the Board and Inspector of Schools. Notice to rescind this resolution has been given, and its consideration was wisely postponed until the meeting of the Provincial Council, to secure a fun 1 attendance of country members. Now that the Council is on the eve of assembling, we should say that there will be no difficulty in procuring a full meeting. It is the imperative duty of all members of the Education Board to attend when the motion in question comes on for discussion. And, without presuming to dictate to them what is their duty in the matter, we cannot refrain from declaring that the public will be greatly disappointed, and have just grounds for complaint as well, if the obnoxious resolution be not rescinded. Indeed, it would be impossible to determine, with any degree of accuracy, the mischief that has been already done by the unreasoning parsimony of the majority by whom the amalgamation-of-offices resolution was carried. That it has, naturally enough, disturbed the minds of the gentlemennow temporarily doing the duty of secretary and inspector, there can be no doubt; and we should not be surprised to learn, (although we do not know the fact,) that they have made other arrangements, and that the province will lose their invaluable services in the management of our provincial schools. Should this be the case, it would simply be impossible to replace one of them at least, for no gentleman fitted for the position would accept service under the Wellington Education Board, after the treatment Mr. Lee has been subjected to.

But assuming that these gentlemen have neglected their own interests, and have taken no steps to dispense with the Board, in the belief that a rational spirit would yet prevail, the affair must have demoralised the whole teaching body. How is it possible to enforce discipline, if the executive officers of the Board hold office only during the pleasure of some whimsically-crotchetty or narrowminded member of-the Education Board? We say unhesitatingly that it cannot be done. Nor could any executive officer be expected to have heart in his work. The whole system, therefore, is disturbed. The Executive work is less zealously performed, the teachers naturally become less attentive, and the children, by consequence, are neglected. And thus it is, that by one ill-considered act of a governing body, an incalculable amount of evil may be inflicted upon a community. We need not touch upon the physical objections to the amalgamation of the two offices, having done so in a former article dealing with the resolution. Suffice it to say, that one man cannot efficiently discharge both functions. Wherefore, on the physical argument alone, it is expedient to rescind the Board’s resolution. But, on the score of administrative efficiency, it is desirable to have reliable checks. Now, let us ask, what possible check could the Board have upon the Inspector if he were also Secretary!? None whatever, except it would be a contemptible system of espionage, which would infallibly defeat itself in the long run. We are therefore forced to this conclusion, that it is wise and expedient to rescind the resolution in question. But that cannot work an effectual cure. What happened before may happen again. The constitution of the Board itself may require amendment. If it be in the power of a minority of the whole Board, living in Wellington or its neighborhood, to pass such a resolution, then it is clear that the educational machinery may at any time be thrown out of gear. Would it not be better for the Board to be so constituted as to prevent a surprise of this kind ? Gentlemen residing in remote parts of the province cannot attend every regular and special meeting of tho Board of Education, and it becomes a question therefore whether the advantage of local representation is not too dearly bought. , With an efficient Inspector, and aSeoretary fairly acquainted with the province, a nominated Board would do the work quite as impartially and much more efficiently, wo venture to think, than the present Board does it, if it were constituted of gentlemen who could attend regularly. The nomination might be left to the Provincial Council, or for that matter we should not object to the Superintendent having the right to nominate. Wo throw this out as a suggestion, however, and not as a plan on which no improvement could bo made. Tho present system is bad, nothing could be worse in practice; and we shall hail almost any change that promises an improvement.

A cablegram, received yesterday from Dr. Featherston, is so utterly unintelligible as to convey a very faint conception as to what the ideas of the sender may have been. Clearly it was intended to convey the usual information as to the despatch of immigrant ships from Home, but so confused is the original cablegram that it would be purposeless to print it. It is dated London, April 15, and the only facts that can be made out with any degree of clearness are, that during the March-April month the Carl sailed for New Zealand, with 330 immigrants ; the Countess of Kintore, for Napier, with 137 ; and the Forfarshire, with 231, for Otago and Auckland. There is no nows as to the movements of Mr. Vogel. The Luna will arrive in harbor to-day from Napier. Sir Donald McLean, who was expected to return in her, remains at Napier for a few days longer. It will be seen from our telegrams that the Governor and his suite are to leave Christchurch for Dunedin on Tuesday next. His Excellency and party travel overland.

A new time-table has been issued, it will be observed, for the Wellington and Masterton Railway, for the month of May. There is great scarcity of water in Dunedin. In the higher parts of the city it is taken up in carts and sold for 2d. per bucket, by order of the Mayor. Those who indulge in an abundant use of water will be glad to learn that the water was this morning on a level with the topmost feedpipe in Polhill’s Gully, and that there was still a good supply flowing in. We regret to learn that the salmon ova brought out to Otago by the Timaru are likely to prove valueless. This is a very great disappointment. The shipment was under the sole direction of Mr. Frank Buckland.

The woman Jeffreys, who was assaulted in her own house iu Dunedin, on Friday night last, as reported by telegraph, died yesterday. The offence is a very aggravated one, as the perpetrator appears to have received no provocation. Our Dunedin contemporary informs us that a bankrupt named Griffiths, has been com* mitted for trial, at the prosecution of Mr. Leary, official assignee iu bankruptcy, under the penal clauses of the Bankruptcy Act. Fraudulent bankrupts beware, «We are requested to draw the attention of the shareholders of the Wellington Patent Slip Company to the fact that the annual meeting of the shareholders will be held at the company’s office, this day, at noon. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, John Brazel, charged with drunkenness, was dismissed with a caution. Matthew Roach, for a similar offence, was fined Ids., being his second appearance at court; and Henry Gaynor was fined 50s. There were no civil cases down for hearing, yesterday being Hutt Court day. The following is a list of immigrants expected to arrive by the ship Hindostan : Married couples without children—2 carpenters, 1 miner, 2 farm laborers, 1 gardener. Married couples with children—6 laborers, 4 farm laborers, 3 carpenters, 2 plumbers, 3 ploughmen, 1 gardener - , 1 currier, 1 navvy. Single men—B laborers, 1 miner, 1 ship’s carpenter, 5 carpenters, 3 tailors, 1 harness maker, 1 bricklayer, 1 ploughman, 2 grooms, 13 farm laborer's, 1 butcher, 2 porters, 1 shepherd, 1 bootmaker. Single women—9 general servants, 3 nurses, 2 cooks, 1 governess, 1 dairymaid, 2 dressmakers, 3 young girls. Applications to engage these immigrants to he made to the Depot Master, Immigration Depot, Wellington. Any of the above immigrants who are engaged for service in the country districts of the province, will be forwarded by the Immigration Department. , , We have been informed by a correspondent that owing to recent bush fires the bridle track between Belmont and Pahautanui is blocked up by fallen timber, rendering it dangerous to travel. A ■ couple of men, in a few hours, would remove the principal obstructions. This track is of the utmost consequence to the district, as it enables the Hutt and Porirua settlers to travel to either place by a much shorter line than if they were compelled to go round by the metalled road. We trust the Provincial Government will give instructions to have this track cleared.

The Taranaki Herald has a leading article on the necessity that exists for taking precautions for preserving the health of the town, and preventing the outbreak of epidemics of any kind. It attributes the failure of the Public Health Act, 1872, to the fact that the cost of carrying out its provisions is thrown upon local rates. A water supply and drainage is necessary to preserve the health of the town of New Plymouth ; and the Provincial Government promise to submit a scheme to the Provincial Council for a water supply.