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Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 715, 2 July 1878, Page 2

A meeting of the committee organised to raise funds for the relief of the widow and children of the guard James Baird, wh'> lately died through injuries sustained while ; in the execution of his duties, took pla •• I last night, at the railway station. It wa resolved to a-.- -ly for the admission of the family into the Benevolent Institute, pending the result of the efforts now being made in th.-ir behalf, as Mrs. Baird, being an invalid, requires rest and attention ; also, to open an account at the National Bank. It was agreed that holders of subscription lists be requested to close the same and forward amounts received on or before the 14th inst. The amounts collected will be published in the local papers. The case is a most ur gent one, and we feel sure that thf *.i bour of the committee will not be in ■ ;ti i. ;In connection with this mr.tter, wa may j mention that before any ooueerted action was taken to obtain subscriptions in aid of Mrs. Baird and faini'y, Mr. John Reid, of Elderslie, forwarded LlO to the Rev. Mr. Todd, to be applied to their immediate relief; and Mr. Back, the General Vt:jiager of Railways at Christchurch, also telegraphed L 5 to Mr. Loring for a similar purpose. Subscription lists have also been started in Christchurch, by which it is expected that a respectable sum will be realised. During the month of June 28 births were registered in '. ha Oamaru office, as against 44 in the saa:u -non' 1 ! of last year. Cnly six deaths were j - led during the month, the number for ■. \ 1577, having been eight. Six marr.* c. .•: -".eates were taken taken out during the ;nci:"i. The Secretary of li. ; North Otago Coursing Club informs ua that he had received u-to three o'clock to-.-iy over 201 ei.trifp f«r the Waterloo Cup, *" b ion forj . i Tuesday next. T!>? nomi; *-. ions are i.n Christchurch, Duuedin, Pahnerston, lVkoinairiro, as wel! as from this <li- *-- -t. Th" bearing of a few debt cases c »n .;■. >xl th i-ho • of the business at thg ft-: id-jut '•ia !-■»■' :'•'- •"■•■■■!■ fc this moron'". liv ir. .-efng of the Co: <> l ; .. )t°£TO llii;r -(Hllturi' S :'.,.' c-Jlp ' I iast e\'•■'._• <"i "i"t even: .-'j, owir > there !•■ Iw 'ik:eut nv.-ni'icrs "re tit forr. i. i .V special meeting of tii StcieLV \. . • held on the 15th inst., take into consideration seve-vl matters uf i npirtanee. The usual weekly practice of the Oamaru Christys took place last evening at the Masonic Hall. There was almost a fnl attendance, ai.d t'ie priucipal portion of the progrannii K>r th forthcoming conre-t •.•■'»-■ gone through in a highy jatis.ac'ory maurer. It gives us pleasii'V to state th ir, th<Warder of the Oamaru Hospital has recei i'>?d a donation of one dozen of port wine for tne use of the institution, from Mr. John M'Kay, Junction Hotel ; and Mr. Clowes ha 3 presented a number of illustrated paper* for the amusemsnt of the patients. A day or two prior to the last Waimate Steeplechases we despatched several of our carrier pigeons to the locality in which the event was to take place, for the purpose of training them. To our surprise the finest bird of the lot failed to return with the rest, and we thought it lost. This morning, however, it put in an appearance, and in seeking to discover the cause for its delay, we found that its wings had been clipped. We politely request that people whose ideas are decidedly foggy as to what belongs to them and ,ys&l]

belongs to other people, will, whenOiMtgj , peculiarities demand gratitlcafcioft 9t fltffi|i'| . acquirement of a pigeon, & r ?r y&£££Bk : whether the bird is one °r'Qo?a|>fflßßH| ■ the captured creaturjLhNgflil9HKHß| message for ns, is , his P ro Pif^vii4^HH^^^^^^^^^^^^BV in 'Donald, arrangeAfter the Manuscript as. conLuke's to wil! oppotaken Education Committee have °f the drill instracoat of the pittance •llowaß the Board for contingencies, and alth ajffjnnsic end drill have a pi'miWent }>laei. • yiven them ijinjJMnjbhool c rri-enlnnV-laid down by yet the Board have salariea

of the teachers who have tau b those subjects for years past, under the ."(Kpointment of the School Committee. matter has been referred to the Ministers*, Education, and we sincerely trust the result will be an extra grant frorn "-he Education Board. As to the influence ' drill and singing in school, there can he "o two opinions. By the former, our young men are trained to habits of order and discipline, aid if needs require it. they are prepared to bring thoee hab'cs into play in the protection of all thai - - is dear to them ; by the latter, we teach our children that which adorns the possessors and Bolidifies peace. Music should not be considered a luxury,

..<: LX';.F-ved only for the affluent. The love of ■ ? c :amon to all classes, and if left un- <• i'Avnt-'d, crops up in weedy taproom (;:> -v h'-. ■■■'\ tuneful comic vulgarities. It is said thai, in the rough northern and midland Counties of England, the Artisan Societies have had a wonderful effect in taming the savagery of the miners, and in putting to a harmless use the leisure time of the factory hands. Yorkshire and Lancashire abound in good oruh "tras ; the pottery hands are softened more by music thau by amnions. The teaching of music is more •. re axation than an additional burden to

Vie ymm -, as anyone may ascertain who has seen, i.- infant schools, thr- d--iijrhr- wit which children roc ive the singing lessor!, and lin heartiness with which even th terrible A B C and nvHpliration table are rhythmically chanted. There is no study tha*> children so willingly take to, and none, after reading and writing, that has so pronounced a moral effect. All educationists, from Plato to Goethe, have insisted on the importance of teaching vocal music in schools, and we remember Shakespeare's description of " The man who hath no music in his soul." in connection with which let us take special note of what lie said of such. Many things are gained by the study of music. It requires order, method, attention, and quickness ; it improves and cultivates the memory. We must certainly encourage the tea3hing o? drill and music in our schools, ami should the committee fail in procuring the necessary funds from the Board, we must strengthen, their hands, and open our purses, rather than allow our Handels and Mendelsohns to go to their graves with latent talent undeveloped. *. Mr Wood, of Ak.v«a. wmiM fie' o' li_r'fl if l lie e ot?ii 'ha- kin My pick 1 up >n >-f h j! •■•••ri ■■ - ;•(-. s .1 w nld f-rward the sumc' ■ ■.:'. At Si v n ;.. ;•.. —FAdvt]