The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1909.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10069, 10 February 1909, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1909.

The visit of Dr Capra to our country and his eulogies of the Lmwaxted, coin Agricultural College AGRicuTUTtAL call to mind the necessity education. to improve and extend the scope of education in agriculture for the benefit of our cultivators. The Lincoln College is, we believe, now serving its purpose, but its purpose is so limited that the advantages it confers arc confined to a few. Dr Capra, who is commissioned by the Italian Government to investigate the resources of New Zealand, agricultural and otherwise, expressed himself as "surprised and delighted" with what he saw at Lincoln. He had; he said, "never seen such crops of wheat in his life." This visitor from a far country knows more about the Lincoln College farm than nine-tenths of the people of the country in which it is situated. There is no attempt to popularise the institution. Though it has an endowment of -62,000 acres, which at present brings in a rental of £ISOO, the College can accommodate only 40 students. This appears to be all the more unsatisfactory when it is considered that the buildings are extensive and the farm very complete. The Agricultural College scheme is not adapted to the requirements of this country. The great majority of those who ought to receive agricultural enlightenment do not know that they require it and could not acquire it even if they were conscious of their lack of knowledge. What is required is something very different from an imposing institution which cannot, in the nature of tilings, be utilised by those who should be interested in learning all"that there is to know about the cultivation of the soil after scientific methods. Such an establishment may serve a good purpose as the-centre to disseminate a widespread and popular knowledge of agriculture. But what is wanted are facilities close at hand so that settlers and their sons may be induced to take advantage of them if only because they are convenient and' offer them a means of occupying their time and attention during spare moments. Enthusiasm would soon be evoked, and the knowledge acquired which would be of more advantage than doubling the acreage of the arable land in the country. It is anomalous that, while the teaching of less important subjects is provided at considerable cost to the State, so little interest is taken by the. admiiii. ti'ators of our affairs in the education of the people in scientific farming methods. Boys learn ornamental subjects partly at the public expense, and yet' there is no attempt to impart knowledge in that calling which is now, and is likely to continue to be, the most important of all our industrial operations. If the Lincoln College succeeds in growing anything that is abnormally excellent the faef'should be made known everywhere, so that all interested mig'it take advantage of it. Our Italian visitor appears to think that the practical demonstration at Lincoln is much more valuable than the mere precept which obtains in his own country, and so it is; but, if our country schools would impart lessons in agricultural chemistry and give information regarding the most modern discoveries in regard to the growth of produce, the results would be infinitely more beneficial than those of a restricted college system which is open to only those who have means and leisure. This theoretical education should 1 , however, be augmented by a- system of experimental farms through the country, so that the advantages of the application of science to agricultural operations could be demonstrated c.n the spot. The cost would be a trifle i < comparison with the immense advantages that would accrue. We have little or noticing of which to boast in regard to the agricultural education of our people; but, perhaps we shall be awakened presently by a knowledge that we must keep pace with others or go under. What has been done for the dairying industry may yet be done in the raising of produce.

The Borough Council has set up a subcommittee consisting of Councillors Taylor and Clarke, the Town Clerk, and the Engineer, to arrange the details in connection with calling for tenders; for the removal of dust and refuse within the Borough as a separate service. The English mail which left- Oamaru on Saturday, 2nd January, and connected witn the San Francisco steamer at Papeete, arrived in London on February Bth —one day late. At the monthly, meeting of the South School Committee, held last evening, there were present: Messrs L. Dewar (in the chair), J. Crombie, J. Bee, T. Hunter, A. Lucas, S. B. Paterson, and R. C. Main (secretary). The headmaster reported the school attendance to be satisfactory since the opening; also that the school had gained nine proficiency certificates, thus reflecting credit on Mr Cron. The Committee noted- with pleasure the work done to the school buildings by the Education Board, during the recess. A sub-commit-tee, consisting of the headmaster and Mr Lucas, was appointed to act in conjunction with the other town schools in the purchasing of books for the school libraries. Accounts amounting to £3l 10s were passed' for payment. A donation of 10s was made to the Ministers' Association .towards the expenses of the schools Scrip'tiire classes. Messrs Bee and " Crombie were appointed a visiting committee for the month. The meeting closed, with a. vote of thanks to the chair.

In his early parliamentary days Mr Heke was a smart-looking, well-dressed young man (says the Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times). He had a pleasing address and a very beautiful and sympathetic tenor voice, so that he became quite a favorite in the drawingrooms of the capital and at more Bohemian social gatherings. In later year he became more of a Maori, and, though he was still', a Bohemian and fond of convivial society, he was not found so much iri drawing-room society." In'''the House "he was a somewhat involved speaker, and when in a merry mood a most determined stone-waller. Many a time, when Mr Seddon was just on the point of getting an

important clause of a Bill passed or a piece of business through Mr Heko would make his appearance and commence to talk at great length about nothing in particular. Mr Seddon would become furious and theraten and cajole by turns, but it was all'of no avail, for Mr Hoke was the cleverest of stonewallers, and could sail as near to the wind as any member of the House. He seemed to defy the 1 rime Minister and the House as well: and though the Speaker would pull him up repeatedly and peremptorily order him to sit down, he knew just what amount ot latitude lie could take, and always succeeded in evading the pains and penalties that follow when a Speaker goes the length ot "naming" a member. On sucli occasions Mr Heke would talk the veriest nonsense, but he was always funny and good-humored, and even the tired memters.and the weary pressmen whom Mi Heke had kept out of their beds for a - other hour could not, but laugh at the entertainment, and always readily forgave the offender During the last tew sessions Mr Heke did not take much part in Un. debates in the House unless they were about some Native legislation, a subject upon which he was, of course, very well informed. . .. , ~ The Rev. John Urquhart delivered the first of his two lectures m the Baptist Church last evening, his subject being Is the Book of Genesis a Patchwork. llic lecture was a defence of the single authoiship of the book as against the contention of the school of higher critics that it is a composition of various old documents The lecturer proved himself to be a thorough master of the subject, and ma • shalled his arguments with remarkab , skill and effect. The subject, which is a, specialty of the scholar, was handled in such a way that the individual with ordinary intellectual capacity could easily follow nis argument from premise to conclusion. Mr Urquhart delivers his se lecture in the same place to-night, his tonic beiii" "The Bible and Science. The s s Pukaki sailed from (lam,m .-..- Duiicdin at six o'clock lust evening alter discharging 200 tons of Westport coal. The w. Wanaka is due at Oamaru tomorrow to load for Auckland, -Napier, and GisDorne. . , \ telephone office has been opened at Otekaike m charge of Mr Eraser, blacksmith. The Otekaike Post Olhce winch is separate, remains in charge ot Mr A. M'Kenzie. .. , , The Borough Council has decide < to nduce the price of season tickets or tne Municipal Swimming Baths tor tlie remainder of the season to liali-pnco. By virtue of clause 297 of the Borough. By-iaws, which gives the Council power to relax the strict observance of the Building By-laws if it is considered tiiat a full compliance would needlessly allect the course and operation of business or be attended with great loss and inconvenience to any person without a corresponding benefit to the community, the Council has decided to grant Mr J. G. Finch s application for permission to remove the premises known as the North Otago Foundry to a site in Severn street. It is understood that Mr Pinch intends to erect shops on the present site of the ioundry hi Thames street. The treasurer. Walter Gibb, of the loc-nl committee for Dr Barnardo's Homes, desires to acknowledge with thanks the following donations to that most deserving institution:—Thomas M'Donald £l, A Friend ss, J.B. £l, A Friend £l, J). M'Leod £l, Mrs J. J. Spence 10s, G.l'. £3. Mr Gibb intends forwarding a bank draft to London first week in March, and will be glad to include further contributions. In view of the approaching liorougn elections, it is as well to remind those entitled to vote of the necessity of seeing that they are enrolled. 'The rolls are n< w being prepared, and people who neglect to take the necessary trouble to e:'.ure their inclusion in the list will only have themselves to blame if, when the time arrives for them to exercise their vote, they find themselves disfranchised. Mr James Farmer, who is mentioned by our London correspondent as having jui-t died at St. Andrew's, Fife, and who was a member, in the early days, of the Legislative Council of this country, was as.v:-

ciated with gold mines at the Thame*., in exploiting which he made a handsome fortune.

At tiie meeting of the South Canterbury Education Board yesterday, Miss Tonilinson was appointed teacher at .llaka Vallev, Mr J. Metson being tempo- lily appointed to Haka Valley and Mb I'.annerman to Waitaki school.

We have- received from the Education Department ji set of Id excellent photographic reproductions of notable places in the Empire's capital. These are issued, under the title of "geography of the British Isles/' for use in the. schools of the Dominion, "and should be extremely helpful in the hands of an intelligent instructor, in relieving "geog." (as the schoolboy calls it) from the dry-as-dust aspect which so often characterises the subject under the old-fashioned method of teaching. The Education Department are to be congratulated upon the enterprise shown by them in the direction of providing pictorial aids to the instruction of the young colonials. At the North School this morning the re-opening of the Scripture class took the form of a. memorial service out of respect to the late headmaster, Mr J. Lindsay, The Revs. R. J. Porter and T. > T . Griffin, the teachers of the class, were present, the fatter conducting, while the former gave a special address. Mr Porter emphasised Mr Lindsay's long connection with the school, his great love for its work, Iris special attachment to the children and his: keen interest in their progress and general well-being. He also referred to his great interest' in the Scripture class, never failing except upon rare occasions, to be present. His sympathy was especially manifested when the last annual distribution of prizes took place in. the Opera House, when, though in considerable weakness, he attended and /took a place upon the platform. The general and Christian excellencies of the deceased master were pourtrayed and held worthy of the imitatatiou of all the scholars. Concluding, Mr Porter said he felt sure that Mr Lindsay's influence for good would be felt in the school and district for many years. It would be found of him as of one in the Sacred ...Word that "He being dead, yet speaketh." The Rev. T. N. Griffin, at the opening, briefly referred' to the great loss sustained 1 by the school and the ministers, and to the encouragement which. Mr Lindsay gave to the work of the Scripture class. It was in consequence of this that it was deemed fitting to have a, special service at the re-opening of the class for the work of the year. Mr Griffin then read the first six verses of John xiv. During the service the two favorite hymns of Mr Lindsay in the children's book, "I think when I read that sweet story of old" and "What a friend we have in Jesus," were sung with much feeling. Over 200 scholars were in attendance, the large room being quite full. These throughout evidently felt tlio impressiveness of the occasion, and listened to the address with great attention. Miss Thompson (mistress) and Misses Kibblewhite, Lindsay, and Hood (assistantteachers) were also present, the former presiding at the organ. Before the service the ministers were courteously received by the acting headmaster (Mr Service). The doxology and prayer and benediction by Mr Porter closed a service which doubtless will be long remembered bv those who were present.

The members of the local railway staff met in the booking office last evening, for the purpose of. farewelling one of their number (Mr T. P. Kane), who has been promoted to assistant stationmastc-r at Waimai-ino, on the Main Trunk line. There was an exceptionally large attendance, all branches of the railway service being represented, thus testifying to MiKane's popularity. Mr D. M. Matheson presided, and in presenting Mr Kane with a purse of sovereigns and a smoker's outfit, on behalf of the staff, referred to the many high qualities of the recipient, and the regret with which his departure was viewed by his co-workers. While all were sorry that Mr Kane was leaving Oamaru, it was pleasing to know that the change meant promotion and that Mr Kane's capabilities were being suitably recognised by the department. Oamaru's loss would be Waimarino's gain. Messrs Hilliard, Griffiths, Pope, Macdonald, Familton, and Hoddinott, on. behalf of the clerical staff, and Messrs Cook and Brown, on behalf of the outside staff, all testified to the high qualities Mr Kane possessed, and congratulated him on his promotion. MiKane, in a neat speech, feelingly responded, and the proceedings closed with musical honors in favOT of the departing guest. The stationmaster sent an apology for non-attendance. Mr Kane left for the by the first'express this morning. A, large number of applications for tickets for Mr Ernest Toy's concert on Tuesday evening next have been received by Mr W, p. Meldrum, and the success of the venture is assured. Notwithstanding that the Oamaru electorate is, a JfoJicense area, there still I

exists a doubt as to whether or not the electors'should have the privilege of electing a licensing committee. The Isorotigli Council, at least, seems to regard the position as somewhat anomalous. Hut while it does not appear to be clearly stated that in a i'o-lieense area it is not necessary that a committee should be elected, "there is little doubt that such was the intention of die Legislature, and a decision that no election for a licensing committee he held is quite in eontormily with the spirit of the Act. To have made the election of a licensing committee mandatory in. a district where no licenses can exist "would be to reduce the Act to an absurdity. The Act provides that in districts where there is more than one controlling bodv the Governor shall appoint the local body to have authority fur tin 1 purposes of the Licensing Act, and by virtue of his powers his Excellency has been pleased to appoint the Cainaru Borough Council to lie the controlling body for the electorate. The matter of the. election of a committee having been submitted to the controlling authority, the Council held a special meeting last evening to consider the position,.and after discussion decided that a committee was unnecessary and that none lie elected. Those present at the meeting were: His Worship the Mayor (Mr K. Milligani. ( .m:icillors Clarke, Mahan, Snaddei:. . .ilchell, Keys, and Frith. Mr O'Crady, in charge of the local labor bureau, is satisfied that the local supply of labor will be ample to provide harvesters during the busy season. During a recent raid in search of liquor the police were astounded by the quick wit of the proprietor of the suspected house. A big man, he confronted the policemen with a bold front, and said: "You'll find no liquor in my house, but before you go in, I'm going to malic sure that yo'u carry none in with you." And he insisted, on bailing up the minions of the law until they had demonstrated conclusively that they were ignorant of so shrewd a ruse. Hut they gained respect fur the man who, on the spur of the moment—for we can taUe it as certain he had no notice of the visit—could conceive such an idea.

Last evening the police, headed by Sergeant Harretf, armed with a search warrant, made an incursion into the White Hart Hotel, of which Mr Cuff is proprietor. They claimed to have reason to suspect that they would lind 011 the premises more, liquor than would be reasonably accounted for by the homeconsumption plea, but, though they searched for well-nigh two hours, in cellar, in living rooms, iiistable, in garden, and in dove-cote they came -empty away, iiiuling nothing more incriminating than three empties, which carried all. the signs of once having contained 1 whisky. The investigation * created no small amount of interest, and- the street corner was obstructed by keen critics of police methods, who debated with one another the possibilities of a successful raid. According to the- Press' I limed in correspondent, the Xo-lieense parly there have nominated their candidates for the licensing election, and there is every prospect of their being -elected. Their election will mean the reduction of ten houses.

Mr John Mackay, caretaker of tin' Steward Settlement water-race,, t e 11' - phoned us to-day: "The Waitaki Kiver is going- very low, anil the (Steward Settlement water-race may run dry. 1 am warning the settlers hy wire.'' By the Moeraki, from Melbourne, from 150 to 200 ca«es ot grapes arrived in Dun edin yesterday (says the Otago Daily Times). The consignment contains a larger variety than the previous shipment, the fruit coming from Queensland and South Australia.' The varieties arc; Sultanas (seedless), Pedro, Sweet Waters, While Portugal, Shepherds, Ifed Prince, ami Black Muscats. These grapes will Inplaced on offer to-day, hut it may he mentioned that the market is anything hut a buoyant one owing to Ihe heavy supplies of ioeal .stone fruits c ing to hand.

It is some comfort to learn that l)r Ogston/of the Health Department, is paying a visit to the spot whore oysters are deposited in liluir" harbor to keep them "sweet,"

The Otago High School opened yesterday with 501 pupils, including 109 new ones from town and country schools. The total number of pupils is the same as it was last year, when the number of new pupils was 111. These iigurcs indicate, that there is not as. much progress in Dunedin as could he desired. The charge against an Ohinenniri Licensing Committee which is to he investigated by a .Royal Commission, in accordance with a pledge given, in Auckland by the Prime Minister, when last in Auckland, comprises the receiving of a reward for granting a license. Tlio usual monthly meeting of the Middle School Committee was held last evening. Present: Messrs King (chairman). Puttick, Swinard. liiach, ill- Whillon, Kev. K J. Porter, anil Mr J. t!. 11. SumpIcr (secretary). An apology for absence was received from Kev. If. t.i. Buckingham. The headmaster's report was received. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to i!sl 5s 3d. A circular wa.s received from the Kducation Board ill reference to school libraries, in which reference was math' to the successful effort made by the. Oamaru School Committee in raising, funds for the, same. Mr King and the Kev. It. .1. Porter were, appointed to confer with the other committees in making a selection and purchase of books. The Kev. K. .). Poller and Mr Kiach were appointed visitors for the. ensuing month.

The 5.6. Wnnaka is duo to-morrow lo loud for Napier, Gisborne, and Auckland. She is expected to sail about noon via Timaru.

Mr J. D. Familton will sell by auction to-morrow, at 2 p.m. sharp, on account of the trustees in the estate of the- late William Stewart, his valuable library, household effects, etc. The library, which comprises cliicfly theological works, is a valuable- one.

Unlike other headache rnedicines, Steam's Headache Cure docs not cause that stupid druggy feeling. It always cures headaches, and is as refreshing as a night's good sleep. 6

The Summer Sale at Penroso's is now in full swing; every article in this storo has been reduced. Bargains in every department. Good Washing Prints; light and dark grounds, only 3s 9d per dozen yards; Emdry-edging going at Is 3d peldozen yards. Your pick of our Trimmed Hats for 6s lid. Nice Embroidery Box Blouses going at 2s 9d, 3s 6d. Gall early and have a look at the bar-gains.—PE'N-ROSES'S Drapery Establishment. Ladies will find a very nice range cf Tweed Costumes, from 32s 6d to 4 guineas, at the North Otago Farmers' Co-op., opposite the Monument, in Thames street. Visitors to Oamaru should note that tho four principal places of attraction, and of which Oamaru residents are proud, are tho Gardens, Breakwater, North Otago Farmer's Co-op., and tho Monument. Yon will find the Monument directly opposite the Farmers' Co-op., in Thames titroet.