HAWKE’S BAY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 406, 2 September 1876, Page 2

HAWKE’S BAY.

(From a Visitor’s Point of View.) No. X. Amongst the institutions of Hawke's Bay the schools take a prominent position ; they are indeed a credit to the province, ample provision being made by the Provincial Government towards their sustenance. The inspector—Mr W. Colenso — in his exhaustive report of the 30th June last, speaks very highly of their general condition. It was my intention, after the courtesy shewn to me by Mr Rearden of the Roman Catholic school in Napier, to visit the whole of the schools in the town, and become personally acquainted with the various systemsemployed, but the time at my disposal would not allow of this, and I refrained from beginning, as, unless I could see my way to visit them all, it might appear to be invidious, an opinion I wished particularly to avoid. Mr Colenso, (than whom, no one is more able to form a correct judgment on matters referring to education) performs his duty—at all times an exceptionally onerous and unenviable one—in a seemingly impartial and independent manner ; praise is bestowed were merit is conspicuous, and censure is not withheld if deserved. From the report before alluded to, I find that there are twenty-six schools in active operation in the province—six of which are in Napier —providing education for 1408 children, viz., 826 boys, and 582 girls, besides many private schools, which receive no Government support. Mr Colenso’s conviction is “ that the scholars arc, on the whole, far in advance of a similar number of children in the Old Country,” a fact which is assuring. St. John’s Church school house is about to be built, in the rear of the Bank of New' Zealand, at a cost of £4OO, which will be an important addition to the teaching power of the town. I believe the income from education reserves and endowments is about £l2OO a year, and other endowments are contemplated by the Provincial Government. I cannot help expressing some surprise that the reserves in Gisborne have not been turned to some account in this direction. I did hear, some time since, that Captain Porter —then one of the school commissioners—was communicated with, by the Central Board of Education in Auckland, with a view to leasing these reserves, but I believe nothing further was done in the matter, a fact on which, possibly, the good people of Gisborne may congratulate themselves, as, in all probability, the rents would have] been held to endow the schools iu the town of Auckland itself. The Mechanics Institute, as it is still called, has much improved of late years, under the very courteous management of the new librarian. I was surprised, however, to find a rather inefficient library thrte ; that

and considering the admirable provisi, n in every other respect. There are but 1300 vol’- of books, to supply mental pabulum for 300 subscribers, (I believe the Gisborne library contains about 800 volumes, with only 45 subscribers, and the subscriptions ten and twenty shillings per annum.) The income is small, also, by comparison, being, in round figures, only about £l3O a year: the subscriptions are 10s 6d and 21s. So that it. is evident a great many bad debts are incurred. The reading room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.. and is well supplied with papers sud. periodicals. Cliess and drafts are also among the means of intellectual recreation. It seems astonishing that in a place like Napier, an institution, so admirably appointed and conducted as the Mechanics Institute is, should not be self-supporting —but it is not. The Provincial Government have dealt liberally with it by grants of public money, which may, in a measure, account for the falling away of private support. Having a leisure hour, I paid a visit to the Provincial Hospital, for the double purpose of seeing that venerable pile (?) and of paying mv reflects to the worthy attendant, and liis estimable wife -Mr and Mrs Raven —the former of whom I have known for the last quarter of a century. Here I spent a pleasant hour, and was most courteously shown over the several departments of the instilutioo. The result of my observations, induces the belief that it is quite time extra accommodation was provided for the growing requirements of the place. In fact its situation is inconvenient, both ss regards the comforts of its inmates, and its improper proximity to the many houses that have grown up around it during the last few years; while the ground is insufficient in area to allow of adequate exercise for the patients approaching convalcsence. I beard that a new building is about to be erected at a cost of £2OOO, somewhere near the Barrack square, which is more secluded, and will have the advantage of larger grounds. There were but four patois in the hospital, at the time of the smallest number for a lime, and maybe taken as a tael, in any way the reader that the people can better for their own doctoring, or is a less per eentasie of the cla-M to hovpita; hospital is maintained lite Provincial contributions being a thin known in Napier. , including salaries, was was all the fees paid, in 12 months, by patients who are charged 2s a day when they can afford to pay. There is a very good library consisting of books and periodicals ; and a well-supplied surgery, the very pink of orderly neatness and cleanliness. But in all other cases the conveniences ate imperfect, and the room totally inadequate. It is impossible to classify the patients according to their several complaints, and stages of disease, the consequences of which are extremely entbarassing to all concerned, while it operates injuriously on the health of the patients themselves. There is only onq female ward, the accommodation of which is limited to five, and this slate of things in the several eases of confinements aud others, where female delicacy—even in the presence of those of their own sex — is necessary to be observed, may be better imagined than described. That such a condition of affairs should have been permitted to exist so long, seems to be a mystery, and is somewhat inexplicable when it is remembered how liberally the institution is provided for in some respects. The culinary department, and conveniences are altogether far short of requirements, and the most is evidently made of present provision, under circumstances that must be painful in the extreme. I heard that the “ Innocents Abroad,” otherwise the three Civil Service Commissioners, paid a visit to this establishment, and expressed themselves, ss well they might, “ perfectly astonished.” at what, may be well ascertained by any one seeing things as they are, for themselves. The private portion of the building, set apart for the use of Mr aud Mrs Haven, consists of one room 1 bedroom, sittingroom, parlor, and hall, and if ever there was a multi!m in parvo exhibition of Lares and Penates, it will be found iu this sanctum. The whole building is kept scrupulously clean, and, carried on. as the duties are, under circumstances that must lie occasionally dish*artening, reflects the greatest credit on those in whose charge it is placed. To be Continued.