Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 1331, 4 November 1870, Page 2

The educational system of Otago is provided for upon a scale, comparatively speaking, of munificence. TRegarded either as an adult teaching, or an elementary training, it is by far the most complete institution to which we can lay claim. Throughout Otago its results are patent, although its effects are not perhaps quite so conspicuous. TReading-rooms and pablic libraries are to be found in every ! township, with all the current periodicals, and not a few of the latest editions. Indeed the assortment of literature as a rule is quite equal to the general efficiency ofthe system, so that these establishments have become alike popular and attractive. They are supported by a small membership fee usually fixed at the rate of a guinea per annum — supplemented by Government to the extent of £2 for every one contributed by the district. The pecuniary part of the business is transacted as follows : — The Educational Board fixes a particular date for closing its orders transmitted to the home market for fresh supplies, of which the committee of each library is duly advised. Within the time specified the library contributions are transmitted to the TBoard, and on arrival, books to the value of £3 are forwarded for every pound contributed. No legislative enactment could have worked more satisfactorily. It has thinned the ranks of those addicted to more questionable resorts, and to it the operations of the temperance movement, which has of late become sb popular throughout Otago, may in a great measure be attributed. In scholastic matters proper, the provision is equally liberal. Any district containing twenty children of suitable age for receiving instruction is entitled to have what is called a sideschool, endowed as follows: — A school house, private residence, with an appropriation of land provided free, together with an annual allowance of £50 for the teacher, in addition to the school fees. The extent to which this provision is taken advantage of is equally striking with that of the public library movement. Outlying settlements, where the work of reclamation has barely commenced, can talk of their educational progress, in the shape of a side-school, so that the social as well as the physical culture may be said to keep pace at a uniform rate. Tn no respect has Otago been more widely distinguished from Southland than in the matter of education. With us the facilities have been so wretchedly poor, that its advantages appear in a great measure to have been lost sight of. We learn from advices received on the subject that one of our best teachers suggests the propriety of a compulsory clause being added to the Ordinance, giving as his reason that many parents in the country districts fail to appreciate its true importance. Now, such a state of matters is lamentable, and furnishes a striking illustration of the premature decay which attends studied neglect. At the present moment the educational functions oif the entire districtare limited to eleven schools, with an average attendance of 195. In no sense does this present a hopeful feature ; on the contrary, it betrays one of an opposite character. TEfleven schools distributed over an area of 3582 square miles, can hardly be called commensurate with the place, even although tbe population may be unevenly located. To collate both branches of our remarks, Southland is now in a position to claim a beneficiary interest under the provision made for Otago, and the time has now arrived when a change must be carefully considered. The first united Council meets on Thursday, the 15th instant, and if our district representatives are properly advised on the subject, ifc wili be the means of saving a deal of trouble and delay. Doubts have been expressed of the district being brought under the Educational Ordinance at the first session. We do not, however, acquiesce in these doubts. The remarks both of the Superintendent and his Executive during the visit to Invercargill distinctly led us to understand that the educational provisions would be applied forthwith. Nor can we discover any cause for delay. Southland is now an integral part of Otago, and any Otago ordinance, once assented to by the Governor, may be applied to any part of the province by simple proclamation under the hand of the Superintendent in virtue of his delegated powers. The doubt is bo very remote, that we hardly think it necessary to remind the members that a provision of some kind' or other will require^ to be made. Tbe establishment j of new schools is a point to which it is very necessary immediate attention should be given. It is true that it is not a subject for .the consideration of the Council, but one for the Education Board. Still the opportunity afforded by representatives going to Dunedin is one which will not occur again for some time, and it is but right it should be taken advantage of. The following side-schools, we understand, are urgently needed :— One-Tree Point, Waikivi Plains, Orepuki Goldfield, Forest Hill, Groper's Bush, Otautau, and Oteramika. The qualifications are set forth above, so that any other district possessing these requisites may claim the '

privilege. The form of procedure is perfectly simple. A petition setting forth the fact that the district contains the statutory number of children, whose parents are desirous of having them educated, is all that is needed. Each resident signs the petition, stating the number of his children, together with their respective ages, in which case he will be expected to pay school fees for 1 the number represented, whether they are sent to school or not. The Ordinance is administered with marked liberality, and where the requisite number of children does not actually exist, the deficiency may be made up by a guarantee to pay fees representing the number deficient. Now, we would strongly advise districts desirous of getting schools established to prepare their petitions forthwith, so that they may be sent by one or other of the district members for presentation to the Board, which meets once a month in Dunedin. It is not absolutely necessary that these petitions should be presented personally, still, where practicable, it is always best to do so. Ifc is the means of saving unnecessary delay. Main schools should be provided fbr at Eiverton, CampbeUtown, Wallacetown, Long Bush, Flint's Bush, and Winton. The provision for schools of this class is a Government grant of -£100 per annum, besides the school fees. They are also entitled io a female teacher, for whose services a reasonable provision is made. As regards Invercargill, it is quite entitled to hare a grammar school, with a rector at its head. It is rather too much to expect that parents desirous of perfecting their children in the higher branches of education will send them to Dunedin. It is hardly necessary to add that the Public Library question is one of similar importance. If we are rightly advised, the periodical consignment of books is arranged for in a few weeks, and it is of some importance the fact should not be overlooked. The Invercargill Library is safe to be brought under the provisions ofthe Act, and it would be well ifor such places as TRiverton, Campbeiltown, Long Bush, and Winton to make a similar move. A very few pounds collected as subscription fees and donations would secure the nucleus of a good library. The increase of lambs this season on the Eweburn station, near Mount Ida, is 86 per cent. A report to hand from Lake Wakatipu states that the s.s. Victoria, which was only a few months ago rescued after an aquatic excursion over the Kawarau falls, has been run ashore at the head of the lake. Mr Rose elsewhere announces that the Southland Almanac and Directory for IS7I will be published early in December. Having already become an " institution" of the district, it is unnecessary to beßpeak on its behalf the continued support of the public. A Dunstan paper of the 26th ult. reports the arrival of some large parcels of oats from Oamaru and other places during the past week, which caused a decline in the price of that hitherto scarce commodity. The retail price is quoted at from 7s 6d to 8s 6d per bushel. We . learn from Lake Wakatipu that Father Belliard, of Invercargill, has been making a tour through the outlying districts, aud has, altogether, made a stay of nearly three weeks, carrying everywhere with him the esteem and good wishes of all brought into contact with him. From Naseby we hear that the weather, which for some time past had been fair and warm, underwent a sudden change, followed by a considerable fall of rain. In mining matters there is nothing new to report. Water is still abundant in all the companies' races, and the yield of the precious metal has in no way diminished, though complaints continue both of the poorness of the ground and the high price of water."*" '< A very fine sample of New Zealand flax is're*"ported' to be oh view at the International Exhibition. A portion ofthe bulk from w^ick the sample was taken has been spun and woven into a fine cambric. It is not known whether the sample was dressed by the natives or not. It breaks with all that ** feathery " edge that English manufacturers say is the special quality of flax paper. The samples of native-dressed flax in the possession of Dr Featherston and Mr Dillon Bell are possessed of the same characteristic. A northern contemporary reports that a native, named Tupurupuru, cousin to Te Hapuku, drowned himself near Puki Fuki. Before doing so, he stood up and addressed the natives present, Baying — " Well, my friends, good-bye. lam about to leave you all in the world of light. Here goes ; I'm off to the world of darkness." The old fellow, who had previously fastened a large stone around his waist, then jumped into a deep pool. There being a belief amongst the natives that a Taniwha resided in this pool, no one attempted to save him. Whether his body has yet been recovered we have not heard. We are informed that the triennial census will, on this occasion, be taken in February next, in* stead of at the latter end of this year, and that the collection of the agricultural statistics will be combined therewith on this occasion. This change of date, so far as it refers to the latternamed statistics, is a very necessary one for this part of the colony, the former returns having been made up at a season not advanced enough to permit of a thoroughly reliable estimate of probable yield of crops. The statistics for Southland will be made up as for the territory prior to reunion — probably for tho last time. Tho periodical sale of the accumulated funds of the Southland "Building, Land, and Investment Society was held on the evening of Wednesday laßt, when a sum of £325 was disposed of ; as follows, viz. : — 8 shares at a premium of £47_£s per share, and 5 shares at £4 lis. After the sale of the money, some {discussion arose as to the reason of the apparent deficiency in the amount of available funds, satisfactory explanations being given. A resolution was subsequently adopted, asking the committee to take the necessary steps for procuring an alteration in the rules empowering the Society to borrow money to meet the demands of its shareholders. Although the time for the ensuing general election has not yet been definitely fixed, it is well enough understood that it will take place at I no remote date. Under these circumstances it i

well that candidates for seats in the Colonial Legislature should early announce themselves, in order that they and the electors may have ample time and opportunity for discussing and coming to a satisfactory mutual understanding upon the various highly important questions which must come before the next Assembly. As will be seen from our advertising columns, one gentleman is already in the field for Invercargill, and his action in this respect ought to be speedily followed Joy others who intend to come forward. It is too much the custom for candidates to remain behind the scenes until the last moment, when there is no longer time for the free criticism of their views. The Nelson-Examiner says : — " At the date of the latest telegram received by the former mail, New Zealand debentures stood the highest of Australian securities. The Commissioners sent home from the Colony had just succeeded, after considerable difficulty, in inducing the Imp erial Grovernment to guarantee a loan of one million for us, without in any way alarming the public creditor. The fact of New Zealand fives, on the 6th August, being quoted at 100, and sizes at 112, while Victoria sixes stood at 100, and New South Wales fives at 97, was a testimony to th c credit of the Colony, such as, considering all circumstances, could never have been expected. But the last mail tells of a serious change. On the 6th September, New Zealand fives had fallen considerably, standing only at 93 to 95, while sixes had gone down to 100 to 105." Our Riverton correspondent, writing on the Ist inst., informs us that Dr Can's second visit to that town had been quite as successful as the first, both as regarded the attendance at the several entertainments, and the " manifestations " of the " operator " himself. A novel feature on one night was the presence of a young lady under the mesmeric influence, who, at the command of the doctor, took her place at the piano and played whatever she was told. Another " subject " — to show the insensibility to pain which persons in that state enjoy-— submitted to sundry pinching tests with apparent pleasure, and even had his ear skewered with a pin without producing the contraction of a muscle. One of the lectures given elicited, especial praise, from the able and fair manner, in which the extraordinary phenomena just witnessed were descanted upon as rudiments of a science aB yet mysterious, bnt which would yet be as thoroughly understood and believed as many of the sciences now popular, which, half a century ago, were looked upon as chimerical. The agent of the labor exchange in Dunedin reports for the month ending 29th ult : — The number of applications entered in the Employers' Application Book for the month ending 27th October, was 70. The number entered in the Servants' Application Book for the same time was 77. The number engaged was 57, consisting of farm servants, shepherds, domestic servants, station hands, laborers, &c. The demand for farm servants has been very brisk during the month. The immigrants per ship J. N. Fleming, which arrived in port on Tuesday, are being quickly engaged at a fair figure. Men and women suitable for the wants of the Province, and especially for the country districts, will always meet with ready engagements. The current rate of wages is as follows : — Farm servants, from £40 to £45 per annum with rations ; female servants, £25 to £30 ; female cooks, £35 to £40 ; dairy maids, £35 ; shepherds, from £45 to £50 ; gardeners, 20s per week j day laborers, 18s to 20j per week, with board. One or two runholders, we (Hawke's Bay Herald of the 11th ult.) believe, have already commenced shearing, and several others will shortly do so. An attempt was male a short time ago to get the payment of shearers lowered to 15s per hundred, to make it more in proportion to the reduced profit from wool. The attempt, however, was not successful, and the ruling payment will be this year, as formerly, about £1 per hundred. So we have understood, but a correspondent, as will be seen, expresses a different opinion. As the last accounts have not been in favor of hot-water washing, it is probable that some sheepowners who have washed with hot water in previous years will discontinue, the practice this year. The fear that the necessity for massing the sheep iv paddocks for a long time may bring on foot-rot may also have some efi'ect in bringing about this result, as, under the Btringent regulations of the new Act, it will be, more than ever, a serious thing for a man to have foot-rot in his flock. Drybread, a small digging township situated at the foot of the Dunstan Bange, midway between Clyde and Black's, has been the scene of a most mysterious occurrence. A woman named Boulten, the wife of a miner, has been apprehended by the police on a charge of having disinterred the body of an infant, of wliich she afterwards represented she had been delivered. The child, which was understood to have beeu still-born, was again interred by the woman's husband, but on the representations of a neighbor, it was disinterred a second time, and a medical man sent for. It was then discovered that the woman's statement was false, and the child is believed to be that of a woman named Annie King, who, strange to say, was found dead immediately after the occurrence became known. Her death has been the subject of a coroner's enquiry, at which the following facts were disclosed : — She died suddenly in her bed, no one being present at the time. The appearance presented by the dead woman was something horrible, the body being quite black, and in parts gangrened. The doctor was several hours making a post mortem examination, and on giving his evidence he declared himseli quite unable to state positively the cause of death. Some of the intestines and their contents have been sealed up for transmission to Wellington for analysis. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that there was no evidence as to the cause of death.