GENERAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 113, 10 June 1909, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS.

All interjection at Mr. 1!. .Me.Vab's meeting at Chri.stchiir'cli gave liini a point lur a good story. Alter stating that .each volunteer cost £OS per annum for capitation, he said, "And what ilo you get for it?" A voice in the hull murmured Teminiscc-.rUv, "The ttiutecn." After the audience had finished laughing, Jlr. lk'>'aib said that it was -unwise to ask an audience ;v question. At a recent meeting a clergyman was proposing a vote of thanks fo him, and B aid in the course of his remarks, "What are wo going to do now?" When he paused, a voice said, "Take up the collection." Following Japan's example, China is gradually encouraging the spread of Western learning.. Four grades of education are recognised. The "primary" and "common" schools cover between them nine years. Chinese is here tile chief subject, taking up 10 hours a week; but in the "common" schools science gets two hours a week, and physical drill three. In the "middle" schools Chines*;, gets six hours a week, English six, mathematics, including algebra and trigonometry, four, and science four—chemistry and physics occupying tie leading place. Oil completing these courses the student may pass to the provincial college, or to a three years' training course for teachers. There are also special colleges for various types of officials. There are many of these schools, and some of them arc of imposing appearance. The text-books used are sometimes translations from European languages, but the influence of Japan predominates. The Chinese National Readers are interesting. They touch on history, science, and ethic , and frequently argue against superstition. The great difficulty is to give the teacher himself a modern mind; but the younger generation is said to be promising.

The Hon. .1. Carroll, speaking at the Jlayoral dinner at Gisborno oil Friday niglit, said: —In a younjj country there were greater opportunities than in older countries to frame progressive legislation, and it was easier to adopt new principles because of the youthfulness and pliability of the character of the people and their thoughts and aspirations. The country learned from the experience of older lands, and had the good fortune to have been settled by some of the best-spirited men that ever left England. In looking back over the short 'history of New Zealand, they already found great names on the illustrious roll of fame. There were t'JC Wakefields, Sir George Grey, the Wells, the Stafl'ords, and the Poxs. There was the guiding hand of Atkinson, Ballanee, and the much revered Richard Seddon, down to the present time. All these men held the highest ideals and principles for the well-being of the nation, the country, and the people. In them patriotism was strong, there was always great faith in the land of their forefathers, and in the pulsating centre of the Empire, and whenever a crisis appeared that threatened to involve tile safety of the TCmpiro, they were ready to show tliey were sprigs of the old oaktree, and ready to respond to any call, even to the gift of a Dreadnought. It was not the intrinsic value of the battleship or the money it represented, but it was a message to the world, to the British Empire, and taught the people in the Old Land not to question the loyalty of its offspring, and that New Zealand was true and would always be true in any trouble and in any erisiß. (Applause.)