ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 28 March 1868, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

OLD PETER PIPER-

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times). Sir, — A story is told of a very bucksome damsel who was carrying a basket of eggs on her head to market, how on her way, at tho idea of a new dress, how fine she would appear ; how many suitors she would have, and how she would reject evey one of them, at the same time tossing her head in such a manner as the fair sex know how to do under the cir r cumstancea, when down comes the basket, smash goes the eggs, and away go the hopes of the fair damsel. Just in like manner I was ruminating in my last letter on the bright visions of the future. How that the Provincial Government were going to open their hearts and that wonderful chest of theirs, and to say to the Wetherstonians " There my boys, take £150, and set to work at the cement as soon as you like, pay us when you can, and be thankful, only don't ask any more." Well, all this looked so verykind, that we were beginning to look into our wardrobe to see whether the old threadbare stock would last us for a few ! months longer ; and we had also higher hopes — much higher, we even thought of ordering a buggy on the strength of our prospects, when lo ! our great " Babel " which we had got almost to heaven came down with a crash, and our hopes, s.o far as Government aid went, vanished, and now we are bound to face the " naked fact " through our own perseverance, and perhaps this old-fashioned way is after all the best, the grapes of our own rearing are always the sweetest, and if our own arm fail not we shall be rich some day, and very likely soon. We are, however, to have a " vineyard " on a small scale, for the cultivation of the young and the tender plants. We are going to get a few plants out of Adams nursery, which, with great care from the hands of an experienced vine dresser who will apply good English manure to them (there's nothing like rt),

they will be able bye-and-bye to bear a little dressing with French Italian, or double Dutch, but this is a feature in tho arrangement, that before we receive tho fruit, they are to be transplanted into therich man's "vineyard," thnt his " wine fat" may overflow with the choicest vintage Your readers will perceive that I have ; spoken of the school we are to have ; from my own knowledge there is no Province in New Zealand blessed with a bet- ' ter school organisation than Otago, and much of our success has arisen from the ample resources of a liberal Government, and the arrangements have been wisely carried out through the indefatigable exertions of the Secretary to the Education Board (John Hialop, Esq). But ah ! that's the rub — the best and" wisest intentions of individuals, and the noblest and best institutions are but human, and we may justly claim exception to the decree of the Education Board, who in their inscrutable wisdom have decided that there shall be no " district " school near to Lawrence. It matters not that there are no roads or bad roads, whether other teachers can give the children as much of an English education as they require or not. There Bhall Be no teacher receive the full reward of his labor except tho teacher at Lawrence, who I have' no doubt is all which the Secretary of the Education Board is pleased to say of him, and so far I object to the system which pets and fattens one teacher at the expense of another. If the respected teacher at Lawrence has higher qualifications than any other teacher who ]uive been or may be appointed in this district. Verily, he has his reward in a larger stipend, and being placed iv a larger sphere of usefulness. The determination of the Board may discourage some who are spending themselves iv the service, and who, to use the mildest phrase (owing to a sparsely peopled country), can never get more than " Salt to their kail." The Government have not taken into account (supposing our elder boys and girls to have to go to Lawrence), the wear and tear of boots and shoes ; say I have three boys and one girl whom I wish to cram with a little French and Latin, just by way of finishing them off (if it does not drive the English out of their brain), they must have -at least twelve months. This walking to and from Lawrence will require at least out of my pocket two extra pair of boots each ; there you have from £*l to £8 at once, and my claim yielding no more, and perhaps less than formerly, and I am not alone. Moreover the children are never at home to have -a warm dinner, but the Education Board don't think of that, poor fellows I suppose they only ' have a dnj crust themselves ; but as I like to have my children dine off the same joint as I do (when I can raise one). I intend, should we get a teacher who can teach the children good English, I shall be content, and shall' not grudge him his fee for his labor. I have a leetlo English myself which I intend to use Qn the present occasion, by keeping my children as near me as I possibly can for some time at least, and I think " Jeames " will be able to drive his bullocks as well with his English as Squire Snob's boy with his Latin, and I don't think that the pigs will fatten a bit better by being fed on French frogs. lam | thoroughly English, and believe that edu- | cation is sufficient for all our wants in i this district at least. There is the High School maintained at a great expense, established for the sole purpose of giving a first rate classical education. If district schoolmasters are expected to give a . classical education, then do away with the High School, and let those colonists who may aspire to bring their sons up to' , a profession, do as the parents have been » wont in all time to do in the old country, send their children to those institutions which charge a high premium for instruction, and don't let them expect, for the paltry sum of Is. or Is. 6d. per week, that their children can be so educated, that they will- be able to travel through the countries of Europe, and be conversant with the different languages. I remain, yours, &c, ! Old Petjer Piper. *

(To the Editor of the Tiiapeka Times). Sib, — I notice in your issue of Saturday, the 14th inst, that the Education Board has signified its approval of the Lawrence Committee's proposal, and appointed Harriet Darton. as .pupil teacher in the Lawrence school. '- This, I may say, has been done in direct opposition to a large number of the parents of children in the district. I have also been informed that the appointment of this teacher was entirely left in the hands of Mr. Stenhouse, and that he recommended Harriet Darton in place of Jane Fowler, who is certainly better qualified as a I teacher than Harriet Darton. Now, sir, I should like to know what is to become of the Lawrence school, if mere children are to be appointed as teachers. It must be patent, that they can have little or no command over the scholars; It seems to me almost making a farce of teaching. I have been told that, in tho absence of Mr Stenhouse, a few days ago, the scholars even refused to say their lessons to Mrs. Searle. Now, this being the case, I would ask, why not appoint a young man, as assistant to Mr. Stenhouse, instead of a girl? Such an important district as Lawrence, I am certain, is able to afford two good male teachers, or first and second .masters.— l am, &c,, ' R.L.