The wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1883. THE FEATHERSTON SCHOOL DIFFICULTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1498, 2 October 1883, Page 2

The wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1883. THE FEATHERSTON SCHOOL DIFFICULTY.

We referred the other day to the very indefinite position which school committees occupy. It has been left for the head teacher of the Featherston school to ascertain and declare their exact functions. That teacher has informed his committee that under the rules and regulations of the Board it is their duty to build the school fires. No doubt the school committee will respond in the language of the Bab ballads, " It is our duty and we will!" But this exacting teacher is not satisfied with a committee willing to build his fires—he insists that they shall be built properly, or he will take vengeance by freezing their offspring. We presume the treasurer of the local committee will haye now to rise early in the morning to saw the necessary wood, that the chairman will appear an hour before the school opens .with a supply of paper and matches, and that Mr Bunny will trot after him with a pair of bellows. A few days ago, it will be remembered, the Featlierston committee sat on the teacher re home lessons, and now the teacher, finding that he lias a sympathetic Board at his back, :iits on the committee on the burning question of school fires. It will also be remembered that the Education Board recently appointed a sub-com-mittee to inquire into the cause of dispute between the teacher and committee and to report thereon, This sub-committee, as far as we can gather, did not go into the question of home lessons, which was the casus belli, but simply endeavored to pour oil on the troubled waters to induce the teacher and the committee to kiss and be friends. How far this policy of conciliation has answered may bo

seen from tbo present relations of the antagonists. Tho question of home lessons still remains to be adjusted, und other matters are now, added to it which will serve the putf pose of increasing the difficulty. We'; think it would have been better if the Education Board had gone thoroughly into the question of home lessons, and had taken evidence as to thoir expediency so that it might have given the public a well digested report instead of merely administering a soothing powder. Peace and pleasantness are all very well, but questions of principle should not be sacrificed to them. Several thousand children in the Wellington Education District are interested in the home-lesson question and on their behalf we have a right to expect a clear and well considered judgment from the Board. Thu Featherston Committo have appealed to it for such a decision, and it is simply childish for the Board to evade its responsibility and reply by a requisition for forbearance ami an admonition a la Dr Watts. The Board ought to consider all aspects of the home-lesson question. There is the medical standpoint for instance, Could not the Board ask some practitioner whether the five houis work per diem in school is sufficient for the average male or female child intellect, and at what age; it, is prudent to increase it to six or. seven hours t Thero is the parents standpoint too. The parents of tho chikhen attending-theßoard School do not employ servants, but arc- obliged to utilize more or less the labor of their children. They make a sacrifice to enable them to attend school during the ordinary hours, but is it not too much to ask them to give up their children's time in the evenings forborne lessons'! These are points, and there are many more to which we have not alluded, which ought to be carefully weighed by the Board before coming to a decision. As yet we see no indication of their having been considered. The fact is one school struggles against another tor passes! To gain high passes at the annual examination is the mnmm bonum from a teacher's point of view. To gain this object children's rights and parents' rights are ignored and set on one side. The Board, when appealed to neither sides with the teacher nor the Committee, but tries to please both. It is time that a protest was lodged against sham administration of this sort. We believe ourselves that to nine out of every ten children attending die public schools, home lessons are hurtful and cruel. They are inflicted, not for the benefit of the children, but for the advantage of teachers. High passes are all very well, but a sensible parent does not care two pins for his child to be forced into taking a maximum number of marks. Rapid teaching means superficial teaching, and should be discarded. All that is required in the interest of children andof parentsis that pupils, within certain well defined ranges, should be well taught, It might be possible for the Wellington District to make the worst passes in the whole of the colony, and yet for its children to be the best educated. To keep children racing for passes from one year's end to. another is a grave blunder. No doubt at the end of the year the Board rejoices over the fact that its passes compare favorably with other districts of the colony, but if instead of this, the Board made it its duty to eliminate the weak and iuf -s-ior teaching which exists in its si-ti ,ols, and which while it tarns out passes fails utterly in giving children that sound education which they have a right to expect from the State, it would stand far higher than it does in the estimation of the public, .The Board means well, but its knowledge of the practical working of Us schools is apparently limited. When a case like the Featherston School difficulty occurs which is likely to throw some considerable light on the dark corners of our educational establishment, the instinct of the Board seems rather to be in the direction of smothering it, The battle of School Committees has to be fought out, and, however much the Board may try to keep the peace, it J will have to come off, In the matter I of home lessons the interests of the j Board and its teaching staff are practically antagonistic to the interests of parents and children, We have every respect for the Board and for the many able teachers in its ranks, but in our opinion justice is on the side of children and parents, and till their claims receive fair consideration, we shall certainly advocate them.

The next outgoing mail via San Francisco, closes at Maskrton on Saturday next. Messrs R. K. Davis & Co., wire workers and cage makers, have commenced business in Manners-street, Wellington, opposite the New Zealander Hotel, Mr F. H. Wood advertises for private sale, by instructions faun Mr Rhodes Donald, the well-known Manaia property, consisting of 500 acres of first class farm land', with improvements thereon, Mr F, H. Wood sold on Saturday last at his rooms, Greytown, the trustees' interest iu the laud and dwelling of the late Robert Mayne at Waihenga for the sum of £75. The competition was very keen, The committee appointed by the Wairarapa Jockey Olub to arrange for the preparation of a lease trom Mr Kempton junr, to the Wairarapa Jockey Club of a portion of his Moroa properly as a site for a racecourse met at Hammerioh's hotel, Greytown, on Saturday morning, Messrs N. Grace, B. Kimberley, W. Skeet, P. F. Tancred, J, C. Vallance, and the secretary were appointed a sub-committee to have the necessary survoy made, and Messrs Buchanan, Grace, Kimberley, Varnbam, J O. Vallance, and the secre tiry were appointed a committee to arrange for the lease from Mr Kempton, Messrs Beard & Gray were instructed to prepare a draft lease, to be submitted to the sub-committee and Mr Kempton at an early date, The following team will represent the Greytown Football Olub in the final cup match against Wellington on Wednesday —Messrs Udy (captain). Beard, Maeuire Tocker, Cameron, Tully, Ingley, H. Humphries, G. Terry, Eonaldson, Soinsrville, Webster, Hirschberg, Wenhum, McMnster, J, Humphries. Emer-gencies-Desmond and J, Terry, We believe that arrangements have been made with the railway department to run n special train back on Wednesday evenly ..

Mrs Wi'eone'a echool re-assembles on Thursday next. Mr Wardell, R.M. sits at Greytown ip,day. , JSn ■ jfittler'a oase the jury found him guilty of larceny .from the peraon, and the prisoner was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labor,' Private Enoch Tenia, of the Salvation Army, conducted divine servioe at the Wesleyan Church, Groytown, on Sunday evening, Madsen's creditor's meeting convened yesterday at Ihe offioe of Mr M. Caseliierg, lapsed for want of a quorum, We understand that tho defence office desires the Masterton Volunteer Corps to withdraw its resignation and promising «full enquiry into its grievances, The Corns is willing to adopt this alternative, Mr'Shute's meeting to-night is only intended for consultation with his friends and to arrange for the election day, The cricket seaßon will be opened in Masiortou tu-morrow afterhjun with a match, married v. siugle, in Mr W. Dixon's paddock, Baunister-street, wickets to be pitched at 2 o'clock, when all mem-, members and intending members of the club are expected to be present, Messrs Lowes and lurns market sale at 1 p.m. to-morrow includes the following entries :-6 head beef, 35 head mixed cattle, 80 head mixed oattle, 20 steers, 1, 2, a years, 13 yearlings, 5 good heifers, .springing to. oalve, 11 good dairy cows in lull'milk, 20 prime fat 'wethers, 100 long wuoled ewes with lambs at foot, and horses,

Two of MrCaselberg's sons at home for the holidays, went down a river bed at Mastettoti yesterday, accompanied by a cousin schoolfellow. The trio took with them for amusement an old revolver and a supply of powder and shot. Mr Caselberg's sons succeeded in firing off this woapon without endangering iheir own or auy other lives, but the cousin was less fortunate, The firearm was presented to him at full cock, and he, fingering the trigger before taking his ami, managed to discharge it int) the thigh of one of Mr Uaselberg's sons, The wounds made are fortunately not of a serious character, but they will probably necessitate a month's extension of the Miohaelmas holiday to the recipient of the Bhot.

The meeting of, the Lower Valley Jookey Club at Maryborough on Saturday last was well attended. Mr E. Buckeridge, in the absence of the President, Mr Coleman Phillii s, (who sent an apology), was voted to the ohair. A balance sheet for the past year was read, shewing total receipts to have been 4.20G 12s 6d, and disbursements £lB3 4s 6d, cash in hand 123 8s Cd, and subscriptions in arrear £l3 13s, This statement of accounts was considered satisfactory, and was unanimously adopted, A letter was read from Mr J. Martin junr.', stating that the Club could not race this year on 'he old course, but that a new one adjoining it was available. Measrs G. Pain und T. E. Evans were appointed to see Mr Marlinre course and give in theirreportto the stewards at the next meeting Thefollowing officers were elected, President, Coleman Phillips; Vice-President, J, Martin junr; judge, Wallace Smith, starter, John MoMaster; clerk of course, J. 0. Keefe; handicappers, H. MoMaster and A, K. Macfarlaue; stewards, E. Buckeridge, A. K. Macfarlaue, 0. J. Tully, G. Pain, W Armstrong H, C. Durman, J. Orr, G. Harris, C. Harris, R Biddiford, D McDougal, and J. MoMaster. Mr C. J. Tully, declined reappointment as Hon. Secretary, and the club expressed its regret at losing his assistance, and voted him an honorarium of ten pounds in recognition of his past services. 'Mr Tully, in acknowledging the compliment paid to him by the club, said that though he could not find time to attend to the duties of secretary he would give the club all the assistance in his power, Mr T. E. Evans was then elected hon. secretary and treasurer, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair. A meeting of stewards was fixed for tho 13th inst.

The wrestling match between George Bubertson (the present champion in the Border style) 'and Joseph Strong took pi ce alalia Caledonian Society's Grounds Dunediu, on Saturday afternoon, & stake of £IOO aud the Society's Championship Belt depended upon the issue Strong stripped a little over 14 stone, while Bubertson, the half caste, nearly turned the scalo at 17 stone, The first fall occupied a lot of time, as tho men were very cautious about getting a hold. The first time they locked, after an obstinate tussle, Strong wriggled out of his opponent's grip, and claimed a fall on the around that the latter had broken his hold. The judges, however, disallowed it, and on closhi? again Robertson got the best grip, and, after a f0.7 moments of intense excitement, cross-huttocked his antagonist After a long interval for rest the men again met, and oiicb more the superior strength of the half caßte proved too much for his more scientific opponent, and thus Robertson won the first two falls, and was declared the winner.

The following case is reported in the Post of yesterday:—Lookhart v. Corbolt. -This was an action brought to recover the sum of £62 10s, commission on the sale of a hotel. Mr FitzGerald appearel for the plaintiff, and Mr Buckley for the defendant. The latter dopoaed that some montliß ago he wrote to Lookhart, in Christchurch, asking him to find a purchaser for the Empire Hotel, Masterton, at £SOOO for the building and goodwill, the stuck to he taken at valuation, Lockhart wrote, in reply, thnt he thought he could find a client, and in course of time a resideut of Christchurch named Wallaco ouine up and inspected the house. Wallace offered £4300 for the premises, but witness would notacoept, >ml shortly afterward-he informed the <[)l'uiuiiff thai if the latter could not find a purchaser at £SOOO he (Corbet t) would withdraw it from sale. In the month of June, Thompson the present proprietor offered 15000 for the place, but before closing with him witness telegraphed stating rhat if Wallace was willing to give £SOOO he (witness) would consider him in the transaction.; Lockhart was not instrumental in the Bale of the property to Thompson, whom he did not know, and therefore he resisted the present claim By Mr FitzGerald-Witness did not ask £6OOO for the place. He considered that the furniture was worth about £IOOO. He considered that when he told the plaintiff that he would withdraw the property if a purchaser was not found at once, that the negotiations had fallen through. The evidence was ordered to be sent to Christchurch, where the case will be deoided.

Visitors to Masterton from the Empire City are loud iu their expressions of astonishment at the splendid displays of drapers' and milliners' goods to be seen in the wi'idows of our various business establishments, Mr G. W. Schroder's, Hall of Commerce, receives special notice, and his stock of Parisian and other spring novelties is pronounced by persons who have travelled in all the fashionable cities of the world to be the most recherche, ever seen in a colonial store.—Adtt.

How to Get Sick.—Expose yourself day and night, sit too much without exercise, work too hard without rest, doctor all the time, take all the vile nostrums advertised, and then you will want to know How to Get Well,—Which is answered in three words—Take Hop Bitters I Read,

It ia stated that Mr J, E. Redmond, brother to ; Wm,,Redmond the lecturer on Irish affairs, left Sydney for Auokland on Sunday last, 1 ' ,:„•" '...AttheSupreme Court, Wellington,in the case of William Jenkins, with larceny as a: bailee, the Grown Proßeoutor entered a 'nolle proseque,' and the prisoner was djaoharged. E. H. 0. Plowden, soboolraasfer, was yesterday sentenced at Greymouth, to three months' imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences. Mr H, 0. Steffert, who has had many years' experience smong horses, and has mastered all the modern methods of taming and training them, has commenced business as a professor of the art in Masterton at Mr P. Cookery's stubles. A concert is announced for the.lsth inst, in announced for the 15th inst., in aid of the Temperance Hall Building Fund. The' Good Templars of Masterton having had a section of land in Dixonstreet bequeathed to thorn by the late Mr Charles Dixon have decided to make a Btrong effort to erect a; convenient Temperance Hall upon it, and their coming concert is to aid in this laudable purpose, and should attract a full audience more especially on vocal and instrumental aid has been promised from each town in the Wairarapa Distriol.' Jovsnilk clothing, just arrived—Children's navy. blue knicker worsted jersey . suits, sizes 1 to 4, and from 9s t0.105.6d. All parents Bhould sea. these at : Te-A'rq'House.' AdVT. •■ '/ : fi{ /. ■'■'. . " :'; Inspect our boys' Sandown suits in three garments', and very durable, BizaS;fro'mO to 6. 5b 6dfor all sizes, atTe Aro House,Advt, UNEhundred boy's Lowestoft Doe suits, sizes oto 12, price from 5s to : 7s 7d. This is a suit to make a mother's heart rejoice, at Te Aro House— Advi\ One hundred and fifty boy's Sudbury suits good strong tweed, sizes 0 to IS, commencing at 7s. These are really first-class value, and should be seen at once at Te Aro House.— Advt, FiFrv Young Australian-English tweed suits sizes oto B,' Thece are grind suits, and will wear like leather; price for No. sis 12s fid, and advances 3d for raoh size. Inspect them at Te Aro House.—Advt. Fira boy's and youths' 'sao suits, sizes from 6to 3i, a superior lot; pricea from 22s at To' Aro House. —Advt. ;