The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1884 THE MASTERTON PUBLIC SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 15 November 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1884 THE MASTERTON PUBLIC SCHOOL.

o A special interest is usually displayed' in the results of the annual examination of the Masterton Public School. This school is the largest public school in the Wairarapa and also in the educational district outside of tlio city of Wellington, and as such it should produce the best results, It possesses a capable head master, a complete teaching staff and a Committee which has been regarded as efficient, The teaching staff and,tbe Committee have been wont to pull together, and the Education Board have always displayed a disposition to assist the school to the utmost of its power. Under these circumstances it is evident thai the passes in the Maslerton school should be equal to those of any other in the educational district and superior to the results in many schools which are worked under less favorable conditions, Last year the Masterton school occupied the proud position of making the highest per centage of passes in the educational district, and it is gratifying to record that the result of this weeks examination, though it does not maintain the exceptionally high percentage of last year, gives a return of passes which fully sustains the prestige of the school. Three months ago the attendances at the school were reduced almost to zero by the scare of a dangerous epidemic which was then prevalent and it was forteen that this interruption of school work must inevitably affect the examination. The staff, however, did their best to recover the ground then lost and the reward of their efforts is that the passes this year amount to 93 per cont, a result which we feel suie will be regarded with satisfaction by the Board, the Inspector, the Committee, and the public. There are some schools which made low passes last year, whioh exceed 93 per cent

this yeav, but they cannot clain pre-, cedenoe on one return of this character. When a number of children fail in making a pass one year, they have virtually two years instead of one to prepare for the atep upwards, and it follows that the pass on the second year becomes an easy certainty. To accurately guage the comparative value of work- done in different schools, it would be necessary to average the return of a series of years. Tested in this way the Masterton record will give excellent results, We have no desire to puff the Masterton school. On the contrary we hold that it ought to produce results equal to those yielded by any school in the educational district, and if it did not do this we should consider that there was a screw loose somewhere. As it is we are well satisfied with the position it holds. It is perhaps inviduous to refer to individual members of a staff of teachers in which according to the Inspector, every man has done his duty, but the passes made by one master, Mr Kay, for successive

years have been exceptionally brilliant, and are, we believe without parallel

in the records of the educational district. . The Head-Master deserves the thanks ot the community for the general success of the school, and in conjunction with Mr Waitte lias received high wicomiums from the Inspector for the successful teaching in the High School classes. By Mr Lee's report it will be observed that the the pupils in the higher class have made more than average progress in Latin, French, and mathematics, thus proving that our children can obtain in Masterton an education equal to that which has hitherto been procurable only in the chief towns of the colony, The High School connected with the Masterton Public School has so far proved to be an unqualified sucoess, It has not interfered with the work of the ordinary standards, but has simply supplemented it. We have reason in Masterton to be proud and grateful for the educational facilities which we posaesss, nor have very many other admirable and efficient sohools scattered about the district less reason for congratulation, The Wairarapa schools generally show, year by year, better results. Painstaking and competent teachers, supported by intelligent and sympathetic committees are doing a grand work in Wairarapa North and in Wairarapa South,

Sir Julius Vogel is about to visit the Hot Lakes. Malua's sweep on the Wellington Spring meeting is published in another column. Tickets can be obtained at tbia office. The Tradoßimns Cricket Club has decided to challenge the Opaki Club to a game of cricket on Monday November 24th. The adjourned meeting of the Wai--rarapa Caledonian Society takes place at the Club Hotel this evening, We refer all interested in agricultural machinery of the most approved kind, suitable for the approaching harvest season to an announcement on our first page from B, W, Mills & Co. The polling for one member for the Otaria Riding of the Wairarapa Oonnty Council, took place on Wednesday, and resulted in tho return of Mr John Martin, by a majority of 20 over Mr John Purvis Russell, the candidates polling 54 and 34 respectively, A' large meeting was hold at Tenm yesterday to consider Mr B. S Hawkins road policy. After Mr Hawkins had addressed the meeting a unanimous vote was given in favor of his project and against the continuance of the railway. MrR. Ayres herbalist of Wellington, as will be seen by advertisement in another column, is pulling in the market another addition to bis list of herbal remedies. It is called Hop Bitters and we are assured that from what it contains, it is really a valuable medicine, aud those who suffer from indigestion or liver complaints should give it a trial, The remedies that come trom Mr Ayres establishment are reported to give great satisfaction in this district,

Tho Government iutend to push on the necessary surveys in connection with the North Island main trunk line as quickly as possible. Operations will be commenced at both ends and some of the surveyors engaged for the northern section leave for Auckland by the Tarawera to-day, It is believed that the first contract will be out iu two months and the work will be commenced simultaneously at Marlon andTeAwamutu. The following tenders have been received by the Public Works Department for cast iron cylinders contract, Welling-ton-Napier Kail way:—Accepted-Kincaird and M'Queen, Dunedin, £lll2, Declined -Mills and Cable, Wellington, £1104; A, 8. Sparrow, Dunedin, £1282; Eraser and Tinne, Auckland, £1867; J. Anderson Christohurch, ±1379; Luke and Sons, Wellington, £1449 ; L Murray, Wanganui £1555; 0. Judd, Thames, £1559; A, and G, Price, Thames, £1699,

Mr Ford writes:—Ate we going to have another wet cold summer ? At present it has that appearance. Rain fell on six days in the past week, giving a rain fall of 1,615 inches, and from tho first of the month a total rainfall of 4.505 inches. The moan reading for the barometer is 29,55 inches, and for the thermometer it ias2Fah.' The'wind was strong, from a south-west direction, and at times very changeable, presaging unsettled weather, Snow fell somewhat heavily on the ranges through tho week.

Bishop Hadfield returned from his visit tu the old country to«day.

The postal authorities draw attention of persons having correspondents in Great Britain to the importance ot direct., ing them not to send correspondence by way of Brindisi or Suez as extra postage will have to be colleoted on the same on their arrival in New Zealand. Letters should be inßoribed " via San FranoißCo" or''direct mail steamer."

In consequence of the wet weather having prevented a groat many persons from hearing the Anniversary hymns at the Wesleyan Church on Sunday last, they will be repeated to-morrow. The Sunday School children are requested' to be at the Church a quarter before eleven.

A Wise DEAcoN,-"Deac9n Wilder, I want youto tell me how you kept yourself and family so well last season, whan all tho res} of us have been sick so muoh and have had the doctors running to us so often." "Brother Taylor, the answer is very easy, I used Hop Bitters in time, and kept my family well and saved large dootor's bills, Four shillings worth of it kept us all well and able to work all the time aud I will warrant it cost you and most of your neighbours £lO to £IOO apiece to keep siok the same time, I fancy you.ll take my medicine hereafter," See