The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1874.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 291, 24 March 1874, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1874.

Thkhe is no class in the community upon whom greater responsibility iests than is borne upon tbe shoulders of oar school teachers. On their efficiency and energy, in fact, veiy much depends the future of this colony ; this being the case any expression of opinion as to the system uuder which they wofk is entitled to the greatest respect. The resolution first put and carried at the meeting held last Saturday, " That the appointment of teachers to schools under the Board bo made by the Board of Education with the approval of the Local School Committees." An attempt was made to exclude the last sentence from the resolution, but we are glad tv lind that the good sense of the meeting led to the resolution being passed unmutilatcd. In isolated cases no doubfc inconvenience has arisen from local Boards having power p layed in their hands which they were nnable to use with discretion. Our observation, however, of the working of the Act leads us to the belief that much more good than harm has resulted from the placing of power in the hands of those directly interested. It is an old saying 1 and a true one, "If you wish to quiet a troublesome man, put him in office." What we de-are to convey is, that if local committees hud no existence, a chronic state of grumbling and discontent would prevail m many districts. Further, it would be unjust and detrimental to the cause of education for the Central Board (which might be the ca^e) to force upon any people a master who might be intrinsically good, yet obnoxious to the parents of particular scholars. With regard to tie ifcc^-d rtaolu'.io.:, I j aaie, 1. cciuirv d.itrio'ts,

the Hicrinvny nua^iß ev-o'bcio school committees, we have already express! tin objection for wry nuicli tho some reason tlmfc was nrged at the rneetnig by one of tho .speakers. We also in a former issue agreed with the principle that teachers should v-0v -0 paid a fixed salary, ami not bo dependent upon (lactuatum m tho number of beholars, bui rather on the profiuiancy shown by examination. The theory of ronrse is entertainable, but theory \s one thing aud uracU-e another ; the first difficulty to be met, na w pointed ont by a contemporary, is by what process can jnstiee be doled ont. One master may bo happy in having a largo proportion of his the children of partially educated parents, scholars and another niny have entrusted to him the children of (he ignorant nrid gross. The man with ttic Let mafceiitil would undoubtedly tike the pcize. although he might not be as painstaking or a3 good n teacher as the less fortunate competitor for extra remnneration. The proceedings at tho meeting, m reported m another coln-mi^ are sufficiently explicit uob to- rcqnire any further coramont at oar 1 wind 8. Whilst tonchiug upon the question of education, we desiro to rflvert to a phase of the question treated by as some months back, vix., tho best means to bring those children within the pale of education who reside at too great distances from established schools to admit of* their attendance. Wo suggested at that time tho establishment of a boarding school in some central place iv each district to which all children residing beyond tho prescribed distance could attend at a cost to the parents not greater than that of keepiiag them at home, any additional expense consequent on the system to be defrayed from the funds applicable to educational purposes. The present system of taxing indiscriminately to defray the cost of education neccessitates, by the rules of common justice, that provision should be made for the education of all. We take it that it would only be necessary to appoint a matron and staff of servants, who would be under the immediate control of a master or mistross specially selected for the position. We trust that tho suggestion we have thrown ont wdl meet with the earnest considertion of the Executive, Members of Prvincial Council, arid the Central Board. The object to be obtained is general education, and unless some such step as that suggested above be adopted, a considerable percentage of our children will grow up in ignorance and eventually become a burden on tho State.

A meeting of the congregations worshiping in the Weslejan Churches at Cambridge and PuUenmu was held in the Wesieyan Church, Cambridge, on Thursday evening. The object of the meeting was to form a committee for the annual soiree. Iho Rev VV. GK Thomas occupied the chair, and the following gentlemen were formed into a committee to tale all necessary steps • — Messrs W. Gh Thomas, (convener) ; R. RejnolJi, E. B. Waller, Buttle, (2), Caley, Neiil, Randerion, Alwell, and John Brown. It was aunounced that the Rev A. Reid, Senior Sec. of New Zealand Wesleyan Conference and the Rev R. S. Bu»n, Superintendent of theOtuuiihu circuit might be expected to be present on the occasion. A faihily lately arrived in tlio district have volunteered to provide for the musical tastes of the people, and it is confidently expected that there mil be u very successful gathering. "We observe that Mr Masen has started a nursery near Hamilton, on the road to Ngaruawahia. Mow that we have two nurserymen in the district we trust that the hettlen will plant to a much greater extent than hitherto; uotlung adds so rauoh to the appearance of a homestead as a plantation tastefully arranged. WhiUt on -the- subject we wo aid suggest to the different Boards the advisability of planting trees on each side of the streets in Hie townships. There was a sitting of the RM. Court at Xgaruawahia yesterday. \V. N. Senrum-ke, Esq., R.JL, on the bench James Alen2ie» appeared in answer to nn information laid by Edwnrd Message, charging him with assault on the sth March. Mr 1 cary appeared for dolendant The as^sanlt was proved, but m the opinion of the magistrate there had been unjustifiable provocation; bo therefore only fined the defendant 10s, and ordered eneh to pay his own costs. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a volumn containing the statistics of the colony for 1872. The information is very full, but a little late in the day. Mails for Australia will close at Greymoutb. to-morrow at 2 p.m. An opportunity to telegraph important business is thus afforded. Mary Canty «ns brought before Captaiu Rajner, J.P., on Saturday, on a chai ge of drunkenness, and fined £1 and cosse.