Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1382, 12 May 1881, Page 2

Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and cx.ict justice to all men, 01 whate\cr state or persuasion, religious or politic al. Here sh til the Press the People's right maintain Unawed by influenre and unbribcd by gain.

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1881.

Tiiere is every prospect that, the over-weighted educational system of this colony, will shortly undergo revision From being a salutary precaution against the growth of ignorance and its concomitant evils, it has grown up into the enormous dimensions of a crushing burden upon the energies of the country. Its annual cost is set down at i>500,000, and although these figures may be slightly in excess of the actual amount, no one who has studied the subject can avoid feeling that its cost is out of all reasonable proportion to its profit. To the eye of the casual observer we present the anomolies of a young struggling community, with educational establishments fit to sustain the reputation of a modern Athens. On the other hand, closer observation has no difficulty, detecting that, in many i*espects, the tendencies of the training imparted, are, to defeat the great aim of colonization, and reproduce one of the worse evils afflicting society in the old country, viz., gental penury. With facts like these staring us in the face there is no room to doubt that the time has arrived for remodelling the whole system, with a view of getting it brought within compass of the means and requirements of the colony. With that view various suggestions have been made. One of the more generally accepted proposals is to render all teaching, up to, what is called in school parlance, the fourth standard, free and compulsory. In .support of that view an authority on the subject writes :—: — l( l?o ordinary shepherd or servant needs more, and, indeed, the refinements of grammar and arithmetic are encumbrances to them. When children are through the fourth standard, they ought either to begin earning their bread, or else go to a secondary school. I know from actual experience, that the lowest j classes at our " colleges" are doing work easier than the fourth standard. For this teaching there should be payment, if for no other reason, simply because in this matter-of-fact world, it is habit and use to pay for value received. Who purposes to give the public their food or clothing gratis? Are not these more truly necessaries than the analysis of sentences or the extraction of cube roots 1 You may ask why, in this case, I would give any education gratis. The answer is that while you can compel parents to pay for their children's clothes and food, you can't, practically, make them pay for education. The process is troublesome and ineffectual." The argument throughout is, perhaps, a little more forcible than logical. How parents should not be made to pay the expense attending their children's education, and yet payment for their food and clothing be enforced, we fail to see. The one is as much a paternal obligation as the other, and if the parent is legally bound to fulfil the one condition, he is equally bound to fulfil the other. That, however, is beside the question at i^sue. Free education is an avowed policy of the State, and as such we are quite content to see ' it carried out under wise and prudent restriccions. Our correspondent's exposition enables us to guage this fourth standard, as limiting free education^ to what is generally known

a i elefnentary training — that is, tlie ncquisition of learning fitting the child for the ordinary routine of colonial life. That, we concontend, is a very fau\ line of demarcation — a line beyond which the State should not be called upon to go. What New Zealand as a colony requires is a strong, healthy, robust constitution — intellectual' as well as physical. Now, if we pamper the rising generation with all tho luxuries of the educational training, a constitution of that kind is not likely to be developed. In other words, we are running the risk of impoverishing our means, and at the same time imperilling the prospects and usefulness of our children. '1 he luxuries of a classical educatiou are not required for the purposes of the State. On the contrary, such luxuries are calculated to defeat the great aim, consequently the State ought not to be called upon to provide for such luxuries. There may be arguments in favor of the State encouraging secondary education in the form of a technical training, but that branch of the question does not properly belong to the present consideration. This fourth standard appears to be a well-defined line in the educational system, and we trust Government will be prepared to take a firm stand upon it. Enough has transpired to show that Government is awakening to a sense of the question. In last issue we had the pleasure of announcing that a manifesto had been issued by the Cabinet to the effect that " after the 30th proximo capitation grants will not be paid on account of the attendance of children under five years of age." That is a step in the right direction, although we are rather disposed to think, the limitation does not go quite far enough. This is another of the reckless absurdities which have grown up with the educational system. The tuition of each child costs the colony over £4 per annum, and it is a well-known fact that much of that money is wasted in a fruitless attempt to teach mere babies. The be&t authorities on the subject agree thot the most suitable ageforachild to begin scholastic duty is eight, and in further support of the theory, we are told by those who have studied the subject closely, that between ordinary children who begin to learn at four years, and those at eight, there is at the age of twelve, scai'cely any difference, and at fifteen or sixteen, none at all* Reduced to a money consideration, that means simply this : On every child who goes to school from four till lie reaches the age of eight, there is a loss of over £i per head for a period of four years, making the total loss per head £16 or £17. In this way many thousands of pounds are thrown away annually in New Zealand ; and although dealing with a portion of the evil it ia just a question whether ths manifesto referred, should not be made to include all children under the age of eight. No doubt parents are to blame in this matter. That blame, however, is largely shared in by the teachers. Every child they can gather into their scholastic fold represents an addition to their annual income, whether it be in swaddling bands or frilled breeches. Then again it is a means for enabling him to lay the " flattering unction to his soul" that the school under his management has become unprecedently popular. In fact, no Government schoolmaster in New Zealand, with a grain of enterprise about him, need lack both fortune and fame. Under the amended regulation, this " easy virtue" mode of ai-rangement will be partially changed, and we trust it is only the precursor to something still more radical.

The evidence adduced at the Hamilton Police Court yesterday in support of the police charges against Edwin Charles Shepherd, discloses a state of things revolting in the highest degree. With such testimony before us — and we are afraid it could be multiplied — need we any more wonder at the growth of our criminal classes? Can any good be expected from children brought up after the fashion of the little boy and girl who yesterday made their appearance in the witness-box? Predisposed by no wholesome training to regai'd the vicious conduct of Shepherd in its true light, every recurrence of such acts as he has been found guilty of committing, will only serve to blunt their moral perceptions, until at length from mere familiarity vice ineradicable will become engrained in their character. When they attain to maturity they will in all probability suner in their own bodies for the sins committed by those to whose tender mercies their early training was confided, while the prime sinners will escape with some such insignificant punishment as that inflicted on the man Shepherd yesterday. He cannot be held solely to blame for the condition of these unfortunate children : the first seeds were doubtless sown and nurtured by the carelessness and neglect of their . parents ; but admitting this ; having taken them out of the reach of all who knew them, he acted towards the friendless waifs in a cowardly and brutal manner. Had he treated a dog in like manner he would probably, as Mr. Northcroft hinted, have been sent to gaol, and he has reason to be thankful that he has now escaped such a punishment. Insignificant as it is,

however, we hope it will be a warning to him and to others* who like him have young helpless children committed to their care.

r . r _ _ . Hip Grace Archbishop Steins .has arrived iti Sydney, but we regret to state his health is woise than when he left Auckland, and he is thus unable to pursue his journey to Europe ?,t present.

Reports from the Waihi goldfleld Cdiitiuue to be of the most favoiable n itur «. A share in one of the claims has boen told for £60.

Mr. Elliott tlie contractor has commenced building the new Toll-house on the Hamilton Biidge.

We are informed that the disturbance which took place in Cambridge on Saturday night partook of the nature of a faction fisrht, the combatants bein,f with few exceptions pale faces, though the colours fought over wore gorgeous enough. The rationale of the affair is kept a strict secret.

In referring to the newly-formed Amateur Dramatic Club in last Saturday's issue, the name of Mr Chappell was inadvertently spelled "Cliepmell." We notice that the Hamilton correspondent of the Herald, writing from Alexandra (!), in copying this paragraph, along with several others out of the Waikato Tjmes, also copied the error above pointed out.

Mr Camp and his family met with what might have been a very serious mishap. They were returning from Tamahere on Sunday in a light waggon, and when on the cutting in the Cambridge Bide of Crawfords Gully the vehicle owing to the narrowness of the road, upset throwing the occupants clown the bank. Mrs Camp was bruined and shaken but the others fortunately escaped without injury.

Owing to the recent street improvements in Cambridge the New Zealand Bank building, has had to bo raised some three feet. The work has been very succeswf ully carried out, bricks being substituted for the timber piles. Advantage has also been taken of the opportunity to construct spacious cellarage under the building.

The planting, both fruit and ornamontaJ, with the coming season will soon be occupying the minds of settlers. Mr F. Forrest, who for the last five years has been employed by the Waikato Land Association in raising and planting trees, has been preparing a nursery stock at his farm on the Piako Road, and will this year, as appears by advertisement, be in a position to supply the demands for this kind of etock. Independently of supporting our local industries, trees raised in the district are much more likely to grow freely from being acclimatised than those imported. Mr Forrest's reputation will ensure that all trees supplied will be true to name and description.

This evening the Waikato Lady and Gentlemen Ministrel Troupe will give their grand drawing-room entertainment in the Oddfellow's Hall, Hamilton. The programme consists of the principal Christy melodies, and four lady amateurs will occupy the chairs. The musical portion of the entertainment will bo under the direction of Mons. Oalon. Byparticular desire Miss Tremaine will sing '■ Down by the Deep Sad Sea," and those who have not heard her ought to do so. The entertainment will conclude with a farce entitled, "The Irish Emigrant." The Hamilton Band have kindly tendered their services, and will play a few choice selections during the evening, the whole concluding with a select dance.

At a meeting of the Tamahere Highway Board yesterday afternoon a series of resolutions adopted by a joint conference of the Bangitikej local bodies were submitted and considered. The Board decided to acknowledge receipt of the communication, and explain that it considered that the proposals had been already dealt with in a similar communication forwarded some time since from the Manawatu County Council. It was further decided that notice should be given that the Board at its next meeting would proceed to strike a rate of one shilling in the pound on rateable property. The remainder of the business transacted was routine. The members present were Captain Runciman (in the chair), and Messrs Wheeler and Barugh.

Quite a windfall, or rather rainfall, it does not matter which— both are in the atmospheric line — came to this district on Tuesday. The weather, for weeks previous, had been such as to cause grave apprehensions — ■ intense heat being succeeded by an equally intense cold, sufficient to menace root crops with the worst possible consequences. Besides, some of the rivers had become so low that their navigation waa stopped, and that important branch of the district traffic placed in jeopardy of being indefinitely suspended. Tuesday, however, brought a welcome change in the prospect of affairs. A heavy day's rain set in, accompanied by a wai'in genial atmosphere. While it lasted, it did good service, but unfortunately it did not last quite long enough to complete the benefits accruing therefrom produced. Thankful as we are for small mercies, we aie much disappointed tliat the rainfall did not continue longer. Yesterday was fine, the sky being bright and clear, although the atmosphere did not feel quite so warm and close as it had done.

Thanks to the aid of the United States life-saving service, only nine lives were lost last year out of 1989 lives imperilled.

Several West Brookfield men got so much interested in a discussion as to whether the lightning-rod of the burned Congregational Church turned toward or away from the building after it entered the ground, that one of them dug down eighteen inches to find out. To his surprise he came upon a pair of gold bracelets. They are supposed to have been stolen twenty-five years ago or more, but nobody really knows anything about them.

, Tenders are invited for building a house near Whatawhata. Plans may be seen at Mr Breakell's office, Hamilton; or at Mr James Wrigley's office, Auckland. Messrs John Houghton and Sons, of Cambridge, invite tenders for alterations and additions to store, and for building a dwellinghouse, i Mr J. S. Buckland will offer on Tuesday next, at half-past i o'clock, prime fat cattle, &c. The new pure cash system now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a_ great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery niillinary, and clothing at such prices for cash as gives the buyer the. advantages of a. shareholder in a. co-operative society, without the risk of being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the confidence t which the public have hitherto shown them, and , are detcrml««4 to give the pure cash system a fair trial; whether tfcay gain 1 or lose the' first year. Country buyers on remitting cash with order wiH be ; supplied with goods at corporative prices ; just the same as though they made a personal se r lection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedsteads, beading, and general house furniture, the iarfpst portion of which is turned out at our own factory, will be marked at the lowest remunerative prices, and » discount pf five per cent, will be allowed to thoso who pay at the time of purchase. G. &C. having realised the entire value of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is nbw and eh« \ply BOUGHT. An inspection is invited.— Garuck and C*.AtiWUi,f., City HallFuroishing Arcade Oueenstreet, AucW*M ' ' '