SATURDAY, AUG. 8, 1883.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2042, 8 August 1885, Page 2

SATURDAY, AUG. 8, 1883.

With me«at at present prices we hardly think the graziers of this district require any additional inducement to support the proposed tinmng factory. A butcher's advertisement in an Auckland contemporary contains figures eminently well calculated to create consternation in the minds of all beef and mutton producers. The tradesman in question, sifter piennsing that " the English market now being glutted with meat, the heads of families and the public generally will gain the full benefit of it," prints his pike list as follows: — Boiling Beof and Fore quarters of Mutton pel lb., . . l}d Hind-quarters ... . . 2d Legs and Loins Mutton . . 2i<l to 3d Mutton Chops ... . 'Al to 3d Steak (best) . . 4d to (id Corn Round Beef (boneless) 3Jd Now this would mean about 8s or 9s a hundred. It is absurd to suppose that the breeder and grazier can live with such prices as these ruling ; unless they can find a better market they must change their trade. Of course it is nonsense to say that the English market is glutted. It is undeveloped, ceitainly, but it will take a great deal more than Kew .Zealand will will be able for many years to send to glut it. The producers of this colony must devote themselves to the task of finding out and supplying the best Home markets, and this they can only do by combination. We trust we shall not have to wait long for the consummation of the scheme which is now before the farmers of tins district.

Thk Hamilton West School Committee deserves credit for its action in the matter of the new scholarship regulations reported elsewhere. We only wonder that action has not been taken before. The committee scores several pointsin its objections, notably the following : — The junior •Scholarships, with asivth .standaid syJlabus, are confined to children of the average age for the fourth standard, which is notoriously the most difficult standard to pass ; the senior scholarships, while confined to children of 15, cover in some of the most difficult subjects the some ground as the Junior University Scholarships, for which no one can present himself till he is Hi, and which are open to all under 21. The regulations have been framed under the influence of University professors, and secondary

school tqffcherg, and display, we are constrained to say, an utter ignorance or disregard of youthful capacity- A purely classical* 4 education under the old system hardly reached, on the average, the standard required for the senior scholarships, while these latter require in addition a still lusher qualification in English, mathematics mid at least two of the following: An ancient or modern language, applied mathematics or natural or experimental science. We have no hesitation in saying that these results could be readied only by pine cramming, would lead to the neglect of all hut the brightest children, and would indict irremediable injui) on their mental, if not ph\ Meal de\ elopment. Regarded as intended to improve our national education, they are simply suicidal It may be objected that a similar scheme has received the imprimatur ot the Educational Institute. To this we reply that teachers have a natural tendency to aim at haul pressure and showy work, if, indeed, a tendency to the latter be not the general curse of the age, and that the institute consists largely of secondary teachers and town teachers. Whatever chance exceptionally bright town children might ha\ c of a junior scholarship, country children would have none, and all primary school children are excluded by the syllabus from the senior. These, it may be said, are intended not for them but for children attending secondary schools. Why not be logical then, and stop primary education at the fourth standard ' Why should children of higher standards be excluded from the benefits of moneys voted specially for the encouragement of primary education '? Complaints have been made from the Auckland Grammar .School that district scholars reach it at too ad\anced an age to benefit fully from its curriculum. We fancy that Mr O'Sullivan's analysis of the Grammar School class lists a couple of years ago completely upset this idea. It is doubtless a little trouble to arrange bo\s vsith an infinitely superior education in English and arithmetic, but ignorant of Latin, algebra and Euclid, in classes with others possessing a general smattering of all these subjects ; but it is not impossible, and meanwhile we decline to admit the force of destroying our elementary education in order to force boys earlier into secondary institutions. It does not surprise us to learn that the Board of Education has refused to re-open the subject. Nothing that the board does can surprise us. It now remains for us to approach Parlia lnent on the subject, and call on our representatn es to resist the injustice, e\en to the extent, if necessary, of refusing the \ote for such spurious aids to primary education.

Til JG second reading of the Native Lands Disposition Bill, was carried in the House on Thursday morning by 35 to 14. Our Parliamentary correspondent predicted that such would be the case, as the Maori members seemed to be in favour of the bill. But it is not likely to be carried through all its .stages. The object of members seems to be to •,'ive the natives an opportunity to indicate to the Native Lands Committee the nature of the amendments which they propose. The tenour of the majority of the speeches in the debate was decidedly adverse to the measure, and its ultimate fate is scarcely a matter of doubt.

The Rev. J. J. Mather, of Te Aw.unutu, will conduct the service at the We^leyan Chinch, Hamilton, to-morrow.

The usual monthly meeting of the Cambridge Domain Board will be held to-d.iy at 3 o'clock.

The Cambridge Town Board will moot on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Thf pioceodings arc e\pected to bo of an inteiestiiig nature.

We understand that the tender of Mr J. J. O'Bncn (£4<>,ooo) has been accepted for the Poiotornu tunnel on the Noith Inland Tmnk Railway. The next tender \\,n that of Messrs Wlnto and Lovett, but the amount has not tnuiijured.

At the RM. Court, Cambridge, yesterday, the C.inibiidge West hrnkms were let off with a seveie caution. The full report of tho ca^e is lield over. Our report of the fii«t meeting of the creditors in tho c>t.itc of .Tames (Joodwin, Echoes from the Cafe, and a numl>er of ai tides of local inteiest arc also ciowded out of this issue.

The full programme of the entertainment tn be held in tho Oddfellow's Hall, Hamilton East, on Thursday evening nr\t will be found m another column. The programme consists of a number of rncnl and musical selection* by well known amateurs, and a " petite comedy," entitled " Bamboo/ling." We havo no doubt that a full house will greet the performers and reward the committee for their effort*.

The following is the order paper for the meeting of the Cambridge Parliamentaiy Union on Tuesday next :— J'uvate businesH , petitions; notices nf motion; motions; ordeis of the day. (a) "The Trade Encouragement Bill," second reading (Mr Cowixir) ; (h)_ "Tho .Parliamentary Honorarium and Privileges Act," LSK}, second reading (Mi Gwynneth.)

The income of the Cambridge High School for the yoar ending June 30, IH.T), was as follow* :—From fees, £172 Is ; from re«ervei, 117">; total, £347 4*. Th« expenditure dm ing the same period was :—: — .Salaries, WO I IU 101 ; stationary, £11 13« kl ; total, £312 17s 2d, leaving a credit balance of i^-f 1 (Is lOd. U will be seen tlmfc tlie school rluring Mr Stewarts regime has proved a financial succcsn.

The usual monthly meeting of the Kinkinroa Uoad Board took placo yetterday Pre-unt: Mchsu l'nmrose (chaiim.'in), Hteele and Thomas. The correspondence was limited, and tho principal business of the meeting was the opening of tendei s for tho construction cif the bridge and appioaches over the Whangamaire Creek near Taupiu. The following tenders were received :— T. Casaidy, tl.">,s 11s; (J. F. Woithington, £17U 7s ; J. Frear, £147; J. (4. Clifford, £11)1 ; D. Henderson, JL'll.O ; T. J. Meiedith, £11.1 IDs (id; J. M. Lord, £1 Hi l.">s 7d. After some, discussion, it was lesohed to accept the teudei of Mi J. I'Yenr, he having been a conti actor under the bo.ud on seveial pi ovious occasions, and had in\anably*given xatisfaction. A mil* bei of accounts amounting to £!(0 were pass" d for payment.

Mr W- A. Graham has lost no time in calling upon the committee appointed on Wednesday to attend another meeting in connection with the proiiosal to nt.ut.i meat tinning factory in Waikato. Wednesday, August 12, was the, date tiist fixed upon for this meeting, but on foaming that Mr Buckland would hold an important *nlo on that date nt Cambriilgn, and n* many of the gentlomen on the committee would piobibly be demrous of attonding it, Mi (irnham decided to pot-tpone the day of mooting until Friday, August 11, in tho Public Hall, Hamilton, at 2 p.m. Tho business proposed to be di«cunsed, an net forth in an adveitisement in this dayVi issue, is of a moat important character, and

it behoves every comnntteem.in to devote some tune in the interval to n«ceit.iin to what extent the undertaking is likely to bo supported by his neighbours, and to be prepared with some definite statement on this subject to lay before the meeting. A great deal of the success in floating a comp.uiy of tins soit depends upon e\ery individual identifying himself with the movement, and recognising the nlwolnte necessity for some such scheme to ameliorate the present depression in ngricultur.il pursuit's beuing in mind that a* the raising of beef is the staple industry of W.ukato, and that if no improvement can be effected in thi<* direction tho prospect before settlers and business people is .1 poor one indeed. It will be seen by advertisement in another column that .1 " Rationalistic Association." is about to be staited in Cambridge. A meeting to quo effect to the proposal will be held in the Public Hall at an eaily date. All sympathiser with the movement in Waikato arc invited to takepiit in the pro ceedmgs and Mr Gerald M.is«ey the gre.it exponent of "Rationalism" is to be invited to take pait at the inariguration, and delivei one of the lectures for which he has now become so famous. Other prominent "Rationalists" arc expected to take paitm the proceedings. It would speni that this movement is not confined to tho old country and America, but i 9 now giadually finding its way into every town and district in tho colonies. It is only a few months since " Rationalism" in its present form was introduced into the colony, and the progress which it linn since made ih very striking indeed. These associations have been formed in all the pun cipal towns in New Zealand, and, from all appearance*, tho country towns incline to follow tho general example Tho meetings under the aunpices of this association in Auckland arc hold on Sunday evenings in the Opera House, where secular music and such-likr form a considerable portion of the proceeding*. They arc attended by large audiences, and from all accounts lnivny prominent citizens take an active part in them. Though there may be ,i few porsons who sympathise with the movement in the W.nknto district, we doubt very much whether the people of Cambridge, a town which boa-ts of no fewer than five Cluistian chinches, inflnontiallv supported, and largely attonded, will countenance this movement.