The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2557, 29 November 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 1888.

Equal and exact justice to nil men, # Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Public attention has been turned during the last week or two to the question of agricultural education. Professor Thomas, of the Auckland University College, writing in the press on the subject shows how this highly essential branch of instruction is utterly ignored in our national .system, there being but a very small trace of it in the primary schools. He blames the Now Zeasincelaud University for this neglect, that body can exerciso a powerful influence"in framing the curriculum of both the primary and secondary schools, as well as in the training of teaclicrs. I'rofessor Thomas urges the vast importance to the colony of instilling systematic agricultural knowledge into our youth, and is favourable to facilities being afforded winners of scholarships to obtain admission into the Lincoln Agricultural College in Canterbury, for a course of technical training. Excellent as this proposal is, there is one feature connected with the application of it that must be taken into consideration. It would, in very many cases, be impracticable for the sons of parents of small means to proceed to the Lincoln College, owing to inability to bear the oxpense of maintenance fit so great a distance from home. Waikato boys, for instance, with an ambition to qualify for a, life of practical farming would probably be shut out, for the reason given, of obtaining the necessary training. We have before pointed out the advantage to be gained by providing means whereby country schoolteachers may acquire a technical knowledge of agricultural chemistry in order to qualify them for forming classes in their respective districts. Such a plan would be of material assistance in developing this branch of national education, and we feel assured would be met with appreciation by Waikato settlers. At present we can scarcely expect more than that being done for this district. But we trust the time is not far distant when we shall see a Training School and Model Farm established in our midst. The Waikato County Council have made a preliminary movement in that direction; first, by securing from the Legislature an admirable site for such an institution, known as the Peach Grove adjacent to Hamilton, and containing one hundred and fifty acres. Secondly, the Council decided at yesterday's meeting to fence, clear and plough this property; and although it is at present proposed to let the land for grazing purposes, the chairman, Mr Primrose, said he hoped it would not be many years before he saw suitable buildings erected on the property and the reserve applied to the purposes for which it is intended, namely, an agricultural training school. We sincerely trust this may be so. It would be of the utmost value to an agricultural community like the Waikato to possess such an institution where its own youth without the trouble and expense of going away from home, would be able to gain a practical knowledge of the science of farming and the chemistry of soils, &c.