Our Children Learn too Much?

•'•■S ' The '‘‘New Zealand Times” of Sept. . 24, in referring to the present aspect of the Education question, makes the fol lowing remarks : ; r From the University down to.the pri ; mary school too much is being attempted. The children and youths of these islands are required? to do more than is expected from children and youths of other coun tries, under equally favorable citcum stances. It follows, from such a state of things, that one or the other of two re sults must inevitably ensue—either having

our curriculum of studies over-charged ’ with an immense variety of subjects, covering an exceedingly wide range, parents must be content with a smat : tering of knowledge being gained by each child on the several • subjects, or they must be prepared for a signal fail ure. Thoroughness cannot be insisted upon, because the work cannot be done !: in the given time. What one of Eng ird; land’s greatest statesmen said of the Bri tish army at the time of the American ~ ?■=! War of Independence may be .applie l to the youth of New Zealand. Lord Chat* • 5 ham said he “ believed the British army 1 could do anything but an impossibility, but the conquest of America was an im possibility.” So it may be said that New ■ Zeaiancl-born children are not inferior in - . mental capacity and intellectual prowess to any of the Anglo-Saxon race. What others; have done, they, under equally

.l- - favorable -circumstances, can also do. But we have yet to learn that New Zea t fIA land 'children are more highly organised than children in other countries. The iwb 'founders of the present system of national education appear to have acted upon the i fJ r, supposition that our young people are superior to their compeers in other lands. If .they can prove this, well and good ; •but the “ onus probandi ” rests upon them. We have been at some pains to \ j, make a comparison between tlie curricu lum now in.fbice in New Zealand and the ■ curricula required by other national sys tems Which have obtained a world-wide reputation, such as those in England, Ire , , ...land, Victoria, &c., and we find that, taking the six standards as a whole, they are Higher in New Zealand than in any of the countries above mentioned, and the children are also required to study more subjects. So that not only is a more extensive and comprehensive know ledge of each subject required,-but the subjects are more numerous. Take the - case of Victoria, i The Victorian sixth standard (highest) presents little more actualwork than the New Zealand fifth, in addition to which New Zealand has enr;English history and science, which the sister colony has not. Tho sixth standard 1 •• in that colony requires only vulgar and decimal fractions. '1 he sixth standard in i.r,-? this colony, requires a thorough knowledge of , all the commercial rules of arithmetic, - . with superficial mensuration into the bar gain. The same time is allowed in Victoria ■ :i: for passing from standard to standard, as i in New Zealand. It is clear, therefore, that considerably greater pressure must be put upon. New Zealand children. It anay. be true that many of the pupils of ; ; our schools will bear -the strain, and will come out of the ordeal with honor to themselves and credit to their teachers. But the work required can only be done ■ vui/by. the .average child at the risk of the t .jinost serious consequences to his physical and mental constitution. An ancient sage once : said—“A wise man is not overcome . by sudden fear, for he views the present .... by.the light of the past, and he foresees . the future.from the present and the past.” .5 And a wiser than he says—“ The prudent man forseeth the evil, and liideth him self.”. Past experience has taught us that ;■; the human brain is only capable of a Ah certain amount of work. All authorities agree that, if overworked, the brain f sutlers in exact proportion to the extra £: ; strain that is put ujjon it. More es pecially' is this the case during the period of growth. During the discussion on one of Dr. Kemp’s papers on the sub .. ject one speaker likened the children in W;b our- ; schools; to an engine driven at high

pressure. But the analogy holds good :/; {only up to a certain point. If by over work an engine suffers in ony important .upart, that part can be removed, and re placed--by., another.' But if the mind be ■niinjured by. over work the whole system su;suffers, and,the injured part can never be ■• . replaced, and but seldom . repaired. Dr. -Kemp has already sounded a timely warn ing. Many teachers condemn the present

system as too gigantic and exacting. The i t local inspectors, too, are decidedly un ’■} favorable to it, and we are informed that some of tho Education Boards will only

, adopt the present system in a modified : .form. In the Educational Districts of Canterbury and Otago the inspectors have announced that they will examine the children in'the same standards this year under the new system, as they were examined in last year under the old. This clearly implies that those inspectors think there is quite a year’s work between the standards under the old system and tho corresponding standards of the new one.

We are then brought face to face with a very important question, namely ‘‘ To what purpose is all this ‘ cram ?’ ” Ex perts are of opinion that mistakes have been made, and that too much is expected from the children, because the advice of practical men was not taken. Theorists, politicians, and men who have no practi cal knowledge of the science of education have been consulted. Scholars, or even teachers they might be, but only of the higher branches of education ; most of them have never been brought, like the master of the primary school, into im mediate arid daily contact with the diffi culties which young people encounter in mastering the elements of an English edu cation. If the Government were going to

'■ lay down a railway they would consult - their, engineers. If they wished to pass an Act they would take the opinion of tlieir legal advisers. Bub when the cur , . riculunr of education is to be decided upon, r the teachers, who, above all others, know what ought to he attempted because they know how much can be accomplished, are never consulted.

A Newbury man went into a clothing store the other clay, and after picking out some very fine cloth, said: “I want to make any father a present of an overcoat. Just measure me for it. Of course it will he too his for him, but it’s pretty, good wearing cloth, and as the old man’s in bad health i’ii have to wear it sooner or later, anyway, Just make it & little byoadgy across the fdioiilJei’M’

LIKE HIS DAD.

I hear his mother’s chiding voice, “ How came your trousers torn 1 And black as ink, sir, is that shirt You put on clean this morn.

“ Your feet are wet, too, I declare ; You’re muddy to your knees ; It is too bad ; you only care Your mother, sir, to tease.

“ And those nice shoes, your Sunday best, That but three times you’ve worn, Are scratched and scraped and all run The heel of one is gone. [down.

“ Your hair is twisted in a snarl, And just look at that hand ! It looks as though ’twere never washed — How dare you say ’tis tanned ?

“ You’ve been a-fisliing, sir, I guess— What l. been to see the maten ] You’ll have a fit of sickness, sir ; ; . A pretty cold you’ll catch.”

And thus she talks for half an hour, And only stops to say : “ Your father’ll hear of this to-night; I wonder what he’ll say ?” *

My friends, in complimentary way, Declare to me they see A close resemblance —very marked — Between the boy and me. But nothing that they see in him, In either form or face, Bespeaks my son as do his pranks— In these my own I trace. And why should I at tattered clothes Or dirty ones repine 1 In him I live my youth again— God bless the boy ! he’s mine ! Boston Transcript.

MORNING AFTER THE BALL.

Do you know what it is when you wake in the morning With dim recollections perplexing your head. To find as the earliest daylight is dawn ing, : ,A\ .) I You're outside the door and your boots are in bed ? Such moments, I trust you may never be knowing, When, with a dress suit on all dreadfully soiled— ; ! Your eyes seem as heavy as oranges grow ing,

You turn out your pockets that’s very soon ended, A cork and and a penny are all you can - find;'; Isi :J ; /\ ;•; Oh, where are your rings and your jewel lery splendid— And where in the world have you left them behind ? You look in the glass, but you shun its revealings, For horrible truths will a mirror relate. Your laundress comes in, just imagine the feelings— She brings you a fat mutton chop on a plate.

Away wretched female —some soda and brandy, The world is a bubble, all empty and

vam. ; You fall on a sofa or anything handy, . And feel as if nothing can move you

again. They want comic copy you wish they

may get it— Away,, printer’s devil to regions below ; “ The journal will go to the dogs.” Well then, let it. 0 could you but sleep for an hour;or so.

But still, wretched sofa, oh why have you travelled So far towards the ceiling, oh, why have you flown ? Come sleep that knits up old Time’s sleeve when unravelled, Jnst crochet a night-cap and leave us alone. When ailing one always feels most senti mental— Away for the present with pencil and rhyme; Come, Nature’s sweet nurse, to thy office so gentle— We’ll all he teetotallers—until the next time. j 7 :

— JV. Z. Punch.

Burgess and Key’s Sheaf-Binding Reaper (With String.)

Much discussion has taken place as to the respective merits and objectioms' to wire or string in sheaf-binding reapers. Messrs. Burgess and Key exhibited a reaper with gear adapted to binding the sheaves with string. Those, therefore, who side with the use of string instead of wire, have no cause to complain that their idea has not a practical example in the market. The binder constructed to ac company the reapers can be detached, and the machine worked as a reaper only. The table upon which the sheaves are collected and bound, is really the extension of the usual platform. The straw is ga thered by light curved bars which convey it to the top of the table, where it is seized by a pair of compressing arms which carry the binding string. The par tial compression of - the sheaf is then com pleted by the pressure of an arm which passes through a slot in the table and mysteriously disappears, after tying has been effected, only to reappear on the other side of the sheaf, and gives the com pletely bound sheaf a gentle push, effect ing a clearance of the table for the next sheaf to be bound. * The complicated me chanism of the string-knotter cannot be understood with any clearness except by actual inspection. Briefly speaking, we may describe it as similar to the motion which is known as the “under-tension” in sewing-machines.

A Spouting Empress. —The Empress of Austria likes a solitary hunting expedi tion. With her favorite rifle in hand she goes deep into the wooded mountains and solitary valleys which stretch round the imperial domain in every direction. Dressed in the rough costume of Tyrol, she will often make excursions of two or three days’ duration, staying at night at some distant cot, where the only fare besides the game she brings with her, is goat cheese and milk, with black bread.

Legitimate Business.— A doctor went out for a day’s hunting, and on coming home complained that he hadn't killed anything, “ That ! s because you didn't attend to your legitimate gaid his wife. V '

■s ’ ‘i /.i i Tuesday, September sq, 1879.]

THE ASHBURTQN HERALD.

Printed and published -by . HORACE Joh Weeks and Charges Dixok, *4 w Printing Office, ga#t glftstj Tuesday, September 36 lljp i



Public Notice. NEW TRI-WEEKLY MORNING PAPER. igusltlutrtim (Smudutu. PRICE—TWOPENCE ! PUBLISHED ON TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, and SATURDAYS. The size of the Guardian will be Six pages demy for the present, pending the arrival of suitable machinery, when it will take the same size permanently as the Christchurch Press. The Guardian is intended to meet the want in the County of Ashburton of a paper specially devoted to the agricultural and pastoral interests. It comes into existence in response to the expressed desire of a numerous section of the influen tial farmers, merchants, and other settlers in the country dristricts, and it purposes to supply an excellent compendium of the news of the day, derived from the most trustworthy sources. Arrangements have been made with able correspondents in every district in the County to supply intelligence of all events of interest c curing in their locality, while advantage will also be taken of the great facilities now given by the telegraph for securing the latest news from all parts of the colony, and, through Reuter’s Agency, of sum maries of intelligence from all parts of the world. Special attention will be given in the Guardian’s columns to matters of interest to agriculturalists, and no pains will be spared to make the Paper an indispensable item in the economy of the Ashburton farmer’s household and a welcome guest at every fireside. Travelling reporters have been retained, who will personally visit the various dis tricts ; and arrangements have been made whereby reports upon the condition and progress of the crops, &c., written by men with a practical knowledge of the subjects on which they write, will be secured. On this point it may be mentioned that papers have been secured written by some of the ablest and most practical pens in the colony on subjects of moment to the farmer ; and these will appear in regular succession. The Guardian will be thoroughly inde pendent, and appears with its hands untied, and in no way trammelled by the influence of any party, its aim being, while the progress of the farming interest in the County has first place in its desires, to secure the greatest good for the greatest number. In politics it will give an honest support to thoroughly Liberal measures, and will be loyal to any Government, who, having the country’s confidence, is prepared to legislate upon a wise and liberal platform, and is capable of administering public affairs with prudence, honesty, and ability. The price of the Ashburton Guardian will be Single Copy : 2d. Terms to subscribers : In advance. Booked. Quarterly 6s. ... 7s. Half-yearly 12s. ... 14s. Yearly 245. ... 28s. Advertising terms on application at the Office. WEEKS AND DIXON, PROPRIETORS. Publishing Qrac», East Street, Ashburton.



Business Notices. SEALY BROS., NURSERYMEN AND SEEDSMEN, BEG to tliank their friends and the public of Ashburton for the liberal support accorded them during the past five years, and to intimate that they HAVE OPENED new business premises in East Street, near the Bank of New Zealand, where they will be prepared to supply Agricul tural and Garden Seeds of every descrip tion. SEALY BROS., NURSERYMEN AND SEEDSMEN, EAST STREET. The facilities we possess for testing the quality of all Seeds offered by us, and our desire to extend this branch of our busi ness, will be a sufficient guarantee that all Seeds offered by its will be such as will give the utmost satisfaction. SEALY BROS., THE ASHBURTON NURSERY, BEACH ROAD, MOORE STREET. 306 a NEW TAILORING ESTABLISHMENT, THE TRIANGLE, Wakanui Road, near H. M. Jones’. G. J. F. LUBLOW, PRACTICAL TAILOR AND HABIT MAKER, Begs to announce to the public of Ashbur ton and the surrounding district that he HAS COMMENCED BUSINESS, and is prepared to execute orders equal to anything in the Colony. One trial will b© sufficient as to Fit, Style, and Workmanship. Dress Suits, in various styles, and latest fashions. I weed Suits of every kind in latest styles. Fancy Coatings and Yest ings. Cord Pants; Trousers strapped and cuffed. A good assortment of Tweeds and Cloth m Stock. Reasonable Prices will be charged, and satisfaction guaranteed. the address— G. J. F. LUBLOW, Wakanui Road, Ashburton. 283 a Gasfitters, &c. PUBLIC NOTICE. F| TRADESMEN and others who intend | JL using the Ashburton Gas Company's [ Gas should give their orders at once have their premises fitted with Gas Fittings, to ensure no delay when the Gas is brought into the town. J. C. DOLMAN, LICENSED GASFITTER, Plumber, Locksmith, Whitesmith, Bell hanger, Zinc and Tin-plate Worker, Hot and Cold Water Engineer, TANCRED STREET, ASHBURTON. N.B.—Artesian Wells sunk and Pump fitted and repaired ; O. G. Guttering fixer at Current Rates. Electric Bells supplied and fitted. Orders punctually attended to in town and country. 812 Fruiterers, &e. W. T. D AVIBO N> GREENGROCER AND FRUITERER, HAS ON SALE Onions, Good Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, Herbs. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, (Next to Fowler, Grocer) TANCRED STREET, ASHBURTON 7<;? Cabinetmakers. TINWALD FURNITURE DEPOT. QHARLES JT> RADER CABINET MAKER, FURNITURE DEALER, &c. Venetian and other Blinds, Curtain Poles, Oxford and other Picture Frames made to order. Repairs Executed with Despatch, Note the Address— Great South Road, Tinwa:l,d, (Next to Mr. Prettejohn’s, Shoe Makei 386 Business Notice. IN BANKRUPTCY. WEEKS & DIXON have on Sale at ■ their Office, East Street North,- - PROOFS OF DEBT FORMS, FORMS OF AFFIDAVIT, AkOjs*' FORMS of to LET Am FOR SAl.ig,



Wholesale and Retail Stationers, &c. BO OKS! BOOKS! CLEARING OUT SALE , ' I; • ; ■ •• ■.. ; .: u Reduction of ss. in the Pound. WEEKS AND DIXON JgEG to call special attention to their Clearing-Out Sale of the undermentioned Books, at a Great Reduction on former prices, in order to effect a Speedy Clearance, as they intend giving up the Book Trade, and carry on the Stationery and Account Book Business on a more extensive scale. Particular attention is invited to their Large and Varied Assortment of Church Services, Wesleyan and Presbyterian Hymn Books, some of which are in Very Elegant Bindings, all to be Sold Out at 25 per cent, reduction. REDUCED P LICE LIST.



The Little Camp on Eagle Hill, 3s. 6d. Sceptres and Crowns, 3s. 6d. Fairy Stories with a Purpose, 2s. Marco Visconte, 2s. lOd. Sydney Stuart, 2s. 4d. Aunt Martha’s Corner Cupboard, 3s. 6d. In India, 3s. 6d. Little Mercy, an Australian Temperance Tale, 3s. 6d. Favorite Fairy, Tales, 2s. Bd. The Fairy Spinner, 3s. Hall’s Vineyard, a Temperance Tale, 3/6 Too Good for Anything, 2s. 4d. Prince Übbeley Bubble, 3s. The Lost Father, 4s. Miss Roberts’ Fortune, 2s. Little Hazel, 3s. 6d. Washed Ashore, 2s. 4d. Turnaside Cottage, 3s. Trot’s Letters to her Doll, 3s. 6d. Told in the Twilight, 2s. 4d. Penelope, 2s. lOd. Tract Magazine, Is. 6d. On the Eve, 2s. lOd. The Silver Casket, 4s. Swiss Family Robinson, 4s. 6d. Recreations of a Country Parson, 4s. A Cloud of Witnesses, 6s. Moody, and his Work, 6s. The Argonaut (2), 3s. 9d. each Church Life in Australia (2), 2s. each The Home and the Synagogue, 4s. Christmas at Annesley, 3s. Richard Hunne, 4s. Sword and Garment, 2s. 9d. The Land of the Sun, ss. Lectures on Preaching, 4s. 3d. Tales of Old Ocean, 3s. 6d. Military Heroes of England, 4s. Earth and its Treasures, 4s. General Beckwith, 3s. 6d. The Diary of Dampier, 3s. 6d.



Scott’s Poems, 3s. Lyric Gems of Scotland (2), ss. each. ~ ~ morocco binding, Cs. 6d. Goldsmith’s Poems, 4s. 6d. Sunday School Speaker, Is. 2d. Sabbath School Reciter, Is. 2d. Temperance Speaker (4), Is. 2d. each. Excelsior Reciter, Is. lOd. Afloat and Ashore, 2s. 3d. Sons of the Cross and Crown Is. 6d. Under the Microscope, Is. 9d. Humming Birds, 2s. 3d. City Sparrows, 2s. 3d. Conrad and Columbine, 2s. 9d. The Children and the Robin, 2s. Stories of the Apostles, Is. lOd. Diversions at Holycott, 2s. 3d. The New Year’s Bargain, 2s. Child’s Corner Book, 2s. 9d. The Absentee, 2s. Children of the Line, Is. lOd. Philip and his (harden, 2s. The Boy’s Book of Recreation, 4s. 6d. The Boy’s Prize Book, 4s. 6d. The Boy’s Book, 4s. 6d. Every Boy’s Annual, 6s. Once a Week (2;, 3s. 9d. each. Nails Driven Home, 2s. 3d. Nettie’s Mission, 3s. 6d. . .... - Revolt of the Field, 2s. Kate Brunton, 2s. Homely Proverbs, 2s. Phrenological Works (2), 4s. 6d. each. Ball Room Companion, 7d. Ready Reckaners, 6d. each Mercantile Letter Writers, Is. each Carpenters Spelling, 7d. Comprehensive Letter Writer, Is. 2d. Advice to a Mother, 2s. British History, 2s. Royal Readers, 2s. 3d. Grammar and Analysis, 2s. lOd.



—REMEMBER— The Sale will be held for a limited period, to make room for Consignments of Stationery, Account Books, &c., SOLD AT THE ASHBURTON '■ . ' ' ■ ■ : -"A, ..A r, . i{U[ -j «y . • HERALD OFFICE WEEKS AND DIXON, PROPRIETORS, EAgT STREET, ASBSV.RTON,



Printers and Publishers, THE ASHBURTON HERALD AND BOROUGH & COUNTY ADVERTISER (With which is incorporated the * Evening Echo.) GENERAL IM PRINTING OFFICE EAST STREET NORTH, ASHBURTON (Near the Railway Station.) rjpHE Proprietors beg te intimate that they have imported a first-class “ATLAS” TREADLE. Printing Machine, FOR JOB WORK ONLY, CAPABLE OF THROWING OF 2000' IMPRESSIONS AN HOUR Unrivalled and unequalled in the estima tion of Printers. It is capable of executing the finest l', work in . ’ Colors & Ornamental Printing And the cost of production will, by mean* of this labor-saving Machittry. b« GREATLY REDUCE*). ■ •; t BILLHEADS, RECEIPTS, ' NOTE HEADINGS, ENVELOPES, BUSINESS CARDS, • ADDRESS LABELS, Q 'circulars, : PAMPHLETS, CATALOGUES. EVERY DESCRIPTION OF PRINTING in the BEST STYLE, and at Prices which cannot (ail to GIVE SATISFACTION weeks: AND DIXON PRINTERS & PUBLISHERS, : - -'—'i - i l ■?t ■;: >: 5 : THE ASHBURTON HERALD OFFICE East Street N@rth Ashburton.