The Haslingden Gazette. — 1910-04-23 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

SEWING MACHINES.  At a meeting of the Lancashire Education Committee at Preston on Monday, Sir Henry P. Rib. bert, in moving the adoption of the higher education report, referred to the recommendations as to fees at secondary schools. He said there was a general consensus of opinion that the inclusive minimum fee should not be raised beyond £3 Is. per annum. He had always been of opinion that it would be far better, if possible, to equalise the fees—(hear, hear)—but, of course, equalising the fees not up but down, and in the present state of taxation one could hardly afford to ask the governors to reduce fees which were very easily obtainable, and the reduction of which would result in a loss to the county of anything between £2.000 and £3,000 a year. Sir Henry also said a large secondary and technical school was being built to serve Bacup and ! Rawtenstall, but in addition to the higher branches of study which would be taught there it was necessary to provide accommodation for elementary science and adult students at the evening classes, The county architect had therefore been instructed to prepare plans and estimates for a small school. An application had been received from Orme kirk for the supply of sewing machines. In a circular letter from the Board of Education a paragraph appeared stating: "If needlework is to be useful to the average woman it must be simplified as much as possible. Much time has been spent on One stitching and elaborate mending has been wasted, because most of the stitching can be done as well, if not better, by sewing machines. while the increasing cheapness of materials in daily LIN will often make it wiser to find some easier forms of repairing, or even to buy new things. A good housewife knowing the relative value of time and money in her own circumstances will use her own discretion." The Committee, said Sir Henry, unanimously decided to refuse the application, considering that sewing machines were purely mechanical, and that to learn the use of them could not occupy a very long time after leaving wheel. The real use of the teaching of needlework was to teach the children how to sew. They ought to be taught in the schoo:s to be economical, and he for one—and he was sure the committee would agree—did not relish the portion of the circular stating that "it will often be wiser to find some easier form of repairing or even to buy new things." That might be perfectly true, but they did not want to instil into the minds of children the buying of new things.  Presenting the elementary education report, Mr. Cockshott said the amount paid for teachers' sta. aries for the year ended March 31st last provedto be £8,202 below the estimate, and the amount be medical inspection was £BOO below the estimate. A deputation was to bc sent to the Board of Education with reference to the vexed question of school acoommodation at Worsthorne (near Burnley), and another would probably be sea to discuss the two letters from the Board concerning the unsatisfactory elementary school premises in the I county. The committee had been grappling very seriously in the last two years with this question.  Suicide is less prevalent in Ireland than in say other country in the world. Over twenty boys under eighteen years of ago have won the Victoria Cross.  Rapid growth of the finger-nails is considered to indicate good health. 'LINSEED COMPOUND' with warm Inbar Ii an exoellent gargle for sore throats. Colds. Coughs. eta. Matthew Davies, a Crimean and Indian Mutiny veteran, who was wounded in the attack on the Reda'', and had, among others, a medal for the relief of Lucknow, died on Tuesday at School House. Westbv, near Preston, aged seventy-two. '  There tins nothing more beautiful in this worls than a graceful English woman, said Lord Loa& dale, speaking on Saturday at the Women's Gyne nasium at the Battersea Polytechnic of the advan• tage of physical exercise for women.  Her clothes becoming ignited while she sso cleaning the hearth, Sarah Digbin, a servant is the employ of Mrs. Julia Frost, at 18, An!abr. road, Hull. was on Saturday burned to death. Mrs. Frost's son made a plucky effort to put out the flames by smothering them with a rug.