Henry William Harper

Name: Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911 — Letter 18
Author: Henry William Harper

Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

Summary

“Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911 — Letter 18”, published in 1914, is a work by Henry William Harper. It explores elements such as New Zealand, Burnham and teaching.

Quotes from Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (Henry William Harper)

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ I told them that fifty years ago the place was a mere lonely wilderness of grass, and that all they saw,—farms, houses roads, villages, townships, was the work of a handful of people, who to-day do not number 30,000 in South Canterbury. "Difficult to believe" was the response, "they must be a grand lot of workers." Machinery accounts for much, but the fact remains that here men do more than at home; wages are higher, there is always the chance for all of making money and rising in the social scale. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ The State system of Education in New Zealand practically covers the whole field, with elementary, secondary, and university teaching. Here and there small private schools exist, a few of our own, and a fair number maintained by the Roman Church. In many ways this National system is excellent, but its defects are serious. It is entirely secular; no religious teaching permitted within school hours. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ As a recreation, I have for some time time past dabbled in astronomy, physical astronomy, I should say, as I am no mathematician. I began it in Westland with a small telescope, about the time of the Transit of Venus in 1874. With the help of an old friend there, J. O'Connor, a clever Engineer and Surveyor, we tackled the general facts of the problem, and planned to observe the transit of the planet across the sun, which occurs once in a hundred years, and eight years later again takes place. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ Several Lay-readers also help us to overtake the work, which is daily increasing, as we have four places where services are held, in addition to St. Mary's. Our Diocese owes much to the founders of the Canterbury Settlement in the establishment of Christ's College on the lines of an English Public School, and its upper Department for Theological training. The latter has a fair building for its students, and includes amongst them university students who need a home, as the New Zealand University is only a teaching body, providing class-rooms, but no accommodation for undergraduates. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ It has established a footing on many islands, so that peace and order, and wholesome work, have superseded a state of savagery and perpetual warfare. The work is arduous, often dangerous; too much credit cannot be given to the self-sacrificing labours of the Bishop and his fellow workers.
The yacht is navigated by English officers and seamen, but the native boys, who are born boatmen, can always, if needed, lend a hand. As the Bishop made a stay of several days with us, we did our best to entertain his boys. They are great cricketers. A match was arranged between them and the High School. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ A course of teaching, extending over several years, has been sanctioned by the Standing Committee. We are doing all we can to obtain from Government the opportunity of giving religious teaching in the State Schools within school hours, and in this we have the Presbyterians with us, who are numerous in New Zealand. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ There is excellent sport to be had with harriers, the imported hares being larger and stronger than at home, and often running as straight as a fox. In the mountain country red deer have been successfully introduced. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ It offers the best known means of ascertaining the sun's distance from the earth, and from that the relative distances of all the planets in our system can be deduced with fair accuracy. For this purpose simultaneous observations must be taken at stations distant as far as possible from each other, as, for example, Great Britain and New Zealand. The British Government sent to New Zealand a well-equipped expedition, consisting of Major Palmer, well known for his work in Palestine, Lieutenant Darwin, and a staff of subordinates from Greenwich, with all necessary instruments. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry William Harper, Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (1914)

“ A few years ago there was neither fish in the rivers, nor any sort of game, besides a few wild pigs. Acclimatisation Societies have been at work, and to-day trout abound, often reaching five and six pounds in weight, and, with a general licence for fishing, all water is free ”

Henry William Harper

Summary

Quotes from Letters from New Zealand, 1857-1911… (Henry William Harper)

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