560 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
better way than going up, it took us this time only five hours, so 
that the tent was reached at 4 p.m. We were starved out, and 
we proceeded down the valley the next day. It was dark by the 
time we reached the summit of the old semi-circular terminal 
moraine, with our heavy swags. From there we saw a cheerful 
sight—a large fire burning before the illuminated tent, and the 
men evidently preparing our dinner. 
The great difficulty in travelling in these parts is exclusively 
caused by the difficulty of provisioning. The technical difficul- 
ties are slight—not in the least comparable to those encountered 
on some of the European Alps, and can easily be overcome by 
any one who is desirous of climbing these mountains, without 
trained guides. Bad weather had set in, and we were heartily 
glad to be able to return to town. Heavy snow-storms pursued 
us as far as the Tekapo Lake. 
If these lines serve to induce any of the readers of the 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE to visit these high mountain ranges, I, and 
doubtless they also, will be satisfied. The mountains being much 
lower than the European Alps, and the néveés of the glaciers 
much narrower than those in Switzerland, a visitor will of course 
not expect to find anything so grand in New Zealand as in that 
country. The New Zealand valleys are certainly very mono- 
tonous on the eastern slope, and would not stand comparison 
with the valleys in Europe, covered with dense forests and green 
lawns. Although these differences certainly exist, and although 
there are in New Zealand no mountains that could be compared 
with the famous peaks of the European Alps, still any visitor 
would find himself amply repaid for his labour if he were to 
penetrate this unknown part of our island. 
SCIENCE DEMONSTRATION IN ELEMENTARY 
SCHOOLS? 
BY WM. LANT CARPENTER, B.A,, B.SC., F.C.S. 
WeNas RPh 
Less than fifty years ago,a Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, 
gave as his opinion on the education of the people, that “it were 
best they should be left alone ;’ while the Bishop of Durham 
added that “education was not likely to make its way among 
the poor.” It is possible that people may still exist who hold 
these opinions, but they do not, I think, venture to express 
them openly. It is difficult, however, on any other hypothesis, 
to account for some of the attempts to restrict and hinder pro- 
gress which are occasionally met with. 
If, however, the spirit of these two remarks which I have 
quoted be confined to the education of the poor in elementary 
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