PETERSFIELD, December 4.
NATIONAL SCHOOLS.—The managers of these large and important establishments have just heard from the Secretary of the Committee of Council on Education that Mr. J. Macfarland, the respected and talented master, has had his diploma raised to the highest grade, for ability and the ‟highest practical skill in his vocation of schoolmaster.” We feel sure that this signal mark of their lordships’ appreciation of Mr. Macfarland’s ability is no less honourable to himself than it is gratifying to all with whom he has had to do, during the seven years he has been master of our schools; and we think it would be wrong were we not to mention that the value of his labours has been felt beyond the sphere to which national schools generally extend, as his zeal and assiduity, under the direction of the managers have supplied a long-existing deficiency to the town and neighbourhood, in establishing a ‟classical and commercial department” in connexion with the ordinary school, which, we are happy to state, is giving the most unqualified satisfaction. Master J. Hammond, the senior pupil teacher in the boys’ school, has also succeeded in gaining a first prize in drawing from the Department of Science and Art.