BROUGHT INTO FOCUS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 440, 8 October 1880, Page 2

BROUGHT INTO FOCUS.

(Contributed to the Akakoa Mail.)

A correspondent in your issue of September 17th, who . signs himself '" Cockatoo," suggests the formation of an " Association," to be comprised of the ratepayers of the district, having for its object the discussion of subjects— political and otherwise—with a view to testing their value before being submitted to a public meeting, or rather " brought before the public," to use his own phraseology. I believe cockatoos are not indigenous to the Emerald Isle, so that this loquacious bird must have received its education in an Hibernian atmosphere. Perhaps, being a " cockatoo," he considers " ratepayers " as too important a body to be classed with that profanum vulc/us —the public ; and yet, to make the " bull "still more immense, he lays it down that an " Association " of this kind should " be open to every man in the county." One would think that any subject brought before an Association so constituted would be sufficiently "brought before the public,' without further advertising. The idea , however, though funnily expressed, is worthy of no small amount of consideration, as likely to conduce to a more thorough and harmonious expression of public feeling in regard to matters affecting the welfare of a district: an expression, too, that would bear with it a sense of power in reserve, and, also, as tending to promote a healthy spirit of self-reliance and independence coupled with a growing interest in the course of ■public affairs. But one Association could not deal adequately with all the various subjects relating to any one district. For instance, an Association might be invaluable in a political sense, which would be utterly worthless, or worse, for agricultural and pastoral purposes, and vice versa. Yet both, working each in its own sphere, and harmoniously where common interests hinged, could wield a powerful influence for the district's weal, or woe ; upon the men who ruled these bodies would depend th°ir effect for good or ill; but ii they were " good men and true," the progress and ultimate prosperity of a district would be assurec 1 . Such " Leagues " as these are common enough in the old country, and have been found to work well on the average, and where, as in your own district, and New Zealand generally, the direction of public affairs is for the aiost part lazily left to a few, be they competent or not, the inauguration of such institutions may well be deemed desirable, and a district congratulated on their attainment with a view of trial.

Was it worth while Mr Stephen Watkins' replying to that bilious effusion of pome dyspeptic schoolmaster on the subject of impartial judgment on the the Industrial Exhibits? I think not. He would best lnve consult d his own dignity, and also that of those associated with him, had he let the moan insinuation pass unheeded, instead of proclaiming the mud had stack Tho natural conclusion is that it must have hit somewhere. These Industrial Exhibitions speak for themselves and lined no champion in behalf. If somnolent Akaroa had ever mison to be proud" since that memorable day on which the Baron of Wak«moa(?),despite current history on the p:>int, unfurled the British ensign on the South Head, it was on the occasion of its inaugurating the first local industrial Exhibition in New Zealand. All honor and praise, tco, to the originator of the scheme, my old friend Ganvood, and to those who so ably seconded him. . Thus, iit Akaroa was sounded the first note of that selfreliant policy whicn can alone raise this country from the abyss into which it has —no, not fallen—but been suffered to fall. The good sense of fcho community will not suffer any petty jealousies and heartburnings to intefere with the good work, In future, my dear Steve, abstain from even the slightest hint of a chiuk . in your armour. There are, always some on the alert for any weak spot.

What a dignifying and intellectual spectacle must have been that local school committee at Little Akaloa ! and how the wisdom of having com- "* pulsory education must have been apparent to the meanest. capacity present—Mr Barker, of course excepted. That gentleman (?) was so thoroughly in his element enacting the role of obstructionist, and monopolising the conversation, that any other sentiment than those of self-satisfaction and self-im-portance could not have affected him. While such scenes as these in connection *c with school committees cannot but excite the pity'of the charitable, the sneers of , the satirical, and the ridicule of the frivolous, those of sterner stuff and ». j graver thought will find in them plenty m of food for reflection as to their signify cance when considered in relation to the m working of the present Educational , system. Little Akaloa is not the only place where similar exhibitions at school committee meetings have taken place. In fact it is a generally accepted i'aet that local school committees are utterly unqualified for the work required of of them. Yet the various Boards of Education throughout the Country arc dependent in no small degree on these local bodies. Hence we need not go ** far for the elucidation of many flaws and shortcomings in the present carrying out of the system. Either there must be more direct supervision over these Committees, or some other plan of notion must be adopted. In the mean- ** time, the Board's officers are sdbjectcd to much injustice and indignity, the in-

tcrests of many children are neglected, and the working ■of tlw Education system is utterly put to confusion. Such an anachronism as Ignorance "bossing it" over Education, was probably reserved for this Colony to develop

ASBESTOS