THE REV. MR REID'S LECTURE.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2358, 22 October 1870, Page 2

THE REV. MR REID'S LECTURE.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir. —Could you tell numerous enquirers why (he conductors of the Daily Timex gave so full a report of the lecture delivered by Major Richardson under the auspices of the Knox Church Young Men’s Association, and did not report the incomparably more able lecture delivered by the Rev. Mr Reid in the Wesleyan Church Schoolroom on last Thursday evening. The excuse cannot bo that the one was got up in connection with a public institution and the other not, for the Major distinctly stated that his lecture was not got up at the request of the lady promoters of the Girls’ High School, as stated by the Timex. Sir, let me ask another question—Was it in order to puli' the projected High School ? If so, I must say this way of advertising the educational institutions of Otago is a mistake. Mr Reid, at the close of the lecture, sta ed he Ind his doubts about the success of this school project. Was it not (hat this gentleman saw the harm such modes of advertising would do, rather than a fear that the school would not he patronised by at least that class which it is the duty of the State more immediately to educate. There is no question hut such putting as is at present adopted by the promoters of the .Girls’ High School will cause the school to he literally rushed by the class who arc over ready to catch at any bait; hut will not the more educated and trained class take stock of such proceedings, and judge of the fruits by the richness of the blossom. Sir, lam no Wesleyan, neither have I any interest in Knox Church, hut I went to hear both lectures, and when I read the full and appended report of such silly twaddle as (with all due respect to the Major) I must say his lecture was made up of, and found a blank instead of a full report of a suhjc.-t so fraught with instruction for young and old, I at once came to the conclusion that it is high time your paper were not only an evening Star hut a day Star as well, so much needed in Dunedin at present, as evinced by the very partial way iu which the only daily paper is c nducted. Ido not know whether the propric tors of the Times are principally Knox Church men, or -whether the Girls’ High School was set on foot by them which leads to th°ir prostituting, a public journal to a Church party of any sect ; hut I must protest against public money being spent to foster a school connected by Knox Church or any other Church. Hoping you will allow these remarks to appear in your valuable paper, which I am sure is the expression of opinion of many of your readers, you will oblige; Yours, Sc., Fair Strike.