The Globe. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 922, 8 June 1877, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1877.

The remarks made by His Excellency the Governor, in replying to the address of the Governors of the College, have, we are sure, been read both with interest and pleasure. It is far too often the fashion to question the advisableness of establishing, in a young country 'such as this, the appliances for higher education. The majority of people seem to think that if primary education is provided, all is done that need be. Should any attempt be made to introduce a higher course of study, the cry of class legislation is at once raised. His Excellency's remarks yesterday completely replied to any objections of this kind. He pointed out most forcibly the necessity which exists for having amongst us an institution of the character of the Canterbury College, in order to afford our youth the opportunity of acquiring the higher branches of learning without leaving the province. Before the institution of the College, anyone desiring to obtain anything much beyond primary education, had to seek for it in England or the more advanced cities of Australia. And this would still be the case, as pointed out by His Excellency, were it considered —as it is by some —too premature to found such an institution as that opened yesterday. The expense and inconvenience of sending their sons from home, perhaps for four or five years, has had the effect of deterring, even persons of wealth, from giving them that amount of higher education they would otherwise have gladly done. But, more than this, the sending forth of young men, deprived of the moral restraints of home influences, into a large city, and exposed to all its temptations, is a risk which Aveighs very greatly with a careful parent. The young men now growing up are those on whom, in time, will devolve the government of the country. They will, in the natural order of things, fill the places of those now holding positions of public trust and utility. Therefore it is doubly necessary that in their early training, when the mind is plastic and the character formed, that all care should be taken to surround them with the most refining influences. Now that we have in our midst an institution such as the Canterbury College, fully equipped, with its professors and lecturers, and capable of imparting the highest branches of a liberal education, the evils attendant upon the temporary expatriation previously necessary are obviated. The students can receive the education they formerly would have had to seek in the old country, and will at the same time be under the care of their parents and surrounded by those potent influences for good which are to be found in the home circle. No more complete reply to the arguments of those who consider higher education needless in a young country could be made than the remarks of his Excellency yesterday. The fallacy which, as he 'remarked, underlay them was clearly pointed out, and the benefits which will hereafter arise from the establishment of a College put before us. One point in his Excellency's address is specially noteworty as containing a hint to those who have prospered amongst us. We refer to the matter of endowments. The Government have, it is true, acted liberally towards the College by granting endowments of land, but of course this will not be sufficient for future requirements. As pointed out by the Governor, even in England now, institutions of a kindred nature to the Canterbury College have still to depend upon endowments. These are mainly contributed by private donors. In view of the advantages conferred, not alone on one class but on all, we hope that the example set in England in this matter will be liberally imitated by some of our wealthier settlers. The friends of education in its widest sense have to thank His Excellency for his admirable defence of higher education, and for the very lucid exposition of the aims and results of the College.

As we anticipated, the alliance amongst the bakers is nearly at an end. We have before us the names of several of them who are now delivering bread to some of their customers at eightpence per 4lb. loaf, but, as we are averse to giving them a gratuitous advertisement, we refrain, for the present, from publishing their names. It is well, however, that the public should know that the combination has all but broken up. If people choose to pay innepence for their bread, when some of their neigbours are getting it for eightpence, it is their own fault.