THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1867.

Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 281, 31 October 1867, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1867.

On several occasions lately we have referred to the cause of education in this town, and we return to fche.subject because we find that as yet there is no movemeut on foot to place, the education of the joung on a better or more secure foimdatioii. It is admitted on all hands that the means of education here are quite inadequate to the requirements of the town. We mean to cast no aspersion upon the schools now in operation, or upon the ladies and gentlemen who conduct them, because the}r zeal in the cause of education, and in the welfare of their pupils, jis undoubted. But there is still a very large number of children which the influences of these schools and teachers never reach, who, through the faults of their parents and other causes, are permitted to wander about our streets by day and by night, learning nothing but mischief and ci'inie. We do not expect that any change in the present system would embrace all these children—for there is a large proportion of them thoroughly " neglected," who never will be made amenable to law or order until the Reformatory Act is brought into operation—but many of them would be rescued if a thoroughly efficient public school were instituted — a school that would embrace all classes of the community, a thoroughly secular school, to which the children of all denominations could be sent ; whei'e they would be educated for this world's work, leaving to churches and Sunday schools their education fof the next. Through the medium of the Westland Education Board, the opportunity now presents itself of establishing a public school in Greymouth, for that Board has set aside a sum of £101', to be given as a subsidy to any public school upon which a similar sum has been expended, and which is under suitable management. There is no question that the initiation of this school properly lies with either the Wesleyan or Church of England body, for the Catholic — the other recognised religious body in the place — has already a numerously attended and efficiently conducted school under its charge ; but we think it would be much better- if the members of these churches would combine, and form as it were a Committee of Citizens, who would have charge of the public school, the mem. bers of which could be selected from the most liberal-minded men of all religious denominations in the town. A Committee so elected would have no difficulty in raising the first £100 for the establishment of the school, and we are assured that the Education 'Board will at once grant the second .£IOO to such a deserving undertaking. If more is wanted it can be had, for our citizens have always shown themselves "ever ready, ever anxious, to contribute liberally to any good cause, be what it may. "We write in the cause of education simply, and would press its most serious considex'ation upon the attention of our readers— we willingly leave the details of the scheme in' all their entirety to the Committee which may be appointed by the citizens, and trust that the movemeut will be established on the most liberal and unsectarian basis.