Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1229, 23 January 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1872.

From our Dunedin files we learn that it is the intention of Professor Black to

give instruction in natural self nee in connection with the University of Otago. Jfc must be a source of gratification to all who can appreciate the value of the studies contemplated to know that, such is the case; for it is a fact chat up to the present time this particular branch of education has not had that attention bestqwgd on it that it de serves. It is within our knowledge that many gentlemen of great intellectual ability and goqcj sqund education, so iar as the studies usually pursued at the ordinary educational establishments are concerned, are almost wholly ignorant of the principles of phemistry and geology; and it is but a few months' since a most extravagant hoax was perpetrated by a clever American write)*, which completely deceived a large class of the community. A very slight acquaintance with the elements of chemistry on their part would have rendered such deception impossible, from its utter inconsistency with the most familiar jjruths of that

science. There are several considerations which commend themselves to J.IS as reasons why the instruction proposed by Professor Black must be regarded as not only of value but of prime necessity to the youth of the polony. Such knowledge will be found useful in almost e"very department of Ufe— mpre especially in % cpuniry where the circumstances differ materially from those with which our old associations aie connected. Even in the old countries it is found tljat the application of scientific principles to tlie aits of industry has added infinitely to the ppWPi" of tag agriculturist and the manufacturer the raw material upon »hich he exercises his skiil: much more will this

be found to be tlie case in a new country, where a fresh set of civcu instances are brought jnto play. No one can tell the amount of capital and energy that has been wasted ant l misapplied through ignorance of a few simple truths, a knowledge of which might have sufficed to £urn into a source of profit instead of loss, but which, without the guidance of science, would be always liable to misdirection and consequent waste. In the future of this Colony we can see the upgrowth of great manufacturing industries, in addition to those occupations which now exist. With a large increase of population, other employments than agriculture, mining, and stock-raising will become actual necessities, and it may be confidently asserted that those who will hold a leading position in the social scale of the coming day will be those whose intellect shall have been developed, and who shall be able to use science a.s a lever to elevate their several arts of industry to the highest degree, and thus find their advantage over others in the battle of life.