The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1885.

Kumara Times, Issue 2702, 20 May 1885, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1885.

The report of Professor Black on his lectining tour on the. Otago and West Coast goldfieltls, which we pnhlished yesleiday, would he hi»li'y inteiesfin« to miners, and particularly so to those of them who with many tradesmen in this and other towns on the West Coast have formed themselves into Schools of Mines. During the eight weeks the Professor was on the West Coast he delivered 44 lectures at 15 mining centres, and 238 persons availed themselves of initiation in chemistry, geology, mineralogy, and the various other sciences useful for the discovery of oies and the extraction of metals therefrom. "It is difficult," as a contemporary observes " to overestimate the benefits likely to accrue to the colony from these proceedings. As a rule our miners are above the average in intelligence and a spirit of enterprise, and the taste for special knowledge once acquired will not he allowed to die out." We may anticipate an early increased development of our great mineral wealth as one consequence of these classes. We commend the Coun'cil of the University for what has been done in this direction, ably seconded in their views as they have

been by Professor Black and Mr Montgomery. To the Hon. Mr Laruach, the present Minister of Mines, also, we are indebted in some measure for the services thus rendered by Professor Black. It would be seen that Kumara stands foremost in the number of persons who availed themselves of instruction at the testing classes; and as a permanent School of Mines has now been established here, we may hope that miners generally, as well as business people, will avail themselves of the chance of increasing their knowledge in the theory and practice of the various sciences. We cannot too highly praise Professor Black for the earnestness and zeal he manifested during his lectures and at the testing classes. We venture to state that during his recent short professional tours in Otago and on the West Coast the Professor has done more to cultivate, increase, and stimulate the thirst for knowledge in these sciences than all the professorships in the colony put together. Thousands of pounds are spent annually in the colony in high schools aud universities for professorships where in mauy cases no permanent good results. It was only the other day we noticed in a northern journal that "over £SOOO a year was paid for salaries alone to teach 29 boys in New Plymouth." And now we have seen what might be accomplished by even one visit from a distinguished professor giving instruction to thirsty and eager minds. We hope that some provision will be made during the ensuing session of Parliament to give effect to Professor Black's suggestions as to the centres of mining districts at which instruction should be provided; and that the thirst for knowledge thus imparted may be appeased. "It is important," says the Professor, "that help to these clubs come soon if it is to come at all. It is much easier to keep them going now than it will be to resuscitate them again if they are allowed to die for lack of support."