The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 35, 10 February 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1871.

Ik the course of hi 3 speech to the electors on Wednesday last, Air. Ligbtband made reference to a subject which, although not possessing the importance that . attaches itself to the larger questions of the day, such as the 'Ministerial policy, is one in which we have always taken considerable iuterest, and, consequently, it was gratifying to find that one of our newly elected members took' the same view of the matter as ourselves. We refer to (he military training of the youths at the various public schools throughout the country. This is a question which is attracting some attention in the Australian colonies, where it is gradually becoming felt that if the inhabitants are, within the next few years, to be in a position to defend themselves against a foreign foe, they must commeuce to drill their male population before they attain to manhood, as they then become scattered through the more distant portions of the colony, and therefore auythiug like a strict military organisation becomes impossible, excepting among the inhabitants of the centres of population. In New Zealand we certainly have a Volunteer system, but it has not come up to the expectations of its framers, excepting perhaps, in one Province, namely that of Otago, where volunteering is certainly carried on ir. a manner and with a spirit that are highly creditable to the members of tho force. In Canterbury, as in Nelson, it was at first a success, and iarge numbers joined the racks, but although it is still kept up there in a far superior style to that which prevails in our own province, the numbers arc gradual!)' dwindling away, and are at present altogether disproportionate to the population. We presume that it will be allowed on all sides that it is highly desirable that some steps should be taken with a view to the future defence of the colony, and the only question to be decided is, what are the best means to be adopted towards attaining such an end. At present a considerable sum of money is expended upon our volunteers ; and, looking at it from a Nelson point of view, as being the one with which we are necessarily most familiar, we would ask whether even the most enthusiastic member of the Provincial force is prepared to say that this money is not entirely thrown away. The volunteers of the town are just now in a sort of transition state, and better things are expected of them for the future under the new plan which it is proposed to adopt, but past experience warns us against indulging in any very sanguine hopes as to the result. For a time it may answer, and the attendance at parades be somewhat more creditable than has been the case for the last year or two, but, without in any way wishing to discourage those who are about to join, or have joined, the new company, we must confess that we have considerable doubts as to the permanency of the improvement that may very possibly be apparent for the first few months. Then again, there are the country companies which are gradually melting away simply from the fact that but very little interest is taken in their work by any except a very few of the members. There is nothing like enthusiasm, uo esprit de corps — we should prefer to use an Euglish expression, but know of none that is equivalent to the French phrase — and although it may be that perhaps twenty five per cent, of the men answer to their names when the muster-roll is called on Inspection parades, there is an amount of apathy even among those who do attend, which clearly shows that volunteering under present circumstances is neither more or less than nn expensive farce. We ask for no more money to be spent ihau is annually voted by the legislature now, but we do wish to see that which is expended made productive of more satisfactory results, and these results are, we firmly believe to be be attained by ordinary care and attention.

Tn England no school is considered complete without its drill-sergeant, and we can see no reason whatever why in the colonies the same attentiou should not he paid to the traiuing of youths in this particular, department. Boys are more far more apt nt learniug the various manoeuvres than men, aud what they are taught in their youth is more likely fo be retained by them, and by having dnll masters to attend at the respective schools, aud impart their instruction some two or three times a week, the lads who are now receiving their education might he taught that which they would never forget on arriving at maturity, aim although they might, on leaving school, become rusty from want of practice, they could very soou, should the necessity ever arise, "be brought into a state of efficiency, aud the duties of both officers and men be reudered far more easy and pleasant than if the ranks were filled with those who had never been taught to act in concert, or received any instruction in the use of fire arms. This is a matter of no little importance to the future of the colony, and as our legislators have to deal with the future no less than with the present, we hope to see some step made in this direction at the next session of parliament. No time should be lost, for every year witnesses the departure from school of large numbers ot young men, to reach whom, when once they enter upon the more serious business of life, will, in many instances, be no easy task.

a writer in the Australasian says: — There aye plenty of fish nibbling already at the big Parliamentary bait — some of them very queer fish inded. It would puzzle Professor M'Coy to classify them accurately. That £300 per annum will biin<j together the sort of shoal that nu old. angler collected in the Saltwater River by sinking a sack of ground bait the night. before. The bait was only unsavory oifal, but it served its purpose, and his basket next day was quite full. If there wasn't quality there was quantity, and he had plenty to select from. I think that there are one or two highly probable consequences of Parliament having got its fiugers in the national pocket. Triennial Parliaments will be triennial. There will be no dissolutions now. Parliaments will expire by effluxion of time. The representatives won't cut off a single week's income if they can help it. There are, however, disadvantages. They will be expected now to pay their own election expenses, and promises only, won't do. The conwill require their little jobs : tfone gratis. The election committees mil expect the member expectaut to put something dowu in advance. As a political result, the party in the new Parliament which can first lay firm hands on the reins of Government will have a fair chance of three years' lease from the disinclination of about seventy out. of eighty members of Assembly to imperil their means of living. Are they still to travel gratis by the railways, and be furnished with au unlimited supply of stationary and postage stamps ? Is there any other little thing the country can do for them — a settlement on their wives or some cash in advance to go on with ? I shall not be surprised to see a good many forfeited fifties from unfit starters for the Parliamentary stakes. My notion is that there should be a handicap. Why should a little man like George Hisinbotham be paid as much as James M'Kean ? To cure deafness — tell a rnun you've come to pay him money. It beals acoustic/ oil hollow. For remainder of News see Fourth page.