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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 113, 12 May 1873, Page 4

TO -HE EDIXOB OE 1 THB NBLSOK EVENING MAIL, Sib, — In thanking the Bev Mr Spear for his remarks: upon my letter of the 3rd instant,! beg to observe that his suggestions are hardly admissible.. The Bev gentleman asks.: "" Shall" religious instruction "be given in school under circumstances, and by. teachers approved of by the local committees, or not at all ? ".. To this question I beg to answer that what has occurred lately, in the province, on account of local committees ruling about the question of the Bible, and what is likely now t<j occur again, shows evidently that such local committees and teachers are inadequate to the requirements of that office. To say with the Rev Mr Spear that the instance of a district, that of Waimea South and West, shows that the resident ministers at that, district cannot impart that instruction, is not satisfactory, for he tells us that "it is plain that, without the aid of the masters and mistresses no knowledge of the Scriptures will be imparted to the children in most of these schools." No knowledge ! but I know -for a fact, that the Catholic priest resident in Nelson for more than twenty years has been visiting not only the district of Waimea South and West, but also those of Waimea East and Wakefield, and giving religious instruction in the Catechism and in the Bible to all the children of his denomination to the satisfaction of the parents and the praise ofthe public* I myself have assisted at one of the examinations of c these children jn a country church, where children could say by heart all chapters of the Testament without almost a single mistake. Where there is a will there is away; if our numerous ministers had the will to impart the knowledge of the Scriptures to the children of their denominations, they will find a way to do it, even by meeting them on appointed days after school hours, I am, &c, An Electoe.