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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 112, 14 May 1877, Page 4

In a recent speech to his constituents at Wanganui the Hon. Wna. Fox thus expressed himself on the difficulties of a system of State education :— "The Government has promised to deal with the question next session. It is one surrounded with difficulties, not inherent in the subject itself, but growout of the irreconcileable prejudices of several parties. The great difficulty is that which relates to religious teaching. If this were left to the parent, the children, aud the teachers, there would be' little or no difficulty about it; but the difficulty is caused by the interference of the clergy and of that class of society which docs not send its children to the common schools — the wealthier class which fills bo many seats in the Legislature. There are (hrea seels if wo may call them so, each of which hoi's views antagonistic to the other. Ist. Those who believe the Bibl« to require no interpreter but is able to be its own teacher ; a book which whoso runs may - read. These would allow it to be read in the schools like any other bock of history or science. 2nd. The denomationaliste. They believe that tho Divine food will not nourish n mau unless it be chewed in their mouths before it is put into his. So dangerous a book do they regard it, thut unless they have the interpreting of it by tbeir creeds aad catechisms, they would rather it were not taught at all. Theu come the secularists, who contend that it is not the duty of the State to teach religion at all; tbat its business is to give secular knowledge, ieaving tha miuiaters of religion, (Sunday School teachers, aod parents, to instruct the child in whatever creed each may think proper. A compromise, called the conscience clause, is proposed, by which religion may be taught in the schools at certain hours, such parents as object to it having power to withdraw their children at those times. The existence ot these several parties make it. extremely difficult for a Government to carry any general measure of education. Whatever they may propose provokes a triaugular duel. If it is tho Bible, pure and simple, tho denom'nuiionalisls and secularists join to oppose ii ; if it i_

denominational, the Bible readers and secularists combine against it; if it ig secular, tha denominationalists and Bible readers are in league to defeat it. Tha result, probably is a feeble compromise, which satisfies nobody."

The preliminary arrangements for celebrating the fourth centenary of Coxton by tbe printers are now all but concluded, and it is understood the afair wiil be a great succe-s. We have not he-.rd yet who is to occupy the position of chairman on the occasion. J. E. Fitzgerald, Esq., was asked to do so, bnt his duties have compelled bim reluctantly to decliue. We trust that, if possible, one of tho fathers of the colonial Pre**s, will be asked to take the chair in preference to n gentleman who is comparatively youug in Press matters. There are two gentleman in this colony — one even in thia province — who may be considered as the fathers of the Preßs in New Zealand. We refer to Mr Revans, now located in Wairarapa, and his Honor Mr Justice Chapman. Either or both of these gentlemen wonld be williDg, we are sure, to honor the assemblage on the 19th inst. with tbeir presence. Mr Revan3 may be eaid to bave been the founder of the colonial Press; at anyrate, he it was whoetarted the first paper in Wellington, about 1839. Previous to this, long before the New Zealand Co's first settlement here Mr Revans started a paper— the N. Z. Gazette — in London, in fche interests of this colony. As we have said, about the yoar 1839, Mr Revans came to Wellington bringing his plant with him, and for many years afterwards his name was associated with the progress of tbe colony. Mr Justice Chapman also did service to the colony in its early days in convection with the Press. He wus one of the originul proprietors of tbe New Zealander, the lirst paper printed in the Province of Auckland. It was first published at the Bay of lalands, and the machine used for a long time was a mangle, tbere being no press to be got. Prior to Mr Chapman coming to this oolony, and iJr Revans starting the New Zealand Gazette, the two gentlemen in 1832 established tbe first daily newspaper in Montreal. Here they got into trouble and were arrested for treason* Mr Justice Chapman has never wholly given up literally pursuits, and probably will never do so while he lives. The history of the gentlemen referred to would be more than usually interesting. No men better thau they could describe tbe progress of Colonial journalism, and it is to be hoped one or both will be asked to attend tbe inauguration of the Caxton Anniversary by the Wellington Press. Mr Gladstone in an article in the Cnurch Quarierly hevtixo says that " there has been, beyond all doubt; one x-erceptible and painful change since the Prince Consort's death, a depression of the standard of conduct within the very highest circle of society." "One swallow never makes a summer." Two of these birds, we have been informed, lately made their appearance at Mercury Bay. They were identilied by Mr Wigmore, whose testimony was confirmed by that of' his brother. The fact, i£ all grounds of mistake can be excluded, is noteworthy, as determining some uncertain theories connected with the migration of birds. Ornithologists will be interested iv tracing the probable wauderiugs of these migratory fellows. We believe that the Acclimatisation Society of Aucklnnd has olfered a reward of £50 to auy person who will successfully introduce the Australian swallow iuto this pioviucc. If the statement above made be warranted by the authority of the observors, the event is certainly one of greafc scientific and agricultural interest.—Auckland Weekly News.