Original Correspondence. (LETTER 2.) ABORIGINAL EDUCATION.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 177, 9 February 1848, Page 2

Original Correspondence. (LETTER 2.) ABORIGINAL EDUCATION.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir: — There arc few things more gratifying to the present generation than the quietness with which all purties seem to acquiesce in the expediency of providing instruction for the mass of the people. The late debates in Parliament, and the large majorities with which education questions were carried, evince a widely spread- \\\* assent to the proposition there announced, that if the Government hare the right to punish, they surely ought to have the libeity of endeavouring to prevent crime. And the jarring opinions and strong predominance of ssfiishness that always prevail in a new and poor settlement, the approbation with winch the late annouensment of the. giant for education has been received, is a pleasing evidence of the feeling with which this branch of the En^ish family regard thi-. question. To the politician, ai wc'l as to the philanthorpist, it must be a matter of deep interest, tint the large and energetic Aboriginal population of this i&lund should be converted into an orderly and well orgjnized community. The present measures, therefore, of the Government, on the subjecttof Education, are woi thy of the thoughts and attention of every well-wiaher of our adopted Country. Defective views of the nature of education, or an injudicious procets for accomplishing that object, would involve more than a disappointment They would involve loss of lime, loss of confidrnce, aud loss of that vivacity with which a ntw and prospering undertaking is propelled. Though no intimation has, I believe, as yet been given a.^ to the rules by which the Government grants for Education will be regu'dten, I venture to hope, ftom the attentive consideration which Governor Grey se°m& to have given this subject, that his measures will be based on an enlightenel and comprehensive view of the condition ol the Aborigines. With what part of the Aboriginal population should we first commence the work of Education ? How should we first commence this work ? How might the Government most extensively and most successfully secure this object ? It has, I observe, been said a College should, in the first instance, be formed : this institution to be an industrial one. There are some questions, however, that should be carefully considered btfore such an institution be commenced ; Ist. — I low much money can be appropriated to such an undertaking ? 2nd.— Will that grant be secure and perpetual i 3rd.— 'What officers will be necessary ? and it there much probability of their services bein:j secured ? 4th.— What class of scholais should be admitted into it, and In w many ? Cth. — Will the expenses of the establishment rest I solely on the Government ? i 6lh — Is there any means by wh'ch the object proposed can be secured more largely, and with lets expense ? On the subject of expenditure, I have but few remaiks to offer. It is interesting to observe the different line of proceeding adopted by different settlers when they fust occupy their new podse&sious. Some, hurried on by ihe first impulse, strive to do everything on a gund bcale. Things look promising at first ; but betoie (hey get a rerauneiating ciop, they find themselves obliged to become either tenants or stewards to the puichasers ot their properties. Others, on the contrary, seem to follow the good old rale, " Peslina lente." 'lhey are prompt, but prudent. They husband their resources, and are ready to meet emergencies. The jjieat advantage of live latter class is, that they h»ve hope con-

tiuually buoying tlinn forward. Tlie otliersj having taken a mighty stride at the comment: ment, lind it necessary to recede nearly as rapidly backwards, to iccover their balance. The liittrr having planted their foot firmly an<i s'e.ilily, ate only waiting to spring to a more s>ure and cheering elevation. What course the Government will take on the work cf education, is a question of interest. It would be very gratifying if this undertaking could be accomplished by a kind of " coup de vnam." But no. It is a work that must be attacked by regular approaches, anl the foi tress will only jield to the verseverins. t It would certainly bs a mo«t giatifying bight to witness fifty or sixty young men under instruction, in a rising institution, within view of Government Houi»e ; some driving the plough, some plying the loom, some tending the sheep, some milking, some gardening, home reaping. How would the imagination love to roam in the midst ot such a busy scene . and look lois. ward through the vista of coming years, to a civilized^ people, won from the wilds of the wandering savage— and Patulcc recubins sub tegmine fagi! perhaps singing in the original language of Ti tir himself, 0 Meh'bac, deus nobis luecotia fecit : Nam que ent illc mihi semperdeus. A more experienced person, however, would have many anxious thoughts, as he contemplated their movements. "You will enable them to gain an "acquaintance" with the details of rural industry : will acquaintance secure the adoption ? You will teach them to perform all the operations of agriculture : will the performance secure the habit of performance i You will shew them, how to manage cattle, and will put them into the way of becoming possessed of them : will the possession of catt'e, and the knowledge of managing them, iccure their proper treatment' What a pity that reality is not always a counterpart of imagination ! There are hundreds of domestic cattle now in the possession of the Aboriginal population ; — horse*, cows, sheep, poultry. The management of them was known by numbers long before Auckland was formed. One man alone used to milk his ten cows, and sell the produce in the Bay of Islands. He got tired, however, after a time, and returned to a level with the rest of his countrymen. Their dogs seem to keep the closest look for th>! sheep and the goats ; the cows are allowed to run wild; and their horses (w> etched animals !) are, for the mo-st part, kept continually tethered, lest they also shoul I make their escape, or injure their plantations. From the settlers and the missionaries they got continual' lestons in agriculture and horticulture: others have tiavelled to Sjdney and England, have for many yeais bten astociated wilh foreigners; and some have been for some time under instruction in those pluc>~s. Has their advancement been commensurate to their opportunities ? Natutum furca expellas, sed usque recurret. They return to their friends, and quietly resume those habits in which they had been brought up in their infancy. I only make these remarks to shew that we must be prepared to expect of such an Institution that it will be like a Lottery, in which the blanks far ou' -number tbc prizes. 1 remain, Sir, your obedient servant, A CHURCH MISSIONARY.

To the Editor of the New Zealandcr. Sir, — An inaccuracy in the ' Auckland Almannck' having attracted my notice, relative to the arrival of the 58th regiment in this Colony, I feel it my duly to correct the saim. The head-quarters of this regiment arrived m Aucklmd, under my cotntnind, o i the 22d of April 1843, (five months previous to the time specified in your Almanack) during which time I had the honor of sharing with it all the privations, fatigues, and discomforts of the two first campaigns in the North, under the command ot Lieut. -Colonels Hulme and Despard, against the rebel Chiefs Heke, Kawiti, Heketene and others, anJ can bear testimony to its having been prefcer.t at the action* of the Bth May at Mawe, the 16 h May, (when the Headquarter division of this regiment alone, attacked, captured and destroyed the } a of the latter Chief at the head of the WaiUaii river), and also <it the assault of Heke'spa at Ohaiawai, oa the Ist July, and the capture of it on the 11th ot the .same n.onth, 1845, previous to the arrival of a reinforcement, of the corps, on the 9th October, following, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Wynyard. In justice to the regiment, I request you will insert the above in your columns. I remain, Sir, Your very obedient servant, Cyprian Bridge, Major, 58th Regiment*

To the Editor of the New Zcalander. Sir :—l am rather astonished at finding that no regulations have be n adopted here tor the landing of oaitle from vessels biinging them over seas In otlier Colonies that I have visited, there arc ceituin places, and certain houis, for landhig caale; and certain lestrietionb respecting their being driven through the town, &c but I find nothing of the kind here ; a.id, the consequence is, that a petlebtrian is constantly incurring the risk of a broken limb, perhaps wor«e, trom the rush of some of these half-mad animals. I bslieve one or two accidents have already arisen from this want of caution ; but I hope that good may jjrow out of this evil, by convincing the Government of the necessity of adopting home regulations on the subject. AN INHABITANT. Auckland, Btfa Feb-, 1848.

To the Editor of the New Zealandev Sir, — I accidentally discorered this mo rninj, that there had been certain proceedings in the Supreme Couit, relative to the Court of Requests, in which it appeared tint theie had been an application fora summons against me at the suit of Messrs. K. & D. (Jrntiavn. Ie is due to myseif that the following statement should be made known— namely, that I never knew of any application for a summons againitme — no iutimati m was ever given to me of such an Application, and, farther, immediately on discovering, this morning, ft* 1 " the first time, that I was the innocent c<iu&e of theprj^ ceedings iv ilie Supreme Couit, I went to Messrs. Graham to pay my account, and they refused to take it, refernng me to then Solicitor, who also refused to tuke my money. Your giving thii a corner in your paper of tomorrow, will greatly oblige Your obedient servant, 1. CROWTnER. Auckland, Feb. 8, 1848.