PAST AND PRESENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 14, 29 April 1871, Page 5

PAST AND PRESENT.

[From the Runanga Grindstone.]

Our attention has been called to an article in the Wellington “Evening Post,” headed “ Past and Present,” commenting on an account of a trip up the Taupo line, and description of the Runanga Literary Institute, which appeared some time ago in our Napier contemporary, the H. B. “ Herald.” Most, if not all, of our readers have seen the article in question, so it is hardly necessary to repeat it in our columns ; in fact we are glad of any excuse to avoid sullying the pages of the “ Grindstone” with any extract from the “ Post.”

Why, in the name of common sense, the desire evinced by men to improve their minds by reading, and the practice and study of the fine arts, should be a sign of deterioration, we cannot possibly imagine ; or why men should be exposed to hardships and privations, when comfort is attainable by a little exertion on their.own part.

The remark about “ their chief being an inmate of a lunatic asylum,” is eminently worthy of the “ Post.” What masterly satire and nice taste are there displayed ! That remark shows the feeling in which the whole article is written —a feeling of downright, unfeeling, unscrupulous opposition, disregarding alike the feelings of public men and the griefs of innocent and affiicted women.

Why the “ Post” should look upon institutions of the kind, and efforts on the part of the officers to promote the comfort of their men, as belonging to demilitarization especially is a mystery to us. Such things are highly advisable and commendable in any army, and the very men who can best appreciate the advantages of such things are the men most likely, when the time arrives, to leave those advantages cheerfully behind to follow out their course of duty in the field, thankful to have enjoyed them so long. The present German army is perhaps about the best educated army which the world has ever seen, and it hardly appears to be utterly worthless on that account.

We venture to predict, notwithstanding the insinuation of the “ Post” that the Runanga men will do their duty manfully when called upon, although they do possess an Institute with ornamental shingles.