THISTLEDOWN.

Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1766, 31 August 1895, Page 2

THISTLEDOWN.

“ A man may- jest and tell the truth.” —Hobace. From the only hints I have seen as to the nature of the Local Government Bill to he introduced by the Ministry, its keynote would appear to be the amalgamation of , County Councils with the retention o£~ Road Boards. Given a judicious recognition of community of interests this would appear to be the correct principle to go on and I notice that Mr Thos. Russell, when interviewed the other day by the Herald, «tr< ngly advocated one local authority for the whole of the Hauraki goldfield. As was well pointed out -by him, increased area would give increased and increased responsibilities naturally command the services of a superior class of members, the scope of the ratepayers’ choice being correspondingly enlarged. In the Ohiuemuri County the balance of power is in the hands of agricultural representatives ; in Piako our local mining representatives are completely swamped hy representatives of the big estates. * A Hauraki Council would, now our mines’?' are making a fresh start, have command of respectable means and be likely to take a more enlarged view of its functions than the numerous petty Councils have either the brains or the means to do.

In connection with local bodies tho question has been much discussed of late whether light railways would not largely solve the difficulties under which they labour, in-providing means of communication for their constituents. The initial cost of light railways ought to be far less than that of roads in districts where material for metal is not extra abundant; the wear and tear must B be considerably less and the cost of maintenance, which now absorbs nearly the full income of many much lighter. Especially would this latter be true in mining districts where the transport of heavy machinery is so destructive in the present. The Paeroa-Waihi route will probably before long, see the first of these light railroads, and by all accounts wants it worse than most others. * * * #

In some respects New Zealanders are the mpst conceited people on the face of the>eartb. Periodicaliy with tiresome reiteration I read in the newspapers and inHansard that our educational system is the best in the Universe, knocks the German and the Swiss systems into* a cocked-hat. I wonder then how it is that the bulk of our young men never open a newspaper much less a book. If you do find a man who keeps himself abreast of the world’s hißtory, he is almost invariably an import tation from the benighted old country.'' Even Ireland, which very unfairly and untruly is generally regarded as the educational pariah of Europe, contributes more to journalistic revenue through her sons here than, I believe, all th'e native born population. In politics our concdt also shows itself in making a great splutter in the vanguard of the voyage of progre s though a suspicion of some uneasy selfdoublings is occasionally suggested by the eagerness with which we welcome the endorsement of cur .experiments by tho mothercountry, when she now and_ tbS'a follows our example, as she has acfu\t ,u y done in the matter of land transfer, annus thinking of doing in-regard to a Public Trust Office. Returning to Education, IT caidt say I think much of the system judging it by its results, though I am fully per.-uaded our teachers do the best they can under it. A tiste for reading and. a capacity for leading intelligently lie at the root of all mental improvement. Under the present syllabus too little time or attention is, or can, be given to reading owing to the number of other subjects. I venture to suggest that such subjects as hisr tory und geography might well be taught throught readiug. Few books are more attractive to the youug than biographies uud travels, und they would gain a much more accurate and useful knowledge of past events’ and strange places fiom such works, than front professed histories or geographies, while our boys and girla would insensibly imbibe a taste"for reading. At present numbers nevet read even the yarns ,in the News Supplement, the favorite literature of those who read at all, but appear to mould themselves on' the lines of the boy who played truant systematical!}' from school, because he was ambitious and he had heard that all men who rose in the world had started without any educational advantages. ' © © © ©

Setting aside the paramount obligation of our Lord’s Commandment, those who seek to depreciate inissiouary enterprise appear to forget two considerations of much, though unequal, importance, the increased safety to traders and tourists, and the increased life in churches due to missions. Despite all invidious comparisons between the-interest displayed in distant heathenism, and the apathy felt towards home grown want, crime and misery, it is au indisputable fact that those churches which show the most zeal in the conversion of the heathen, show also the keenest interest in and the most complete •rganisation for dealing with the different problems presented by civilisation at ttieir. doors. It is, I suppose, only an instance of what I have found true, both in my own experience and in my observation of others, that the busier you are the more time you hdve for doing something extra. The fate of our countrymen and countrywomen in China as missionaries enlists our sympathy, as Englishmen demands vengeance, though the Peace Society would, doubtless, denounce the last sentiment as narrow-minded patriotism and heathenish morality I have not, however, the slightest doubt that the man who feels no deeper interest in his native land than in its antipodes cares very little for either.

Let me lay a passing wreath - Air Mullinger’s grave. Few things o' p Q -adder cr more impressive than to lt..Ve a man, with whom you have one minute and be called back the t<jext to see him a helpless cripple; it is saddeistill when four daj-s latter you see him in his coffin. Meeting Mr Mullinger daily almost for the past four months I learned to appreciate his merits, What appears to make his death all the sadder, is that another day would have witnessed his removal to the King Country. We may safely say he has gone to the country of the King of Kings as few, I fear, could say with the same truth as he did when surprised by death, ‘‘l made my peace with God long ago." lapyx.