THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1,1857.

Colonist, Issue 12, 1 December 1857, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1,1857.

" As truth is truth, And, told by halves, may, from a simple thing By misconstruction" to a monster grow, I'll tell the whole truth."

Sheridan Kno-wi.es,

The period approaches when the Council is expected to assemble for business. One of the questions which we have ever heard hefore all others has been, —"Has the Government a working majority ?" This is a serious inquiry. We hope the people at large will keep it in view, and secure its right answer by such a calm, determined eye on the proceedings of our public men as will impressively remind them of their promises, at the late Elections, to do their utmost for the Settlement. Such was the chief import of their usual engagements with their supporters and the whole constituency; and it cannot be forgotten by all who resolve not to be the dupes of electioneering trifling. In reply to the above question, another grave one arises:—-have we men of truth, who love the right above all things? To whom that is more than beauty, wealth, domination, or any other influence? Men who represent not only fields and flocks, not merely powerful parties either, but the-more-than-gold, or a respectable position, the intrinsic worth of manhood's pure mintage? If it be our happy lot to have secured such worthies, our legislative difficulties must vanish, as illusive forts1 of opposition frowning along tha dim outline of our shores, but stealing away by and by before the breezy energy of rising day. Yes, if such be our men, and they can be such if they only will to be so, the government must be a bad one verily,—deserving speedy annihilation, that they cannot * adequately moderate and assist for public benefit.

We have hearty faith in the deliberative promptitude, prudence, and integrity of the present Superintendent and his wary Executive. We believe they know the times, and are equal to them. These, with a few others of rightly ordered purpose and intelligence, by steady, settled attention to the daily claims of the Council, suffice to shew the plain but shrewd countrymen around them, —that the Nelson state vessel, to use a trite figure, is no rotten party hulk, no worthless Whig or Tory craft, but a good iron steamer, of improved and proper build, and is adapted for either light or heavy valuables. They have not yet to learn that she is in well-informed and experienced hands, who are able in all weathers to rule the wildest seas, shun rocks and breakers, and run safely and merrily with her cargo of diversified commodities to her appointed destination—our haven of general improvement. Should any of her crew turn out to be smugglers of our national property, sly, plausible men of selfish habits, under the cover of self-lauded character, prone to use the darker parts of the hold for contraband traffic—we give them due notice—they will assuredly now be soon caught and exposed. Nothing but that penance, that repentance, without which there is neither mercy nor hope anywhere,—and reformation as its demonstrable fruit, will save them from worse than a treadmill—the silent aversion of men whom they have plundered, and whose straightforward looks will be a consuming fire.

Between duly and partizanship there may be some wrestling, in our small Parliament, but in virtuous bosoms the former must prevail. Uprightness, backed by disciplined reason, must cast down all immoral antagonism, both in the individual breast and in the collective feelings of upright men. Toleration of the shifts of faction has its limits with constituencies; and we trust its misrepresentation by mere conceit, ever prattling about itself, will soon meet its fate, if not from plain sensible members of Council who steadily keep their proper vocation in sight, at all events from a disgusted public. Work well done is required, and they who vexatiously prevent its execution by their airs and pavonian vanities must soon receive their punitive condemnation, no matter who or what they may be. Rods, however, may have to remain in quietude; for the paramount demands of important affairs, by the sheer force and awe of their emphatic announcement, may restrain the frivolous from froward hindrances, to co-operate in enactments of which they may not be ashamed in after days. A series of ordinances, comprising a policy sound and comprehensive, is now of the first. consequence for present exigencies and futurity ; and every one not quite infatuated, every mind but the doltish, every spirit not emasculated by vicious indulgencies must patiently and earnestly join in helping its project and accomplishment. Men of the proper stamp will not, like children or giddy weaklings, asik, who says so and so, who proposes this or that, but simply what is it we want? Or is a proposed measure a right one ? Men fairly belonging to our era will not, as fools heretofore have done, seek to send opponents in argument to the shades of powerless lamentationPropound evident wisdom, or reasonable ideas in faithful earnestness, and the people soon know it; for their best convictions being conformed thereto, or shaped in agreement with it, whoever may be false, they will inevitably in their more tranquil cogitations respond to its dictates. Settlers here, as yet partially captivated by the fripperies of Anglican parleying, imported like obsolete garments into our Wit-

tenagemot, are little inclined to employ and pay men who, when they desire fish-—of which there are neglected shoals, give them borrowed serpents of wily talkment; in a country where such vermin are not natives of the soil. Conduct of this kind will soon be put to the door, witii mi honourable movement of the indignant foot. Nor would charity itself give its poor insignificant moral beggary the alms of a sigh; for that wretchedness is no mere poverty, it is worse infinitely ; it is swindling, by giving a hissing curse, so to say, instead of the healthy food of. provident sense. Miserably do they mistake the temperament of our sturdy farmers and enterprising tradesmen — our chief people —who imagine differenily. Two or three manly, fearless appeals to them in an emergency, may soon be safely made ; and we confidently believe they would sweep away all obstructions to public or Governmental business. The kne!l of oligarchical dictation dies on the grave'of past, folly; better times are comirg, with their brisk peals in their van, followed by the rising voices of independent labour, audible as the resistless seas around us. Nations now demand to be heard ; and heard they will be, because they should be. Let every puppet, representative of .himsejf rather than the commonwealth, take carehow he attempts diversions from the popular, the great cause by his wrangling nonesense. Should our Government feel any working difficulty, they may be encouraged by their knowledge of the people's heart and requirements. Let them wisely propound and explain carefully our true advantages and the honest means of effecting them; let them, having thought out sober plans of national amendment, re!y on the great principles of truth and justice, the two arms of upright society, pulsing with generous feeling,—and these wi.l defend and uphold them. We repeat, let our Government, our Superintendent and his responsible co-agents, strong in right motives, and not less so in a faith that doubts not the aggregated humanity', the swelling soul of the thousands, trust unreservedly in its noble instincts; and they will never have to blush. Let them advance unitedly in their arrangements, as if invulnerable in their righteous cause, and whatever extraordinaries, clever ones, or unfriendly " stars " may sparkle their cold lustre, —practical virtue, business virtue, if you please, something we suppose akin to that Christian * rectitude, known at least'in dear old grandsire gossip, will in the end bear down all unprincipled opposition. A just, a good, and an "ascendant people cannot permit the chief of their choice and his adviseis to fail under the hoof of any factious combination.

There are several other kindred topics deserving studious thought at the present mo ment. Perhaps it may not be amiss to notice a few of them, in the Socratic manner, simply to indicate suggestively the course of common opinion moving along with its gathering clouds of notions, alternately dark and bright, but obedient all to the law of a moving general influence pervaded and actuated by light effused from the vivifying source of all political welfare.

1. Ftr the sake of provincial economy, liberal example, and disinterested uprightness in our Counsellors, would it not be well for the rich, and any of the poor who may feel their honour affected, to forego the allowance to them of so many shillings per day from the treasury ?

2. Cannot we have a less expensive, less arbitrary, and afar more comprehensive aud useful system of Education ? One partly governmental as to support and se'cularity, and partly promotive of scholastic endeavour on voluntary, that is to say, the most perfectly British grounds, so as to allow scope for all religions without conflict, — for qualified teachers of all sorts, on common

moral principles ?

3. Land, particularly in new regions, being the inalienable rightful heritage of the whole people, for whom the State is only Trustee, is it not the greatest of duties to fairly locate population thereon, partly by encouraging a proportional immediate payment;—say part in cash and parts by instalment, —but so as to ensure residence and fit appropriation: and then, again, partlyby restricting ■. leases, runs, and the, like monopolies at the public cost ?—■ Who will strike the dislocating iron bar across the open jaws of the crocodile ?

4. Compensation having been long conceded to much selfish, ignorant, and yet crafty clamour of the first land-purchasers, and the like being now promised, after some fifteen * years of. injustice, to deeply-wronged labourers, will it not be wise, be fairest, to give them, for a time, pre-emption of our best unsold districts ? And this with all despatch ?

5. Eoads being for the march, comfort, protection arid encouragement of civilization,—for peace, but sometimes for war, —is it not a grand duty to ourselves and posterity to execute a proper thoroughfare along the middle of the Island, far as practicable?

6. The chief trunk roads being supervised and upheld in repair by Government, should not a public officer, at stated periods, visit the meetings of the several districts for sustaining and improving their local roads, so as to secure general order ? . ,

7. Is it hot high time to. awake to the task of creating a searching commission to look into and expose the greedy, abominable plunderers of whole leagues of public roads, now enclosed and incorporated with numerous farms ? Talk of embezzlement! Look at the country and see your patriots ! !

, 8. To systematic exploration of the country, should we not add,—not measurements of virgin Goshens by sheepish eyes only,—-but cheap, at least inexpensive proper surveys ?

9. Cannot the sufficiency offences be settled half-yearly by local juries, for the-purpose, so as to prevent much inconvenience and expense ?

10. Is not a more efficient Police required at Nelson, at the Diggings, &c. ?

11. Should not all intended changes in roads, streets, boundaries, &c, be duly notified to the holders of all properties directly affected thereby, by formal messages to all parties concerned ?

12. The amendment of our ordinances generally being absolutely necessary; their compression and methodical, digestion,' so as to be within the easy reach of all,- being greatly needed for ourselves and successors, —Why should not the work be done ere it become a burden and a grievous oppression ?—Heaven save us from the Lawyers, and the Liars!

The above are some of the subjects claiming vigilant regard. We hope the people will not sleep over them ; as for ourselves, if health permit, we shall stand sentery for a time at least, as we do at this moment, asking for no reward but that of trying to advance a good operation. It will be our inspiring task to handle the foregoing questions in our leaders, and in pretty much the same order as that in which we have > noted them.

That the education of children is one of the principal duties of a civilized government, must be self-evident to every sound thinker. That the subject has puzzled every government hitherto, at least in England, is an acknowledged fact.

With these two conditions before us, what is the duty of every new community, drafted out of an old country, where religious and political strife constitutes the staple recreations of its inhabitants. Men, who have left such scenes and are convinced that such is the case, must surely be anxious to clear the important subject of education from such elements of evil, and so adapt it to the wishes and wants of a fast-growing population, that a negative if not a positive unanimity may pervade society.

Such a course, we believe, has been followed by the earnest, zealous men who toiled in the last' Council to effect-so desirable an object. The merits of such men may be overlooked for a time; their exertions even may be ridiculed; then1 zeal may be misconstrued: but their endeavours on this question at least, cannot be twisted into a selfish bearing. Here is one bright spot on which to rest. Here one calm day intervenes in a stormy period to cheer men on in a course of usefulness and honour. And consolatory must it be to the members of the first Provincial Council of this Province to reflect, that when the bitterness of strife has abated and personal hostility has subsided, generations yet unborn will venerate the names of those who have been active in promoting so great a cause as the discipline of children—pointing out to them the ways of honesty, and honour.

These remarks have been elicited by the reports recently issued by the Central Board of Education on resigning their office—one being the production of the Board, the other that of the Inspector.

From the latter we subjoin a few extracts, which will probably obviate the necessity of our giving the reports in full. .'.■■■

On the subject of a good supply of books, of which there was a great laclc on the first inspection, the Inspector remarks: —" On my next tour I found the good effects of this supply, in the increased activity and general improvement of the schools. In my report I took the opportunity of calling attention to the necessity of giving to education even from the beginning a more intellectual character; of teaching the children not only to read, but to think." ■ ■

A just acknowledgment is made to the various teachers for " the spirit of co-operation, and the willing attention which was given to my suggestions," and again, " I was encouraged to recommend, discuss, and assist in introducing some farther improvements, derived partly from what I found already practised with success in one or two instances, and partly from some of our first authorities on education." The Province of Nelson may well feel proud that able men have been found to carry out the principles of education in so efficient a manner.

After spealdng of the various systems or methods, the Inspector, comes to the conclusion that education like all other practical matters, must be adaptive. The following sentence contains a truth, which should be dilligently explored by the teacher of youth—" It is out of the question to rest satisfied with anything less than such an education as will thoroughly fit the child for the whole after duties of the man."

There is a very important remark, which we would strongly impress on all who look upon modern improvements as unmixed good, and in so doing are apt to overlook the important advantages, in many cases, which such ' improvements' have neutralized, if not destroyed :•—" Greatly as we are all indebted to the wonderful art of printing, it begins to be acknowledged that to rouse the mind to action, we must employ the agency of mind, and that something more is required from the teacher than to. set the child to his books, and then punish him for not understanding them."

From the tabular view of the three quarters in which the Government schools have been established, we gain the gratifying intelligence that there has been a gradual increase of pupils in nearly every instance. The general result is as follows:—

First quarter, total number of pupils 696 Second quarter 817 Third quarter .. 880

The importance of the subject will be ample apology or the above observttions, especially as we reiterate that we think the exertions of the men in Council have been overlooked. We conclude with the remark that our columns are open to tb!c insertion of any local report on schools, having a general interest.