OTAGO.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 157, 22 April 1859, Page 3

OTAGO.

The Witness of the 2nd instant thus notices tha subject of Education .:—*•• "Of the various subjects which come up fot legislation at the hands of our Provincial Council, the great majority do not involve so much the adoption or laying down of principles as the means of arriving in the most.effective and convenient way at certain desired-and clearly ac» knowledged ends. There., are^other subjects, fewer in number, which also..;have to do with much desired and all important ends, but which involve in respect of the means adopted for attaining thereto, important principles, the right understanding and dealing with which, or the reverse, may seriously affect our social interests. Of these latter, there is one which has heretofore been a fertile source of discussion, and which is likely, to all appearance, to prove a battle ground upon the next meeting of Council. We speak of Education. It is impossible to overestimate, and we imagine few would venture to underrate, the importance of securing suitable education for every child in the province. But this is something which cannot be, or at" any rate which never has been, wholly secured by legislative enactment. It is an object which any wise Government must countenance, and ta the utmost of its power strive to promote. But it is just one of those masters in which Govern* ment, be it ever so paternal in character, may do mischief by too much interference, In the old countries of Europe, where a large proportion of the population are sunk so low in ignorance and vice as to be incapable of judging and acting for themselves, the action of Government may be properly, if not necessarily, greatly extended. But we have here no such mass of evil to conteud with, and we should be sorry to think that many heads of families could be found within this province, who would not consider the instruction, and cultivation of the minds of their children, to be of as much importance, and as worthy of effort and expense, as the clothing and, feeding of their bodies. We hold, moreover, that there is here a duty, the performance of which is essential to the maintenance of a proper moral feeling on the subject, and which cannot be altogether removed without social detriment. This is indeed a question, in dealing with'which it behoves Government to be very careful lest it unduly trench upon the responsibilities of the family, or in any degree undermine that spirit of self-dependence, and that proper appreciation of personal duty, which are the necessary characteristics of a free and enlightened, and still more, of a religious people." Keaping Bee.—We have on several occasions had the satisfaction of recording the good feeling of our country settlers towards those who have recently settled amongst them, displayed by the neighbors turning out to give the new colonists a day's ploughing. This laudable practice, which was commenced in the Taieri, has been followed by many other districts; but a new feature in this style of combination for a general object has lately been displayed by the settlers on the harbour side, who, men and women, turned out the other week to reap Mr. Clcarwater's crop. Twice the weather proved un propitious, and the reapers had to return home. But being determined to complete their good work, all, without an exception, returned next morning. A substantial dinner, provided by Mr. Clearwater, was done ample justice to. Our informant tells us that Mr. Clearwater was one of the earliest settlers in the district,'and is held in very general respect by his neighbors, who took this substantial means of testifying their regard for him.— Witness. The Maories.—-We regret to learn that the Rev. Mr. Stannard is about to leave Otago, and that every vestige of effort on behalf of the native population will thus vanish. The duty of some exertion being used to elevate the condition of these neglected people has been talked about and acknowledged in public and in private, in the Provincial Council and in the Presbytery, and yet the only missionary who had been engaged in this important field of operations is forced to abandon it from want of even a roof to cover his head. For many reasons it is desirable that the Wesleyans should continue to occupy the station, and we understand that this, is not improbable, if the necessary support be afforded, although Mr. Stannard's arrangements were too far advanced, before the fact of his intended departure became generally known, to permit of their being set aside. Surely the General Government, who are so very ready to dip their hands into our provincial purse, might devote a portion of the sum set aside for native purchases out of the general revenue to the aborigines of Otago.— Colonist. The Cosmopolite, from Hobart Town, arrived with 30 horses, 260 Bbeep,'including several valuable rams, and a quantity of timber. The stock arrived in excellent condition.