The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 113, 15 January 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1879.

The question. Secular or Denominational education, promises to be one of the leadin'' - questions for the next General Assembly. From Auckland to Invercargill the opposite forces have begun to muster. On the one hand donominationabsts as if they had discovered a power in the little and disjointed religious instruction previously given at schools, never discovered before. Even so far back ns our forefathers’ time the shorter caticbism of tbs Scotch schools, and the church catechism of the English, formed the sum and substance of the religions teacning of our schools during" the end of the past, and part of the present century. If a portion of Scripture wore addo 1 as so much to be got by heart, this little was ge erally associated with such pains and penalties as left anything but a fa voir able impression of the precepts of the Bible on the minds of the pupils. If it teaches love and truth the ,pupil would be ready eyclaim, “little proof of love in

■practice.” A return to such ft system of Bible-t-whing. even were it prm t c Ah', is not desirable. Religion in onr tunc is not now a.lapioii for be mg taught in our public schools without an hitmens'* men- ; lice of comforts and leaching powr teat weave not piepared to make. If our falhois and mothers, and grandfathers and g'auilmolhers, voiibl hold their own in the world with such slender means used for their moral training in their public schools, surely when we have our Sabbath-schools and Bible classes established in every little community, the teachings of the Bible can bo, and tire, inculcated with greater love and earnestness than by the use of the rod. We may say at once that w e accept (lie Bib’e as onr rule of faith in life, and through it onr hope for eternity, but we do not believe in ramming religion down children’s throats at public schools, as if it were a medicine necessary for the health of their bodies. Lino nponline, precept upon precept, is the Scriptural command, but that cannot bo the rule of imparting Scriptural knowledge at these schools. Going back to history, we do not find from the list of glorious names that have been handed down from our various churches as trophies to be prized and honoured, it is anywhere stated that these great and good men, or women, received their religious impressions from the lessons taught at their clay-schools. Do we not find it ra'her a fact that pious mothers daily watching over (heir little ones, yearned over them with a tenderness and love (hat made itself felt throughout the whole household. Was it not here lay the secret of all the goodness ami righteousness which did so much lo leaven the whole lump of Christendom, of which our good Queen is a glorious example? Wc arc not averse to the Bible being used in the schools, even as a text book, nor are we prepared lo say we have clone right to exclude it from our schools. This was done as a concession to a portion of our settlers, who bad been taught to believe our Bible is not perfect. Having made that concession, and limling that still more is demanded w r e are led to make up our minds, to say, that “ Thus far shnlt thou coum, and no farther.” The cry about the Bible not being taught in (he schools looks very much like a party cry, and has no bottom in it. To say that our public education is a godless education, is to say that our school teachers are heathens, or infidels. Such language is not suited to a Christian community, and it is to be hoped that it will be denounced as unjust and uncalled for. The plain facts are these, our Roman Cathode clergy, and some of our Protestant clergy are ambitious of again having control of our public schools. This, more than religion or even morality, is the prompting influence that is at work. Where does this cry fordenominationalism come from? blot from our Boards of Education. Hot from our school committees. Not from our school teachers. Not in many instances from the parents of the children attending these schools. Where then docs the demand come from ? Mostly from parsons and political adventurers. From the former, that they may rule as formerly; from the latter, for political purposes. Now we say plainly that the clergy have never yet shown that they can possess power with, out abusing it This will apply to protestant as well as catholic. Human nature is ambitious of power under whatever circumstances it may be placed, and the clergy* are not exempt from this weakness. Have we not examples of tyranny of the deepest dye, exercised hy the church, century and century, by catholics and protestants too. It is only a question of degree, and according to their light. Many deeds of darkness were done by catholics that all good catholics would like to sec erased from the page of history. But are there not similar deeds on recoid that protestants would also like to see buried in oblivion. Human nature is-human nature, whether in a clergyman or in a lawyer, and we are not prepared therefore to hand over our public schools to the tender mercies of any class of men, whatever church they may belong to. •We have not yet forgolfen the time when each church had its schools ; when the various clergymen had the sole management. of them, and the payment of teachers. We are- not prepared to go back to tbe state of squalor that was so prevalent in those times ; teachers poorly furnished, poorly paid, and moreover had to submit to have their little pittance doled out to them in driblets barely sufficient to maintain life. Let us not return to a similar state of matters. Are we to give up our good roomy, well built, and well furnished s- hoolrooms, and our well trained, cultivated, land thoroughly respectable teachers, for four or five miserable hovels in every little township, and teachers picked from the waifs of our cities or towns, for it really amounts lo this. No respectable young man or woman would olfer their services or devote their time to acquire that knowledge and ! tact so necessary to success in teaching for the chance of becoming a vassal of this nr that church dignitary. Again, why is the cry raised by onr political adventurers ? Did not Mr Studholme’s address give us a. good index to the motive that actuates these aspirants to political power. Take again the case of Mr Wakefield. Could anyone present at his meeting shut las eyes to the fact that a bait was thrown out at a venture, to see what was in the stream ? Was not the glee of the angler nearly beyond bounds when be fancied he bad got a good haul. Donominatioualism, Beer Bills, and Land Taxes are the weapons Mr Wakefield uses to win bis game. With this lie hopes to succeed when he next eomes to the poll. What is true in the cases oi Studholme and “Wakefield is true of nine-tenths of the poli'icians who assemble in the House of Representatives. Political influence more than religion or morality is their aim. Having looked carefully into the matter, and having searched for a good f.nd sound reason why we should return to denominational ism and found it not, it will at once be apparent that holding the | views we do it is our duty to defend the | system of elementary education now ! established in our midst. Only one short j your has elapsed since the Bible was excluded from our schools, and the cry is ! raised that the whole land is full of i larrikins and young criminals. Strange that they should all, start to life and health and vigour in one short y ar. Does it not strike the most casual observer that I there is a wheel within a wheel, that a 1 few cases of iarrikinism arc being made ■ the most of for political purposes? Only a little more carefulness on the part of

mu- Boards of Education, a littlo more firmness on the p ut of the present New Zeeland Government, and a little mom faithful exorcising oi the political vote, end the cry for .destroying our public schools will soon cease J’roni the land. Hid we believe it to be a matter of conscience with any section of this clony it might make us pause before making such a firm resolve, but when it is remembered that all that was asked by our Catholic friends was to keep the Protestant Bible out of the schools, and when this was consented to it was Imped no more would be required. Now the demand is for destroying these schools and endowing Catholic or Protestant schools as the cam may be We fearlessly say to both sides : No, do not do it. It the schools do not teach one religion they do not bach the other. Therefore as we are satisfied with the present system we will do onr best to uphold that system as being in full accord .vith the tastes and feelings of Protestant settlers barring the exclusion of their Bible from these schools. Sir George Grey’s Government has a trying ordeal to go through, and many powers in high places to contend with, but only let it be true to the principles it has enunciated, “the people for the land, and the land for the people,” and the people will carry it over its difficulties. It Ims enemies on every side, all the disappointed large landholders on the one band and the politically maimed and halt and blind and disappointed on (he other, but justice and a good cause will triumph over greater difficulties than these. The educational question will doubtless bo made a standpoint but it will be found the opponents of the system of national education will find when the trial of strength comes that they have reckoned without their host. Watchfulness is nevertheless needful, it, behoves every lover of right to see to it that when might is placed against right that every right-minded man be at bis post, remembering that while he may be sleeping the enemy 7 may bo sowing tares.

Sir John Coode. —We understand Sir John Coode, C.E., lias notified to the Harbor Trust Commission that lie expects to complete his report of Melbourne Harbor this month. We may therefore expect to hear very shortly of the result of his visit to Milford. This being a smaller work would likely be disposed of early. Temuka Fair. —Between sixty and seventy head of cattle wore yarded yesterday, chiefly or wholly belonging to Mr R. Orton, of the Point. Most of them were young stock, two and three year olds. The sale was decidedly “ slow,” bids being obtained with great difficulty when obtained at all. Seven springing heifers were sold at LI 13s fid each, two young cows at Lo 2s fid, a sickly steer 20s, pair- of quiet working bullocks Ll 7 for the pair, seven other springing heifers Lo 10s : one steei’, from two to three years old, in pretty good condition, LG 10s. Seven three to four year old steers in low condition wore passed in at L 5 I7s fid ; fifteen smaller steers were not sold at L 5 ; other lots were offered but no bids obtained. Trespassers.—We- have been requested to point out to owners of cows who live in Temuka that it is “ not at all tiro thing ” to allow their beasts to wander about the roads at night. The way in which these wandering cattle’break fences and ruin gardens is not at all calculated to assist in maintaining that neighbourly feeling which should subsist amongst the people of a small place like Temuka. To be sure it is, a hard time for stock, but this is no excuse for permitting them to make raids upon a neighbor’s garden. The sufferers do not like to go “ to law ” about their losses on account of that same neighborly feeling which should prevent all occasion for it. Cattle have no business to bo on the roads, neither by day nor night, but if it is for any reason unavoidable that they should be sent to pick up a feed on the roadside, lot this be done in the daytime, when people can protect themselves from such depredations as the hungry animals make with impunity under the cover of the night. They area nuisance roaraSig about during the day, but they are not likely to do so much injury to individuals as during the night. It is a very curious thing that, as far as our experience goes, the owner of stock cannot see that justice requires him to make good, any damage his chattels may do in those cases, and to be compelled by law to do what should be done without such compulsion, is looked upon as a great harclshipYeterinary, —• Mr Samuel .Durham, M.K.C.Y.S. notifies in our advertising columns that he will visit Temuka every Wednesday, professionally. Mr Durham is a member of one of those professions which though thriving upon misfortune must be maintained. We endeavour to entertain at once the discordant hopes that his visits may be profitable, and that he may find that his professional services will not be required. Suicide at Waitohi. — A sad case of suicide occurred in the Waitohi district on Monday evening. We are unable at present to give many particulars, but we have been informed that the deceased was a young woman about seventeen years of age, named Connor, a niece of Mr J. B. Connoi*, farmer in the Levels district. That she came to this colony about a year ago, and was staying at Mr Frieu’s, Waitohi. Chi Monday evening she went out to milk, and was afterwards discovered hanging in an outhouse, and dead, having, evidently, after placing a rope around her neck, thrown herself from a beam. An inquest was held on the body yesterday, before Mr Campbell, and the jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity. The Weather. —At last we hare a good rain. “ It never rains but it'pours ” they say, and at this time of writing—Tuesday evening, 7 p.m. —it may be said that we have already enough for the present. We have every reason to congratulate ourselves upon this long-wished for change of weather. A little, a very little, harm may be done to crops already cut and lying on the ground, and some damage may accrue ftom weak straw being laid. On the other hand late crops will bo bev.tev filled, and there is now a good prospect of feed for winter. The middle plains seem to have had a very heavy downpour, as the line between Ashburton and Kakla was considerably under water, and on this side of the llangitata some of the ballast of the line was washed away yesterday, and the rails displaced so that the midday trains were delayed about three hours. Natal. —The following is an extract from a private letter received by a Dunedin gentleman from Natal by the last mail: —“ The Transvaal is all up a tree ; in a state of anarchy. A big Zulu fight is expected; troops are pouring in from the Cape and England ; it can’t all end in smoko, and to crown all, no rain has fallen for months. Cattle and sheep are dying by hundreds and thousands. Transport is ten shillings from Durban to Pieter, Maritzburg ; it used to be Is fid. This may make the fortune of some old colonists, but what will it do for now comers ? . . . Not a cane is planted in the colony as yet. There was a little rain

yesterday (about an eighth of an inch) but a wind Im-t sprung up to-day, which I believe will drive it, all away. . . . Another point is, that in Natal there is no Government land for sale ; the Commission could not agree, so the sale of Crown land was again postponed. I am' far from well pleased with Natal as a colony to settle in. I have long thought of going to New Zealand. Whatever you do, do not leave New Zealand for Natal.” ‘ Morning Herald.’ Scikxck at Ashbxtutox. —There is in this quiet, and what some might call obscure town of Ashburton, a gentleman who has for many years devoted himself to the scientific consideration of what may truly be termed a very curious and very interesting subject, - namely, the power wliich lie holds is inherent, though hitherto dormant, in the human brain of transmitting and receiving ideas without the aid of language. Speech, ho considers a slow, cumbrous, and unsatisfactory means of expressing thought and feeling, and he says he has discovered a quality in the brain, which, when intensified and duly developed, may enable any man as it enables him to convey thoughts, as it were by electricity, to any person within his presence, and with which he purposely places himself in communication—communion is the word which he himself prefers to use in this connection. lie lias not; yet given a personal name to the agent or agency by which he produces this wonderful result, but he says that it is akin to that spoken of as Vril in Bulwcr Lytton’s mysterious novel entitled “The Coming Race.” This quality or power of the brain, if fully developed, would render such a tiling as this within the limits of ordinary possibility ; Parliament, let us say, is in session, and all the members of the House are in their respective places, and a member, no matter who, stands up to acquaint his fellow members with his thoughts on the subject under consideration, but instead of fatiguing himself, and wearying them with a long string oi jerkily delivered, and occasionally mispronounced words, he exercises his Vrilism, and his thoughts are evenly and uninterruptedly conveyed to every Vrii-enduod person within the precincts, including the reporters. By tbe way, the exercise of this power in Parliament and public meetings would render it absolutely necessary to devise a simpler system of stenography then any at present "in use, for the dullest thinker can think fader than the most voluble speaker can speak. The power could be used in church, and, in fact, in all the relations of life. If this agent is brought into general use, as it will be in time, no doubt, it will create a revolution in society, for the influence of ono man with another, in private and with crowds in public assemblies, will depend entirely on Ids thought power. Thank God, wc shall soon bo able to give the celebrated saying of Burke a novel application, and to say, the ago of stumporatory is gone ! We shall probably have more to say in a future issue of this novel mental agent, wliich its modest and curious discoverer chooses for the present to call Yrilism.— ‘ Ashburton Mail.’ Kakahu CniLmiKx’s Treat.— This event came oft - on Friday last. As a preliminary, the school children were examined for prizes the previous day. The Eev. G. Barclay and others examined the school subjects, while the Misses Mein adjudged the prizes for needle-work. If a hot bright day be conducive to festivity, then Friday was everything that could be wished fur. About noon the youngsters began to muster, and very shortly afterwards the lottery for toys &c. was opened. The children afterwards were seen with pocket knives, lockets, boxes of paints, dolls, balls, purses, and conspicuous for noise, at least, were sundry juvenile musical instruments. In all, there were 128 children under the age of fifteen who had the privilege of drawing. An interval occurred during which nuts were scrambled for, then the school prizes were distributed. Noticeable amongst, these were a handsome workbox presented by Mrs Hay, and awarded to Margaret Findlay for needle-work, and an Album presented by Mrs Mein and awarded to Robert Speight for mapping. In ail there were forty-four prizes valued at over £5. Mr L. H. Hooke, Chairman of the School Committee awarded the competitive prizes, and Mr Speight the teacher gave out the special prizes. The sun at this time fairly took possession of thy field and with the exception of a few stout hearts, who essayed a game at cricket, most of those present especially the ladies fairly succumbed to his influence. Some were actually found asleep. It was at this happy moment that the clink of crockery was heard and the cry of ‘ Tea’! roused every one to action. The beverage was excellently managed by Mesdames Speight and Beattie, and good things were in profusion everywhere. The signal for sports was eagerly responded to, and some excellent running and leaping were liberally rewarded by Messrs Mein, Hay and .Skinner, the stewards. The days proceeding were brought to a close by three hearty cheers for Mr and Mrs Speight, and also for the management. Many were seen affectionately taking leave of the teacher and his family, who are leaving for another sphere of labour. It speaks volumes for the liberality of the residents of Kakahu to note that upwards of £2O was spent in the the day’s festivity. Ho mow ax’s Oixtmkxt axd Pints.— Tumours, Glandular Swellings, ami bad breasts.—lf any departure from health requires earlier attention than another to prevent disastrous consequences, it is the class of diseases now under review. To save hazard and future pain, the budding tumour must have prompt treatment, or discomfort and nights of disquietude will bo the sufferer’s portion. ’Whenever the ailment first appears, after fomenting the spot with warm water, Holloway’s Ointment must be energetically nibbed on the part till a considerable quantity is absorbed. The Pills, too, must bo commenced with early. If these remedies bo diligently persevered with, the simplest tumor, or the contracted and stiff joint is arrested. In cases of bad breasts, with or without milk fever, relief is almost instantaneous.—Advt.