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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4014, 9 November 1881, Page 2

Frequently in these columns, when writing on the question of Education and the secular system, we have paid a tribute to the generosity and magnanimity of the members of the Roman Catholic Church, in that, unable to take advantage of the provisions of the national scheme of education, they support schools of their own— 'thus proving their sincerity and unqualified submission to the teachingsof their Church. While we hold strong opinions on this subject, and are firm believers and supporters of the present secular system, it does not blind us to the evidences of self-denial, andfthat spirit of generosity displayed by our Boman Catholic fellow citizens. One moment's consideration will prove what a burden the support of such schools, which are very numerous I throughout the colony, must be to the members of the Church, and efforts have been made many times to relieve in some measure the continual drain upon the pockets of the people. Some time ago a scheme was /propounded in Wellington which bids fair to meet many of the requirements. It took the form of a company under the provisions of the Joint Stock Companies' Act, and starts with a capital of £250,000. We have been favored with a copy of the prospectus, and as the subject is of interest to a large section of our readers we publish a portion giving the objects of the company: -—To acquire land in various parts of the Colony in large and small blocks, for the purpose of giving facilities to the working classes of purchase and settlement on easy terms of payment, and to be partakers of the profits as shareholders ; to lend money at interest when such is required by Educational or Church Committees; to receive sums of money on deposit at interest; to grant loans on mortgage of freehold and other approved securities; to provide for Catholic Educational purposes an annual sum from the profits as an Endowment, to be invested or Otherwise dealt with as the shareholders may direct, such sum to be fixed by a majority of the shareholders. The advantages of a Society of this kind to the Catholic working classes cannot be over estimated, when it is considered how peculiarly they are situated in connection with the Education question; as one of the chief objects will be the endowment of Catholic Schools. AH the children in the community whose fathers and mothers, when possessed of a a few shares, would feel that by a little exertion on their own parts, they could attain to a high class education and possible Scholarships. And every in-

dustnoua individual, possessed of little or no money, would hare a chance of making a home for himself and family, without being aunoyed with the harassing style of the usual land jobber and money lender of the Colony. The possession of landed property is of the greatest import to the Working and Trading Classes of the Colony, for the sake of the future of their children, and to obtain such without united action now, when combination iv lar^e companies is the rule, is almost impossible to people of small means. 'Iho promoters are iv a poaitiou to state that they have under offer blocks of land, varying from 10,000 to 200,000 acres, which can be acquired at extremely low rates. The promoters of this Company are prepared to show that, although guided by philanthropic motives, they feel assured from experience in landed property transactions, that the venture as commercial one is thoroughly sound, as it is well known that private individuals have amassed immense fortunes by the purchase and-sale of landed property in the colony, and when all the names of the Provisional Directors iv the various Provincial Districts are to hand that there will be no delay in placing the shares in the market.