The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5256, 21 November 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1885.

The eagerness with which the lectures and classes being carried on byftProfesspr Black in the Academy of Music, are being taken advantage of, should induce the Government to go further in the direction they hare turned their attention to. The appreciation which has been manifested by the large number of students, and the audiences at the lectures clearly prove that a necessity exists for the inclusion, in the mining districts at all events, of such instruction: in the-.-system-., of education provided j by Government, as is now being given by Professor Black, Mr Montgomery, and assistants. The effects of the present teaching will be merely evanescent unless opportunities are given students of pursuing the subjects of research they are now taking up, and the immense value of such instruction—of which the groundwork is being laid— is, it is shown, fully recognised, when observation is taken of the education aod intelligence displayed by the students, and the fact noted tbit all portions of the com* munity "are represented at the classes we refer to. Should the Government adopt this view, and decide to extend this knowledge, which is not only useful but j necessary, there is a probability that some j little' difficulty will be experienced, at least at the outset, in selecting the method of carrying out such a project. The in« stitution of schools of mines in the centres of mining districts, with their Professors and attendant expenses, is, we fear, likely to prove too costly to allow their establishment, therefore it would be more advisable, perhaps, to endeavor to devise other means of carrying out the desired end. In the first place, a commencement of the education should be made at the proper place, the young should be ins true ted, and boys wboseoccupation in their afterlife is likely to be that of mining, should be allowed an opportunity of acquiring the scientific knowledge requisite tor the successful pursuit of a search for the Earth's treasures. It would certainly be the correct idea to follow, to begin at the beginning and not follow the example of Gulliver's friends, who in building their houses began by the aid of a balloon at the roof; a tree does not grow from the top. The Government should provide the older boys attending schools in mining districts, or those who desire such teach* ing, with at least the elementary instruction requisite for successfully following mioing pursuits. Should the Government feel disposed to establish a School of Mines here, "a consummation devoutly to be wished" they would without doubt be doiog a good and useful work, one which would be of advantage to not only the district but the whole colony, perhaps if they do so it will be anticipated that duty in connection with this matter ends there, but more tban this is, as we have pointed out, needed in the— comparatively speaking — inexpensive teaching of the young in these matters. It is very gratifying indeed to have the opportunity of recording the fact that the lectures and classes given have been clearly demonstrative of the desire of the people to acquire all the knowledge available, and that Professor Black, his colleague, and assistants are much pleased with the reception they have met with, and the appreciation shewn of their instruction by the people. A very satisfactory step was taken last evening in appointing a com* mittee to further the institution of a School of Mines, and if the committee; or the district, do not succeed in securing its establishment.'they might try to secure the inauguration of a series of regularly held classes, under proper instructors, in connection with onr educational system.