The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 17,- 1871. " Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 184, 17 August 1871, Page 4

The Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 17,- 1871. " Measures, not Men."

The Education question has been the general topic of discussion by the Colonial press for some time past. The system of. education which lias worked so' well in Otago has given rise to considerable comment. Some of the less" favoured provinces have looked wittr 'erWv" ujjoiij fctfe .'system', ancLaa! they seem unable of themselves-to--*imtia,fce~4*,-similar one, they are bringing what pressure they can to bear upon the General Assembly this session to

get a Colonial system inaugurated — with what result we cannot tell. It is gratifying, however, to us to know that the General Government, in drafting their Education Bill, which they propose introducing during the session, had the assistance and experience of Mr. Hislop, a gentleman who has long had the management of Education in Otago, and under whose fostering care that system has been brought to its present comparative state of perfection. What the Bill is likely to be it is difficult to imagine ; but there is

one thing certain, the people of Otago will not allow any radical change to be made without a determined struggle against it. The system which at present obtains in Otago cannot be considered either a secular or a denominational one. It seems a sort of compromise, and so far as our judgment goes, is suited for all sects and sections of the community. There are certain statements contained in the school books used which are said to be distasteful to the Roman Catholic portion of the community, but these statements are comparatively trifling, and the difficulty in that respect might very easily be met. It would be our wish to see the present system continued in Otago and extended all over the Colony; but failing that, we would much rather prefer a purely secular education, excluding altogether the Scriptures, than have a denominational or sectarian system introduced, by which, in a sparsely populated country like this, Education would be brought to the lowest possible ebb. Let it not be supposed from this remark that we despise or think lightly of the teachings of religion by which wholesome restraints are put upon lawlessness and iniquity — by which the human family are directed to think of those momentous questions, whence they came and whither they go. Far from it ; the Christian religion has actuated many of its professors to the performance of the noblest deeds recorded in history ; it has prompted thousands of untold acts of benevolence and charity, and been the means of leading its countless numbers to live pure and happy lives, and to leave this scene of existence in the confiding hope of something better hereafter. We do not consider it the duty of the State to teach religion or to support it with its substance. The State has no business whatever with a man's dealings with his Maker — sufficient for it to give its children an education such as will enable them to discern their duty to society. With the Cliureh rests the onus of dispensing religion, and where the Church fails to do so and accuses the State of want of support, we consider the offending re&ts with the former and not with the latter. At present in Otago the only objection to the system which now obtains is made by the Roman Catholics. But, although the}' are now the only dissentients, it does not follow that as soon as a denominational system were introduced each sect would demand the peculiar tenets of its Church to be taught, and as a matter of course separate schools and separate teachers would be required, for a man cannot be supposed to teach the creeds of all the Churches and at the same time inculcate into the youth of his charge the ground work of a good secular education. Under a Government denominational system we should have miserable schools and still more miserable teachers, instead of a fair standard of education and a creditable array of intelligent men and women as we have at present.

The adjourned meeting of the subscribers to the Tuapeka Hospital will be held on Friday evening, the ; 25th inst., and we should like to see a large meeting — not a packed one by \iny clique either for or against the .„ present management, but a meeting of those who sincerely desire to see the , Hospital conducted with efficiency and/fn a manner that will reflect credi/iipon the district. Much has been said against allowing the Resident Surgeon private practice, but none of the arguments that we have heard, adduced convince us that the effi-' ciency of the Hospital would be itnpared in the" slightest degree by allowing him private practice, so .long .as- we can secure a continuance of . the services of the Honorary Surgeon. These 'services, howeyer, we'catmot expect to be given tojthe" Hospital if we subsidise the JRJesicle'nt "Surgeon and then brimr him irito' competition with the Honorary Stt-rgeon. The best, and we think the only fair way to settle the difficulty is to give the Resident Surgeon a certain sum, allowing him private

practice, -.and the Honorary Surgeon a certain sum for his services ; the sum given the Resident Surgeon t^l^ be sufficient to make him responsible for the management of the Hospital in his absence. Should this plan not meet with the approval of the subscribers, and they are of opinion that" the efficiency of the institution would be imparted by allowing private practice, then the only course open to them is to dismiss the Hospital officials and open the various offices for competition.

What has become of our Water Supply and Railway Committee ? The very time their actions might be of some service to the district is the time they have withdrawn from the scene of operation. The survey of the railway from Tokomairiro to Lawrence, we believe, commences to-day, and we think if the Railway Committee held occasional sittings there might be many matters of importance to discuss, and might also be the means of hastening the construction of the line. If the residents of Tuapeka do not now show some activity in the matter, who knows how long that important work will be delayed. While the money is forthcoming let us see that we have our share of it.