Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1874. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 335, 4 March 1874, Page 2

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1874. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The "Otago Daily Times" has been giving US of late some rather startling articles. The direction in which the tastes of the writer lie ia clearly enough indicated. If any evil occurs in any of our institutions, voluntary or State, "wHSse" ottjectr i» the elevation of the masses, tliey gather around it as flies collect over an exposed wound, and suck up the prurient matter with, evident gusto. What is good and sound is ignored, and what may l?e in any way defective is hailed with rapturous delight. We would remind our contemporary ihat this is not the way to correct existing defects. So far as these articles have included the ministers of Olago, we leave them for the time being to the noble and manly letter of Dr. Stuart, contained in our lasc issue. As the topic for our present article, we make tb.e following clipping from the last meeting of the Education Board :—": — " A letter was read from Mr. W. Milne, Secretary to the Schoolmasters' Association, stating that h,e liad, been instructed by that body to bring under the notice of the Board the following extract from a leading article in the '.Otago Daily Times' of the 2Qth mat. :— *We have known . . \ . clerics 'who were full of profound interest in th,e morals of Aneiteum natives, and the religious convictions of the savages in the Malay Archipelago, but d^d not care a jot for the Walker street brothels or the immoralities of some of our district schools.' It was the opinion of the Association (continued the writer) that, this charge, though made indirectly, was so insulting to every one connected with the management of the district schools, and of so gross a nature as to demand a searching investigation. His Honor said that undoubtedly the charge was of a rather startling character. In reply to his Honor, Mr.. Hislop said he did not know what immoralities were alluded to. His Honor added that he did not see what they could do as ' an Education Board. The writer should be asked to be more specific It of course would not do to take notice of everything that appeared in a newspaper. It was suggested that the matter- should be referred to the Provincial Solicitor. Ultimately it was decided to recommend the Association to apply to the 1 'Otago Daily Times' for, specific information in the matter, with the view of taking whatever action might be deemed expedient in relation thereto." ISow; we do not find fault with the *' Daily Times" for calling attention to such things if they really existed, nor would we refuse to listen to them because an extreme view of the case is presented. Our maxim would be to learn even from an enemy, and before we regard the writer of the above judgment a friend) we should like to see something more of a friendly spirit. It is true that the "Daily Times " has published a letter by one who has nobly given his name, but there ' ia this difference between the writer of the above judgment on our public schools and the author of the letter, that whilst the one saddles the schools with the immorality, the other more than hints that the parents are to blame. From the " Daily Times " referring to this letter, we now gather that the immoralities lie in che direction of obscene scribbling in the neighborhood of at least one of ihe public schools. Novt, taking this fact to be tree, we feel ourselves compelled to do so because the writer has .given his name-. We ask, Who is to blame 1 The '" Daily Times " would lay thp blame at the door of the teachers. They may not have done al] that they could do, bvtf- we feel persuaded that tbe fattft lies with the parents in the first instance. If ew parents fe'ei as they ought to .do the immense importance of guarding the susceptible minds of their children from contact Witli evil. They are allowed to pome into contact with it before they know what it is-, 'tie evil gets a very earfy hold, and base passions are. generate*. While the parents have been sleeping -aft %heir the -enemy has

been sowing his tares, and ere long those who might have come forth to bless the community become a curse to it, and all because of the negligence of the parents. Then there are parents, we would hope few, whose* throat, even in presence of their children, "ia an op 1 en sepulchre," and no wonder that the children show signs of premature vice ; but it is too bad to ignore these influences, and saddle ourpublic schools, as the "Daily Times" has done, with the immorality. At the same time, all may not have been done by the masters and school committees that lay within their reach. From the fact that our schools are mixed schools, they ought to be managed with the utmost delicacy and care. We make this remark all the more readily that it falls within our knowledge that the teachers of the Lawrence Grammar School and Committee of the same have considered this aspeot of the school under their care, and have so arranged the boys and girls in the school as best to ensure its purity. They have, moreover, provided separate playgrounds. Anything of a prurient nature that has been discovered has been firmly though quietly dealt with. There is one thing which we think ought to be in all our public schools, i.e., to have the eye of the master on the children during play hours; not to interfere with freedom of play — the more heartily children romp during the play hour, so much the better — but to ensure that all goes on well while the children are under Jiia charge. This supervision we recommend all the more that the children are at that pliant age when they may be formed into permanent habits, and from recollecting that one scabbed sheep infects the whole flock. If such be there on the playground, it is necessary to try to neutralise his influence. This subject is of immense importance. Let our school teachers and committees, and, above all, parents, learn a lesson from what has thus casually come up before tho Education Board.

We have perused the particulars, terms, and conditions of sale of leases of email runs withdrawn from the Tuapeka commonage, and we regret to say that, notwithstanding all the deputations, protestations, and other means at the command of "The mue Spur and Tuapeka settlers, and which were taken advantage of tsy~ them, these runs are to be sold under the following clause in the conditions of sale, viz.: — "It will be optional with the lessee to, fence or not j and in the event of his erecting a fence or fences^ on the expiration of the lease, if Ihe vendor shall lease the lot again, tKe- incoming tenant shall pay the one-half value of the said fence or fences ; but in no case will the vendor or the Provincial Government pay any costs or charges incurred by the lessee in fencing." We do not require to remind our readers of the distinot promises which were made by the Provincial Government that one consideration above all others would be the fencing of the land withdrawn from the commonage. The result wll be that soms 20,000 acres of land will be withdrawn from the commonage ; and whoever may purchase the lease of the same wiU have power to sue the settlers for trespass, and otherwise harass the stock of settlers that may overstep the imaginary boundary line. Instead of settling the sheep-.trespass question, it will be seen that the action of the Government w;ill simply prove to be an aggravation of th,e evil, and such an aggravation of it that, we are surprised the Goldfielda Secretary should have apparently countenanced on the part of the Government.

A considerable amount of correspond dence, embodying some of the grievances of the Roxburgh settlers, appeals in our present issue. If any district has a fair and legitimate cause of complaint and right to growl, it is the Teviot district ; for, on every hand, the people of that salubrious climate have been made the victims of designing politicians and unjust stewards. Block after block of their fair country has been held up to their tempting gaze, and just as they were about to possess the land, it eluded their grasp for ever. Thsy have sent an invitation to Mr. Holloway to visit them, which we trust that gentleman will accept. The cause of immigration, and New Zealand as a field for the same, which Mr. llolloway has come to investigate on behalf of the agricultural laborers of England, will not Buffer by the plain truth being told him by some of the residents of Otago, however brilliantly his Honor the Superin-. tendent may have in his cups described the country to Mr. Holloway as paradise regained. The people of Roxburgh can supply Mr. Holloway with a full and particular account of the difficulties they have had to encounter iv getting land upon which to settle,, and the small amount of success which has attended their efforts. The people of Tuapeka are also prepared to supply Mr. Holloway with useful information on th.c same subject, gained from their experience in endeavoring to get a portion of the Bellamy Run thrown open. Old residents of Tapanui, Switzers, Alexandra, Blacks, and indeed every district on the goldfields will bear like testimony to the obstructive character of every Provincial Government and of every Qeueral Government which has held office fur the last leu years to the settlement of the country by a hona fide population. We sincerely hope Mr. Holloway's visit to this country will help towards a coinp]*ste upsetting of the present iniquitous laws, and, their still more iniquitous administration.