NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2295, 26 March 1887, Page 2

NOTES.

Politics are not conducive to morality. To be sure there are honourable exceptions to the rule—a reference to any member of the profession will establish this at <>nce—but the public at large are not inclined to believe that their number is large. One of the lowest forms of political immorality is the practice of blackening the character of one's opponents, and belittling the policy of the other side at whatever cost. Mr Hobbs, it is pretty well known, does not regard the Bay of Islands as a pocket borough of his, and no one would object to his taking all reasonable precautions to secure its loyalty to himself at the next general election, when he will in all probability be opposed by Mr John Lundon. But Mr Hobbs has sacrificed his principles to political expediency. He was very sore at the action of the Government in establishing special settlements in his district, because they would gain popularity thereby, but the soreness apparently developed into malignity when he found that John Lundon was to ruu the settlement business. Hence Mr Hobbs, after making an inspection of the settlements, telegraphs to the Auckland Press :—

The Herekino special settlers are intensely dissatisfied at the unfulfilled promises of the Government. They have no stores, no credit, and some are in want of food, and have not tasted meat for weeks. Flour is twenty shillings a hundred, and other goods are in proportion. Some of the people are not on their sections yet, not being able to get to them for want of roads. These settlers are in an isolated, inaccessible place, and many will certainly starve if immediate relief is not forthcoming. The people are willing to do without tea and sugar if they can only get flour. The position cannot be exaggerated.

Whereupon the Auckland Bell " goes " for Mr Hobbs barehanded. Our contemporary, after referring to the religious prepossessions of the honourable gentleman, characterises his statements as lies and practically disproves them, and then proceeds : —

It is one of the saddest things in life that the effect of religion on some minds is morally bad, and, speaking in general terms and from wide experience, we are compelled to admit that religious men will do with an unction often what men of the world would scorn to do, and that for a downright mean and unscrupulous thing we must look commonly to a strong professor of religion. It is not the fault of religion this,, but just as the most wholesome ingredients sometimes form chemical compounds of the most dangerous kind, so religion on certain forms of human nature produces developments _of character*and action sometimes, from which worldly and sinful people shrink. Sulphur is wholesome, oxygen is lifegiving, yet they form in contact oil of vitriol, which is lethal. It is in human nature as in physics ; and religion, which is from heaven, and human nature, which is of earth, sometimes form a combination which is more like hell than either. * * * What idea can people form of holiness and heaven from observing the doings of holy men here, giving indication of holiness in the perfect state. Fancy a whole heaven filled with llobbses! Is there any spirited man in Auckland that would not rather take his chances in the other place of worship ? The climate might be warmer, but the society would be infinitely better.

A scheme is on foot at Tauranga to induce the Government to set aside a block of land as a site and an endowment for an agricultural school, at which the youths of the district might obtain practical instruction in the science of husbandry, a science which is in the highest degree inductive. The scheme is an admirable one, and we trust our Tauranga neighbours will push it on with energy. Admirable as present system of state education is, it is at best incomplete, so far as the rural districts are conccrned, so long as agriculture is not accorded a place of honour in the curriculum. Farming is, as we have said, a science, and only those who regard it as such and act accordingly can hope to find success. As our Bay of Plenty contemporary very clearly puts it:

"In these days when land and labour are dear and competition is the keenest over known, it is absolutely necessary for a young fellow starting life as a farmer, who wishes to do more than live a life of ceaseless drudgery, that he should know something more of the science of his calling than is required to milk a cow or turn a furrow ; he must learn to judge what cow will milk to the most advantage, and what seed will thrive in the furrow best after it is turned. If he is to learn these and kindred facts by practical experience gained in the slow march of the revolving seasons he will have become probably, a gray-hared man before he is a successful farmer."

We have often advocated the establishment of such an institution in Waikato, and would again urge the matter in the attention of our local bodies.