Original Correspondence.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 402, 24 January 1872, Page 6

Original Correspondence.

(i\> theEditqi ofthetinice 'Herald.)

Occasional travellers in passing through this Province with their eyes open cannot fail to- mark our onward motion. It has always been = a profitable retrospect to look, back cm the 'way-' which we have come, and although our motto is " Onward '" it is a healthy stimulant, and will accelerate our movement by sometimes surveying the pist.; and.if we are thankful to Bim who has directed us, 'in., this ..will we jbe encouragedto proceed; on, a : career of honor and usefulness. One chief feature which marks the presentis the impi-.ovement in our dwellinghouses.; : In the early yearsof. our settlement : the houses of our friends were distinguished thus :— " The 'house with- the thatched roof and the miuLwalls, white- washed ; the house with the" brick chimney ; the two roomed : weather- boarded farm-house '■',"' the- Kvhite house with the iron roof," showing that the walls had actually received a coat of paint. Lonk : how; my reader, at the present picture. You want to know who is that gentleman driving his "pair," and the superb fitout, with two young ladies in the buggy with him, These, sir, are his daughters ; they have received their education in the Province, and are highly accomplished. See thow they can entertain the company who visit their father's mansion with the sweetest of music, and the most refined carriage and conversation. These, sir, were the two little bare-footed, bare-headed girls which you have seen running about the doors of the, mud cottage, You heard the speech of a gentleman in the Provincial Council, not long since, which shewed that the speaker was a gentleman and a scholar. That gentleman once occupied, and was in the proud position of being the owner of the two roomed cottage, with the rough land adjoin- j ing. Now he is the possessor of 500 acres of the be«*t land in Otago, and it may be said of that farm and many others, that where tutu and fern, and wild scrub grew, there corn and fruit and flowers abound. Nor' have we forgot to set up our altars for the worship of the God of our fathers We see, in all directions, places of worship for different denominations ; some of those edifices are unpretending in their appearance, and sometimes the school or the public hall may serve as a temporary church. One of the finest and most prominentof our Presbyterian churches has been built for the East Taieri congregation, and which is an honor to the peorle and their excellent and respocted minister ; doubtless we shall sco many such in this wealthy Province. In matters also belonging to education we are not behind the most favored country ; until lately we have thought our educational institution the very acme of perfectir n, aad, with very few exceptions — notwithstanding what has b^en said and written upon the subject — this is the general opinion still — our present system ensures success. If the public w.mld but attend our school examinations, and make the acquaintance of the mode of in struction pursued, there would remain very litt-le disaffection. During my peregrinations I had the pleasure of being present at the examination of the Southbridge school the other day, and am happy to note that there were a gootily number of mothers, and a sprinkling of the country squirearchy present. The examination itsoif, as your re porter, doubtless, will tell ua. was a *' success " Passing south T noticed the Great' Southern Railway "fetched up " to an abrupt tinmnns. The steam blown off, the whistle unsounded, and the pick and the shovel lyiug in their ioitloriou3 ease. When they get up the steam they will find CouperthwaHe's coals excellent for the purpose. Tha weather having been so dry the crops will be a failure everywhere. I was glad to notice a fair crop upon the lands of Mr David Bowers, one of our oldest and most successful settlei-3. [f you call upon this gentleman jon will see the heathfirin bloom and almost every other plant (the thistle included) that will remind one of old Scotia. This gentleman will also show you a lanje family of strong heal.-.hy sons and daughters, and when the Immigration scheme is fully developed, Mr Bowers considers that he will be entitled to a large division of the profits. I was glad to hear that the Government Engineer had visited Ealclu'ha anent the threatened invasion of this delightful littie township by the Mr lynenx river. The readers of the ' Herald ' will perhaps remember tha- 1 called their attention to the dangerous lead in the river in a letter which you inserted twelve months ago. I regret to learn that Mr Arnot is leaving Balclutha ; however, he will not long |be out of harness I consider the people j who will get his future services will be a highly favored people. When in that disi tricfc I spent a day with Mr M'Coil in his school. This rising young teacher has a good school and a good library ; there are upwards of 20 readers. I must now draw to a close, making the usual apology for the length of my letter. — lam, &c, Traveller.