The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FUTDAY, JAN. 24, 1879.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 237, 24 January 1879, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FUTDAY, JAN. 24, 1879.

While the completion of the great Southern Trunk Line of railway — Amberley to the Bluff — marks an important stage in the Public Works policy the Colony has persued for -several years past, it will also be regarded as a prominent epoch in the progress of the Clutha district. It must seem to the early settlers but as yostei'day when there were neither roads nor bridges in the district ; when the dwellings of the more adventurous spirits, who risked their lives in this remote part of the Province, were few and far between ; when the weary traveller's route was only' marked by solitary cabbage trees or rude poles so placed as to point the way to some hospitable hut Not a few are still amongst us who have had to inaugurate and carry on the work of colonisation under very adverse circumstances compared with those that now exist. For their convenience no iron horse traversed the plain, nor indeed was the more common animal of the name at all times available to administer to their necessities. They were, in the truest and most extended sense of the term, their own burden bearers, and how cheerfully, energetically, and successfully they have performed their part in this new settlement, their whole career and their present independent position abundantly testify. All honour to the Pilgrim Fathers of Otago. It is much owing to their prudence, indomitable pluck, and perseverance that the country is now what it is, and that it has outstripped in progress and material prosperity many countries whose settlement commenced under more advantageous circumstances and at a much earlier date. We trust they will yet be spared for many years in our midst to dignify society, to guide by their counsels, and to exemplify to the rising generations those practical principles of honour and industry that lead to comfort, happiness, and true greatness. To the class to which we refer, the demonstration of Wednesday must, by contrast, have recalled strange scenes that occurred during the day of small things now past and almost forgotten. It is to be hoped that the future effects of the opening of the railway will bear some such proportion to its importance -as the progress and success of the early settlers have borne to their small beginnings. j Whether such may prove the case or not, will depend upon the prudence and energy of the inhabitants. It is not necessary, at this stage of the world's history, and of human experience, to point out the advantages railways are calculated to confer. Yet it is a strange anomaly that some seemingly would prefer the continuance of the old state of things to the introduction of the new. The progress through the country of mercantile, men and their agents may be more safe and speedy ; the produce of the agriculturist and other producers may be more quickly, and at a reduced rate, transmitted to the miller and manufacturer, and from these to the merchant and the consumer, and that, too, with ■considerable advantage to all parties, -but j the trade of a roadside inn, or some old established house of call is ruined, and this, and suchlike trifles, bulk as large in the minds of some as all the benefits of a complete system of railways. That some small isolated instances of decadencj'-

may be experienced as a consequence of the new order of things here is quite apparent. These, however-, "must be regarded as only worthy of an infinitismal amount of consideration, when respect is had to the immense impetus that will be . given to local industries, and business generally throughout the whole district. If, under the new influences that will now be at work, and the altered currents of certain classes of customers, business may, in isolated cases, prove less lucrative, there is this consolation — the means of transit elsewhere has been provided. There are waste lands to break up, and fine agricultural soil ready for the plough; there are coal fields, goldfields, and numerous industries to develop, and in the development of which there is ample room for the exercise of both muscle and brain. So far as the completion of the Southern Trunk line is concerned, we believe it will prove of gr^at benefit to settlers throughout the Clutti* Valley, that it will encourage and facilitate trade of all kinds, and will greatly, tend to the material prosperity of the inhabitants of j both town and country. Such being our | convictions in the matter, we warmly j congratulate our readers upon the im- ] portant event of Wednesday last. — — . ■& | It has been our privilege during the last few. months to record three instances in which School Committees in the Clutha have supplemented the salaries of their teachers. This is just as it should be. It is admitted on all hands that under the new system of payment teachers are not nearly so well paid as formerly, and that ' considering the nature of their work their salaries comparatively small. . It is, therefore, with pleasure that we hail the example that has been set to School Committees in the Olutlia by Kaitangata, Kaihiku, and Wairuna. It is remarkable, however, 'that in two at least of these instances, the idea of a local supplement never occurred, to the Committees till their teachers threatened to leave them, and had actually accepted other situations. Other districts may not be so fortunate as to be able to retain their teachers by a promise of an increase of salary, because we can easily conceive of a teacher being too proud spirited to remain in his present j sphere by the force of a money bribe, j when he has engaged to tr uisfer his services elsewhere. We therefore think that those districts which are satisfied with their teachers should lose no time in augmenting their salaries, even before they i begin to seek fresh fields and pastures i new, for they may find that if they aAvait j a threatened departure their liberality may come too late. It would cost a very •slight effort to i\iise most of the teacher's incomes to £200 a year, and we earnestly commend this to the consideration of the householders' meetings, which are to be held on Monday. A good teacher is worthy of a good salary, and our country schools afford so few pecuniary temptations to man of talent, that those who have got an efficient teacher should make every effort to retain :.him,' for they will undoubtedly find it difficult to secure another in his stead.