CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1632, 9 March 1866, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

SECULAR AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES. Sik, —I would be obliged to you to insert this letter in your paper, as I wish to correct an erroneous impression which seems to have "been conveyed by me in some remarks I made on Saturday night, at Saltwater Creek. It appears that the public understood from me, that the children receiving their education in the Government Schools should be un-instructed in religion. This is far from being my opinion. What I intended to convey to the meeting was this, that I heartily supported the undenominational system as established by the educational ordinance, but that it should be strictly adhered to. I believe that the ordinance directs that a portion of the Scriptures should be read morning and evening, by the School-master, and that all children should attend. To this clause I object, for by it one creed, if not more, is excluded from the use of the schools. The schools, therefore, are no longer undenominational. In my opinion, the Ministers of the different denominations should be specially invited by the local committees to attend the schools at stated times, and give religious instruction to the children of their own creed, thereby carrying out the spirit of the present ordinance. I hope that a great want may soon be supplied by the different denominations establishing Sunday schools in every district, as I consider religious instruction to be of the ighest importance. Yours, &c., EDWARD N. SIMMONS. THE ASHLEY DISTRICT. TO THE EDITOR OP TIIE LTTTELTON TIMES. Sir,—One political move has lately taken place, which should not be passed over in silence. Mr. Lance has for some time been seeking the suffrages of the Ashley district for a seat in the General Assembly. From apathy, or from the fact of his being a large runholder, and an employer of labour in the district, no opposition has been offered to him. The consent of the electors to his being their representative was certainly not on account of his energy and perseverance in the Council towards his much neglected district. The nomination day is passed. Who is our representative ? Mr. Lance ? No, Mr. L. Walker, the unsuccessful candidate of Akaroa. Three days before the nomination there happened to be a public meeting atLeithfleld, and there Mr. Lance introduced Mr. Walker in words to this effect: " Gentlemen, my friend Walker has lately been ousted from Akaroa, and it is necessary he should have a seat; so you must have him. He is dead against separation ; so am I. He will turn Stafford out; so would I. As for the hobble the colony is now in, we will think abcut it." The issue is that the ousted member from Akaroa is now the Ashley member, and the nominee of Mr. Lance. The district may, or may not be in better hands, That has nothing to do with it. Mr. Lance has imposed on the Ashley constituency the rejected of Akaroa. I do not impugn the political character of Mr. Walker, but I contend that Mr. Lance has treated this district with discourtesy. Yours, &c., OBSERVER.