OUR YOUTH "ONCE MORE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 17 July 1866, Page 5

OUR YOUTH "ONCE MORE."

(To the Editor of the New ZaALiVD Heeald.) Pin, — 1 havo boon waiting to ace a reply to a lottor inserted in your journal, date") the 6th July, from Mr. Ncilson, and to my astonishment no one has vouchsafed the same. I think it is quite time that Bomc one interested in tho present critical state of Auoklnnd, ehould do so, and, although it is not my custom to put my namo in any prominent position, I think that, for the benefit of the class alluded to, some ono far moro enabled to dilate on it than myself should hare taken up the cause. To uso the quotation of your correspondent:— " To reap and to mow, plough and to sow, And to be a farmer's by."

That every boy should bo either a mower, ploughmn, or farmer's boy, is, in the present state of affairs, perhaps, difficult; but there :irc many of our capitalists tioro who could much holp these poor fellows—poor helpless ones,—by giving them such employment, so that such truthful btatementa that are daily made in our public journals could bo avoided. "Why not encourage those who aro willing to work, by advocating a system that would in tiino be a blessing to the country. Half tho difficulty in monetary matters is caused by theso numerous peoplo out of employ, and there is truth in the adage— "That tho poor will help tho poor. Should such be tho case, one-half of the labouring classes of Auckland would feel drawn by a sympathetic feelins to help eieii other— one-half being employed, and tho other having nothing whatever to do. The consequences I leave to an experienced journalist liko yourself to explain. I havo also found that in any case when a new arrival has called on a working man who has full employ, that the first thing he has said to him would bo, " go to Air. so and so, ho is a good man, pays me we'll, and if he can ho will help you." Tho fallacy of this may appear apparent, but it remains for wiser men than myeslf to discover it. "Would it not bo the same thing for thoso applicants were they employed in tho country as though they wore employed in town. Far, far butter. It would remove them from tomptation, and from its natural results, vice. By being removed from scene 3 that are by no means fit for them, they would be so occupied that, in the cour3o of time, they would not only bo a comfort to their parents, but a credit to the colony. Probably, your correspondent " Somerset,"No. 1, will reply to your second, correspondent, " Joseph Neilson," and stato how ho propoaoe to employ the youth of Auckland. By that means ho would enlighten those who nt prosent, eithor aro or appear to bp, in a state of ignorance. I trust I ehall not bo considered out of place in quoting th6;following|[oxtract from Shakospoare:— " Whom late I noted in t*ttore & tweeds, With overwhelming browe ; Meagro were his looks, Sharp misery had worn him to tho bones."— Borneo and Juliet—Act sth ; Scene let. It is unn3Ccssary to make further remark. Your well known experience will give you to understand that this lotter is simply addressed to you in order to afford nn extra inducement (although I doubt if any inducement whatever is needed) for you to advance as much as lays in your power the interests of our working classes. " Whero the appliances are not comeatablo, It would bo bootless to say Wator would arrest the career of a raging fire, Pursuing its devouring course." As I before stated, I am not in the habit of writing to journals, but seeing that you do all you can to further the views of justice, I do so in this instance. If it bo of any use to tho country, I shall only be to glad to do nil in my power to encourage a disintorc&ts* paper liko your own, —I am, &0., Piso Paijua M(7«i. AuckUiut, July, l§6tf.

PUBLIC AMUSE MEKT. To tho Editor of the New Zeaxakd Hebat-d. Sm,—As you are always an advocate for keeping what wo can keep in our own Province, and that there i 3 no use in sending abroad for what we h«re at home, 1 may b<s pennittoi to follow the same principle in regard to our public amusements and reereati.me. It eeeir.3 to bo a sfitlled question that man. kind must have fom ■ sort of amusement, and it is a good thing and a hopeful thing, when amuaomente can be provided and appreciated by the public, with' out anything hurtful in their attractions; amusements to which ersjry man can bring his wife and family, to share in, without, in any measure, forfeiting hie self-respect, but rather vith an increased mutual confidence and sympathy in that such pleasures are shared by them in common. First then, we have got up in our own city, by our own talent, a good Gymnasium ; next, we have a series of good concerts, by Mr. Hoffman, although, I am sorry to say, the admission price is rather above my means, I wish them all success. Next, we have the JSrewater Session?, really a good thing, and for a good object, the proceeds to be applied to the biilding of a hall and reading room. Last, but not least, we have the penny readings, which are now one of our household words. Pf rhaps the public may think them too cheap, but we hope they will remember that the coarseness and vulgarity which in the old country five and twenty years ago distinguished anything which was cheap and which led the word cheap to go hand in hand with tho word nasty, ie not to be found here among the readings. Another thing, thoy'havo been got up by men who toil every day and not for the purpose of making a profit by them. Now sir, when we see exertions made to get up good amusements among ourselves ifc becomes us all to endeavour to dcvelope that latent talent which lies hid amongst us. Ido not mean to say that wo should not welcome talent from all quarters, but I think, sir, wo ought not to spend hundreds of pounds on flying visitors when we have such good things going on within ourselves Wβ spend our money on a great number of materials out of tho Province which can be had at our very doors if we would only stoop to lift' them, and there is no uso in spending our money on amusements when they can ho so well got up hy ourselves.—l am, &c, James Doull, Bath-etreet, Parnell.