The New Zealand Herald SPECTEMUR AGENDO. AUCKLAND, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1868.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1402, 15 May 1868, Page 2

The New Zealand Herald SPECTEMUR AGENDO.

AUCKLAND, FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1868.

Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice; Take each man's censure, hut reserve thy judgment. This above all,—To thine own self be true And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be falsetto any man."

[t appears that the Provincial authorities lave given notice that they will for the future pay only five instead of ten pounds oer annum for the support of orphans in the institutions which receive such children, and board, clothe, and educate them. The institutions in question are the Three Kings, St. Mary's, North Shore, and the Orphan Home, Parnell. The two former have valuable land endowments given years ago from the public lands of the Province, the latter has no endowment whatever, but depends entirely on voluntary^contributions for support. It is clear, that if the two endowed institutions will suffer materially through the withdrawal of the half of the Government payment, the unendowed institution must suffer to a much greater extent, and in fact can only be maintained by the increased liberality of the public. During the past, the voluntary subscriptions given to it have been from a comparatively few persons, but the increased burden now thrown upon the managers compels them to appeal to the general public for assistance. We have no doubt that assistance will be freely, and generously given, for the object is one which appeals to thebest sympathies of all men, of whatever creed or nationality they may be. The destitution of orphan children is not caused by any act of theirs, and they must .be provided for in one way or another. The withdrawal of Government support is caused by the want of money ; and a heavier burden is thus cast upon private charity. If private beneficence fails to support these orphans, and if the Government- cannot provide for them out of its present income, there must then of necessity be a poor's rate to provide for the destitute. It is possible, and indeed so far as we can see, very probable, that a rate will have to be raised to support our poor, and the hospitals, and the Lunatic Asylum. But how shall this be done with respect to poor parentless children ? Are we to have a pauper school, such as are in connection with the large unions and work-houses at home, in which these children will be taken care of ? From some experience in connection with such schools in England we should strongly oppose their introduction here, and supported entirely by rates, if by any possibility we j can secure our object in another way. Such schools are necessarily left entirely to paid servants. The members of the Board of Guardians may visit them occasionally, but [.nothing more. There is really no attempt i to supply, in even a small degree, the moral I associations, and gentle feelings of a home. ; They are under rigid rules, they have a hard i life, the characters of the children in too | many cases are of a hard and unloving na- ! ture. And how can it be otherwise ? The officers are hard worked, and not even well paid; and they are very glad to have all the rest which their duties permit. The result of this system, as traced in the after life of children, is anything but of a pleasing character. They do not appear to imbibe energy and self-respect, and self-reliance. In very many cases they constantly recur to the parish for help. They remain too frequently paupers as men and women, and the criminal classes, it is known, are recruited considerably from their ranks. This remarkable fact has been clearly established, and philanthropists have mourned over it. It is poverty and vice multiplying poverty and vice, and it is found a most difficult problem to check it. The secret is to be found in the fact that these special pauper schools are essentially wanting in that which refines and elevates, ivliich appeals to the nobler feelings and instincts of the mind and heart. They are, in short, deficient in what we all understand as lome training. But it is remarkable also, ;hat children, equally as destitute, taken into H'phan schools, as generally turn out well. Hie former are public institutions, and no jody takes any kindly interest in them. The atterare supported by private subscriptions and donations, and it is invariably found that there are always some of their supporters who look upon it as a part of their duty to give a great deal of their time to them. They constantly visit them, mix with the children, assist in the work, and give a tone I and air to the whole place of a refining' aud | I elevating character, which is priceless in its j value. The children feal they have not onlv j paid teachers, and so forth, but that they j have kind friends who are auxious for their ; welfare, who watch their conduct, who will i prove friends in after life, if only their conj duct be deserving. Hence kindly feelings ' are evoked, an incentive is given to good I conduct, a desire to please and act rightly is 1 engendered. And this difference extends to | the period when they must cease to attend ! school. The children from pauper schools i are sent to work to such places as may hapi pen to be found for them, the Board ot'Guardians being glad to get rid of the expense of keeping them. But in the orphanages is a different system. The managers and friends of such institutions are much more particular where they permit the children to go. They ; exercise a wise discretion in this matter, and take a continuous interest in the young people after they are put to work. " The • consequence is, that there are very few failures, and this fact causes competition for the children by persons of known good character. Of course there is the religious difficulty j also in connection with a general institution i supported by Government, and we think a of present arrangements, with ; such modifications as may be necessary,~willj he far better than any attempt; at founding ( a pauper school. The institutions to .jvhicli pwe referred represent the principal religious j bodies. We should therefore prefer' a -sys- ! tem which would continue to send destitute : children to one of these institutions, and which would ensurei apportion of their cost

... . ■ » being defrayed from the revenues of the Province, and a v portion to be raised from voluntary contributions, the management not being purely clerical. But, at the same time, the endowments for the education and maintenance of these poor children must be thoroughly investigated; he management of such a character as to provide for efficiency ; and the public must require that public good, commensurate with, the benefit derived from the use of a portion of the public estate, is secured. The present Provincial Secre--tary has . taken an. interest in this matter, and the state of the provincial chest at the present time renders it absolutely necessary that all these public endowments should be carefully examined, and be made to produce as much public benefit as possible. Lay i management seems essential to secure this i object, and also a constant inspection by an [ officer appointed by the Government. The j Superintendent might very well set apart .a portion of the lands of the Province as a j further endowment for the . support of the sick and destitute, including orphan children.