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Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 232, 26 November 1894, Page 2

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THE NEW AUSTRALIA FAILURE.

THE HOGG TESTIMONIAL.

TWO SHOWS.

THE MANGATAINORA BRIDGE.

[Correnpondenee it invited upon all *uhject*, hut ire do not knitl our tel wet responsible for the opinion* of our co rretpo ndents.]

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —The experiences of the New Australian settlement afiord another proof of the stupendous difficulty of carrying to a successful issue any schema which disregards or seeks to supersede the ordinary instincts of humanity. Had . the venture realised to the full extent the ' expectations of its promoters, it would not have solved the embarrassing problems j affecting the world to-day ; for the members of the colony were picked mc-n. Physically, they were far above the average, and the fact that admission to : the privileges of membership involved th* casting of all their possessions into the : common fund, was in itself convincing testimony that they had gone much farther than the majority towards that beautiful religion of altruism which is the ideal of all social reformers and lovers of humanity. The great masses of the world have far to travel before they attain to the position occupied by the men and women, who, a few months ago, set out like the Israelites of old on a pilgrimage to the promised land; so that, even had New Australia flourished, it would have proved nothing except that where j altrustio feelings were dominant it was possible by appealing to the higher conception of duty to found a state in which selfishness, in even its least objectionabl# phases, was entirely subordinate to the wider and inclusive love of all for all. This would have been a great triumph, doubtless. It would have shown that, under favorable conditions, it was possible of attainment; but that it would have, as its enthusiastic adherents fondly hoped, changed the tenor of human thoughts or reversed the dominant and deeply-rooted habits and instincts of men, is more than questionable. It is well to have lofty ideas ; they give an enduring dignity to life and keep hope strong and untarnished amid the squalor and disappointments which meet us at every step. But it is not so well to forgst in the ecstatic contemplations of these perfect ideals to the immediate, and, by comparison, small and trivial things, which are the stepping stone to the higher life. In seeking to brighten the world we must use the materials at our disposal. What we call selfishness is only a warped quality which, under happier auspices, would be conducive to prosperity and progress. It would be a dead dull world if all emulations were destroyed, and men had no nobler aspiration than to satisfy the animal desires and appetites. Humanity has never had an honest opportunity to show what it really is. Like plants grown in cellars, it has in the mass always had a hard struggle for existence, and all the energies which should hive gone to the elevation of the mind and the extension of knowledge have had to be devoted to narrow and sordid ends. There is nothing to be wondered at if, amid the stress of such conditions, there should have been an undue development of Ishmaelitish attributes. It speaks well l for the glorious possibilities in humanity | that, notwithstanding all this, there I should be still so much self-forgetting | kindness and charity iu the world, so ; much patient heroism right down among i the dregs of society. But the lesson we must never forge: is that while wi maychange the environments of law. and so radically modify those conditions of life, industrial and social, which rest upon, and are the outcome of, civic law, we nave no warranty that we can effect the most infinitesimal change- in the essential characteristics of mankind. The •• New Australia" scheme has apparently been wrecked on the same reef that has brought so many similarly beautiful projects to naught. It was not content with striving to change the externals of individual life and the relationship which in any form of intelligent organised society the umts must hold one to another, but it aimed at an arbitrary reversal of some of the most stubbornly-ingrained characteristics of ths race. It sought with the best of humanitarian intentions to over rule. The fundamental law of freedom is the right of every man to himself and therefore the right to all that is the product of his own labour, and, to supersede this primary principle on any pretence for any reason whatsoever, is not an advance but a falling away in everything that constitutes liberty. If successful, it could only be perpetuated at the cost of all that is most noble in humanity.—l am, etc., HoriFTL.

(To the Editor) Sir, —I wonder what amount of satis faction Mr Hogg will get from receipt of the testimonial. I used to think a tesitl monial of this kind was intended to show by its value the number who appreciated I the action of the recipient. Mr Hogg could not flatter himself that it is so m this case if he knew the way in which the money and materials for the feast have been obtained. They hare been begged from door to door like chanty from political friends and opponents alike. : Women who are in the lattsr class were I persuaded to give a few eggs or so as it ! would look shabby not to do the same as j their neighbours. Why is monev raised I in such a manner? Is onr number not i paid sufficient for his services ? He asked for the position. Or has he overrun the constable and so the struggling bush settler is nsked to give a few coppers to help him through. Where has the 1/240 gone ? It is not in shilling dinners.—l am, etc., An OrrorasT.

TO THE VI'ITOK. i Sir,—ln Wednesday'* i-m of your paper l noticed two lulvorttNmentx in juxtaposition—one for a wiM beast show for iho support of the Ht/gerald Bros., ami the otiier a show got up to supple ment the salary of our member of the House of Representatives. There seems to be a great similarity between them m several \v:iv». nttil I wonder which roaring will attract the better audience. What t> * the (iovcrntneiil of ibis country coming to when our representatives spend the session iu useless talk or damaging actions and distributing money in their supporting districts, and the interim in exhibiting themselves at a siulhng per head V 1w as much surprised (o see the name of Mr ri. Rollon among the per formers. What is in the wind now? Only lust year there was seme talk of his standing for the House on the Opposition 1 ticket 1 Is he turning lii« coat already or what axe has he to grind ? In the face ° f his actions at Ngaturi and the adver tiscmsnt nbo\o referred to. it would be absurd las c\cu thinking of running assn Opposition mau. 1 am, etc.. 1»KI K KVHHIT.

TO rut: EDITOR. SSfU lie;ore Mi \ .1* give.- your «e.uh»«-

i history of tho MinfoUmsks bride* roubles he ought to verify bis feete. My >pi moo that the ereettoa of the bridge is >f os UU importance to the Borough will be kd mi tied by everyoae in the Borough that .akes the trouble te tbiak for owe minute. I mentioned it at the meetiag held in the lioreugh Chambers although it v 4 aot reported. and I will bow say it again. It la .hat the question of whairier the mam rail nay station is erected at Scarborough er U If aagataiaokau dependent on the erection of this bridge. It is aot of esfal importance to the County ss a whole, hut it is necessary for a fsw **tilers between the two rivers to get into Pahiatua. that is if they wish to do their vismess in PsniatnaJ snd it is very evident tnot it is better for the towns'.*p for the eetr.ers to eotne there loan it may possibly be for the eel tiers; as with the rail wsy open u>ev nave a variety of choice of places to wh.en to take tbeir business. Tne first tne Cemnty Council heard of having to contribute to the t.ndo iu, I think, in Aigu.l, 1 Shit, won Mr Vil. brought op th, matter and told u* that the County would h»»e to contribute at least three-quarter*. Some of u* objected although it came from th* Mayor. With regard to the opuuea of some of m* Borough Council that the resolution, jef the County Council were separate and distinct, a* mover of the principal reeoJouon, 1 can positively say that thay were not. When 1 gaT* Mr Moore the DOUe* of a>o non of theee reeoluuone Mr Smith we. in office, and I showed them to him. That ie the whole of the “ behind the eeenee '* with Mr Smith. Th* nouc* of motion pot the whole in one resolution, which was made two at the meeting. With regard to tha motion rescinding the previous one about interference with the river, the majority of the Sounty Council thought there wae no necessity for it with th* other* coming on, hut let it g*. There has keen a good deal aaid about onr interfering with the contract that has bean let; for my part (I cannot answer for anyone eleei I should have no objection to iu proceeding provided that the County Council have a distinct, and binding agreement with th* Beroughf Council that „ shall not ha liable for ary extension in the future or any damages arising from accidents on or to the bridge, , or any damage, arising from the divenuen of the river by th* groins or protective works. Th* Council have an object la seeing the plane unless we get that agreement. a* the opinion of the County Council may be worth something, even if it la net the same as the Eapneer e in-Chief. He is not infallible. Mr Vile s arguments are like t good deal of wual he says, m., sufficient for the day. etc. Ha seem* to think that in looking after th* interests of the ratepayer* it is quit* enough to look one month ahead apm asoi It drltft. Before I close I should like to mention that it i, reported that I personally ha** what is called a set on the township.* I wish to deny that, but when th* |m te rests of the Borough and th* interests of the County clash. I shall alsrav* be found on tha aid* which I represent.—l am, etc., Geo. Whitcombe.