CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 44, 25 February 1887, Page 17

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) January 21, 1887. Bishop Redwood's LeDten Pastoral, which was read in the church yesterday, deals principally with the subject of Christian education. It is written in a style of masterly vigour, simple and forcible in language, logical in construction, eloquent, exhaustive, and convincing — in every way worthy of a Prince of the Chuich. Expecting to see it in your columns I refrain from summarising its contents. In another place the subject of education has also had attention (•uring the wet.k in the shape of a thoughtful lecture on the question of technical education from a professor of Canterbary Lollt-ge. The Professor addressing the Educational Institute devoted himself to the i.isk of impressing upon the teachers the superiority of thoroughness of quality in the teaming of scientific truth over quantity of fact-. The system in the public schools evidently does not come up to hU idea. Were he to examine into the method in force at tic. Patrick's College it is more than probable he would acknowledge that the Maust Fathers have got on the light track . The statement of Judge UcKay that the unfulfilled promises to the southern Maoris are of considerable magnitude, and likely to occupy a considerable time has not electrified our public in any way. Hardly a creature, in fact, knows anything about any promises unfulfilled or otherwise. It is a curious commentary on the boasted scrupulousness of our treatment of the native race, that we have scrupulously forgotten promises made thirty odd years ago. Mr. Rssden, you will remember, perhaps, devotes some very severe writing to this episode in our history. Perhaps Mr. Ballance, who claims to have done wonders in the north, will do something for the Maoris of the south in this matter of their chronic grievance, which they for their part have never let vest. The Midland railway has been in a way brought nearer to our doors during the week. The contractor and his engineers have been making a flying reconnaissance of the gorge of the Waimakariii. Sir Robert Stout has paid us a flying visit on his way to Wellington, devoting a day (Saturday), to various mutters. In the morniug he gave the Industrial Association a little of the necessary bitter by telling them that as it was quite out of the question for the Government to think of making them grants, they must cultivate that self-reliance which really seemed to set so well upon them. In the afternoon he laid the foundation-stone of the new block which is to complete the asylum building at Sunnyside, and said a few grateful feeling things about the care of the insane, and the duty of liovernments to attend to it. In tbe evening, he attended the social evening given by the local oarsmen to their Wellington visitors, after the regatta, and spoke in praise of the manly, healthful art of rowing. Between whiles he visited the foundries, received deputations, and discussed upon the probabilities of the Imperial Conference. In these various labours Sir Robert distanced his entourage altogether, his colleague Mr. Buckley and his private secietary keeping up with him uot at all completely but better than anybody else, except the ieporters who being in relays Lad no difficulty in keeping within ehrshot. Everybody was pleased except the Industrial Association. Having asked for bread.they naturally did not eat the stone be tendered them in the shape of the statement that if there was a surplus a case might be made out for dividing it among the numerous Industrial Associations flourishing throughout New Zealand. There is here perfect furness and absolute non-committal, with cot a little humour in the suggestion for the disposal of a surplus at a time when everybody is morally certain that there will be a large deficit. The Association was not at all pleased with this way of putting it, however, aud ventui&i to say that the Minister tor Lands bad promised a grant or a site. Sir Robert, who is never at a loss, blandly refused to see how Mr. BaJance could Lave done anything of the kind. He peifectly remembered that what Mr. Ballance had said was something totally different. The Rifle Asscciaiion is in happier mood, a good range hai been got nearer town (at Hillsborough, some six miles eff under the Port Hills) the subscriptions are coming in better, and the mollified Captain Somerville is explaining to .Northerners who have carped that the Christchurch folk have a good deal to be said for them after all. Moie loans I Nobody can live without loans. The Drainage Board want £20,000 to enable them to enjoy the luxury of not pressing the latepayers to pay their rates at the bemnniijg instead of at the end of the year, and the St. Albau"s Borough Council want £25,000 for various works, including concrete chanelhng. Iheir life is truly an expeusive luxury, their will of course be opposition, in fact there is opposition already. — If instead of driving people to wrangling these continual proposals for borrowing money on rates were to drive people to live in the country they would not be an uumixed evil.