R. ROLLESTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 4 March 1887, Page 15

R. ROLLESTON.

§HE late Minister of Education has lately given the public his views on our system of education. This hon. gentleman considers it excellent, and so firmly rooted in the conviction and affections of the people that nothing can upset it. Observe, however, it is, according to him, the godless system that is so firmly established. He is clearly of opinion that it is not quite so certain that the public will continue to pay for the schooling of the children of well-to-do parents. But he entertains no doubt, as it appears to us, that no matter who may ultimately pay for it, the godless, and only the godless, system will be tolerated by the people of this country. Even if parents pay fees for the maintenance of public schools, these must remain purely secular. We do not agree with Mr. Rolleston in this . We rather think that if parents be compelled to pay fees, they will insist on a larger amount of control over these schools than they are at present permitted to exercise, and that the days of godless schools are numbered. There is one thing, and one thing only, that has induced the public to tolerate the exclusion of religion from Government schools, and that is free education. People, if they are obliged to pay fees, will not long continue to send their children to schools from which their Bible is excluded. In saying this we are not giving our own opinion on Bible-reading : we are only expressing our view of public opinion, which we think is adverse to Mr. Rolleston'b view. Mr. Rolleston, in the course of his speech at Temuka, to which we allude, said a good many things which were both wise and true. He thinks that too much is expected from schooling, and that after all it is to the parents and the Sunday School people must look for real moral training. We agree with this to a considerable extent. But then, such being the case in this gentleman's opinion, does it not appear rather curious that all should be compelled to maintain godless schools, to the exclusion of all other schools? We had thought that in education Rtatesmen looked principally for moral results, and that it was chiefly on account of these public education was promoted and fostered by the State. But it now appears, on the authority of one of our foremost politicians, that it is not so ; and that, on the contrary, it is elsewhere we must look for moral training. Whst, then, we may ask, is the object of godless schools ? It ib clearly not moral training. What then ? That children may he prepared to earn a livelihood, and become useful citizens ? But why stop at reading, writing, and arithmetic ? Why not proceed further, and teach trades, and how to transact business of every sort ? Why not feed and clothe them as well ? These things are as necessary in order to their becoming useful citizens as reading, writing, and arithmetic. Mr. Rolleston's speech, wise and clever as it is in many respects, so far as it is a defence of the present system of education, in reality throws up the sponge. Jn declaring that it is a misti-ke to look to the public schools for any appreciable amount of niornl training, he in reality admits that their existence is indefensible. But Mr. Rolleston also really makes another admission which is ext-emely valuable ; and, although he is emphatic in his repudiation of a denominational system, he letb it cleaily appear that, in his opinion, such a system is becoming inevitable. Anyone who takes the pains can read between the lines his conviction that free education has nearly reached its term, and a new mode of maintaining public schools must be devised. Mr. Rolleston is somewhat fierce in his denunciation of borrowing. Very well, discontinue borrowing, and what then must become of our education system. This system, from its inception to the present hour, has depended so much on borrowed money that, without it, it could not have existed. No less a sum than half a million has been provided out of borrowed money, for school buildings and teacher's residences. Cease borrowing, and where are the funds to come from for building and repairs ? The Government is absolutely unable to find the necessary funds, and recourse must be had to local rates and fees. Does any sane man believe that our system in its present form can be maintained on local rates and fi es . If such a man exists ho is a curiosity ; and we are persuaded, therefore, that Mr. Rolleston, much as he exclaims against denominationalisru, sees clearly that if : borrowing bo stopped, such a system is inevitable. People will not pay rates and fees under a system of which they disap-

prove; and there are comparatively few persons in this country who are satisfied with the present system of education, or who would endure it a moment if they had to put their hands in their pockets to pay annual local rates and fees to maintain it. We need say nothing as to tho opposition of Catholics. Bu t are Church of England people, we <»sk, satisfied ? Are the Pr esbyterians satisfied with the exclusion of the Bible from the schools ; and, think you, these would all continue to support a system with which none are satisfied ? Unless, therefore, Government continue to pay for this system as at present, it cannot continue ; and if there be cessation of borrowing, Government is absolutely unable to pay for it . We regard Mr. Rolleston's speech, or paper, as most important, inasmuch as it has clearly shown that any great amount of moral training need not be expected from public schools, and that without borrowed money Government cannot maintain the system as it is at present.

On Sunday last the Bishop of the diocese visited Milton, i assisted at the exercises of the mission given there by the Rev. Father BERaMAN, and gave Confirmation to 32 persons. After Confirmation he addressed the congregation j and amongst other things called their attention to the discomfort they must be all experiencing from the crowded state of the Church and the heat. He said the day when their , church sufficed for the congregation had passed away and it i was necessary they should build a new church more in accordance with their numbers and position. In consequence of this a collection was there and then commenced to raise funds for the erection of a new church. The large sum of ;£450 was subscribed on the spot, and no doubt can be entertained that before long the foundation of a new church will be laid. We understand that in this parish of Milton there is great activity amongst Catholics, bor example, a new church will i be opened by the Bishop on next Sunday week in Balclutha, a new church will be commenced very soon in Mosgiel, and a third church will be erected in Greytown. After having given Confirmation, etc. , in Milton, the Bishop started for Lawrence, where he administered Confirmation to 54 persons and assisted , at the close of the mission given there by Fathers O'Fahuell ' and Heuarty. On Sunday next the Bishop will administer \ Confirmation at East Gore at the conclusion of the mission i which is going on there under the guidance of Fathers i O'Farrel and Bergman. We understand that Father | Hegautv opened a mission in Winton on Wednesday last, I and that the mission in Invercargill will begin on Sunday the 6th inst. We hear that all the priests will be in Dunedin on the 14th inst. for retreat, and that a mission in Oamaru will commence on bundav , 20th inst. The following which we clip from an Indian paper shows that some uneasiness still prevails in -the country in question with regard to Russian designs : — Reliable news from Afghanistan corroborates the fact that matters are quiet pro tern. But the tribal combination of the Ghilzais against the Ameer still continues in full force, and the winter alone prevents its active exhibition ; the passes being closed by snow to military operations on an extended scale. With the ensuing spring, further disturbances are apprehended, as the Ghilzais are exasperated at the atrocious and bloody treachery of the Ameer's Commander-in-Chief, and are resolved to avenge it by Bimilar reprisals. The St. Petersburg Noroe Vrnnya, by the bye, affects the belief, in a recent article, that it is English agents who have stirred up the Ghilzais to revolt, in order to prepare the way for a British occupation. The same paper is afraid lest we should Buddenly be found in occupation of Herat ; and recommends that the Eussian Government fhould send strong reinforcements to the Afghan frontier, in order to prevent a disagreeable surprise. Affairs in Afghanistan seem to be attracting a good deal of attention on the Continent just now. The Paris Temps, in a recent issue, devotes a long leading article to the situation. It attributes the Ghilzai rising to the reception of the Boundary Commission in Cabul ; and believes that the object of the Ghilzais is to oust A.bdul Rahman in favour of a Prince allied with Russia. Two handsome stained glass windows (says the Nelson Evening Mail) have just been erected in the chancel of St. Mary's Church by Mrs. Bartlett to the memory of her late husband. In each window are two light?, those to the left on facing the altar representing the Virgin Mary and St. Anne, her mother, the whole being surmounted by a monogram, comprising the letters A.V.M., representing the words Aye Maria. In the other are two figures, representing our Saviour with his pastoral staff, and St. Joseph with the child Jesus in his arms. Above is the sacred monogram 1.H.5., surmounted by a cross. At the foot of the windows are the words " Presented by Ann Bartlett in memory of Charles Bartlett." The colours are very

rich, and the windows form a most ornamental addition to the pretty little church. Thi? unquiet aspect of the European powers seems, if anything, rather on the increase than otherwise, and it is difficult to see how matters are to settle down, unless a war occurs. The display of sympathy with Fiance, made during the recent elections in Alsace, must necessarily have stirred up still more the dissatisfaction of Germany, and the repressive measures tbat are being now taken in the disaffected province must neede embitter French feeling. A new incentive is thus added to those already provoking to war. Russia meantime, contin ues to move and mass her troops in a very suspicious manner, and a treaty has been renewed between Italy, Germany, and Austria, As the milder weather, and the time when armies may move with greater ease are approaching, the world should soon be freed from suspense. If the Spring pass over without hostilities the probabilities are that some understanding may be arrived at. The Queen Regent of Spain has bestowed the Commander's Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic upon a Jew, M. Vidal Bakri, for bravery in rescuing two priests, a Frenchman and a Spaniard, during the horrors of the Commune in Paris. The priests had hidden themselves in a corner of one of the streets when discovered by Bakri, who, seeing the danger of their appearing in their ecclesiastical dress, exchanged clothes with them, and thus saved them from almost certain death. We may add that the funeral of the Baroness James de Rothschild, a Jewish lady of high rank, which lately took place in Paris, was attended by the parish priest aad several Sisters of Charity with the orphans under their care, in grateful recognition of the unfailing and unrestricted benevolence for which the life of the deceased had been remarkable. As the drawing of the art-union in aid of the Port Chalmers presbytery fund is to take place without fail on the 17th inst, it is earnestly hoped that the friends of the undertaking will exert themselves in the short interval still remaining to secure a thorough success All depends on the disposal of the tickets. Some of our friends in New Caledonia seem also on the qwi 9i*e with respect to the chances of war. The Neo CaUdonien, for example, is strongly of opinion that provision should be made in good time, and consequently he thoroughly objects to a wholesale destruction of stray dogs that has been undertaken by the authorities at Noumea. In event of war, he says, the stock of victuals could not possibly stand a long blockade. — Chaqu'nn a son gout. But at least here is a hint j to those colonial legislators who contemplate an attempt to dislodge i the French from the New Hebrides. I In event of the occurrence of a war between France and Ger | many, which seems far from improbable as things now are, the French | will not enjoy much additional strength from the nature of the party that at present controls the legislature of the country. M. Charles de Mazade, for example, gives us the following description of them :—": — " The Republicans, who retain a majority, or the appearance of a majority, at the Palais Bourbon, have a misfortune which is a true fatality for them. They have an instinctive, irresistible, triste for all that is violence and anarchy. They incessantly speak of forming a Government, of which, after all, they feel the need, and they imagine they are going to do so with sectarian passions, turbulence, and subversions. They do not admit even the simplest conditions of a serious Government, and those who should partially have the idea of one dare not resist the m re violent. They are afraid of being taken for reactionaries, for Orleanists I They would change and reform everything — the administrative, the financial, the military, even the religious order — and as soon as they set their hand to the work they only succeed in disorganising everything ; they immediately fall into some lamentable slough." This would, indeed, be a pretty party to control the fortunes of the country during a great and exceptionally difficult war. The funeral of the late Mr. James Macandrew took place on Monday, and was very numerously attended. The Government and Legislature were represented respectively by several of their members, and loading men from every part of the Colony were present, as well as large numbers of the personal friends of the deceased gentleman. The Most Rev. Dr. Moran, who was unavoidably absent, was represented by the Rev. Father Lynch, accompanied by the Rev. Father Vereker. A correspondent writes from Ashburton taking us to task for omitting to mention that one of the scholarships founded by the Bishop of Wellington in connection with St. Patrick's College, and of the value of £40, was gained by Francis Barnard, a pupil of the local Catholic school, which is under the able tuition of Mr. John ! l Gilboy. We should, however, most willingly have chronicled this very pleasing and creditable fact long since had our correspondent . ! made us acquainted with it. We have no patent machine, telephone, • or anything else in the electric line, to give us information, indepeni dently of a human agency, of what takes place at a distance. The traditional " little bird," as our correspondent is doubtless aware, r confines his communicUions for the caest part to matters of a trivial or perhaps even of a foolish, nature.

The trial at Dublin of Messrs. Dillon, O'Brien, and others has, as was foreseen, terminated in a disagreement of the jury. The Government are now going to try what a commission will do for them, but that aIBO will probably be nothing worth speaking oi. The cable continnestotranam.c to these colonies various Tumour 8 concerning the recommendation against paying taxes alleged to hare been made by the Archbishop of Cashel.— These reports appear very circumstantiil, but, nevertheless, the mattei they deal wnh is a serious one, and one as well which, even apart from the a-ni-Irish leaning that prevails, there would baa disposition to exagg s.jle .tu'l render as sensational as possible, It, therefore, devolves upon us to reserve our judgment and to await the arrival of trustworthy sjurces of information before -ye fo>'La any settled conclusions. The immediate sensation of the day ii Europe has beea the series of terrible earthquakes which have occurred in Italy. Tbc accounts of towns destroyed, and people crushed to death or half killed by panic and terror are most distressing. The panic suems to have risen to itd greatest pitch al Nice, while the greatest sum of destruction appears to have occurred at Genoa, when: one thousand people are reported to ha vi» been killed. Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, who is residing in the former town, has kept the London Times informed of the course of events, and the Prince of Wales, who was on a visit to Cannes, has returned hurriedly to London at the urgent command of the Queen. — Mount Etna is now in violent eruption and, probably the force that caused the earthquake has thus found vent. The Archbishop of Dublin has made the best of an opportunity afforded to him of rebuking those English Catholics whose delight has been in calumniating Ireland and all whose eff jrts have been employed to make a breach between her Catholic people and Rome. The opportunity in question was given by a letter from the Roman correspondent of the Daily News, in which the writer stated that f>,n eminent English member of the Roman Catholic Church had assumed him that the Pope had written to the Archbishops of Dublin and Oashel censuring their conduct towards the National cause, and warning them against its continuance. To this the Archbishop replied tkat he did not in the least doubt that the correspondent had the authority he mentioned for the statement made by him. That many such statements had emanated from a similar source, but that, they being more or less indefinite, it had been impossible to reply to them. This statement, however, was definite, and since, therefore, he could reply to it he branded it in the most unqualified manner possible, without the use of unjustifiably strong language, as a falsehood. His Grace, at the same time, warned the correspondent of the Daily New 8 that all such statements from English members of the Roman Catholic Church, however " eminent," must needs be of a like kind. The rattling speeches of Messrs. Labouchere and Conybeare at the Lord Mayor's banquet (says the Nation of loth January) indicate what way the Irish cause is making among the people of Great Britain. They show that the veil having been lifted from before iheir eyes, the people are now no longer trusting to their leaders for their opinions about Ireland. British public opinion is rapidly forming itself, and that was all that was ever needed to settle the issue. So far has its enlightenment proceeded that Mr. Conybeare was able to proclaim that the success of Irish rights was independent of all help from party manoauvring. The outspoken words of this representative of the English democracy make it plain that no matter what the result of the round-table conference, Irish liberty has been won . Otjr cablegrams announce the marriage of Mr. M. Davitt with Miss Mamie Yore on Friday week at Oakland, California. We (Muhlin Freeman, January 8) wish with all our heart Mr. and Mrs. Davitt a happy New Year and many of them, and we think we may venture to speak for Ireland and liishmen everywhere when we say that this is the most universal, sincere, and unanimous greeting ever sped to fair bride and manly bridegroom. The death is announced of his Eminence Cardinal Jacobini, late Secretary of State to his Holiness Pope Leo XIII. His Imminence had been for some time in declining health. He was in the 55th year of his age. — R.I. P. Have the wooden walls lost their renown, then, since they are mo longer of heart of oak and the free breezes of heaven, but of iron and steam ? It is an ominous fact in any case that the banks of the Thames are being fortified, and it seems to betray a failure of confidence in that great national boast, the fleet. Perhaps we shall live to see London surrounded by a trench and a line of forts. An insurrection which has broken out in Bulgaria, and, as we go to press, is reported to be assuming grave dimensions, ni r • possibly hasten the course of events, and determine without fun jlay the question of peace or war. Max O'Reix, in his ne-v book, says that *ih nee is the only French noun ending in ence that is masculine, because it is the only thing that women cannot keep. We understand that the Dunedin Irish Rifles intend to celebrat 6 St. Patrick's Day by giving a ball. Mr. John Murray has been appointed lieutenant of the corps.

La Controverse publishes another article on the antiquity of man. The writer examines the evidence for the immense duration assigned to the great age of ice, or that of the extension of the glaciers and Lcavy rains — and shows conclusively that what haß been assumed to hive been confined to the quaternary epoch reached on the contrary, more or less, well into historical timeb. He argues very clearly and convincingly in support of his statement that there is nothing to prove the appearance of man in Europe prior to about 3,000 years before the Christian era. The i [■-■civ (.able question aud unfathomable mystery, par excel' letter, ol tLe present day is the character of the Emperor of Russia* w Madame de JNonkufi contradicts the rumour as to his ungovernabl temper, and incipient lunacy. — The dear Cear, sheib ready to swear s far as it is possible for a lady to do so, is the sweetest tempered and most sensible of men, and she finds the suggestion of anything els the most amusing mistake in all the world. But, then, Madame d Novikoff fulfils her appoiuted role, and there are suspicions of Siberia if not of the knout itself, to set off even against her most earnest protestations. And, painful as it is to doubt the word of a lady no to speak of her oath, there are exceptions to every rule. Then as to the affair of Count Reutern, the Russian abroad derides it merrily and declares the Count is even more alive than ever he was before, and is at this moment enjoying himself somewhere in Switzerland or * -aly. Count Rev tern's relatives, however, acknowledge that he has just passed gently away as the result of a long illness borne with Christian fortitude and consoled by the kindest attentions on the part of the Czar. For, says rumour, should they dare to breathe one syllable of the truth, the very least that could happen even those of them whose persons are in safety without the confines of the Empire would be the entire confiscation of their goods. The wonder, in fact, seems to be that any hint of the Count's death at the hands of his Imperial Master, if it actually took place, ever transpired, and the unpleasant doubt arises as to whether such transactions may not frequently occur — say at the rate of an aid-de-camp a week — concerning which nothing is known beyond the boundaries of the palace, or even within them perhaps except to a chosen few. The strangost feature of the whole matter, meantime, is that here in the broad light of the nineteenth century, a living potentate is surrounded with a mystery only to be equalled by that which obscures some historical personage, or fact, and which has formed the standing puzzle of generations, and must continue to do so. It is cheering to learn as we do from the London correspondent of our contemporary the Dunedin Evening Star, that Earl Cairns, more commonly known as Lord Garmoyle,and more commonly still and even vulgarly as Gumboil, is after all quite a nice young man, and, notwithstanding a habitual peccadillo or two, a most desirable visitor in genteel circles. Of course all the elite among whom our contemporary circulates will have no difficulty in perceiving how justifiable it waa that his lordship should jilt Miss Fortescue immediately on being informed that she could not possibly be received at Court. That we in Dunedin can fully appreciate, and all our sympathies are natually in the right quarter. Although considering the kind of people who are received at Court and even hang pretty close upon the outskirts of royalty, perhaps Mis 3 Fortescue had no such great loss after all iv being thrown back upon the society of the coulisses. Lord Cairns, however, is now about to pay the colonies a visit, and according to all accounts it should go hard with some of our colonial damsels if they cannot manage at least to make a good thing out of the visit in the way of damages. But none of them, it is needless to say, need enter for the venture unless it is quite settled that they are not presentable at Court, aud about that, aa we have suggested, under present circumstances there might be some difficulty. It should be easy to reach to the elevation of ladies for whom the Duke of Marlborough is considered a fit associate, or Lord Colin Campbell a distinguished match. Wanted name of sender of Poßtal Note from New Plymouth for 12s 6d on February 21.

Those requiring the services of a dentist should call on Messrs Myers and Co., Dentists, Octagon, corner of George street. They guarantee highest class work at moderate fees. Their artificial work gives general satisfaction, and the fact of them supplying a temporary denture while the gums are healing does away with the inconvenience of being months without teeth. They manufacture a single artificial tooth for Ten Shillings, and sets equally moderati. The administration of nitrous oxide gas is also a great boon to those needing the extraction of a tooth. Read. WANTED.- -A live, energetic man or woman in every town to act as our agent. £10 a week and expenses paid. Permanent employment given to all. Valuable samples and all particulars, free. Address at once, J. F. HILL ie CO., Augusta, Maine, United States. Don't miss this chance. Write to-day. An attempt was made to destroy by explosion, one of the churches in Lyons, France. A bombshell was placf d under the church porcb, and the igniting fuse was lighted. A policeman passing by, noticed the burning ot the fuse, and he was bold enough to seize the bomb tod put out the fuse before Its fire could reach the contents.