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We were under the impression that
the last general election of representa
tives for the House of Assembly settled
for the time being at leaBt the question
of education. The perpetual bicker
ings, as the result of party feeling on
the secular side of instruction, were
very undesirable, because not calcu
lated to bring about an amicable settle
ment of the vexed topic. Under the
the interests of the young, and this we
think must be admitted even by those
who strongly advooate the introduction
of the religious element. Such being
the case we had hoped it would not
have been necessary for us to touch
upon the subject at present. But the
fact that the Premier during the last
session sought to make instruction in
the State schools free as well as com
pulsory and secular has called forth
fresh opposition. We think the Min
istry acted unwisely in the matter, and
prematurely also, for no provision was
made to secure the money required
under the proposed altered arrange
ments. The Ministry and a number
of persons who are deeply interested in
the subject assert that for the State to
be consistent the children who attend
the public schools should be instruoted
free, beoause the attendance is compul
sory. But the prinoiple is evidently
overlooked that under existing arrange
ments a very small fee is charged, and
hence the State has to bear the major
portion of cost. Such being the case
the ground of inconsistency gives way.
It must be remembered that the
children are not required to attend the
full quarters in and out. The compul
sory clause has to do only with a given
number of days in each quarter, and
virtually the attendance during that
period is free, for the small amount
paid by the pupil would be barely suf
ficient to pay for instruction durino*
the number of non-compulsory days in
each quarter. We have deemed it
needful to revert to the snbjeot just
now because we are given to under
stand that the education question is to
be revived during the coming Legisla
tive Council elections. There are men
at work with the view of giving im
portance to denominational aspects of
State education, and will it poBBible
make it a test question on the hustings.
It is the duty of the PreBs to discoon
lenanoe this sort of thing, and endea
vor to promote harmony, and thus
allay as much as possible all strong
party feeling.
We hold that education 16 the birth
right of every human being, and the
principle has been laid down that it is
necessary for the well-being of a State
that all children should be taught the
elementary branches. What was once
the duty solely of parents is now
looked upon as partially the duty of
the community, and tbs national purse
has to grant the money for such in
struction. Our educational system has
relation to what may be called the
secular side of human life and the in
tellectual side of man's being. Be
yond that it must not go. The free
dom of household government must be
maintained at all riste. With this the
State has no right to interfere, though
it has a right to protect the subject,
for the sacredness of human life must
be preserved. Still the religious edu
cation of the family — its moral train
ing — cannot well came under State
control. It must therefore, if it is to
be enjoyed at all, be given in the home,
the Sabbath school,1 and the ohurch,
which are the proper places for such
instruction. When s child ib able to
read it has acquired the key to the
storehouses of knowledge. Whatever
may be done, there elnuld be no in
terference in matters of consoienoe, no
infringement of the light of private
judgment. We havo Wot a national
education system of great capabilities
for good, and it is being conducted on
most efficient lines, wp have a body
of teaohers who have been carefully
trained,and who are able ia communicate
QUDUtUailJ liU »UD ULIOUlAg UIIUUD ?Ua*
which they themselves nave acquired.
Such being the case it is to be re
gretted that so many] of our most
amiable fellow colonists efiould continue
to agitate for a change! in the com
plexion of the existing eastern of State
education. The system is but in its
infancy, and inasmuch as this is truly a
progressive age we expect that in due
time there will be further developments.
Of late years a stimulus ha6 been ap
plied to the working cla6Bes, which has
produced in their minds the conviction
that a good education is the path to
honor and usefulness. Wei venture to
predict that ere many years! roll past it
will be found tlat the present system
of education Will have answered its
purpose. The parents of the near future,
I knowing the.- value of education, will
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have their children properly instructed.
The compulsory element having ful
filled its mission, State aid will be
withdrawn and will be superseded by
the voluntary system. The churches,
the ministers, the philanthropists will
put forth their beBt endeavors to in
struct the young in all the branches of
an ordinary education. The time was
when ic was thought that the churches
in the old country would languish with
the withdrawal of State aid, but the
reverse was experienced. In this
colony all sections of the ohurch are
making headway without help from the
State. Our State system of education
haB been, and is still, a power in dis
pelling ignorance, and is making way
for the voluntary and religious educa
tion of the masses of society. The
State schools will be rented by the
people, who will select their own
teachers and pay them. Then it will
uo iuuuu wni a voluntary euuctiiiou
will give to the people themselves
habits of independent thought and of
active benevolence. Meanwhile the
State system should be accepted with
out cavil, for it is accomplishing what
is absolutely required to prepare the
people for the only system that will
give general satisfaction.
A Royal Commission is now making ex
haustive inquiries as to the desirableness or
otherwise of extending the Blyth railway to
some point of the Port Pirie and Gladstone
line. There are two routes, and each has
had its advocates for a number of years.
There is a third party which strongly op
poses any extension. On previooB occa
sions Commissions have examined and re
ported on the extension of the same line.
Bills have been introduced into Parliament,
and the whole question has been discussed
there. The Railway Commissioners have
travelled over the country and furnished a
report on the merits of this extension.
Nothing, however, was agreed to, for the
question of route has been a perplexing
problem. It was thought that in the event
of a route being decided upon and the ex
tension carried out the matter would not
be allowed to rest. The disappointed party
would continue to agitate for facilities equal
to what were granted to the successful party.
It may therefore be concluded that the
work of inquiry was begun de novo by the
appointment of the present Commission.
At the present juncture, while investiga
tions are being made, renewed interest is
being taken in the matter. From what we
can gather the positions of parties remain
unchanged. To us that fact would indi
cate that there is nothing specific which
can be put forward to justify any extension.
Hitherto all the information obtainable has
not been such as to warrant Parliament to
sanction the construction of the line. It
has not been shown that the extension
sought would create additional production
or increase trade. And there ia no getting
away from the fact that the railway is not
required to relieve the traffic on the existing
railway which it would join. It has we
think been given in evidence by the Rail
way Commissioners tbat two-thirds more
traffic could be done on the existing rail
way providing the rolling stock was ade
quate. In the event of the Blyth extension
being carried out rolling stock would be
required, and surely it would be better to
provide ample rolling stock for the working
lines than make railways where no traffic
would be created. If the railway proposed
could be made to pay without xobbing other
lines, then there could be no very strong
reason for objecting to it. But it would
actually injure some of the old settled parts,
without providing any increase to the re
venue. The financial position of the colony
forbids the spending of a large sum in mak
ing an unnecessary and most unprofitable
railway. We state our objection to the
undertaking on national grounds, and not
in a spirit of antagonism to any party. For
we have again and again stated most em
phatically that if it could be shown that
the railway was needed by one or both
routes in the interests of the colony, and
witn any reasonaoie prospect or oemg re
munerative we would be the last to offer
objection. It behoves our statesmen to
legislate wisely and cautiously, and not
needlessly increase the burden of taxpayers.
It is very evident that the money-lenders
think that South Australia has exceeded a
reasonable limit in borrowing. Our two
last loans are proof of that. The state
ments made in London by a former mem
ber for Stanley — Mr. E. W. Hawker — are
being exemplified. He was denounced by
several South Australians because he dealt
with matters relating to this colony ia a
clear, truthful, and fearless manner. But
it would be better for the colony were
many of our influential politicians and
business men to act on the same principle.
Held Oveb. — We have been compelled
to hold over 'Notes from Auburn' and
Hsmley Bridge news letter until next issue.
Blyth Railway Extension. — The
Blyth Railway Commission visited Clare
on Tuesday last and took evidence in the
evening. Several witnesses were examined,
and they considered the extension quite un
necessary at the present juncture, looking
at tbe matter from a purely national stand
point.
Spalding Distbict. — The Blyth Ex
tension Hallway Commission took evidence
at Spalding on Monday evening last. The
members were much impressed with the
isolated condition of the Spalding district,
its long distance from railway communica
tion, and the want of adequate postal and
telegraph facilities.
Oablk News. — The following London
telegrams are from the Adelaide dailies : —
The man Sadler, who was arrested last
month in the belief that he was ' Jack the
Ripper,' and who was suspected of the
murder of Frances Cole, at Whitechapel, on
February 13, has been formally discharged
by the magistrates, the jury at the inquest
having returned an open verdict, and the
police having failed to discover any evidence
against him in respect to the murder of the
woman Cole or any of the supposed victims
of 'Jack the Ripper.' — An English player
has broken the bank at Monte Carlo and
won £7,000. — News is received of a series
of terrible floods having 'inundated 10 dis
tricts of China. The result is not only
great damage to property, bat the loss of no
less than 1,000 lives, whole families being
swept away and drowned. — The latest in
telligence from Chili is far from reaseuring.
There has been no suspension of hostilities.
The rebel fleet has blockaded Iquique, and
will probably bombard the town. The
Chilian harvest has been sacrificed owing to
the scarcity of laborers, the insurrection
having directed labor from its usual chan
nels. A few days ago a vessel manned by
Chilian rebels pursued and fired upon a
British steamer and attempted to seize the
cargo. The captain, assuming a defiant
attitude, refused to deliver up the goods in
his ship, and was allowed to proceed upon
hie voyage.
Accident. — Mr. W. Kelly, jun., on
Wednesday evening last was returning from
the cricket match at Auburn in a one-horse
trap, with two other people in the trap, and
when coming down the hill on the Auburn
aide of Penwortham the horse tripped and
fell, cutting its knees and breaking one shaft
of the trap. Luckily the occupants escaped
uninjured.
The Railway Commissioners. — The
Commissioners, with the General Traffic
Manager and their secretary, Mr. A. N.
Day, paid a vi-it to Clare on Tuesday after
noon in one of Hill & Co.'s large drags.
They, left Adelaide by tbe afternoon express
on Monday, and on Tuesday morning with
the Mayor and Corporation of Port Pirie
inspected the wharves refinery works at
that prosperous town. Leaving Port Pirie
they proceeded to Crystal Brook, and made
inquiries into questions relative to railway
working. During Tuesday they drove over
me route or proposed railway, ana aner
staying at tbe Clare hotel that evening
' wended their weary way' towards the
metropolis on Wednesday at noon.
How WE Spabkled. — This week Clare
has been rather lively, and distinguished
visitors have paid us a visit. In the first
place we had the members of the Royal
Blyth Commission and the Railway
Commissioners in our midst. On Wed
nesday, being the aunual Licensing Beach
day, Clare presented an animated ap
pearance.
Midland District Licensing Bench.—
A good deal of tbe time of this Bench was
occupied on Wednesday last in hearing the
case of Mr. M. T. Billiet, who applied for a
railway refreshment - room license at
Terowie. Opposition was entered by Mr. H.
Weintich, who owns the hotel near the
station. Others gave evidence that tbe
license was not required, besides the plat
form was not large enough, and if people
congregated they would block up the way.
Mr. Smith, Railway Commissioner, and
Mr. Alan Pendleton, Traffic Manager, re
futed these statements, and stated posi
tively that the license was required for the
benefit of the public. The Bench, however,
thought otherwise, and refused to grant the
license.
Baptist Church, Clare.— For some
time past the Baptist friends at Clare have
beed busy erecting a new church. On Sun
day, March 1, they had the pleasure of cele
brating the opening services. Three ser
vices were held, and large congregations as
sembled. The building in the evening was
crowded, there being over 150 people
present. The preacher on this occasion was
the Rev. G. Hogben, who preached three
excellent and practical sermons. The text
chosen for the morning, this being the de
dication service, was 1. Corinthians, iii., 9,
' Te are God's building.' The speaker
said in his opening remarks that a new
building in which to worship God must be
a source of pleasure and thankfulness to all
connected with it. Let that building be
God's building, not only erected for Him,
but kept sacred for Him. He, the speaker,
believed in the consecration of church
buildings to God, but not in the ritualistic
sense, but in the same way as Christians
should consecrate their houses or shops to
God. The preacher then in dealing with
the text chosen dwelt upon two ideaB — 1.
That God is the builder of the church, and
as such has design, foundation, and
material. 2. That God is the owner of the
church, and as such he has absolute power
and an eternal interest in the church. The
text chosen for the afternoon was II.
Kings, iii., 16. The theme of the
preacher in the evening was the at
tractive power of the cross of Christ.
The opening celebrations were continued on
Wednesday. Devotional meetings were
held in the church both morning and after
noon, and a good number of friends gathered
together at each service. The Rev. S.
Mead presided over the morning meeting,
and the Rev. G. Hogben the afternoon one.
A. public luncheon was provided in a booth
at 11.3U, and was well patronised, as was
also a tea at 6 o'clock. At 7.30 a public
meeting was commenced in the church, the
Rev. S. Mead, M.A., LL.B., presiding.
After singing and prayer,- a piece of music
was ably rendered by the choir, and the
pastor of the new church was called upon
to give the treasurer's statement, which
showed that the total cost of the new build
ing, furniture, and land was £350 14*.
Towards this amount £341 had already been
raised, leaving a deficiency of £10. An
appeal was at once made to the audience,
which was quickly responded to. In the
course of about three minutes the required
£10 was subscribed, and the church de
clared entirely free of debt. When this
announcement was made the large congre
gation rose and sang the doxology.
Appropriate and inspiring addresses were
given by the Chairman, Revs. W. Gilmoux
(who represented the Northern Associa
tion), J. H. Sexton, G. Hogben, and Cap;
tain Terrill. The choir also rendered
several pieces of music, which added much
to the enjoyment of the evening. A vote
of thanks to all who had taken part being
proposed by the pastor, and the Rev. S.
Mead pronouncing tbe benediction brought
to a close a splendid meeting. The friends
then visited the booth once more, and
a large number sat down to supper. This
brought to a close a very successful
series of opening services, and leaves the
Baptist Church in the happy condition of
having a church free of debt, and a small
balance to tbe good,
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