The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Saturday, May 23, 1891. IN THE BACK BLOCKS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 611, 23 May 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Saturday, May 23, 1891. IN THE BACK BLOCKS.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou airn’st at be thy country's, Thy God's, and truth’s.

The Education Board might well lend a favorable ear to the application of the residents of Tiniroto for some provision being made for a school in that locality. The district is gradually being settled, but one of the greatest disadvantages these persevering people labor under is the need of some means of getting their children educated. We talk proudly of our Education Act and of the great boon it is to the different communities, but if participation in those advantages is to be denied to the courageous people who do not shrink from going out into back country to turn the rough wilds into sources of production, does it not fail in one of its most important aspects ? There is not much reason to rejoice at the machinework that is done in the large centres of population if we know that the unfortunate children in the back country are to be ignored altogether. This weakness in the working of the system has long acted as a deterrent upon the bona fide settlement of the country. When men go forth to carve out homes for themselves and families in the back blocks it must be with a bitter feeling concerning the sacrifice they have to make in regard to their children. Many parents would rather cling to the outskirts of the towns than pay the penalty of finding themselves thus deprived of one of the great boons of civilisation. In Tiniroto district there are now thirtyone children of school age whose parents would willingly send to a public school if it could be instituted there. There are many other children just verging on the school age, and yet they are denied the privilege of State education. They are not, of course, growing up like young arabs, for loving parents do what they can to compensate for the loss which the children have to endure. People who have the backbone in them to apply themselves to the the work of breaking in the country at such a distance from the centres of population are not likely to neglect their children. But is it fair that they should thus heavily be handicapped? It will be a great shame if the appeal of the settlers is made subservient to the less substantial claims of those who can bring greater influence to bear at head quarters. No one expects that an expensive staff should be appointed, but some provision could easily be made, and the settlers would willingly give much assistance.