UNKNOWN. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1893.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 303, 22 December 1893, Page 2

UNKNOWN.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1893.

$qi tilt causa that lacks __._i.ta_._-, For tha irrons that naodn r tsistuuit, 7or the future in the distanc*, Ari the good that ire can do.

The experience vouchsafed to Sir George Grey last night is one that is rarely enjoyed by any public man who works for posterity. Nearly half a century ago he drew up a model trust deed for the creation in this Soulhern Britain of institutions for the promotion of secondary education. He selected, with conspicuous judgment and foresight, lands to endow these schools with, so that they might fulfil their purpose. Last night he came before one of the most representative audiences ever gathered within the walls of the Choral Hall, to compare the fruition of that by-gone act with his early conception. The circumstances were extremely favourable. Rising behind him, tier above tier, were rows of smiling, youthful faces—bright dresses and girlish sweetness to the right, expansive collars and jackets encasing boyish boisterousness on the left. Before him an attentive and intelligent jury to hear and weigh his judgment. Despite these inspiriting surroundings his speech was marked by a tone of disappointment. What saith the letter ot the deed ? " For the children of New Zealand and the islands of the Pacific, without distinction of race or class." Where are the students from New Guinea, from New Caledonia, from the New Hebrides, the Loyalty Islands, and the multitudinous verdureclad, coral-girt centres of human joy and sorrow in the broad Pacific, whose pioneers were in Auckland even when the initiatory step was taken which gave birth to this great school ? Not one to be seen among the assembled multitude. It was a splendid dream, but only a dream. Not in a halfcentury, nor a century, may a primitive race become naturally comformable to the ways and modes of thought of our Western civilisation. And sad though it undoubtedly is to contemplate, there is no such future as Sir George Grey und Bishop Selwyn dreamed about during their cruises among the beautiful islands of Polynesia and Melanesia, in store for the people on whose behalf these representatives of British political and religious institutions were planning and contriving. Doomed to extinction as surely as the mammoth and the mastadon have given way to more virile forms of life, are those races over whose decline Sir George^ Grey sounded a mournful note. But for the European races the school has more than fulfilled the most sanguine expectations of its founder. Among the boys and girls assembled in the hall were the intellectual cuttings of our national schools from

the extreme of the North Cape to the southern limit of the Auckland district. The head-master, in his address on the year's work, was able to make out an excellent case for the school. Boys trained within its halls have made their mark all the world over, and its recent successes in the higher educational tournaments of New Zealand amply justify its methods of training. The Head-master drew attention to the fact that in addition to its secondary work, the school undertakes the tuition of young pupils in primary subjects. The time will come, we believe, when this part of its functions will no longer be needed, and the school will fit in perfectly between the elementary national schools and the University College. But in the meantime, so long as a demand exists for educational institutions combining secondary with primary subjects, we see no objection to the Grammar School performing such work at a rate of fee sufficient to cover all the cost. This, we learn, is already the rule. One closing remark. The gathering at the Choral Hall last night stood out in most agreeable contrast to the buffoonery and downright rowdyism which, for some inscrutable reason, have come to be regarded as "the correct thing " in connection with the presentation of diplomas^ won by students of the New Zealand University. The school orchestra, under its conductor, enlivened the proceed ings with several novelties in instru-' mentation, which amused by their cleverness, not by ridiculous outrages on the musical sense of an essentially musical audience. We thank the new Headmaster of the Grammar School for demonstrating that a school presentation may be made bright, entertaining and at the same time intellectual; that eminent citizens may take their place on its platform without fear of insult, and that it is not necessary for the mentors of a State-supported educational institution, in order that they may maintain their self-respect while discharging a public duty, to make terras for the preservation of peace for a brief interval, or to beat an ignominious retreat before the publicly circulated programme has been completed. We sincerely hopethat the lesson will not be lost. By all means let us imitate whatever of Old World precedent there may be that is good; but it behoves the inhabitants of a young country above all others to remember that * * * Through tbe ages ono increasing purpose runs, And bho thoughts of mon aro widened with the process of tho suns.