UNPRECEDENTED FEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 197, 18 August 1908, Page 5

UNPRECEDENTED FEAT.

PREMIER REPORTED BY BLIND BOY A bKILLIANT YOUTH. An unprecedented feat was established yesterday afternoon by a student of the Institute for the Blind. The youth, whose name is Doric Algie, is fifteen years of age, and has been taught to record readings at a rate of about 120 a minute upon a specially-constructed marhinc. The system used is Pitman's shorthand and Braille adroitly applied to one another. The boy touches certain keys, which puncture a tape, and afterwards, by merely running a finger over the punctures, the boy can translate the dictation. He has only been learning nine months, and is wonderfully proficient. Doric may be seen at the Industries Exhibtion daily writing for marvelling crowds, and yesterday he was tested by Sir Joseph Ward. To see what the sightless stenographer could do, Sir Joseph stood behind him and spoke as follows: —"This is the first occasion upon which I have had the pleasure of having any comments taken down in a substitution for shorthand, such as you are doing now by the touch of the fingers, without the advantage of eyesight, and I would like to express the great pleasure I feel in finding that you arp able to use your energies in such a useful and satisfactory manner. It is very creditable indeed to the tuition of the institution, in which you are, and shows really what extraordinary faculties can be developed without that great blessing of eyesight which so many of us do not realise the great- value of until we see those who unfortunately have not the advantage of it."

The trial was so satitfactorily accomplished by the youth that it was arranged that he should attempt to report a speech which was about to be delivered by the Premier. The Premier is a rapjd speaker, but, on this occasion, reduced his pace to from SO to 100 words per minute. After explaining bis object in speaking slower than usual. Sir Joseph made a reference to the student, which was correctly translated by the latter, as follows:—"To mc this is cue of thos? scientific developments, the outcome of the teaching of those who are rusponsible in the Blind Institute, that call for the warm eulogies of those of us who recognise the practical and useful side of teaching that is being imparted to those who unfortunately are afflicted with blindness." A short time ago I spoke alongsid? the young fellow, and used one or two long words for the purpose of testing his capacity to have them recorded and translated by the feel of tbfl fingers, and every word waatranslated afterwards perfectly correctly, so I want to say that if I had come here to-day for no other purpose than that of seeing what valuable work is done in this respect, in tho Auckland Blind institute, it would have more than repaid the short time devoted to coming to this very interesting exhibition. I express the hope that the young fellow, who has really a remarkable profession in his hands, may pass out into that branch of work where the recording of matter in private, offices is invaluable and indispensable to the every-day necessities of the men and women who are now travelling at such a pace in the matter of commercial or business competition." The Premier proceeded to refer to the gratitude owing to the teachers of the blind. He theD proceeded with his speech, which was recorded by the blind youth, and this morning translated in the presence of a ''Star'" reporter. The feat is unique, and it is the first time that a Prime Minister's speech, if any speech at all, has been recorded by a blind person.