MANNERS OF BRITISH BOYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 215, 7 September 1912, Page 10

MANNERS OF BRITISH BOYS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —As an Englishman I must protest against the paragraph on the manners of British boys, published in ' to-night's "Star" under the name of "Peter the Wag." Ido not for one moment believe that any Eton schoolboy ever said to his mother at lunch, in the presence of his father, and a chance visitor, " You filthy swine," let alone repeat it. The story, or whatever you like to call it, is improbable, for several reasons. First, an Eton schoolboy is a young gentleman, and the son of a gentleman, otherwise he would not be at Eton. Secondly, such execrable grammar would burn his tongue. Then his father is a gentleman, and as such could not for a moment tolerate such language, if used towards Ilia wife; and last, should such language have been used and tolerated by beth father and mother, it would have been quite out of place for a visitor to have made such a remark to the delinquent, let alone the exaggeration contained in the Temark, viz., " He would not have been able to have walked for a month." Such parajrrsvphs in the papers migbt lead some ignorant people to believe them, and therefore wa-nt refuting. As an Englishman 1 was disgusted eleven years ago when I first cano to New Zealand, at the irreverence shown towards many parents by their children —such remarks as "The Old Man," "The Old Woman," "Shan't" and '"Won't" being commonly appliod, and grating on my nerves, coming from a land where children are taught to obey and reverence their parents. But no New Zealand schoolboy, 1 fee] sure, would use such an expression towards hie mother—let alone an Eton boy.—l am, etc., RIDLEY H- OOLEBROOK. September 4th.

AVONPATjE ROADS. (To the Editor.) I Sir, — wish to remind your correspondent, l>. Campbell, that he commenced the discussion of above, and it. appears a ease of him wishing also to say the last word. With reference to my suggestion, a temporary track on. Burton's Hill, Mr Campbell knows that nothing was done, during the. whole of the somewhat abnormal winter, now passing away. He (Mr Campbell) a , so knows that if, as he says, the weather has been exceptionally bad, there was n greater duty cast- upon his Board to 'make provision for the foot passengers using the hill to do so with as little inconvenience

as possible; but he. says the Board has done its best, and considering that for many weeks women and girls., including children (particularly those, who eonld r.ot avail themselves of the use of Mr Fooley's vehicles kindly placed at the disposal of the school children!, were forced for decency's sake to change their boots or shoes by the wayside to or from the railway etfttion (many pairs of shoes were etolr-n). and that the writer and others were for several weeks compelled to make a long detour 'jnd trespass on a. neighbours paddocks, 1 muet ask your readers if the Board's beat has not been a huge failure. Much more eouJd be said of the Board's gross neglect of the Manukau Road during the last few months, but. Sir. I think enough has been said to fhow that the Avondale South people havp been patient and long-suffer-ing under long-continued and trying condition?. In conclusion, I may mention that a suspicion was abroad that the Board had done its best, and as we have Mr Campbell's authority th«t the bes* has been done. I am anxious to know what will happen if one particle of the Board's best should by any me.ans whatsoever be in any way relaxed. —I am, etc.. ' E. J. ADAMS. Manukau Road, Avondale South, September, 1912.