LETTERS IN BRIEF.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9385, 8 April 1896, Page 3

LETTERS IN BRIEF.

" Constant Subscriber " writes asking for a recipe for tomato wine. Perhaps some of our readers can oblige with the information. A correspondent signing himself " Grey Duck" writes in condemnation of the system employed by several shooting Dartiea at the Lake of using decoys. He calls the action nothing short of murder, and prophecies a speedy extinction of the wild duck should such practices be allowed. He appeals to the Acclimatisation Society to impose penalties on all persona using decoys. "Parent" wishes to know if there are any public or private institutions in the city where lessons in bookkeeping, English, &c, aro taught, for the benefit of those who have left school at an early age; Mr D. Brown, Selwyn street, Addmgton, suggosts that we should devote a space once a week to " Literary Notes and Queries." Hβ also wishes to know someone who could let him consult " Leland'e Itinerary " and " Oliver's History of Exeter." " Nor'-wester " remarks that so long as the Postal Department, of which the Hon. J. G. Ward is the head, charges 2£d postage for papers like the Weekly Press, ie must be inferred that there can be no sincere desire on the part of the Government to advertise the colony in other countries. "ACockatoo" complains of the delay in delivering delayed telegrams. Hβ says that he sends to a country post office for hia letters and telegrams, and if a delayed telegram reaches the office at 9.30 a.m. and his man calls at 3.30 p.m.. he cannot have it till the next time he goes; so sometimes the message does not reach him until fifty hours after ita arrival at the office. Oar correspondent said that in pointing this fact out to the postmaster, .he has been told that he should have his telegrams fully paid. In answer to this, he Bays that he cannot be responsible for what takes place at the other end, He also says that the receiver should have the chance at leaab of paying ordinary rates. " Carrie Tass " writes to us a long letter in reference to a leader that appeared in our columns a few days ago on the subject of University degrees. He endorses the remarks made in that article on the " backsliding from the gospel of work," and goes on to say that the imputation of narrowness cannot be cast against the leader, as the New Zealand University is a striking illustration of the democratic tendencies of the colony. The fact that this is so should make people pause before advocating any scheme such as propounded by Liberal Associations of tampetiag with the government of the .'affiliated Colleges. Touching on the subject) of the work prescribed for examinations, •• Carrie Tass " says that the limitation in the amount of work to be done will lower the standard of the degree, and already the result is 'seen in the laxity ehown by present students with regard to intellectual training, which seems to point to a deterioration in the moßt valuable particular of University life. The letter then goes on to cay that the cramming system by our schools is the oftuse of the present outcry against work, for it eventually produce's a distaste tor real work, siuce when the student enters College the artificial stimulus of the teachers is no longer there, and the student can follow his own sweet will. He has a choice between work aud idleness, and usually takes the latter. The writer then accuses us of the exaggeration contained in the phrase "plentiful crop of double firste." He points out that there have been only three double firsL-claes honours men since 1884, and these have been on the scientific side. Older graduates, he says, consider the moat unreasonable changes have been made on the literary side. Under the present regulations of the Senate it is possible for a student who has never heard of Sh&kspere to gain first-claee honours in English literature. The letter ends with an appeal feo all those interested in higher education to rise and prevent this deterioration in the degree standard. Charles E. Turner thinks that it would be desirable for the colony to possess a fleet of Government steamers, which could serve in times of peace to develop our industries, and which in time of war could be changed into battleships. He refers fcp the subsidies granted to the Atlantic and Canadian Steamship Companies by the Imperial Government, on the condition that they build ships of far stronger frames than is necessary for mere trading purpoaee, bo that in the event of war they could become part of the Navy. These ships, of course, do not carry their armaments with them. The letter suggests that the system could be adopted either by Australasia as a whole or simply by this colony, and further points out that the ships so couotructed would be a powerful deterrent against monopolies by private Companies. The writer goes oh to say that every ship sent out here from Home, weakens the Imperial Navy, and is alwAys liable to be re-called, bo that we should be left defenceless. If such a dual system of defence and development were adopted we should h» r=ueed above the need of help from otho i > i-ers.