THE CLASSICS.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19400, 28 August 1928, Page 9

THE CLASSICS.

'-.-TO- THE ;EDITOB OP )THE PRESS.; Sir,—l see that once more the above is being discussed, so,,as a firm believer in oitf"youth-acquiring oven a smattering' in, the 'classical languages, Tshould' like to add a word of encouragement to any inclined to go in for them. It was my good fortune to be ;at one of the public schools in the Old Country, where in those days every Ovithout exception) had to take Latin, French, Greek, was seventeen for the Navy, so that my knowledge these languages was little more than .a smattering, but even this I have prized througli life, aad. I still take a real pleasure in. Provided a boy used ordinary intelligence, he would have enduringly ground into him numerous . Latin, and Greek, words; and the same may be said more sparingly of French and German. Thus a nodding acquaintance w?th rail these languages is not merely useful, but. it also lends an interest in philology, and this frequently drives me to. the Oxford Dictionary, my much-prized treasury. For many rears I kept a Greek Testament and a French Bible in-church for following the Lessons. Both, were useful towards keeping up v , one's;studies, whilst also lending an interest to the services. Granted that these languages don't play a large part towards earning a hying nowadays, T would say that even a noddine acquaintance with them makes lone feel more at home: in pubhc discussions that occasionally come along. Not long since J was talking to a young lady who told me she was shortly going up for M.A., but I was .greatly disappointed at Uearning that she did not , know a word of Latinr Expressing this | viewVl was.pleased.to hear her say that ■shSometi regretted not having. taken Latin.- •--.•■-.•• I would:plead with students to give la'neuatres a show, so far as the.rcirlanguages, « d ii ow; ; for I can assuro Scumstances-will aiiow. *v « ? them3 that in after life they may be

thankful for even that generally, despised minimum • known as a ' 'smattering."—Yours, etc., • OCTOGENAEIAN. THE RICCARTON BpROUGH COUNCIL. TO THE EDITQR' OP THE PRESS. Sir, —The above Council deserves severe'criticism for its bad business methods. I, will briefly state the'case against them..' The Council had a revaluation of the borough (at their own request, I understand). These new valuations startled the ratepayers, as they showed such an advance on the previous valuations; and, mark you. made at a time when values'were falling all, over the country. There was a general outcry, and as a' result the M.P. for Riccarton, Mr H. S. Sv Kyle, took the matter in hand. He approached the authorities in Wellington ~to hay© the position reviewed, and he got a favourable reception. This relief would have eventuated had not one tiling' happened just then. The Riccarton Council, on'the casting vote of the Mayor; refused to endorse the ratepayers' protest to the Minister, arid when headquarters at ■Wellington heard.- this they threw Mr Kyle overboard'' and let the valuations stand.

; Now the storm is about;to break on the ratepayers, and this -year's rate demand will be, an - eye-opener. The Hospital Board rate has already been declared, and it. is practically the same rate in the pound as last year (this year .271 din the £; last year .266 din the £). Owing to the, high valuations of Riccarton . now ruling, the unfortunate ratepayers have to find an in- . crease of 46 per cent, in, the Hospital rate to be collected. Note: Collections last year ,£1049, this year £1536, due to increasing the rateable capital value from £944,555 to .£1,358,518 at a time when values were falling like hail in a winter storm. Then to insult ;the Hospital Board the Riccarton Council passes a motion protesting against the Hospital Board levy and circulates it all over the country for endorsement. The/ Christchurch City Council increase is a nominal 5 per cent, compared l 'with 46 per cent, increase in Riccarton. The Hospital Board did not materially increase the levy as shown by the figures, but the Riccarton Council woultl lead its ratepayers to believe that such was the case. The Drainage rate'has-yet to come on'the increased valuations, and this added to whatever rate the Council 1 strikes will make a rate-demand that will stagger the residents when it comes out. I .am sorry that the Riccarton Borough Council has not enough business'ability to understand that if it pushes, up its-valuations before the same thing takes place in the City then its ratepayers are penalised heav- ' ilv, whilst the City escapes.. This is w-hat'has "happened, and when a fair chance of. relief, was looking like realisation (through reconsideration of valuations) the Mayor uses his casting vote to put the yoke on to the unfortunate ratepayers. The present Council is the nominees of the Riccarton Citizens' Association, but matters will be altered next election, and I suggest to the Citizens' Association that it takes no part m the next election, unless it wants to see its nominees receive a defeat and that is what is coming unlees the Association is very careful. The Riccarton Borough Council has done many things recently that have annoyed the residents, but this loading the ratepayers with very heavy rates for^Hospital and Drainage ; Board will touch ud the hockets of the ratepayers that thev will never forget or forgive this present ■ Council for its bad business methods .—You rs, olc - JjOOKERj()N THE SQUARE. TO THB BDlroa OF THB PBBS9. Sir,—Will you again allow me to trespass on your goodness to say that I don't care .a button where the good City Fathers. put the public conveniences, so long as they are clean and unseen. But what of the women jitb prams and small .tots crossing inferno, the Square? Let tire- citizens all together, high, low, and ultrasuperior, find some common ground in these essentials regaling the healt and beauty of this City that je old ones love, and bring the,, spirit of "The Sermon on. tho Mount to it. \ouiSj etc., ) \T