Dunedin Gossip

Cromwell Argus, Volume L, Issue 2645, 20 October 1919, Page 5

Dunedin Gossip

(FhomOuk Own Ookuksponount.) Dunedin, October I7lh. A specia' meeting of the Anglican Synod has nominated as Bishop of Dunedin, in succession to Dr Nsvill, Archdeacon Isaac.Richards, of Invercargill, and formerly of Lawrence. The new Bishop (for no one anticipates any objection to his nomination), was for some time connected with Selwyn College, and is thus fairly well known (o the Anglican community in the city, but not much known to others. He is said to belong to the High Church division, but is a broadminded and well informed gentleman. While the selection came somewhat as a surprise, it is generally considered that the best man out of those available has been chosen. There arc some who are disappointed that the Dean was not the chosen one, but the Dean is no longer a young man, and it is very doubtful if he would consent to take charge of such a poor diocese as Dunedin has proved itself, not because it. is poor, but because perpetual hard work, only capable of being undertaken by a younger man, would be essential, and one who has a son as an Archdeacon can hardly bo expected to have the vigor essential for the ' positron. The nominated Bishop is said to be a zealous elocutionist and it will not be surprising if he joins in the crusade for founding additional denominational schools. It is assumed that though classed as High Church, lie will not seek to introduce any innovations. If he knows the history of the diocese, the fate of Dr .tenner, who was to be the first Bishop will no doubt have some influence with him. fQuite a little revelation was made iifconnection with our meat supply the other day. With rising prices it has long been wondered why the workers did not clamour for a supply at a cheaper rate from the stocks in the freezing works, procurable at the price paid by the British Government. It may be that the bulk of the workers, owing to advanced wages, are still able to buy the fresh killed mca», while others of the class not so fortunate have been catered for with meat understood to be not of firstclass prime quality. Although the fact that cheaper meat was procurable from the freezing works was generally known, it was not until pointed attention was drawn to the fact by the Otago member of the Efficiency Board that it suggested itself to anyone to make inquiries. It was then ascertained that no less than eighteen butchering firms had secured permits and were presumably drawing supplies from the works. Strange to say it was not thought to be interesting enough to publish the names of the butchers, and so moat-eaters are not sure whether they have been regaling themselves on frozen mutton and lamb, or on fresh killed. Of course the price charged was the same, which may or may not be profiteering. The incident explains why butchers did not find it necessary to advance retail prices as prices at the salcr yards went up. It also explains how some firms could truthfully say that they were making a loss ol so much per week on retailing stock bought at Burnside and still carry on and sport motor cars.

.Some curious minded individuals arc inclined to wonder whether all is as well as things should be in our chief seat of learning and education. So far as can be ascertained there was no candidate from Otago University nominated this year for the Rhodes Scholarship, and this prize went by default to ;i Canfcerbujy man. We must have fallen on a lean year indeed if we oouhl pot muster up one man fit for nomination. No doubt the war. and possibly the inilueima cpi demic, may have had some effect. But when you realise that Otago and Dunedin, the district hitherto noted for advanced education, could not muster up one student worthy of being named, is it any wonder outsiders arc beginning to ask questions and speculate as to whether them may not be something wrong elsewhere than with the students. No outsider can be in a position to definitely make a pronouncement of much value on the subject ; it is doubtful if even (he council know much of the inner work of the pi occasional aiqj (packing stuff. Students might be qk|e to give some slight enlighfmcnt, but they, as anile, will pot talk s shop," apd as flic Students Association has not made any movement known to the public, the curious minded individuals above referred to are at a dead-end. By putting this and that t age I per, one ipay spiqniap .things, and one may weirder whether many of the pro fessois take any interest in the students optsidc their attendance at classes, and strive to ascertain whether there is something in some of them that is not made evident in examinations ; also. whether the papik'g set for examinations arc suck ft s arc best calculated ta determine the progress of the students, or whether many of the questions set are not in the nature of £l catch ” questions, such as kavo little bearing upon tV,;: lectures of the Prpijpssp.io and‘the lecturers.

The ciuious m;iy wonder vvliclher the determined etVorls that urn h,oii)g made to relieve p'tifassvrs of the socalled drudgery of lecturing by appointing assistants and so release the professor.s for research "'O' fr, are due so much to a consuming thirst for reseat clips in the realms of science, as to a lap.k of interest in the less romantic work of imparting instruction and tit ousting a keenness in the student for finthcr knowledge ly reseatch in the particular branch of studies he is suppose 1 to be trying to master. These arc mere and may be * puitio foundationless. siit w’ltii all this talk of research 1 ' ‘'

work one cannot but be surprised that even with the limited time at their disposal, we have not hitherto seen some tangible results that have gained name and fame. The early days of Otago University wore no doubt days of small things comparatively, but some people will recall and compare the positions in academical and public life by Professors MacGregor, Shaud? Black, Hutton, Ulrich, Brown, and many others, with the present day state of affairs. No one student worthy of being nominated for the Rhodes •Scholarship, and our city press has not a word to say.