AN ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION. THE GOVERNOR ON ENGLISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 47, 25 February 1908, Page 8

AN ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION. THE GOVERNOR ON ENGLISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Speaking at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Christ's College buildings, in Christchuich, Lord Plunket said that in erecting thrso schools on the lines of the great public schools of England — such as Christ's College, the school at Wanganui, and in other centres of Now Zealand, modified, of course, to suit colonial requirements and aims — they wore, in his Excellency's opinion, doing much for tho future of this rising nation. The ancient traditions, the tone, set, and the spirit engendered by the public schools of England were some of the most important advantages that Great Britain possessed. (Applause). He had no time and it was unnecessary when 3poaking to such a gathering to labour this point, except, in tho interests of those who only knew of England's public schools by hearsay, to correct one erroneous impression. It wan considered that the English public schools engendered a crusted Toryism, an admiration for rank and possessions and a ta&te for luxury. Anyone who knew anything about the public schools at Homo knew, so far as engendering admiration for rank and possessions, that when a duke's son wont to Harrow or Eton, or somo other school, and presumed on his rank be, very soon got kicked by the smallest boy in the. school and everyone was pleased when this was dono. Exactly tlio same occurred in tho case of ia'Doy \yhosp parents pew* sesscd great riches, and who swaggered about and made ostentatious display of the fact. (Such a boy was kicked oven more than the duke's mmi. (Laughter). As for creating a tasts for luxuiy, his Excellency wished he %_ould give one or two people who though 1 : that English public schools engendered luxurious tastes, an idea of what hih own experiences had been. He had found greater luxury on the extreme backblocks of New Zealand than at Harrow. (Laughter). A boy succeeded at a public school for none of these rea&ons. It j was tho boy who "played the game" in school, in his house, and on the football field, who hated swagger, and honoured the school as dearly as he regarded his own honour, who got on best, and was the boy who was the greatest honour to a school. (Applause). II that was the spirit that animated tho boys at Christ's Collego (and he Knew that it was), what could be too good for it? He felt sure that the beginning of tho rebuilding of the collego would be rapidly followed by further additions. The spirit which had animated those who had so generously como forward 'would continue, and would animate bthers to follow their example.

Some dissatisfaction ha 3 oeen expressed in connection with the Sunday suburban train arrangements to the Hutt. Mr. T. M. Wilfoid, M.P., has made representation to the Minister oi" Railways, asking that tho 2.]0 p.m. train from Te AlO should run to Upper Ilutt ; that the 2.25 train be despatched from Te Aro to run to Lower Hutt, and that the same train returns .0 Wellington at 4.40 from Lower Hutt ; also that the train now leaving Wellington at 6.35 snould leave To Aro for Lower Hutt at 5.30. Further, that on thu arrival of that train at the Lower Hutt H should wait theie and come Into town at the usual time, 7.20. The idea is to do away with the 6.35 train from Wellington to Lower Hutt, which is an inconvenient time for most people, ond to replace it with a 5.30 train. iL\ Wilford contends that thu tan be done without unduly alteiing the, picsent tralne. He has also mado further representations asking that the? slow train to Hayvaids and back, bo allowed to stop afc Pitcaithly's, where there i& a tablet station The St. Augustine's Branch of the Church of Knph'id Men's Society met .-it tho vicinage la>- 1 night, .Mr. F Mason in the chair An interesting paper was> road by Mi. Evans on '"Love, Courtship, and Marnaye," and piovokod a keen debate. Mr. Evan? v, .'.> oiven a hearty vote of thanks. The meeting decided to ask Mr. H. N. Holmes, sccretar^y of the V.M.C.A , to deliver a lantern' loctuiG at an early date on his trip to America. An enquiry under the Shipping and Seamen's Ait will bo held before Mr Simpson, Acting Coroner — probably tojnoriow afternoon — toiicerning tho death of Angus M'Kinnon, a Fcannin on board the Warrimoo, who was lost overboard during a recent voyage. Thomas Dufty, who lost his memory after being attacked by lootpiids. is being taught the alphabet by the nid of picture books at the Bellevue Hospital, Acw York. lie is to go through a kindergarten course of education. To-morrow Missis. Bcthuno and Co. will hold a >-ale of fcix-roomed residence;, rpctions in B'-ooklvn and Vogeltow n, aucl pro-IK-ity at C'resttick. On producing ;' newspaper fhoviiiig that lip c'olonrlanl had won £I]>s in i. Limcri.-k cui'.iiolilion, v pli'MitiiT al the No<v -a 3«-or.-Tync County Couit utn granted' an cr- , clcr for the immediate payment of a debt.