Grey River Argus and Blackball News. MONDAY, 27th DECEMBBE 1915.

Grey River Argus, 27 December 1915, Page 2

Grey River Argus and Blackball News.

MONDAY, 27th DECEMBBE 1915.

Delivered every vaoraii^g In - Q'reymoiAli EuosarU, HdMtika, Dobson, Wailiettu;- Taylbr Tjllai Brunnarton, BtUlwater. Blaokball, Helscm Cfeek, Ahanr'i, lkamat'tia; "Wamta, Bfeeftou, Oronodtm, j'Eur aiiga.Daatillie, Cobdan, Baxtei'B, Eokiti, Paiara, Kaimata, 4^a'^iJa, Kofnio", Sfoana, finra, Te^Klnga, Eotootonu2>o.»nft. I bannj©y J«w>k»on» »ad Otir*.

THE question as to what constitutes good English speech is one that is continually forcing itself upon our attention, and the inter est in the spoken language is becoming exceedingly keen. This is the case not only in Britain, but in America, and the comrriittee on English appointed by the National Education of America a short time ago published a report which states that "all expression jin speech demands distinct and natural articulation, correct pronunciation, the exercise of a sense for correct and idimoatic speech and the use of an agreeable and well managed voice." There can be no denying the tendency .to uniformity, to a standard, in educated speech. We notice it in the speech of an .actor, unless hie is taking a dialect part. 1 "We expect him to pronounce words in a certain way, and he knows (or ought to know) that any peculiarities in his speech interfere with our enjoyment of his work. The orator and lecturer cometimes sho^f great divergence, but hardly evel* does their speech contain ver^ marked dialect features. . Even in the United States the experienced public speaker will £>.c I found to . adopt, intentionally or unconsciously, a more or less close approximation to the English standard. The received standard has mainly developed through the tendency 'tor uniformity in our schools, and this is suported by in te'rcourse among the educated, who rightly desire to avoid thepronunciation'/and phraseology peculiar to > one district dnly, " and

hence troublesome to thoso out- j side it. They obey the ? ound , ] principle that speech best fulfils I ' its function of communi eating ! thought when there is nothing- iv ; ( the manner of speaking that clis- j tracts attention from the thoughts to be conveyed. Among spe..Lers of the received standard the points of divergence are nowadays relatively few. The other extreme is dialect, which remains fairly pure in rural areas, but elsewhere is subject, more or less, to the influence of the received standard. This is especially the case in large English \ towns, where the . different social classes show varying degrees of , approv 7 al to the standard. It is obvious that such modification by the stan dard constitutes a grave danger to the dialects. '"" This vitality is further diminished by the present spelling, which affords no adequate means of recording the spoben". dialect, because many of our letters no longer have stable values. Lastly dialect suffered by being ign.or.ed or condemned in our schools. The tendency, towards a standard speech is rapidly growing. There was far less uniformity a hundred years ago, ■ many variations have, since disappeared. The cockney speech in the novels of Dickens is very different fromi that heard now. Standard speech, is more or less, consciously and successfully taught in our schools, and it is preserved by strong social influence. Its rate of change is consequently slow, and would be still further reduced if we had a rational spelling that adequately repr.esented the sounds, ana if our teachers received a better phonetic training, which would enable them to check deviations from the standard that lit present pass unnoticed. In this connection we j must note the valuable work done by. the Competitions' Society in | improving 1 the standard of spoken [ English, and this must have an excellent influence oil the speech oi! future : generations.' There is no /reason to suppose that the movement towards uniformity f will be cheeked; • everything f points the other- way. Nor is it desirable, for a standard speech . is essential. It is wanted for pub j ' lie speaking, ,aiid it is wanteu. for s social intercourse, for how many j have been handicapped in their career by faulty speech. It is „ wanted in teaching. Good liter- [ ature makes, its greatest appeal when it is w.ell read aloud, indeed, i reading aloud affords a test notj only of the reader's apprehension of the meaning and beauty of a passage, but the writer's style. It is the teacher 's duty to read aloud well, and to> secure good reading for his pupils. But we must render this possible for the teacher by making it clear what constitutes "good English speech," and by helping-; him to understand the i difficulties of his pupils. Hence arises the problem, what is "cor- , rect speech?" The standard that we require will, in the main, . be based on the best English us- | age, which meeds to be 4etermin- . Ed mjore carefully than has so far \ been the case. It should be as pleasing aesthetically as we can mako it. It must be distinct and harmonious. The production of the voice, the basis of articulation must alike, be considerd. How . is tiris ideal to be attained? The work must be commenced in the schools, and the study of phonetics must be lencouraged. If judg es of high attainments are obtained to act at the Elocutionary Com petitions they will fix a high'stanI dard; and the constant correction of the most glaring faults will have great influence on the standard of English spoken.

Mr. C. H. Gorton, will act as Stipendiary Steward at the Eeefton meeting to-day. Choice, dainty lines of Xmas Cards, Xmas Stationery, Xmas Post Cards and Xmas Booklets' have just been opened up at B. Dixon's. The prices are low. Come in early and Becure your choice. —Advt. There will be no publication of the Garey Eiver Argus to -morrow ./(Tuesday), so as to enable our staff to have the full benefit of Boxing Day. t The following telegram was received by the Mayor on Christmas Eve: — "I wish you and your family your council and officers and the people of your borough the compliments of the season and trust the New Year will bring to our Empire peace with honour." — G. W. Eussell, Minister of Internal Affairs.

The Mayor is advised that three invalided , soldiers will arrive to-morrow . evening, by the express from Christ- : church. Names are not given, we will ( publish as soon as available. ; A very old resident of Greymouth in ] the person .of Mrs. Sarah Kane died in , t)id Grey Eiver Hospital on Christmas- i Day. Deceased, who was 63 years of j age had been ailing for some time and ] her end was not unexpected. She liv- $ ed for many years near the Eecredtion ] ground, and her husband predeceased | her by about ten. years. She leaves j c-ne daughter to mourn ! her loss.

The man or woman who is content to lead a mere half-and-half existence. — • ' neither really ill nor really well— is run ning grave dangers. Disease finds an. easy prey in the debilitated, where a - strong constitution would throw off the same attack without hurt. A course of Parkinson's Quinine and Iron Wine is marvellously effective— '-it gives the weak strength, tne timid:courage, and the despondent hope. It builds red blood and fills with vigor. Sold in two sizes, 2/6 and 4/6. Parian son and Co., chemists, Greymouth.

The Ikamatua Gun Club held a. shoot on Xmas Day in Mr. Murray's paddock at Totara Plat, with the following resuits: — No. 1 shoot, G. PeaTy's trophy, 12 birda: J. Fitzgerald 8yd5.,. 10 kills, Ist, TVBatemlan 9yds., 9 kills, 2nd, T. McDonnell Byds. 8 kills 3rd. No. 2 shoot, Club's cash prize, '12 birds: G. McPherson 14yds., and D. McDonnell, 12yds., divided with 9 kills, T. : Bateman 12yds., 3rd. No. 3 .shoot, o.__ P m - " Doolan's trophy, 9 birds, G. Feary 22yds., 9kills, Ist, A. Murray Byds., 2nd Mr. A. Hardie acted as referee. .

Mr. Joseph McLean, Hon. treasurer, of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Tobacco and Comfort Pund, begs to acknowledge with many thanks the sum of £20 „ viscid, less cost of advertising and drag hire <H)/-, from the Grrey Battalion Band per Mr. Wm. Garth, being the proceeds cf subscriptions „ for Christmas Carols, . Special thanks are also due to Miss L Debenham, Miss Bia Robertson, and Miss Bertha Johnston, rhe lady collectors. This Band deserve great credit for their substantial gifts and their example is worthy of enrnla- ■-- tion. The weather was exceedingly good for the holidays, and on Christmas Eve 1 1- go crowds promtenaded the streets^ •trom an early hour. The .shops all appeared to be doing good business,' and in spite of the tightness of raraiey the children seemed- to fare exceedingly well, the majority of the little ones ta* ; ng prov?d(*d with an ample supply of toys. The midnight Mass at St. Patri?k's Church was well attended, the V«'iy Rev; Dean Carew. preaching a sermon appropriate to the occasion. The choir under the baton of mix. H. P. Doogan did excellent service. s The : three local bands — Battalion, Citizens' and Salvation Army played carols throughout the . town. On Christmas Day the services in the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches were all well / attended, the Churches being tastefully deccTated. . -- . mimSSSSmSmSSSSSSm