THE LATE LAW EXAMINATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7162, 30 October 1884, Page 3

THE LATE LAW EXAMINATION.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib, —I read with astonishment the composition appearing in yesterday's B era lb, and signed appaivntly sneeringly and enviously, "Esse Quam Videri." Anyone ■writing such a one-sided letter, and not disclaiming, must be presumed to have been a cicdidate at the last examination. I Tegrefc yon should have been misinformed respecting the feelings of the unsuccessful candidates. The dissatisfaction may, as is only natural, owing to the number of those who failed, be general, but the surprise is by no means so. Several of the candidates, as is known, had had experience in previous examinations on the samo subject thev vreie examined on last month, and as might be supposed would be unwilliuj* to divulge doubts as to their having passed on this occasion. Others were confessedly unprepared for the examination, and, I believe, if all the circumstances were known, the fiat of the examiners would not bothought so very unjust, and the large percentage of failures somewhat accounted for. Whatever may be said, I cannot but think that the examiners have been most unjustly reflected upon. What possible object could they have in looking at Aucklanders* papers in a careless manner, or with preiudiced eyes? It surely would be of far more benefit to the two examiners, as solicitors practising in the South Island, that tha Auckland branch of the profession should be augmented in preference to any other. However, it is not necessary to dwell on this subject, as the examiners are known to be impartial and painstaking men, and indeed tha choice of the Judges should be almost & guarantee of this. It is amusing to read the absnrd statements made by your informants regarding the percentages of marks supposed to have been obtained, considering with what different-eyes candidates and examiners respectively would view the answers. It is perfectly correct to say a horse is an animal, but we would not be struck with , admiration with the descriptive powers of the person supplying such information; yet law and other questions in examinations, as is known, are i-ome times answered in a similar strain. What value, therefore, can be placed on percentages, calculated on the basis of such enlightened answers, "Esse Quam Videri," from his letter, appears to be an unpractical person, and very illogical, and has probably committed these little mathematical and legal indiscretions. The whole thing is perfectly ridiculous. I should not have written at all but that yon appear to have placcd some considerable credit on your informant's assertions, and but for the allusions made to myself in your correspondent's letter as the dilatory and puzzled candidate. I have to thank your correspondent for one confession on my behalf never made by me. With respect to my having been late for the examination, I would remiud him that most of the candidates frequently finished their papers considerably within the limits of the times fixed for answering, so that the reasoning on this point is of "little value. I admit I was agreeably surprised to hear I had passed my exam., and I can only presume the examiners do not exact that degree of proficiency I thought they would exact. Though reDOrt accredits one particular candidate with the authorship of the weak complaint signed "Esse Quam Videri," I am happy to say I know personally no candidate who would have written it. Hoping none of ray remarks appear ill-natured, I am, &c., E. Wynn Williams.