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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7382, 17 July 1885, Page 4

Thk Auckland College and Grammar School seems to be particularly unfortunate in that it is perpetually the subject of criticiem, which is but too frequently of an adverse kind ; but who is to blame for this ? Fain would we rest, and let it rest, but its authorities seem determined to give occasion for suspicious investigation into their mode of action. No sooner has public opinion forced the Board of Governors into promoting an inquiry by strangers, and so satisfying the public that they will have an impartial investigation, than in another direction we find the same old plan, the cause of so much uneasiness in the past, again resorted to in another direction ; for to conduct the coming examination for the scholarships we find two local examiners appointed. The very terms of the examination, that it is to be decided not simply by marks, but by the opinion of the examines as to " the most promising " candidates, indicate with sufficient clearness that there should be no chance of suspicion of partiality ; and most heavily should this consideration weigh when we reflect that scholars from the primary schools are eligible for the scholarships, whicli said primary scholars have always been, rightly or wrongly it matters not, distasteful to the authorities of the school. In view of all this, what do we find ? That of the two examiners appointed, the one is a former master of the school, while the other is actually one of the Board of Governors. To these two gentlemeu personally we have no objection to urge ; but officially, their appointment is open to the gravest censure. Considering that the school is the property of the public, whatever the Governors could have been about to make such an appointment we cannot conceive ; whatever motive could have indueed these gentlemen to accept the appointment in the teeth of popular opinion we cannot even surmise. Self amendment is a much easier and pleasanter process than a reconstruction by others, and we would urge the authorities that reform inaugurated by themselves would be far better than such a sweeping measure as may be provoked should the ultimate authority of the public at large be invoked.