LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14223, 20 November 1909, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

EXAMINATION FOR SIXTH STAND-

ARD CERTIFICATES.

Sir.—To the 2000 and more of our school children who are now anxiously awaiting tho examination for sixth ■ standard »certificates, a week or two hence, it seems very necessary, in order, to prevent a : recurrence ;" of what took place oh the last similar occasion, to call some attention just; now ; to tho matter. - Some of the ; examinationpapers then set were afterwards condemned throughout the Dominion as grossly unfair, nav, even absurd. Bearing on ; the ; matter, the chairman of the local Education Board (Mr. C. J. Parr); in his outgoing report, expressed himself ;as follows:—"Considerable dissatisfaction ' having been expressed with the method of conducting the annual examination -for certificates of proficiency, the Board held an inquiry into the matter; The- result was a series of resolutions, draft- ' . u v ed by myself, and adopted by the Board, in . which we expressed our opinion that there was room for. improvement in -the papers set bv the chief inspector. The anomaly, of-not asking a single question in commercial or political 1 geography no longer exists." For the sake of the 2000 more of our young people, to whom success or failure in gainine ■ certificates: of proficiency is' of life-long . - 4 consequence, it is to be hoped that the said resolutions may have the desired effect. Chairman, of School Committee. BISHOPSCOURT CHAPEL. Sir.—Allow mo. to make a suggestion regarding, the future use of;the private chapel at Bishopscourt, Parnellj which: is-;'going". to be removed, owing to improvements neces- - 1 sary for the building of a new Bishop's house. There is at ■; the "present ' time no seamen's church in Auckland— a consecrated building such as seamen have in many other ports, where sailors' feel that thev can attend divine service in company :' with-brother seamen.: In many cases a- sea- ~'.,.;' faring man attends no place of public worship, and gives as his reason > that he feels an outsider, as his clothes are not smart enough. 1 : I feel in - a position ;to write and sneak on behalf of sailormen, as they are, my congregation every Sunday evening in * the Seamen's Institute, Shortlaml-street, besides being my guests every evening in the weak. V These' men are in many cases ] God's missionaries. They; go , from - country I to [ country, and "'' have vast opportunities of being able to spread the message of peace. ' to the people to be met with in many lands. If the Church people of Auckland determined that the sailors, marine firemen, and fishermen should have a church where they • could attend a 'simple service, ■■' such as is■'.'-' I conducted by the • London .Missions - to.- Sea- . . ! mien in each port," then we would not only most probably have the chapel in 1 which f have worshipped some of our great leaders, dedicated for the; use of Auckland's seafar- ; ing men. but land suitable, and a concert hall and institute worthy of the efforts made by the , Church peoples of Auckland, would, no _ doubt, be the result. This would be a ' fitting memorial; to my father, the late Primate, who had a warm place in his heart for seamen, and who has . been well termed the sailors' friend. • Abthpe P. Cowie, London Missions to Seamen. , Seamen's Institute, November 14. "■,-.-'-V/- -~,:-,:'<..»'i.'-"-"v-.;^-\;....; : - ,•: '/^-■'r^-^'Wr-i^p,