LAW EXAMINATIONS. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9041, 17 February 1891, Page 4

LAW EXAMINATIONS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin,—l was much pleased to notice in your recent article a protest against the unfairness of the rules adopted for legal examinations. That they are far too difficult for a young mind cannot be denied. I heartily endorse every word you have written, and consider when we know that all barristers as well as solicitors who have passed their examinations under the old regime, and are now practising in the colony, did bo under ridicuously easy circumstanecs, as compared with the present range of subjects required of law students, it is not surprising that 12 out of 14 were plucked. I presume there is a motive for making it so difficult, and I think it must be a moat unworthy one. To ask a student to prepare from 800 or 900 statutes, is sa you say not only unfair, bat cruel. A young men enters a legal office—for which, perhaps, his parent pays a heavy premium, studies there with all diligence for a number of years, and before he is allowed to practise is expected to aniwer questions that not even his legal trainer could do. What can bo more dispiriting ? I am strongly of opinion that' it is necessary the-papers ehonld be reasonably difficult, but why are they made so much more bo thaa for other professions. Not only is it hard upon the 6tmlent, but parents suffer equally, They may have spent hundreds of pounds upon the education of a son, and after mnch labour—which he has performed with energy and perseverance—ho finds that his son has failed; but not by fair dealing, and is cast out of the profession, probably discouraged, and seeks other work. In common justice I think tha matter should be thoroughly investigated; sad before tho next examinations come round (and 'this is another hardship, that a student should be compelled to wait 12 months instead of six as hitherto) more reasonable rules should be adopted.—l am, &c., February 16. A Lovee of Fate Plat.

LARRIKINISH IN ALBANY STREET. TO THE EDITOB. Sir, —Having occasion to traverse Albany street daily, Sundays included, I observe a quantity of the larrikin element in possession of doorways and street corners, who amuse themselves at the expense of the passing public of either sex, and when exhausted by this amusement have resort to tho four-legged curs which accompany them. These, generally to the number of three or four, set on to somo poor little dog accompanying its Master or mistress in a stroll. When further exhausted in that manly exercise, they set themselves down generally ia some doorway with their lower extremities protruding upon the pavement that passers by either stumble over, or, if seen, try to avoid. I would suggest that a few curs be tied up at the corners of the streets abutting upon Albany street, so that the larrikins may amuse themselves with less exertion; and also that a few seats be placed in close proximity to the various corners, with a supply of cigarettes and matches, as this would probably enable residents to enter their dwellings without struggling through or stumbling over these poor exhausted hoodlums.—l am, jco., Duoedio, February 16. Citjzbn,