THE BEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1248, 30 October 1875, Page 9

THE BEE.

, The Spfhng aud Pronouncing Bee in aid of the Building Fund of All Saints' Church took place at the Temperance Hall on tie 22nd inst. • There was a good attendance. After a short address from the chairman, THE SPELLING BEX

was commenced. Examiners: Captain Hutton, Professor M'Gregor, and Mr Robert Stout. The rules were the same as those cf the last Bee. Latham's Dictionary was the authority. It had been generally understood tbat the Rev. Mr Stanford would compete in the Spelling Bee. but he did not do so. There was a considerable number of candidates— twenty-two or twenty-three— but there were no ladies among them. A barrister *nd solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand (Otago and Southland district) informed the audience that "dip. thong" was the right way of spelling diphthong. He retired. A telegraphist from Port Chalmers was disabused of the idea that "incignia" was the correct way of doing it. A gentleman of the lone robe was surprised to learn that a atone which he spelled "Nice" was "Gneiss." and the audience laughed at him "gneissly.** Rowever, there may be a successful day oa some future occasion. " Diaphragm " proved fc'>o much for a well-known popular typographical artist— he did not bethink himself until too late that there was a "g" i n it 'I Barouche" was spelled without a final "c," and another telegraphist made his exit. " Ratiocinate " waa too much for a man of law; he put two "n's" into it. "Bassinette " caused the next failure ; the geuile* man who broke down spelled the longer wf> r «l "bareeaunetta" correctly, under a mi-apprehension, but on being o .lied on to spell bassinette gave ifc "bassinet." The easy-looking word "trellised" was the cause of Mr Kichardaon, who took second prize at the previous bee, retiring. At this stage of the proceed ings there were seveo on the platform. " Exceutric " was how a member ot a legal farm rendered it, and he took uphis hat and walked. " Transmissible " with an "a where tl^re should have been an "i was the next breakdown. "Lacka-d-isical" was sptlled «] O wly and correctly by a medical gentleman, ami we mention it that we may r«u«ark that, at the accom> ptahment of the feafc.' the doer thereof winked knowingly, as much as to say, "You dou t have me." •• Heinle" fcnniebnmg that can be cut) w*s given " sciscile." The next failure was on •• pedagogy," and the gentle, man who fc«ik the firac | r ze at the last Bee, retired. I here wero now remaining on the stage a readrr ou a morning newspaper, a lawyer, and an ominouf nu-dicnl imn "Mocassin" said' the dortor (he meant moccasin) ftnd retired am«lst immense applasse. H« did n t n-.t >vu,k a vii' vn* wink tikis' time* •Panacre.V spel : "d the ivarler. «vh'» the* upon came in for second prize, leaving thefirst to tbe sole remaining lawyer. In justice to the reader, Mr Matthews, who appeared to be a little nervous, ifc B hould b* mentioned that he himself appeared to ~b& firmly convinced that he had put only one. "c into "panacea," but, at the same tim&, there was no doubt whatever that he did say "cc." The prize-takers were— First, Mr Nation ; second, Mr Matthews • third Dr Bakewell; and fourth, Mr Rose. The Spelling isee over,

TUB VROHOVSCISQ BEE commenced. There were a great many competitors—many more than there were for She spelling bee. His Honour Mr Justice. Williams and Mr James Smith were the judges in this bee, and the chairman's sen* vices were tendered as referee ija case of depute between the judges, but nonewoae. As to the words that aeut the competitors out, we will oo.uwut oursolvca by giving them, tawing those of our reartera who prv^ tess to be learned in pr»»anciation to prnv nounce m.m for the beuertfc of those who. don t. X zeina, precedent, roster (he ea.U«l it rooster, did Mr Rose) -all save himself laughed mightily, so he did not crow over it — mJsOillany, Chiliad, relaoent, recipe, pbthiais, contumely, subaltern (it tori tired a gentleman who is eloquent on temperance <*ud manner of an evening paper), syncope, basalt, pursuivant (too mnch ior Mr Stanford, and the best fnu of theevniarhe had got over a "plethora," but was caught by a pursuivant), glacial, posthumous, inimical, virile, figure, recondite Much fun was caused when Mr Anderson on getting " inimical," said : There are two ways— the common and the current way The common way is " inimmical," and the correct way is " inim-Michael » (the spelling is ours and not Mr Anderson's) The judges ruled that Mr Anderson gave the correct vowel in what he called the proner way, namely, "inimical," but that he had put the accent on the wroog syllable The result wai- Ist prize, !>r Bakewell'- O«T Mr Holland , 3rd* MrWiou ?Z Itb?Mr «. Buchanan. Mr Smith wanted B» Bakewell to try another word, considering he sh.uKl do bo, bub J)r Bakcivell ordered he should not, anl would not. The questio© arose whether Dr Babewell should pronooiMK? another word, and it ttft»imled' that he hart already pronounced Un share. Concerning Mr Stanford and pui'ouivant, that gentleman gay* ih«; final syllable the French %i® of pronounoktion, whereas, according: tf<J» Latham, ib should hava been toe English*

A sale of fancy goods followed, and'iftfiey did not range from- a- chandelier to a rhodo» deadroaor a daffuarreotype, they oertftialsr m««de4 a. g Q9 4 44 W j Qt ba&yrJujjjß, *