THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 41

THE WEEK.

" Nunquam tliud Datura, all ad sspienUa dixit." — Juvimi, " Good nature and good sense muit ever join."— Por«. The present Is the Christmas number of the Witness. There will ba anOur other issue before Christmas Christmas Day, but we make this the Number. special Christmas number in order that the paper may be in the hands of all our readers north and south on the 25th. We have done our best to make it an interesting and varied number, and very heartily do we hope that our readers : everywhere may have the leisure and the peace of mind to enable them to enjoy ib. A feature of special interest will be found in the publication of the local tales, which on this occasion, and for the first time, have been submitted under competition for prizes. For the last 18 years we have regularly published a number of local stories, but the | method adopted was to carefully examine all i submitted to us and to select for publication such as reached a certain standard of excellence. It may be remembered that during, the year some fault was found with the quality of the contributions. We cannot say that we were greatly influenced by the adverse opinions expressed, for ■it was I plain that they were directed, not against particular tales, but against all local contributions whatever. The idea predominant in the minds of our critics was evidently one as old as Christianity itself — namely, that no good thing could come out of Nazareth. Nevertheless it seemed to us that the time was opportune for a change of system. It | night possibly be that, accustomed as we ! had been year after year to receive contributions from the same persons, we might be unconsciously influenced in their favour, while other persons in distant portions of the colony were perhap3 discouraged from contributing. It was therefore decided to make an experiment in another direction and invite contributions, for the three beet of which prizes were to be given. Whether the experiment has been successful it is for our readers to judge. The three tales now submitted, and which proceed from Otago, Canterbury, and Auckland respectively, are in our judgment very creditable pieces ef literary workmanship, none of which would disgrace the Christmas number cf any weekly in any quarter of the globs. But, as we have said elsewhere, proof that our selection in past years has not been wanting in discrimination will be found in the fact that the first prizetaker on this occasion turns out to be the same contributor who has carried off the honours since first we began to receive-, tales; at all. • • - Of course the success of the competitive system depended wholly on the qualifications of the judge. It waa necessary that the. person selected should not only be a * man of rea'diDg and literary Pastes, but one whose name should be a guarantee that the work would be carried out with perfect freedom and independence. When Mr' Scobie Mackenzie consented to undertake the duty, we could not but feel that the necessary qualifications bad been secured, and we take this opportunity of thanking that gentleman for the celerity and thoroughness with which the work has been done. The scholastic element has been strong in the social atmosphere for a The Schools, week past. The schools are - all " breaking up," as the term goes, and the youngsters before they go to their holiday-making are the recipients of ecnie sound, but rather baokneyed — and perhaps not very much heeded — advice. The two principal events of the week have been the break-up of the Dunedin Girls' and Boys' High Schools. Both events are of some lmportanca. The political, the social, and the commercial history of New Zealand will yet be made, modified, or in some degree affected by the yearly streams of young people that leave these schools. Both, too, are on this occasion losing their rectors, which had the effect of adding a touch of something approaching solemnity to the proceedings. Mr Wilson, of coarse, only leaves one neighbourirg- school for another. The association with his pupils will not be entirely broken. Ie was, however, a suitable occasion for a word of serious advice, and in one concluding sentence Mr Wilson felicitously stuffed the matter of an ordinary day speech. " People ia the long run," he said, " will not in the least look at what you know, but they will look at what you are." Thßt is very true, and very well" worth remerabericg by girU and boys alike. Dr Brown rode a favourite hobby of his owe. He is always greatly concerned at the danger of girls and boys breaking down under pressure of work. Tbere may be some slender foundation for the fear as regards girl", for they are at once less robust and more industrious than boys. Aa for the latter, Dr Brown was mildly satirical over some M.H.R. who, as 'member of a parliamentary committee before which Dr Brown was a witness, openly scoffed at the notion of boys breaking down from overwork. It appears the M.H.R.'s eon had juet signed a boys' petition asking for an alteration of the terms at the High School to make them eatier. We must confess we entirely egree with the opinion of the M.H # R. that it is a very rare thing indeed, all the world over, for boys to overwork themselves.' The youngster in question would probably have signed a petition (even grown men will sign anything) for only three days' school in the week. As regards the Boys' School, we have on a preyious occasion paid our humble tribute to the good work done by-Dr Belcher during his 10 yesra' rectorship. Every word that Mr J. F. M. Fraser said on the same score was perfectly true. We sincerely hope that equal success will attend his scholastic career, it may chance to be carried on, " The .dux of the school had a trying task for a boy in making a parting presentation to Dr Belcher, and doubtless as he himself grows longer (the boy, we mean) his words will grow shorter, and Latin will be altogether dropped out of them. Here it may not be oat of place te notice a

rather priggish and inappropriate letter contributed to the Otago Daily Times the other day b/ Mr F. J. StilliDff. Mr Stilling appears to think that none bat " old boys " should be invited to address the sohool on speech days. If none bub old boys contributed to the support of the school, and none but old bovg could be expected to give existing boys the word of advice and encouragement calculated to be helpful to them in after life, we should be inclined to agree with Mr Stilting. As matters are at present, however, the Board of Governors will do weil to take a broader view than Mr Stilling doen, and j (elect the men for their purpose wherever ; they can find them. i ■ The chief feature of the recent appointments I to the Legislative Council is T '«e audacity, and audacity of a i Seamy Side peculiarly unbluohirg kind. Again. In every case the appointI roent is made in recognition of private services rendered to the Government. It is true that three of the appointees have been members of Parliament, but they are all. members who never did anything whatever to distinguish ■ themselves. The very wildest stretch of imagination would not make representative men of them. The Upper House was in no need of additional members, and if it did require a new infusion it will get no addition to its capacity from the four just added. Nor can it now be urged that the Government require more representation in the Upper House. Their policy has only been carried too easily and too well — their banking policy, for instance. Appointment* to the Upper House have never been under any Government precisely what they ought to have been. Services have had to be rewarded before now. But for the most part they were at least services to the colony — services rendered in a public position. Now the Upper House is progressing downwards with startling rapidity. The shamelessness of Mr Seddon in the matter is really scandalous. But in spite of it all there is some hope for the future. The way is being paved for a complete and radical reform of the Council — such a reform as v/ill put it out of the power of Governments to corruptly use it as a means of rewarding their friends and followers. But if the reform is becoming imperatively necessary, the obstacles in the way of carrying it are increasicg with every addition to the Council. For reform can only be carried by bill, and every bill must receive the sanction of the Council. But no public body can be expected to sanction its own destruction. We make bold to prophesy that some day the colony will have to be appealed to on the subject of Upper House reform, and it may be that in order to carry the behest of the people the powers of appointment may have to ba used in a still greater, degree,' But it will be the. last exercise of them.