What Everybody Says.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1902, 6 February 1875, Page 2

What Everybody Says.

" In multitude of counsellors there is safety." • — Old). Proverb

The shooting being now over, ■everybody will turn their attention to something else. Probably Ohinemuri will again come to the front as the point on which attention will be centred. It has been slightly eclipsed during the last fortnight by the contest going on at Parawai, which provided a* means of heathful excitement for at least a week, and in a lesser degree for two weeks. A fortnight ago the shootists received a hearty welcome, and now in a day or two they will receive a friendly good-bye, which will no doubt be as genuine as was the welcome, although nobody is anxious to see the last of them, they being jolly good fellows. Some people are beginning to ask themselves and each other what are the peculiar advantages which this annual contest are supposed to bring; Does it make the volunteers generally better shots, or do more than promote a a transient interest in volunteering P These are questions which somebody in authority must answer. The meeting brings together a number of first-rate marksmen—many of whose names appear in the lists year after year. They get a pleasant holiday, as a paternal Government looks after them in a paternal fashion. It shows what men can do by steady persevering application and the practice of self-denial. And although some of the representatives did relax a; little bit when the championship was decided, they have during the week given fresh evidence of their prowess in rifle shooting by making even better scores than when firing for the blue ribbon of the New Zealand Wimbledon. The Northerners are a trifle elevated because Auckland province has for the third year in succession carried off the palm. Never mind; what's done can't be helped; better luck for the Southerners next time.

The spirited citizens of the city of Auckland, ashamed of the shabby treatment to which the Southerners were treated on arrival, are bestirring themselves to make amends for the shortcomings of the metropolitan, voluni eers towards their brethren in arms. A ball and supper, and a presentation to the Champion are now talked about, and will no doubt be carried out creditably, as the Auckland people/ are not deficient in hospitality wHen once aroused. Their preparations for feting the representatives only show in a stronger light their remissness on a former occasion. The promoters are open to the suspicion of being actuated by local feeling—rejoicing that a local man has carried off the belt; but their reception and entertainment of the whole will be none the less cordial, though rather late in the day. Their enthusiasm wanted direction. The citizens have undertaken a duty which should have been initiated con amore by the volunteers; and the former-will have whatever of credit attaches to the demonstration, for it will not soon be forgotten that the Auckland, volunteers disregarded the orders of their commanding officer, and what was expected of them as an evidence of good feeling towards their comrades, by declining to turn out to give the Southerners a welcome. Whatever unfavorable impression' these same Southerners may have formed of Auckland courtesy-will no doubt be removed by the entertainment to be provided for them as they return. For the credit of Auckland, at least, everybody hopes so. :;T That superior school business appears to have developed a new phase in educational matters. Turning away boys from a common school, although it aiay also be termed a superior school, because they cannot read, is certainly aot what was contemplated by the Act. It may be irksome for a teacher who has all the oUgies at his tongue's end to have to drum into juvenile brains a knowledge of the alphabet, but as education like every? ihing else must have a beginning, and as the commencement of school education is generally supposed to be learning the a, b, c, it follows, that such should be imparted in a common school if in any. "Hang the superior school," says one parent; "My boy has been eighteen months at a common school : and doesu't know his l?tters, and noW. he is advised to go somewhere else to learn them." A very dull boy this, no doubt; but it is rather a suggestive commentary on the working of a system, and the capability of some teacher or teachers, when any boy can be found who has been eighteen months at school and has not acquired some insight intp the characters by the aid of which; he is to proceed further in the acquisition of knowledge. A Jew grandmarms' schools for the dull boys would be useful, after a. year or two in which, boys would probably, be fable to matriculate in a superior school to the satisfaction of the teachers, and possibly to the advantage of scholars.