E.—lα.

suggested, because at 4 o'clock in the afternoon of that day (7th January) the Eeform Committee telegraphed to the High Commissioner, saying, " We have surrendered our arms unconditionally." It will thus be seen that up to the time of laying down their arms the Committee did not claim that either the Transvaal Government or the High Commissioner was pledged to them as regards their own personal liberty. Subsequently the Eeform Committee were arrested, examined before a Magistrate, enlarged on bail, surrendered themselves in due course 5 for trial. |

Shorthand (Junior). — For Junior Civil Service. Time allowed: 3 hours. Instructions to Supervisors. 1. Inform candidates before the time for taking up this subject that they may use pen or pencil as they please for taking notes, which should be written on ruled paper, but that they must transcribe those notes into longhand with pen and ink. 2. Inform candidates that when once you have commenced to dictate you cannot stop until the passage is finished. 3. Dictate the passages at the following rates of speed : — (a.) 50 words per minute. (b.) 80 „ (c.) 100 „ N.B.—lt will be well to practise reading these aloud some time beforehand, looking at a watch or clock, so as to accustom yourself to reading at the exact rate indicated. 4. Candidates are at liberty to take down one, two, or three passages, as they choose. All the passages required by candidates are to be dictated before any one begins to transcribe; and there should be as little delay as possible between the readings. 5. Inform candidates that rapidity in transcribing notes into longhand is essential, and note carefully on the transcribed copy the exact time taken in transcription. Candidates must not look at their notes while a passage that does not concern them is being read. 6. Inform them also that the clearness and accuracy of the shorthand notes (which must in every case be sent in attached to the transcript) will be taken account of by the examiner ; and that they must not alter the shorthand notes after the dictation is finished. (a.) At the rate of 50 words per minute. Takes 10 minutes. The problem of our age is the proper administration of wealth, so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and the poor in harmonious relationship. The conditions of human life have not only been changed, but revolutionized, within the past few years. In 1 former days there | was little difference between the dwelling, dress, food, and environment of the chief and those of his subjects. The Indians are to-day where civilized man then was. When visiting the Sioux, I was led to the wigwam of the chief. It was just like the others in 2 external appearance ; and | even within the difference was trifling between it and those of the poorest of his braves. The contrast between the palace of the millionaire and the cottage of the labourer with us to-day measures the change which has come with civilization. This 3 change, however, is not to be deplored, but | welcomed as highly beneficial. It is well, nay essential for the progress of the race, that the houses of some should be homes for all that is highest and best in literature and the arts, and for all the refinements of civilization, rather 4 than that none should be so. Much | better this great irregularity than universal squalor. Without wealth there can be no Msscenas. The " good old times" were not good old times. Neither master nor servant was as well situated then as to-day. A relapse to old conditions 5 would be disastrous to both—not the least to him who | serves—and would sweep away civilization with it. But whether the change be for good or ill, it is upon us, beyond our power to alter, and therefore to be accepted and made the best of. It is a waste of time to criticize the inevitable. 6 It is easy to | see how the change has come. One illustration will serve for almost every phase of the cause. In the manufacture of products we have the whole story. It applies to all combinations of human industry, as stimulated and enlarged by the inventions of this scientific 7 age. Formerly articles were manufactured |at the domestic hearth or in small shops which formed part of the household. The master and his apprentice worked side by side, the latter living with the master, and therefore subject to the same conditions. When these apprentices 8 rose to be masters, there was little or no change in | their mode of life, and they, in turn, educated in the same routine succeeding apprentices. There was, substantially, social equality, and even political equality, for those engaged in industrial pursuits had then little or no political voice in the State. 9 But the inevitable result of such a mode of manufacture | was crude articles at high prices. To-day the world obtains commodities of excellent quality at prices which the preceding generation would have deemed incredible. In the commercial world similar causes have produced similar results, and the race is benefited thereby. The poor enjoy what the rich 10 could not before afford. | (b.) At the rate of 80 words per minute. Takes 10 minutes. In trying to recall some of the occurrences that have been connected with my own shorthand work, one comes to my recollection which, if not the most striking, may certainly be said to have been the most startling in my experience. It was in the year 1883, at the time of the dynamite scare, when all London was perturbed by a series of diabolical attempts 1 at wholesale destruction by miscreants who are now in gaol paying the | penalty of their mis-

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