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E.—l

(b.) John Smith begs to announce that he has taken over the business of Mr. James Brown, and I hope, by strict attention to business, to merit a share of public support. (c.) As he walked along the road he noticed how cheerfully the birds sang and how sweetly the flowers smelt. (d.) He is a man whom I think, taking all things into consideration, deserves encouragement. (c.) This shelf will hold about eighteen moderately sized volumes. (/.) There is no doubt that Shakespeare was one of the greatest authors that has ever lived. 6. Write a short essay (at least a page in length) on one of the following subjects, paying careful attention te expression, punctuation, and neatness of form : — (a.) The benefit of her colonies to Great Britain. (b.) Patriotism. (c.) Achievements of the Nineteenth Century. 7. Punctuate the following passage, and put capitals where they are required : — at the end of the town i was accosted by a fiery-faced individual somewhat under the middle size dressed as a recruiting sergeant young man said the recruiting sergeant you are just the kind of person to serve the honourable east india company i had rather the honourable company should serve me said i of course young man well the honourable east india company shall serve you thats reasonable here take this shilling tis service money the honourable company engages to serve you and you the honourable company both parties shall be thus served thats just and reasonable and what must i do for the company only go to india thats all and what should i do in india fight my brave boy fight my youthful hero what kind of country is india the finest country in the world rivers bigger than the ouse hills higher than anything near spalding trees you never saw such trees fruits you never saw such fruits and the people what kind of folk are they. 8. As a test of spelling, write down the words dictated by the Supervisor. [Candidates are requested to number the words, to arrange them in a column, and to use a separate sheet of paper for the spelling exercise. No marks will he given for a word that contains a doubtful letter.]

Spelling (part of the Paper on English Grammar and Composition). — For Class E, and for Civil Service Junior. The Supervisor will please be so good as to draw the attention of candidates to the directions with regard to questions 8 to 9. The Supervisor will be so good as to read through and then slowly dictate the words given below, afterwards reading the whole of them again to afford opportunity for correction. The words in braokets are not to be written by the candidates, but are to be read out by the Supervisior to assist the candidates in recognising the words that they are to spell. 1. Aneurism (disease of an artery). 2. Unparalleled (having no equal). 3. Osseous (bony). 4. Lethargy (sluggishness). 5. Cygnet (young swan). 6. Escutcheon (shield or shield-like plate). 7. Holocaust (burnt sacrifice). 8. Mnemonics (art of memory). 9. Parochial (belonging to a parish). 10. Satellite (companion, follower, or attendant). 11. Connoisseur (judicious critic). 12. Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs). 13. Tyranny (despotism). 14. Mortgage (security for debt). 15. Plagiarist (stealer of another's writings). 16. Pyrotechnics (fireworks). 17. Souvenir (remembrancer or keepsake). 18. Panegyric (eulogy). 19. Schismatic (one that ca.uses separation or breach of unity). 20. Paucity (fewness). 21. Patronymic (family name). 22. Hyperbole (exaggeration). 23. Plebeian (belonging to the mass of the people). 24. Impugn (attack). 25. Pachydermatous (thick-skinned).

English. Paper I. — Precis-ivriting and Correspondence. — For Civil Service Senior (Old and Neiv Regulations). Time allowed': 3 hours. [Note. —All the questions should be attempted. No candidate can pass that does not attempt Question 1, and part, at least, of Question 2.] I. Correspondence : — (a.) Make, for record purposes, an index of the following letters, numbered in order, with dates, names of writers and receivers, and the subject and purport, stated as succinctly as possible. (b.) The Assistant Secretary wishes to inform the Eesident Agent at San Francisco of the information contained in letter No. 21 with its enclosure. Draft a letter restating such points as the Eesident Agent ought to be made acquainted with in order that he may fully understand the position. (c.) The matter is to be brought before Cabinet, which is not yet fully aware of the circumstances. Make a concise precis for the information of Cabinet, omitting no essential fact. (No. 1.) The Eesident Agent foe New Zealand, San Francisco, to the Seceetaey, General Post Office, Wellington. Sic, — San Francisco, 11th December, 1895. I have the honour to report that a fast express train from the Atlantic seaboard to San Francisco has lately been inaugurated, which has reduced the time occupied between New York and this city to a little over four days, arriving here at 8.45 p.m. instead of 10.45 a.m. the following