JUNIUS IN REPLY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1559, 22 July 1885, Page 2

JUNIUS IN REPLY.

To thb Editor.

Si a,—On reading Mr Thomas’s lengthy and superfluous epistolary communication in your issue of last evening, I find nothing that leads me to alter the opinion previously expressed by me. His last only bears out the assertions made in my preceding letter. He wonders why my employers allow me “to waste so much time.” I think my employers are quite capable of managing their own affairs without any interference on the part of Mr Thomas. He evidently was not, when at the “ University," taught the art of using bis brains, or else he would not object, in the manner he has done, to the teaching of such arithmetical rules aa are taught in our Government schools. It is a well-known fact that there Is no subject better adapted to encourage brain power than arithmetic. Perhaps the fact of Mr Tbomas not having been taught how to work out arithmetical “problems” in his early years is the reason of his being so incapable of understanding what has been written in a vary plain and straightforward manner. He evidently is still under the delusion that he has attained to a greater standard -.£ infallibility than even yourself. Of course he has taken the questions (especially No. 3) in the way that would best suit him? elf. My contention throughout has been that working that question, as set forth in your columns, according to L.O.M. is the only ,way in which it can be done. Mr Thomas asserts that the word “ and '* toaa used. Well, wa have only his word for that. What a loss we must be sustaining through not being able to use his capabilities to advantage. A great pity that he did not apply for the inspectorship so recently vacant. Whatever my failings are, it is very patent that Mr Thomas is sadly deficient in the arts of orthography and grammatical composition. Perhaps, now that we have such a competent man in bur midst (and in a high position, too), we shall soon have the educational system reduced to a standard to which 1 am sure every right thinking person will object It would moat certainly be so if such men as Mr Thomas were more plentiful, but we may console ourselves with the fact that they are very few and far between. I must say, that wa had a right to expect a less periphrastic communication, and especially when we remember that it has taken nearly a week to compose it. I am sure it will do no good to further prolong this discussion, as it is quite evident that Mr Thomas Is totally unable to keep to the point, and as he may have soqye sis to my identity, I append my name, and hopp to have the pleasure of meeting him on some sqcfa subject iu a future issue. Thanking you for the kindness in allowing me such liberty and space in this, my first attempt, 1 am, etc., J. A. Flesheb. Ashburton, July 22, 1885.