The Globe. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1876.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 733, 25 October 1876, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1876.

What is all this about, and what are the whys and wherefores of it ? A circular has been issued by the head master of the Normal School to the parents of children who attend it, bearing upon the teaching or otherwise, in school, of the elements of the " noble art of self-defence." We do not desire to express an opinion at the present moment, on the merits or demerits of this new step in the direction of improving the physique of our rising generation. Probably there may be considerable wisdom in the introduction of this accomplishment, at least from some special points of view. Were it not that our moribund Minister of Education has his hands remarkably full just now, we might feel inclined to say a word or two on the subject. The official days of that gentleman, however, are almost numbered, so far as his management of educational matters in the province is concerned, and we would like to see him depart in peace. But as to this remarkable circular, what in the name of common sense does it mean ? The document in question begins by informing parents that boxing, <fec, will be taught in that school to children, the parents of whom may signify in writing their desire that it should be done. As in a lady's letter, a kind of mysterious postscript is added, in which the master expresses his opinion that those children, however, might be very much better employed. This is the old saying about two negatives making a positive. When perusing the first part of the letter, some dim vision of prowesses achieved by his boy, in the way of taking especial eare of himself, must have flitted before a fond father's eyes. But, says the master, this must be at the expense of general mental acquirements. And the second paragraph, coming as it does so close upon the heels of the first, must necessarily have considerable, if not double, force. Are we to infer that, while Mr Knight is desirous of carrying out the provisions of the educational scheme he has been appointed to administer, he quietly endeavours to negative those to which he has any private dislike, or does the singular wording of thiß circular imply, that the master in question has views different from those of the Executive, and that he makes bold to give them publicity in. this extraordinary m&naer. There can be no doubt but that some eort of clashing exists somewhere. What it ?#ay be, or how it originated, is neither here nor there. But the result looks very much as if parents were somesubjected to practical joking. The question is certainly not one jbo be treated in a humorous way. If there be spleen at work let the " Minister," or his acolytes, concentrate it in a different direction.

Theee is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous, is a saying the origin of which is k>s£ in the antiquity of ages. We heard the other day how the great contempt of Court case between the Chief Justice and Mr C. Elliot Barton eame to an insignificant end, the mountain in labour having brought forth a ridiculously small mouse indeed. Some time previously a judicial star of a lesser magnitude had given forth to the world that Leicester mutton was the cause of half the crimes committed in the colonies, and his name in consequence has penetrated since the wildest districts of Wales and Leicestershire where newspapers are to be found. We have now on record a ruling lately given by a still lesser constellation in the judicial sphere, which will go far towards placing parties concerned —let them be jurymen, the bar, or Court officers—on their very best behaviour, whenever any doubts enter < their minds as to what contempt of court really means. Mr District Judge Weston was, some days ago ; at G-reymo.uth, trying some hardened .criminal according to the laws " in such a case " made and provided." The Grown Prosecutor, Mr Gruiness, was busily i engaged stripping to the core a hostile! witness, when his Honor suddenly in- j terrupted the proceedings by exclaim* I ing:—"You are winking at the jury, " sir; a most indecent and improper " thing to wink at a jury, sir, and I " must recast you to stop it." " I did "nothing of thg sort, replied the " Crown Prosecutor, asi4 i£ your Honor " is in the habit of doing m ? I am " not.' 1 « What! " said hTa Honop-j " is that a proper answer to give to a " Judge of this Court? to give the lie " direct! I saw you wink, sir, and ] " saw you do it before; and if you " address the Court again in this " manner, I will not allow you to " appear in this Court at all." This proved too much for the Crown Soli-

citor, who 'quickly subsided ; and the local paper which gleefully chronicled this little episode, failed to acquaint its readers as to whether, at Greymouth, the law is applied differently than in other places ; that is, whether ladies are in the habit of taking their places on the jury benches. The local organ, however, speaks of this remarkable scene as one now becoming quite familiar in the Westland District Court, where " winking" is evidently held as a misdemeanour of a very hideous character, and which we rejoice to see is being put down with all the might and main of the " strong " arm of the law," through the formidable agency of Mr. Justice Weston.