UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 32, 5 August 1867, Page 194

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION.

The great bugbear and terror of undergraduate existence lies in that awfnl word “ Examination.” There are, it is true, little interludes of delight," consisting of the, remainder of the term in which a triumph has been gained: and yet, for an honours man, there really seems no rest. The ordeals are undergone in rooms situated in a splendid quadrangle called “ the schools ; ” the written work is done at small deal tables, each man having a separate table, and examiners are posted all about to prevent “ cribbing ”' of any kind, which nevertheless does, we suspect, go on to a considerable extent in the “ pass ” schools. It is an awful affair for a culprit to be discovered. We well remember being startled, by hearing the head examiner, on a certain afternoon announce in a* clear, loud tone, “ sir——, you will have the goodness to leave the schools.” Happily, in this case, the suspiciou proved to be unfounded. When the viva voce comes on, each victim goes up to a table covered with green baize, where sit the two inquisitors ; the trembling wretch is requested in bland tones to sit down, which, he does, looking furtively round at his friends, who, with a mistaken kindness, if he is a nervous man, are assembled to see bow he gets on. If a man is popular, or if he is in for honours, and great things are expected of him, large numbers are often present to hear him. This was the case when the present Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Lord Carnarvon were candidates for the class list. Numerous stories are always afloat of wonderful blunders in divinity : some, of course, are inventions. Here are a couple of specimens, which we credit with some foundation:—Examiner—“ What can you tell me about Saint Paul?” Undergraduate—“He was also called Saul, and was brought up at the foot of Gamaliel.” Examiner —Yes; quite right. What do you know about Gamaliel ? ” Undergraduate—“ It is a mountain in Galilee.” The next, we believe, may be credited to Cambridge ; —“ Why did , Moses leave Egypt ? ” Undergraduate (with hesitation}—“ Why, Sir—hem—hem—•*’ Examiner—“ Come, come, answer, if you know.” Undergraduate—“ Well, sir; I suppose that little affair with Potiphar’s wife! ” For the following we do not attempt to vouch, although we have heard its authenticity strenuously asserted: Examiner—“ Why was John the Baptist beheaded ? ” Undergraduate (falteringly)—Because he would dance with Herodias’s daughter.” If a man has done a bad paper, or has failed viva voce , he has what is called a “ second paper,” as a last chance. This ver/ often pulls him through. In the afternoon of the day on which the viva voce examination is passed, the certificate of a pass, called a “ testamur,” is given out,; and about five' o’clock in the afternoon, wffeii, the schools are gi ing on, you may j see a cluster of men in the schools’ “ quad,” waiting for the-pre-cious piece of paper for .themselves or their.friends, ortocarry.off their sympathy and.condolence.to, those wretches who; are disappointed. The delight occasioned by the receipt. of one of these scraps' is often without all bounds, especially ;if,.a man has.failed.before, or Fas entertained very little hopes of ‘ ‘ getting through.” The sensation- of having successfully passed a harassing examination is, . indeed, /one .of the most agreeable of which. we are, .conscious. “ I feel,” .forcibly remarked a jmau who had just come out of the schools! “ as though some. one who had ,been sitting..on" me aff day hsd just got off.f’-rrC.pfulffll jilagaziup, .

Exportation op Potatoes. —The entter Glimpsetook on board on Wednesday last a shipment of potatoes for the Hokitika market. They are a splendid sample,—' the growth, we understand, of our enterprising fellowrsettler, Mr H. Knox, of Meanee—and; will doubtless realise a handsome price on the diggings.

“A House Divided against it3elp cannot stand.” —We presume the above holds good with regard to ministers as well as houses.' The:.Canterbury Times, a wellinformed journal .upon, the political questions of the day, says there are rumors of a split in the Cabinet, but they must be received With great caution. It is said that Mr Hall is not at one with his colleagues on some important points. Such disagreement is not improbable, seeing that Mr Hafiis notorously. strong-willed, and fond of his own opinions.

A sad accident occurred at the Fairburn diggings, morth of Buller, on the 29th June, whereby, a Greek named Barriotto lost his life. He was employed cutting a tree into lengths, near, to where two of his countrymen were falling another, and disregarding their warning just before it fell, he was struck by the main branches and killed upon the spot.

The Oamaru Times regrets “to learn that an accident happened to Cobb & Co.’s coach on Saturday (13th July) When crossing a bridge over a creek, a few miles on this side of Hampden, the leaders shied at a tent which was placed by the roadside, and overturned the coach, carrying away a portion of the bridge, and breaking the driver’s collar bone. There was only one passenger in the coach at the time, who ortuuately escaped with only a few bruises.”

The dead body of a man was found in the Hokitika lagoon, on the Bth inst. The remains are those of a young man of fair complexion, aged about twenty-five years ; the dress consisting of a pair of cord trowaers, blue singlet and lace-up boots. The features were'perfect, but other parts had much decomposed, and hence it was inferred that death bad taken place several weeks ago. The body has not been recognised, but is supposed to be that of a man who suddenly disappeared from the Kakari diggings some time back. Drunken Blackfellows.— The Kerang correspondent of the Inglewood Advertiser says:—“The other day, I saw a blackfellow, half drunk, hit a white man a tremendous blaw with his fist, whilst his back was turned, and for no reason or provocation. The barman instantly knocked him down, hitting him very foolishly on the head. The blackfellow left for the camp, but, as I know their ways, I cautioned the barman to keep his eye on Billy. Not long after, BiUy sneaked up~as meek as a mouse, and went into the bar, but was once more knocked down. In his pocket was found a brickbat ; what he meant to do with it may be readily guessed at. Ths supplying them with grog is not, in every case, the publican’s fault. Men buy a bottle of rum, and take it to the camp, and soon everything is in confusion. I do not wish to apologise for them, for soon, in Yictoria at least, there will be none left to apologise for; but they have some traits in their character that a white man should imitate, and envy if he could not. The few remains of the Loddon tribe are, to one another, as one family ; they are singularly unselfish, and will divide whatever they may get equally among one another. Tbeir merry laugh and quick perception of a joke is delightful, and I have often spent a pleasant hour at their camp, and listened to their chaff about c white feUow lub.'a,’ which means wife or sweetheart, and left amidst their musical good nights,”

Editor turned Lawyer. —The Nelson Evening Mail is gratified to learn that Mr Hugh H. Lusk, who, for some months fil-' led the post of editor of our contemporary, the Examiner, aud who, during his sojourn in Nelson, made many friends amongst those who enjoyed the privilege of his acquaintance, has been caHed to the bar in Sydney, a fact which the Chief Justice, Sir Alfred Stephen, announced in highly complimentary terms. We wish Mr Lusk all success in his future career.

To make a girl love you, coax her to love somebody else. If there be anything that woman relishes, it is to be contrary;