The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 58, 8 March 1880, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1880.

That unhappy institution known as the Wellington College appears to be in trouble again, and is likely to apply for and obtain pecuinary assistance from the colonial funds. So, at least, we gather from an article io the N. Z. Times to which the following extract forms the introduction:— The Wellington College is doing a certain kind of educational work, but the work coats too much money, and the College is in financial difficulties. We do not remember a time when it waa otherwise. Institutions which, to use a rather vulgar but expressive phrase, are " too big for their boots," like men who live above their incomes, must be in constant straits. The College has always aped at a good deal more than it could accomplish, and it has consequently been living from year to year upon the bounty of the State. The Governors have made no attempt to square the expenditure with their income. There was always the Government to fall back upon as a last resource. The present Ministers appear somewhat deaf to College entreaties, but they will no doubc yield to importunity as their predecessors have done before them. Madame Mantalini used to hold out for a time, but in the long-run she always succumbed under the well-worn but not worn-out threat of her lord and master to make away with himself. " You know it almost breaks my heart even to hear you talk of such a thing," wept Madame, and the little bill was paid. «If you don't help us," say the Governors of the Government, "we must give our teachers notice that their services will be no longer required, and close ! the concern." The reply, long delayed and given with great reluctance, will be — " We cannot let higher education collapse 'in Wellington. The money you require shall be found." This Madame Mantalini-like weak- | ness on the part of successive Governments, so playfully alluded to by our contemporary, is becoming a very serious matter, and it is high time tbat the Legislature dealt boldly with this Education question, and distinctly defined the line at which State aid is to cease. At present, what with a Royal Commission on Higher Education, grants to Universities, subsidies to impecunious Colleges, and so on. the Treasury chest is being drained to a far larger extent than the colony can afford. With reference to this particular College, which is so frequently begging for aid, the Times says :— " The Governors ought not to embarrass the Government. They have a fine, at least a stylish, building, and a magnificent piece of ground around it ; they have large reserves, bringing iv a fair income ; and they charge liberal fees. They can ascertain exactly what their income ia, and they are bound to cut their coat according to their cloth. The work they do, as we have already indicated, is too costly. The expense of teaching a boy at the College is £24 a yenr. of which amount the parent contributes £9 10?, and the State is expected to provide tho balance of £14= 10s. Parents may pay as they please, no one seeks to interfere with them ; but why the public at large should be called upon to pay £14 10s for the education of a few rich men's sons, is a question more easily asked than answered — more especially considering tbe fact that a sum of £3 15s is fouud sufficient to educate each of the children attending the primary schools of the colony." Whether or not this plain speaking will be well liked in Wellington we are unable to say, but we feel sure that it will meet with the cordial approval of the general public of the colony. Thb Cavalry Tournament, to take place at Richmond on Wednesday next is likely to attract a large number of spectators, as it is quite a novelty, and although the number of competitors will be small, they have the reputation of being excellent horsemen, so that some very pretty exhibitions of skill may be looked for. The first event will be " Heads and Posts Practice." Por this two parallel lines of posts will be erected, the lines being 9 feet apart and 60 yards in length. The posts on the right are to support wooden heads, connected with the posts

by flax-stick necks three inches in length, and j these have to be cut through ; to those on j the left, arms will be attached at right angles, from which rings will be pendent, and these hare to be taken off with tbe point of the sword. The distance from the starting to the winning post will be 140. yards, and this haa to be accomplished in 20 seconds. In the carbine matches there will be four contests. Iv the first, squads will ride about a quarter of a mile and leap two fences 3ft Gio. high, and on arriving at the firing point dismount and fire at a target 200 yard 9 distant as many shots as possible, the time allowed beiog three minutes from the start In the next the distance will be half a mile, with four fences, dismounting and firing at the 100 yards range, then re-mounting and proceeding to the 200 yards range and firing. Time allowed, six minutes. The third contest will consist of more "post practice," and the fourth of pursuing practice. The prizes won at the present Rifle Association's meeting will be presented to the successful competitors by Mrs A. J. Richmond in one of Mr Canning's paddocks at Richmond immediately after the cavalry tournament on Wednesday next. In addition to the changes which we reported on Saturday as having been effected in the districts assigned to the various Inspectors of Sheep, we hear that Mr Arthur Blundell is to be removed to tbe Amuri in the place of Mr Pasley, who ia transferred to Napier. The Carandini company will give the last of their series of concerts at the Theatre Royal to-night when we would strongly recommend all who have nofc yet heard them to avail themselves of this opportunity of listening to the most delightful singing thafc has been heard in Nelson since Miss Amy Sherwin paid us a visit some twelve monthß ago. The furniture, &c, the property of Mr Bullick, will be sold to-morrow by Mr John R. Mabin.