CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 1

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS

The rules and regulations respecting examinations under the Civil Service Act, 1866, dated 29th December, 1868, have been lately rescinded, and amended regulations have been substituted in their place. Tne most important, so far as the general public are concerned, is that of admitting to the examinations held by the Board " youths not seeking employment in the Civil Service," and the issuing of pass certificates on payment of a moderate fee. A circular has been lately issued by the Secretary of the Board directing public attention to this most important alteration, which thus succinctly explains the advantages intended :—" The class of examination, and the preliminary enquiry as to character which candidates must go through, will, it is believed, render the certificates of the Board valuable testimonials to youths seeking employment in banks, merchants' offices, or elsewhere." That the utmost publicity may be given, the circular concludes thus :—" As this is a subject which must vitally interest all persons desirous of promoting education in the colony, the Board will feel obliged by your calling attention to it in the columns of your paper." We purpose accordingly to notice at some length the whole of these rules and regulations, to point out where we think they are defective, and especially to consider this general examination for youths in its relation to our existing educational institutions, and to "show cause why" we think it might-be modified so as to subserve still higher purposes. To make our remarks intelligible and at the same time to give the utmost to the new regulations we prihHtnenf below, reserving all consideration of them for future issues.

1. No person can enter the Civil Service as a probationer, or as a subordinate of the fifth class, unless he shall be of the full age of seventeen years, and nob more than twentytwo years- The Board of Examiners may, however, examine candidates for employment who are not younger than fifteen years. 2. Every candidate for examination must apply to be examined in a form to be prescribed by the Board, such application to be addressed to ,the Secretary and to be accompanied by the following certificates: —Age—Certificate from Registrar of Birth. Any person unable to produce such certificate to account for itsnonproduction, and to prove his age by satisfactory evidence. Health—A certificate of health signed by some legally qualified medical practitioner. . Character—A certificate of general good conduct from some clergyman or schoolmaster.

3. Every candidate must pass the junior examination (see regulations) before he shall be eligible for any appointment in the Civil Service.

4. The Board shall have power, subject to the Governor's approval, to vary the optional subjects, and to frame such further rules for the conduct of examinations as they may deem fit, due notice of which shall be published in the New Zealand Gazette.

5. Every candidate must pass a certain standard of proficiency to be fixed by the Board of Examiners. The Board, in publishing the result of examinations, shall classify the successful candidates according to merit; but the examination is not competitive for office, the Government being entitled to select any successful candidate for appointment at its discretion.

6. Examinations shall be held at such times and places, aud before such persons, as the Board may from time to time appoint. 7. The examination shall be divided into two branches —the one qualifying for appointment, the other qualifying for promotion to any class above the fourth. 8. Junior Examination. —Every candidate for employment in the Civil Service must pass in the following :—English : Including dictation, reading, spelling, grammar, ami composition. Arithmetic: Including vulgar and decimal fractions. The outlines of English history and political geography. ■} 9. The Senior Examinations shall be in the following:—English, and any number of the following subjects, but the candidates must pass in at least three: Eatirij' Greek; French, German, Maori, Arithmetic,'Algebra', Euclid, Book-keeping, Natural ; Science; Ge6"f graphy, History, Political, T&coTwmy.,.. ~, ,;,i» 10. It shall be optional for any candidate for examination to pas 3 the junior and senior examinations at the same time ; but no candidate shall .be eligible- for the -senior" exurhrnation who is above the age of-twenty-three years.. 11. Every .has passed,etjall, receive a certificate to that effect, signecT by

two members of the Board and the Secretary, on payment of a fee of one guinea. 12. A register of candidates who have been examined shall be sept by the Board, and a list of those who have passed published from time to time in the " New Zealand Gazette." RULES PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS, WITH THE APPROVAL OP HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. I.—.Sttbjects of Examination.

Junior Examination, (Compulsory Subjects).—English : Dictation, reading, spelling, grammar, and composition. Arithmetic: Including vulgar and decimal fractions. History : .Outlines of the History of England from the Norman Conquest to the close of the Crimean War."' Geography: Outlines of Political Geography. Senior Examination, (Compulsory Subjects).—English: Dictation, reading, spelling, grammar, and composition (including abstract and precis writing). Any three or more of the following subjects, at the the option of the candidate : —Latin : Any one of the following:—Sallust: Cataline and Jugurtha—Virgil : Any four books of the ißneid ? the Board to be informed which books are chosen. Horace: 1. Odes and Epodes; or, 2. Satires and Epistles; the Board to be ' informed of the selection —Caesar: Do Bello Gallico Cicero: OrationsGreek : Any one of the following:—Xenophon : Anabasis. Homer : Any one book of the Iliad. Sophocles or Euripides: Any one play. Passages for translation will be set from these authors (Latin or Greek), and candidates will be required to. answer easy grammatical and historical questions arising out of (the passages so set. —French : Easy. translafions from French into English, and vice versa. —German : Easy translations from Gernian into English, and vice versa.— Maori. —Arithmetic : (Including vulgar and decimal fractions, averages, and percentages.) —Algebra : So far as to include the solution of /simple equations.—Euclid : The first four books. Book-keeping, Natural Science : Outlines of Natural Philosophy, Zoology, Jotany, or Geology.—Geography : Outlines i|f Political and Physical Geography. —History: Outlines of the History of England from the Norman Conquest to the close of the Crimean War ; Colonial History, especially History of New Zealand.—Political Economy : Elementary principles of, N.B.—No candidate will be "eligible for promotion in the Treasury or Customs Department unless he passes in arithmetic. II. — Classification. The names of successful candidates will be published in the order of comparative proficiency, and certificates will be issued, classifying them on the following principle: —Firstclass certificates will be granted to those who contain two-thirds, or above two-thirds, the maximum number of marks in all subjects in which they are examined. Second-class certificates will be granted to those who attain one-lfalf, and under two-thirds, the maximum number of marks in all subjects in which they pass. Third-class certificates will be granted to those who attain under one-half the maximum number of marks in all subjects in which they pass. 111. — Conduct of Examinations.

On application being received, notice will I be given to the candidate by the Secretary ! to j the Board, of the time and place of examina- j tion. Further instructions will also be,.forwarded at the same time. N.B.—Np particu- j lar Text Books are prescribed : the following \ are suggested as useful, but the Board of Ex- ■ aminers do not bind themselves'to their use exclusively : —English Grammar and Analysis —Morell's. Greek and Latin, authors—Any good text. Arithmetic —Colensp's or Barnard Smith's. Algebra—Colenso's .or Bonnycastle's. Euclid—Potts', Cambridge. Natural Science —Text Books. English History—Dr. Smith's smaller. Political Economy —J. S. Mill's. ~..,,,..,.,.