WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5534, 21 December 1878, Page 3

WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

TO THI EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Wellington College has been unfortunate from its commencement. In its beginning, under the denomination of a " grammar school" (the present Terrace school), it barely escaped annihilation under the scathing examination strictures of the Eev. Mr. Harvey. Then its best t«achers—(Mr. Bowden, the head master, started a private school on his own account, and Mr. Hamilton, the mathematical master, who emigrated to the United States) — abandoned it to the care of Mr. Tuckey, under whom it eked out an existence until the opening of the present College under Mr. Wilson, who infused new vitality into the moribund institution. Mr. Wilson (a Cambridge graduate) was selected in England to occupy the position of principal of the College. As regards scholarly attainments he was eminently fitted for the situation, and while so firm in upholding discipline as to be considered severe by some, be has acquired not only the respect but the loving regard of the whole of the pupils, not alone of those who are at present under him, but of those who, having proceeded as far in their education as they thought necessary, are now employed in commercial or professional pursuits.

To what then are we to attribute tho nonsuccesa of the College ? In a great measure perhaps to tho high moral standard taken by Mr. Wilson, who not only inculcates gentlemanly conduct on tho part of his pupils by his precept, but shows them a practical example, in that, having done what he considers right, he does not amuse his onlookers with excuses and explanations, but leaves his conduct to prove its correctness by tho ultimate result. It is in a great measure due also to the weak conduct of the governors, who, craving after popularity, have not supported him in carrying out the proper discipline of the College. All mankind are alike—what is true of the boy is true of the man. How many of us, being assured of a competence, would toil at the forge, the desk, or in the study ? It is much more pleasant to walk about enjoying the beauties of nature ; chat with our friends, and like the bee sip tho sweets of every flower we approach ; but the fear of poverty, tho necessary consequence of laziness and inattention to our duties, compels us to attend to our regular business. So it is with boys ; they prefer to play cricket, ball, or even marbles to hammering out a latin verb or a proposition of Euclid, and when tho dread of punishment for their neglect is removed we cannot expect that many will strive as they otherwise would. When therefore the governors interfered, as they did some two years ago, and reprimanded Mr. Wilson for punishing his refractory pupils, thoy to a large extent weakened his influence and that of the other masters.

Ever since the College has declined. In fact, not only did it raise a spirit of defiance on the part of tho scholars against tha masters, but it weakened the onergies of tho teachers, who wero debarred from enforcing a compliance with their behests. For though corporal punishment was not altogeter disallowed, it was so hedged about as to be odious to every liberal, right-thinking mind. Fancy tho necessity of recording upon the books of the College tho fact that some poor urchin was flogged for playing the truant, or some other petty offence which undoubtedly required correction, but surely was not deserving of an indelible brand of infamy.

I am a believer in constitutional government, but for boys, so far as my experience goes, there is nothing equal to an enlightened despotism.

Another weak point of tho College management is that the principal is not properly supported by his subalterns, who, appearing to be sure of their salaries, take, the matter very oasily, and allow discipline to go to the dogs. For tha consequences of this Mr. Wilson has himself in a great measure to blame, for however much ho may esteem his colleagues privately, he ought not to screen their shortcomings. Doing so has at. last recoiled on himself.

Tho case of Miss Jones I pass by as utterly unworthy of comment, and thj gever-

nors, as was shown by our worthy Mayor at the last meeting, committed a mistake in taking any notice of scandals which were o'-ly put into print for the purpose of selling a few more pennyworths of the paper publishing them.—l am, &c., X. Y. Z.