TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8327, 8 January 1907, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

The word "nugget" —now used for no other purpose than as a name for a lump of alluvial gold — was not first applied in America. It is supposed to be of Australian origin, and has been traced back to the old convict days. There are records showing that a frequent offence in the penal settlement was gambling for what, in the slang of the prison, were called "nuggets," otherwise lumps of tobacco. The proof that it is not of American origin lies in the fact that the name Nugget Island appears on an old chart of New Zealand, published in either 1835 or 1836, which was prior to the discovery of gold in California. Many convicts from Sydney went to California and to them the word nugget is attributed.

Devonport long ago set a good exmple to the other naval dockyards by taking care of the figure-heads removed from old warships. Now Portsmouth has followed suit—or, rather, gone one better by establishing a museum. Into this figureheads and other relics are being gathered. The collection promises to become an extremely interesting one. The neglect of years has irretrievably ruined some figure-heads, and so little attention has been paid to others that it is difficult to trace their history. However, several are in fairly good preservation, and the bullets embedded in them show fiat they have been at close quarters with the enemy. It is a curious fact that for generations all the figureheads of British warships were carved by the members of one family, and clever craftsmen they were, too. * ,

"Queensland does not care a; snap of the fingers about the Vancouver service," said Mr Kidston, Premier of that State, to a Timaru Herald interviewer, a few days ago. "It has brought us no trade, and as far as I can see it is never likely to bring us any." He added that New Zealand would also probably suffer disappointment if the reciprocal treaty, which he noticed was being suggested, was arranged with Canada. The arrangement with South Africa promised far better results, both in frozen produce and flour. As far as trade was concerned, the Vancouver service was no good either to Queensland or to New Zealand. Neither was it necessary to Queensland as a mail route, for the mails via Suez were mailed from Adelaide,.and reached Queensland in good time. He could understand, however, that the Vancouver route would serve New Zealand well as a mail carrier, seeing that correspondence through the Suez canal was so slow in coming on to this colony. If New Zealand wanted to get the service Queensland had no objection.

From time to time the question is raised whether New Zealand University degree papers cannot be examined in the; colony instead of employing English examiners for thp purpose. It was mooted at the meeting of the Educational Conference at Christchurch, but the delegate who brought it forward .did not persist with his motion. There are,. no doubt, serious drawbacks to the present system of employing English examiners. It means considerable expense, and there is no little delay before the results reach the colony, one consequence being that students are kept in! a state of stress and uncertainty. It is said that the fact of employing leading English professors to examine the papers gives a higher ''cachet" to the New Zealand degree. We do riot know that anyone ..stops to enquire about the examiners when told that a person holds a certain degree, nor are we aware thai a New Zealand degree ranks higher than a similar i distinction conferred at say Melbourne or Sydney, where the papers are locally examined. The point to be considered in connection "with a degree is the standing of the University or College,by which it is granted and the value of a New Zealand de> gree consists in the fact that it is \ accorded recognition by the Royal i Charter.