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President of the school staff. Dr. Wright's objection is that in no other college in any of the Colonies or in Great Britain is such an examination held, an objection which to my mind is frivolous, if the correct system is to have an examination which Dr. Wright and I myself agree should be the rule.
Surely it is not for us to await the introduction of a reform in some remote Colony with which we have no connection. But as a matter of fact, such an examination has always been held and I would invite your attention to the Colonial Secretary's Letter A145 of the 28th of January 1882, which was written on the occasion of Dr. Wright's obtaining the privilege of corresponding direct with the Government.
My own view is that the work of the school should be independently reported on each year for the satisfaction of the Government, as is done in the case of aided schools and colleges (exclusive of University Colleges in the United Kingdom) and that whatever objections (except perhaps personal ones) may be urged will be found to be worthless.
The second point considered is, assuming that such an examination is necessary, who should conduct it? Dr. Wright had no objection to the Inspector of Schools, provided he should be bound not to thwart or hinder the work of the College and that he himself should have full power to lodge complaints with the Government in case of such instructions.
Such instructions are, in my opinion, entirely unnecessary, as an officer is bound to execute his duty in the proper way.