The bottle was full aud there were some good guesses, two boys who returned the same answer being within five of the actual number. Now where does tbe foolishness of this ratepayer of South Dunedin come in? He.no doubt, thought the competition as practically useful as au exami nation pper upon the Wars of the Roses or the coronation dates of the kings of England. And he may uot be altogether wrong. Accord ing to any standard authority, it is a good thing to know how many beans make five; how much better, then, to know how many peas will fill a pickle bottle. But tho real defence of the prize-giver is tbe excellent qualities, the shrewdness, observation, calculation, estimate of proportion, kc. which these youngsters were required to bring to bear upon their task. The boys whose estimato was within five ol the actual number, unless their answer was an utterly haphazard guess, possess a good many of the qualities that should help them on to success. It is likely that they will iii the future be able to drive a train, design an engine, preach a sermon, or write a leading article better than most of their fellows. The Education Board should look kindly upon this olear-sighted educationist of South Dunedin, pat him upon the back, aud invite him to their counsels. Mr Elijah Fogram's warning of ,We air a great people, aud we muit be cracked up showed by anticipation the sensitiveness ol Americans to criticism, and in this respect they are quite equalled by colonists generally. The admonition is, however, seldon. heeded by the bookmaking traveller, and Baton you Hiibiier, our latest critic, has "shown up" the New Zealanders as unsparingly as Martin Chuzzlewit's biographer did the " free and en lightened democracy" of tbe States. The Baron's travels and observations are embodied in his recently published volume " Through the British Empire," and '• rapid Gell" is complete^ thrown into the shade by the rapidity of the veteran diplomatist's movements by sea ami land. After having seen like Ulysses many " citie* of men, and manners, climates, councils, go vernments," he landed at tbe Bluffs, as he mis calls that iuvii ing looking port, and went on to Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wel lington— making, iv fact, the complete tour of the country. 