Napier Boys.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 397, 31 December 1889, Page 3

Napier Boys.

The Napier papers muntamed a significant ailenqe in regard to the recent examinations when the Gisborne School made such a grand record as against the other portion of the Hawke's Bay district, but if our Napier con . temporaries do not think it wor h while to say a word or two ia commendation of Gisborne’s success we are not inclined to act in the same spirit, feeling convinced that iperit should be recognised wherever it is found, and not be sacrificed to petty jealousy. We therefore congratulate the Napier people on the clever boys whose real home is in Napier. The following ia from tbe Napier otter in a Christchurch paper I am always glad to hear of young colonials attaining distinction in any intellectua sphere, and especially so when the distinction is achieved in competition with the youth of older countries in which educational advantages, the growth of centuries of wealth and culture, are available. A Napier boy, Mr Percy Caro, a son of. Dr Caro of this town, recently left to complete at Cambridge the education begun at Nelson College. By the last English mail news was received of his having passed the matriculation examination with triple honor*. He was the only one in his college to do so. This is an auspicious beginning of a university career, and from what is known of the student he is likely to be the earnest of more substantial successes.

Another young Jfapierite whose career is an example of what oan be achieved by sturdy independence, perseverance, and pluck, in combination with ability, is at present on a visit to his home, after a long absence. Mr Sam Begg, whose family are very well known and respected by Napjer residents, as fa boy, had a gtrqng artistic bent, and finally found hie way over to Australia, ‘where he worked hard to cultivate his talent. Having learnt all 'he could in the oolonies, he went to Paris and there studied for some time longer. During the whole of this period he contributed to illustrated papers, supporting himself in this manner, as having himself decided OU leaving Napier, and made his own choice of a career, he would not accept assistance from his people. Ultimately he settled in London, and after contributing for a short time to the Graphic received a flattering offer from the management of the Pictorial World, and joined the staff of that paper. He had no sooner done this than he received an offer from the Graphic, but remained with the paper which had first given him a perrnaneh t engagement, and the initials " S.B ” are now familiar to the readers of tbe Pictorial World. Last Year’s Christmas number of the World wss the work of two New Zealand»rs—B. L. Farjeon, novelist, and 8. Begg, artist; Mr Begg having graphically Illustrated Farjeon's •tory, “ Th« Peril of Richard Pardon.’’ Mr Begg is still ybung, and judging from what he has already done, has before him a distinguished career. He has more than justified hie early choice of a profeseion.