History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Henry Walter Jenvey/Notes

1865 12
In the lead up to the annual civil service examinations, a letter to the editor by "Phocion" calls into question the examination process "PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS. Sir,— The manner in which the chief educational examinations in Melbourne are conducted is a matter of regret to every lover of learning. The University examinations, the Civil Service examinations, and the Supreme Court examination for barristers are alike vitiated by imposture. They are all solemn farces. They are thought to be a means of testing knowledge and rewarding merit, but in many cases they test dexterous ignorance, and reward cunning incompetence. Will it be believed that at the late matriculation examination at the University, nine out of ten of the candidates copied from books under the very nose of the examiner? When the professor who presides at the examination obligingly turns his back upon the candidates, or screens himself behind the last review, or the morning newspaper, can it be expected that the dishonest will not seize the opportunity to copy? Will not the honest often be tempted to follow their example? Some, indeed, of the professors are commendably vigilant in preserving the integrity of the examinations; and, knowing them to be vigilant, candidates never attempt 'cribbing' in their presence. But it is notorious that others of the professors are culpably negligent; and candidates, knowing this, go into the examinations conducted by these professors having, not their memories loaded with facts, but their pockets loaded with books. A certain carping critic of the Melbourne University has frequently complained that morals is not one of the subjects in its curriculum. Let him set his mind at ease. There is a certain morality in which that University holds examinations to which it grants certificates, on which it bestows honours and degrees — a Spartan morality, whose first maxim is, that undetected dishonesty is a virtue. The Civil Service examination was doubtless intended to secure that all persons placed in Government situations should at least be able to calculate the amount of their monthly pay without a blunder, and write a letter whose spelling should at least not disgrace a schoolboy. That this object has not been attained is known to those acquainted with the lamentable deficiency of some who hold the certificates of proficiency furnished by the Civil Service examiners. This happens, not because the examination is in itself too easy, but because those who are unable to spell and to reckon correctly sometimes manage to pass with credit by means of a pocket dictionary and a pocket arithmetic. Not less shameful is the manner in which the Supreme Court examination for barristers is conducted. This examination is designed to test both the literary and the legal acquirements of the candidates. The examiners, being barristers eminent in their profession, are, of course, highly competent to examine in law; but it is no discredit to them, and it is quite natural to suppose that they are more familiar with legal than with Latin cases, and more expert in construing a statute than in construing Greek. Hence, however searching the legal part of the examination may be, the literary part of it is of the most superficial character. Hence you will hear some members of the colonial bar stating good law in bad English, or delivering a true maxim in false Latin. This examination, then, being superficial in the literary part is intrinsically defective; but it is rendered still more defective by the manner in which it is conducted. The examiners are to regardless of their duty as to leave the candidates alone in the examination room. They thus give them the opportunity of answering the questions in whatever way dishonesty may suggest. In the classical part of the examination the candidate is allowed his own text-book to translate from. It is obvious that, with the help of marginal or foot notes, or an interlinear translation provided for the occasion, any person might pass such a classical examination with as little knowledge of classics as a child has of Coptic. Such are the abuses connected with these examinations as at present conducted. It is owing to such abuses that the Melbourne University turns out some men with low attainments and high degrees, that Government situations are filled by incompetent officers, and that unlearned and dis-honest men are admitted into a learned and honourable profession. It is true there are some who pass the examinations in question by hard and honest work, because they love learning and scorn to earn its honours dishonourably. But the value of the distinctions laboriously won by the honest is diminished by the fact that those distinctions are attainable by idle dishonesty. The true coin is suspected when counterfeits are in circulation. The Queen's image and superscription are then no guarantee of worth. Just so, unless the examinations referred to be conducted with a vigilance that shall prevent dishonest ignorance from reaping the rewards of honest knowledge, the diplomas and the certificates granted by the Melbourne University, the Civil Service examiners, and the Supreme Court examiners will be scarcely worth the parchment they are written on, and the standard of education will inevitably be lowered throughout the colony. Yours respectfully, PHOCION."

Only 38 of 175 candidates pass the compulsory subjects in the Civil Service examination "Of the 175 candidates who entered themselves for the Civil Service Examination, only thirty-eight have passed in the compulsory subjects. A list of the successful candidates appears in this day's Argus. The examination in the optional subjects will take place at the University next week, and the week following."

Jenvey passes the compulsory subjects in the Civil Service examination Government Offices, Melbourne, Dec 19, 1865. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION, December, 1865. The gentlemen whose names are given below have passed in the compulsory subjects:— Brown, William G.; Barry, J. J.; Bourke, Michael; Bartlett, E. J.; Bonsey, Henry; Crooke, William; Curnow, John; Davies, C. E.; Francis, J. P.; Foote, Thos. V.; Fleming, A.; Goldsmith, E.; Greenwood, Arthur; Hall, W. Henry; Horan, James; Hodgkinson, H. A.; Holland, James; Hogan, James; Hill, John H.; '''Jenvey, Hy. W.'''; King, J. B.; King, W. C. L.; Kemp, William; Lewis, Thos.; Miller, James; Maloney, Richard; Mathewson, H. W.; Meakin, H. W.; Patrick, Thos. S.; Robison, Jas. L.; Russell, Edwd.; Raven, Nicholas; Rowan, James; Reed, William; Sennett, James; Turner, George; Whyte, Thos.; Wilson, John. Candidate No. 164 is requested to call upon the secretary. The examination in the optional subjects will be proceeded with as follows, at the University:—
 * History.— Wednesday, Dec. 27 — 10 to 11.30 a.m.
 * Latin.— Thursday, Dec. 28 — 10 to 11.30 a.m.
 * French.— Thursday, Dec. 28 — Noon to 1.30 p.m.
 * Geography.— Thursday, Dec. 28 — 2 to 3.30 p.m.
 * Euclid.— Friday, Dec. 29 — 10 to 11.30 a.m.
 * Algebra.— Friday, Dec. 29 — Noon to 1.30 p.m.
 * Political Economy.— Friday, Dec. 29 — 2 to 3.30 p.m.
 * Law.— Thursday, Jan. 4 — 10 to 11.30 a m.
 * W. H. ODGERS, Secretary Board of Examiners.

1866 01
Jenvey passes the overall examination for entry to the Victorian Civil service "CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION, DECEMBER, 1865. The gentlemen whose names and addresses are given below have passed the examination prescribed for the Civil Service, as under:— ORDINARY DIVISION. . . . Jenvey, Henry Walter, 44 Moor-street, Fitzroy. . . . A meeting of the examiners will be held at the University, for the issue of certificates, of which due notice will be given. By order, W. H. ODGERS, Secretary to the Board of Examiners, Government Offices, Melbourne, Jan. 18."

1874 08
Jenvey on the committee of management of the newly formed Telegraph Electrical Society "MELBOURNE. 8th August. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) . . . I called attention recently in your columns to the establishment in the Indian Telegraphic Service of a school of instruction in the higher branches of telegraphy. With the last few days several of the officers of the Victorian Telegraph Department have established a similar society under the name of the Telegraph Electrical Society. Messrs G. Jimbert, D. J. McGaurin, D. Mickle, and H. W. Jenvey are the committee of management, and it is proposed to publish the transactions of the society at periodical intervals. The first paper will be read at the Athenaeum, on Wednesday next by Mr Daniel, the subject being, 'The Object, the Use, and the Working of the Telegraph Electrical Society.'"