THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2309, 30 September 1870, Page 2

THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO.

A meeting of the Council of the University took place in the Provincial Council Chambers yestPl’day. The Chancellor, the Rev. Dr Burns, the Revs. 11. L. Stanford and D. M. Stuart, the Vice-Chancellor, Major Richardson. Drs Hulme and Burns, and Messrs E. B. Cargill, A. C. Strod'-, and W. 11. Reynolds, were present. Major Richardson road a memorandum of proceedings at a conference between the Council of the University and the Executive Government:—

The Council met his Honor the Superintendent find the Executive Government at 3 o’clock, according to arrangement. 1. The opinion of his Honor and the Executive was requested as to the amalgamation of the two Universities, and the reply indicated, that it was desirable to amalgamate, if such union could take p'ace with due security to the endowments and efficiency of the local University. 2. The opinion of his Honor and the Executive was further sought as to the possibility of an amalgamation on the principle of excluding from the new Council the members of the Otago Council, whose presen'c was either directly implied, or indirectly promised, as members of the new Council. The Government replied that they entirely sympathised with the Council in the opinion that mini ters of religion should not bo excluded, a proceeding never contemplated by the Act of Assembly, and that they considered that 10 members of the Otago Provincial Council should form part of the new Council.

3. His Honor and the Executive agreed in the resolution of the Council that a Bill should be prepared for submission to the next Session of the Provincial Council, and they agreed to support the same, by which the building known as the New Post Office should be handed over to the Council of the University of Otago, in trust for the purposes of the said University. 4. The Council, on receiving this assurance, intimated their intention to proceed to consider, on retiring, the question of amalgamation under the New Zealand University Act, 1870. 5. The Government promised carefully to consider the practicability of making a special endowment for scholarships, similar to that made under the local University Endowment A ct, sho Id the proposed amalgamation not take place. Major Bioiiaudsox then road the fob lowing telegrams with reference to a request that he would form one of the New Zealand University Council, under the Act of IS7O : To the Hon. Mr Gisborne, Wellington. Before finally replying, may I ask the following questions : 1. What number of the Otago gentlemen will there be on the New Zealand University Council ? 2. Can the Council formed under the Act abstract any of the present or future Otago endowments for another University elsewhere ?

3. In case of amalgamation, and the establishment of another New Zealand University, would the Otago University still receive a fair share of colonial endowments under the Act, 1870—I mean those applicable to scholarships. 4. (Approximately.) In case of amalgamation, can the Councils agree, as a basis of union, that the endowments ’shall not he diverted? J. Rickath sox. Major Richardson also read several telegrams which had been sent to him from the Hon. W. Gif born, in reply to enquiries sent by him. They contained the following list of the Council proposed by the Government : —Sir G. A. Arncy, Chief Justice, Auckland; Hugh Carleton, Esq., M.G.A., Auckland ; Hon, D, Pollen, M.L.C., Auek*

land; Sir W. Martin, D.C.L., Auckland ; J. L. C. Richardson, M. L.C., Otago ; His Honor Mr Justice Chapman, Otago ; His Honor J. Macandrew, Otago; Hon. "Captain Fraser, M.L.C., Otago ; W. H. Reynolds, M.G. A., Dunedin ; Hon. H. J. Miller, M.L.C., Oamaru ; H. J. Tancred, Esq., M.G. A., Christchurch; His Honor Mr Justice Gresson, Christchurch ; His Honor Mr Justice Richmond, Nelson ; His Honor O. Curtis, M.G.A., Nelson ; His Honor Mr Johnstone, Wellington ; the Hon. R, Domett, M.L.C., Wellington; the Hon. R. Stokes, M.L C., Wellington; the Hon M. S. Grace, M.D., M.L.C., Wellington ; the Hon. Fitzherberb, M.G.A., Wellington; J. Hector, t-sq., M.D., F.R.S., Wellington. The opinion of the Attorney General as to the security of the endowments was as follows :—• “ The Attorney General is of opinion that the new University Council will have no power to divert any portion of present or future endowments made or to be made by Otago. This answers your second question. Next, with reference to telegrams to Mr Sewell. Government bad no .intention cr power to lix place of meeting of Council.” A discussion ensued, when the following resolutions were passed ; Moved by Major Richardson, seconded by Rev. Mr Stuart, “That according to an implied, if not an accepted, understand* ing, the composition of the new University Council was intended to include ten mem* bers resident in Otago—most probably tho: e in the present Council—in order to the more effective adm"lustration, a-d supervision of the University therein located, and the Council consider such arrangement to bo essentially necessary towards amalgama* tion.”

Moved by Mr Cargill, and seconded by Rev. R. L, Stanford. “That before taking any steps towards amalgamation with the New Zealand University, it is incumbe t that this Council be assured that the endow* ments of the Otago University are secure against the possibility of their being diverted from the Province of Otago ; and that, ina • much as the New Zealand University Ac% 1870, makes no provision t- the effect, tie Colonial Government be requested to undertake the introduction of an Amendment Act for the purpose, and to engage to suppo't the same.” Moved by Mr Rkvnolds, seconded by Dr Hulme, “ That as the 3rd clause of the New Zealand University Act, 1870, espe. cially provided that of the twenty councillors comprising the Cou oil, twelve at least should be laymen, the Council cannot but regard the exclusion of all ministers of r< - ligion, whatever their scholastic attainments and position, as marked and invidious ; and and moi’c cspcciall so in the case of the Chancellor of the University of Otago, wl o has been intimately associated with the pn • vincc from its earliest history, and who was unanimously chosen to the office which he now holds. That the Chairman be requested to forward a copy of these resolutions to the Honorable the Colonial Secretary ; and that the Council meet at 9 o’clock to consider the reply.” The Council again met at nine o’clock to, consider the reply of the Government. The Superintendent and Executive cil generally concurred in the views whul|vl the University Council embodied in' 'that,.resolutions. u:> -vujpUThe Council further considered that, in justice to the candidates for professional chairs, it was their duty to make appointincuts, contingent on the Executive Government and University Council not a reeing on amalgamation ; and in case of such agreement not being arrived at before the departure of the mail, the appointment would he duly notified to the successful candidates.