The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2528, 24 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1871.

Tiieke appeared some days ago a leading article in the U/aojo JJo.ilhj Tune*, which was, on the whole, the most curious production it has ever fallen to our lot to read. The subject was the University of Otago. The writer informed his readers that this institution would soon commence its operations; that a good stall' of professors had been appointed ; that parents ought to submit to some sacrifices so as to allow their sons to attend the University ; that the University was not a University ; that education was a good thing, and that it might easily be encouraged by contributions of a shilling a week ; and, finally, that the congregation of Knox Church was a very liberal congregation. This is, wc believe, a very fair analysis of the article in question. It is, however, not generally our custom to refer to or find fault with articles which appear in the columns of our contemporary when they are merely tame and stupid, if at the same time they are harmless. But when one of

its leaders seems to us to be not only al feeble, but at the same time calculated to do mischief, we feel bound to try to r , counteract, as far as we can, the evil v likely to result from it. The writer in d the Times , after saying that the “ cope- " £i stone ” of our educational institu- jtions —the long-looked-for University t -—is about to be opened, goes on to f explain that the copestone is not to Jje a copestone at all; that the University s is to be but a college. Now we leave ( our readers to judge what is likely to < be the effect of such a statement as | this on the minds of persons at a distance, Those who live in Otago at once perceive that it is utterly without foundation ; but people in Australia or in the other Provinces of New Zealand will come to the conclusion that the Otago University is to be merely a school —similar, in fact, to Nelson College, Christchurch College, or the Scotch College in Melbourne. Even those who fail to get this erroneous impression will think at any rate that the University of Otago is, and is intended to be, inferior to those of Melbourne and Sydney, and that the highest education is not to be given there. Thus much mischief may a well-meaning but thoughtless writer do. It appears to us that the authorities of this institution can hardly fail to see the necessity of taking from the first the highest possible ground, of insisting with the utmost strictness on all candidates for degrees, or University certificates of any kind, being thoroughly up to the mark which has to be reached by students of the same grade in the Australian Univeisities ; and generally that the course of study prescribed for students, and the mental culture attained to by them, shall be such as to render it certain that a B.A. of Otago shall be at least the equal of a graduate of Sydney or Melbourne. In this way, and in this way only, can our young University ever hope to take the same rank as = her eider sisters, and be really a “ cope- “ stone to our educational institutions. * If the Council of the University, with - the intention of making the body of members numerically strong, or for any other reason, were to introduce regula- •, ,tions of an unduly lax character, we do not doubt that the name “ Otago man” '* would be a “ byword, a reproach, and , >* a hissing” amongst Colonial University jnen. At. the same time.it is to I, be hoped that the Council will see the * advisability of giving every facility for 41 doing so to those persons who t ..wish to attend the University lectures, but who do not intend to become candidates for degrees.