THE UNIVERSITY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2608, 27 June 1871, Page 3

THE UNIVERSITY.

( To the Editor.) g IR _The Otago University Council being now provided with a University, an endowment, and a staff of professors, I trust you will allow me space for a few remarks on the only remaining want—a supply of students. These may be drawn from two sources, those •who are able and willing to devote three years entirely to completing their education, and those who would glully avail them selves of the advantages of a University education provided sueh could be obtained without interfering with the labour necessary for supporting them during their attendance. Ine first class would be made up only by the sons of a few wealthy men, with perhaps one or two Divinity students and such of the holders of the New Zealand University scholarships as might select the Otago University from the affiliated colleges, and I am sure that should the Council rely upon that source alone it will prove utterly inadequate to provide anything like a respectable number'of students, and that, for some years at least, the result will be ludicrously disproportionate t° plahflratp alK i expensive machinery employed. :iThe other class would include many who had received the elements of a good education, but who had early been obliged to contribute to their own or their families support, of many teachers and professional wen who would wish to obtain the distinction of a degree, and of many who have perseveringly and with ditfaculty, supplied the deficiency of their early education and who would gladly look forward to the attainment of a degree in the Otago University as at once a proof and a reward of their efforts. Any plan which would open the doors of the University to this class would not only result in a large addition to the number of sfcudepls, but would tend more than anything else to popularise the Institution and raise the intellectual standard of the colony. 1 believe it could be effected by establishing lectures early in the morning and in the afternoon or evening {before and after the usual hoips of labour) attendance at which should confer the status of a member, and in due course of graduate of toe University. It will be said that it has always boeu the intention of the Council to institute a course of evening lectures, but such a popular course would not affect what I have been advocating. i should be glad if I could elicit an expression of opinion from some of those interested iu carrying out these views, as 1 am sure that the governing body of the University will readily give effect to any suggestion calculated to add to the usefulness of the Institution, and that the Professors will be willing to co-operate with them without being influenced by feelings of personal convenicnce.—l am, yours, &e,, Alumnus.