THE UNIVERSITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 2879, 11 May 1872, Page 3

THE UNIVERSITIES.

To the Editor. Sir, —It is an old saying “that in the multitude of councillors there is safety but I do not app ehend that the wise man meant to affirm this without limitation ; for it is butfar too evident that in our land, whatever it was in that of Solomon, that it is quite possible for a “multitude of councillors’’ bo pass some nwst absurd resolutions. I purpose to write a few sentences on some of the proceedings of the Council of the University of Otago, and on those of its would-be parent—the University of New Zealand.

About a year ago a paper was submitted to the Council of the University of its approval, drawn up by the professors of that University. One of the recommendations it contained was to the effect, “ that the professors be empowered to form senior as well as junior classes during the session of 1871. This, for some inconceivable reason, was refused, and the consequences which this recommendation —so wisely introduced —was designed to avert, followed as a matter of course. The state of matters may be briefly explained. Students, advanced so far (say in mathematics) as to qualify them for a senior class, applied for admission to college It could not be expected that they would care about fiddling for six months over the first six books of Euclid and Colenso’s Algebra. What then was to be dpne ? The only thing that could be done—namely, divide the mathematical class into two parts, which for want of the usual appellations were denoraina.ed “upper” and “lower” respectively. Names signify little, so all went on smoothly enough ; but now in the light of the dawn of a new session, another difficulty, long expected, turns np. Students matriculating this year form the junior, and the “upper and lower” lads of 1871 the senior class. Now I doubt not but our esteemed “ doctissimns professor ” will find some subject which both upper and lower divisions will be able to pursue according to the light that is in them ; but then what comes of fairness ? Is it fair to set Mr So and so of the lower lads to compete with Mr of the upper, who last year beat all the lads in his own division, and walked off with the prize into the bargain ? Is it to be expected that tho?c of the lower orders are to try and catch up with him before they have a chance of a similar felicity ? No, sir, I have somewhere read in an ancient book that an ox and an ass are not t > be yoked to the same plough, lest the weaker animal, in attempting to keep pace with the stronger, overstrain and hurt itself. But what else can the Professor do in the circumstances ? Is it to be expected that he will still keep the senior class in two divisions, and thus entail double work on his already arduous duties ? Is every year to add-an additional class to the labprs qf the former? Not to speak of courtesy, would it not have been wise in the Council to have accepted the recommendations of the Professors complete and intact, trusting to their superior experience, at least in matters in themselves indifferent

So much for a bad beginning. 1 must add that if the members of Council were the fiarties engaged in drawing up that formidable ist of subjects in the Gasett ’ prescribed for second year students, it is additional testimony to the remark just made that such matters would be better left to the Professors. It also shows a lamentable recklessness of human life.

1 have a little to say on the University of New Zealand, This imaginary institution astonished the public with signs of vitality, by advertising scholarships for competition. After obtaining information on the subject, I felt persuaded that one regulation at least was nothing short of a piece of injustice to a large portion of the youth of the country. I refer to the resolution which precludes all under sixteen years of age—not from competing—but from holding a scholarship. Now, I ask your readers, can any of you conceive a possible reason for this regulation ? Suppose a lad 13 years of age goes to compete, and obtains more mark- than he who, on account of the protection thus afforded to those fortunate enough to have been born three or more years easier, walks off with one of those 75 pounders with which the North is astonishing us accustomed to smaller priz»s ; ought such a lad to be so treated bccaus he has had shorter time to prepare, but more brains to work with ? And who of the two do you suppose would be most likely to do credit to theinsntution ? Ben Johnson might have made bricks to the end pf jpa days, and Rapop pursed his youth away for aught that the University of New Zealand would have done to help them. But while censuring the conduct of the Northerners, I have not forgotten that the inhabitants of the >ouih have showed them* selves capable of perpetrating a similar piece of injustice, It will be fresh in the minds of

many that the Synod of Otago advertised scholarships in connection with the Church under the same restriction. What would the convener of th ir committee have said or done had a Dr Chalmers of “ 13” or a C. H. Spurgeon, “The Boy Preacher,” sent in an application? “ Home with’you, Chalmers and Spurgeon, yen know too much for your ago, Home, and play for three years till your years and your head correspond,” Were it not that the “ Kichardson scholarship” is to a certain extent private, I could have said something on it ;■ but I may be forgiven asking, are not the High School boys better, or supposed to be better than other boys ? If so, vhy be afraid of country lads? And if not, it looks suspiciously like a kind of protection. Yours, &c., P A.