OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

Evening Star, Issue 3537, 24 June 1874, Page 3

OTAGO UNIVERSITY.

A meeting of the Council of the University was held last evening. Present—-The Chancellor (the Hon. Major Richardson) in the chair; the Vice-Chancellor (the Rev. Dr Stuart), the Rev. T. L. Stanford, Messrs J. H. Harris, E. B. Cargill, A. C. Strode, and Drs Hulme and Burns. The report of the examiners on the candidature of Mr Williamson, of Wanganui, for a B. A. degree, was received, and the Council agreed to confer the'degree— the drat conferred by the University. Thp report of the Library Reference Committee Vas considered, apd the Chancellor was instructed ■to write a letter, of which the fallowing is a copy, to Mr Sessions, secretary to the committee. i Dunedin, June 24, 1874. SlB, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th April last, with accompanying papers, relative to the disposal of the books of reference purchased by the committee of management of the Reference Library; and also the receipt of the resolution of the general meeting, passed on the sth of the same month. The Council, fully appreciating the value of the proposed addition to the University Reference Library, and desirous of accepting the friendly offer conveyed in the resolution above fCferi'ed to,iiave desired juj to express their great regret that the conditions attached to the acceptance of the same are such as to preclude them from availing themselves of the offer. I may be permitted to state that it is the opinion of the Council that the funds of the University would not admit of the additional expense which _ would be incurred under the attached conditions; while many of its members were of opinion that, in an arrangement of a permanent character, the Council could not part with its undivided control of everything connected with the University; and, further, might not be able as the University progressed to accommodate that portion of the community which might avail itself of the library, without _ restricting the increased actymmodatiori Which ViH hereafter be required, and disturbing the privacy and quietness which are so essential to a University, ; V_l. might be allowed to suggest that if the University Council were entrusted with the charge it might be able to draw up regulations of such a character, as, without involving itluch additional expense, and by its members issuing admission tickets to applicants, might meet the intentions of the donors and still preserve the essential requirements of the Council, I have, &a, ■ , J. Richardson. To the Hon Sec. Reference Library Committee. Several other matters connected with the University were also dealt with.