The Evening Star. THURSDAY, JURE 15, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4150, 15 June 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY, JURE 15, 1876.

I or a considerable time past matters in connection with the University of Otago have worn an unsatisfactory aspect. Rumors of dissensions between the' Council and the Professors have been rife; one or two circumstances have transpired which have led to the belief that the Council is not actuated by disinterested motives in all its proceedings • and the institution lias fallen off in popular esteem as a place of instruction. Then the Medical School, which everybody understood a iew months ago had been established, is still in nuhihus , while affairs have just been brought to a climax by the resignation of Sir John Richardson as Chancellor. The last event is a decided misfortune. Sir John, without- being a scholar, is a man of breeding and education, and it will be a hard task to supply his place. A merely smai>> and clever mam might readily be founsl, and if it were desired to convert tb« Otago University into the commercial academy which appears to be Mr M.U'andnew’s idea of its functions, doubtless such a person might appropriately be put into the Chancellor’s chair ; but the University has a different mission to perform, and if its students are to receive that liberal culture and to be infused with those honorable feelings which it is the business of a Una eisity to impart to its pupils, then it is important that its Chancellor should be him--8 with such qualifications. In addition to Sir J. Richardson's resignation, the letter of Professor Coughtrey to our morning contemporaries has helped to throw light upon the affairs of the ■ University. The letter speaks for itself, and does not require comment; but ''Whatever may be the precise merits of the dispute between the Professor and the Council; the broad fact cannot be questioned that tfhc Medical School does not exist, and it seems equally certain that the chief fault lies, with tfee Council.

In very troth theCoanoil wants recon structing. Individually, its members ftre men against whom one would not wish to utter a word of dispraise; but as a body they have shown a lack, of energy and comprehension of the nature of the duti s they have to fulfil (to prefer no graver charge against them), which proves them to be unfitted for the important post which they hold. Some of them, indeed, ought never to have found seats in the Council, They were appointed, not because of their scholarship or experience in the management of a University, but for political and other reasons which should not have been permitted to weigh in ouch a matter. It is not, of course, necessary that the whole of the Council should consist of University graduates. There are plenty of excellent scholars who have never taken a degree; ■ but certainly a member of a University Council should possess some special qualification for his' office. A man engaged in commercial pursuits may deservedly have gained the confidence of his fellow-traders, ut it does not follow that he is fitted for a seat in a University Council; just as a sound lawyer might make an extremely bad physician if suddenly called upon to practise medicine. Ghacun dso nmditer is an admirable proverb. Originally provision was made for the periodical infusion of new blood into the governing body. There was to be a Senate as well as a Council, and the former was to he composed of graduates of the University, so that the Council would be saved from petrifaction. The arrangements with the flew Zealand University, however, upset this part of the scheme, and left the Council to become fossil at its leisure. Upon this ground alone, therefore, the Conncil requires reforming, and the sooner it is done the better. Even an old established academy cannot stand mismanagement, as witness Rugby; and the Otago University is still in its infancy, needing careful nursing and every , assistance to bring it to maturity. It has splendid endowments and a good staff ef Professors, and it rests with its governing body to make it attractive to students. We confess that we do not think much can be got out of the present Council. Its conduct might perhaps improve a little if the public were made regularly acquainted with its proceedings. It has been urged that newspaper reporters should be admitted to its meetings. That course, however, does mot seem precisely the correct one. It is unusual to admit reporters to meetings of University Councils, where subjects are frequently discussed of a semi-private nature, and it would hardly be fair to throw upon the reporters the task of deciding what should be published mid what should be 1 excluded from publication. The Council of the New Zealand University supplies the newspapers of the town in which it is sitting with a copious abstract of each day’s proceedings, ana that is really all that is required. The evil here is too deeply seated to be got rid of in so simple a fashion. Wo want, to a certain extent, a change of men ; and, in saying so, no disrespect to persons is implied. There is too much at stake for the feelings of individuals to be consulted. ’ The public hoped great things from the University; it had a right to indulge such expectations, and those expectations have not been realised. The cause now appears to be revealed; and if the members of the Council have the welfare of the institution at heart, they will not interpose obstacles in the way of, but ,\vill facilitate the changes that are needed to put the affairs of the University on a sound footing, and so enable it to fulfil its function of disseminating knowledge and training the community to honor learning and noble conduct instead of wealth.