NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1256, 28 March 1878, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

At the sittings of the Senate, held on March 14th, 15th, 18Lh, and 19th, the following business was transacted : The letter of the Rev. Mr Buddie was read, requesting that the Wesleyan Theological Institute should be affiliated to the University. On the motion of the Vice-Chancellor, it was resolved—“ That the Wesleyan Theological Institute be affiliated to the University in terms of application.” Dr. Hector moved —“That the next session of the Senate should be held at Christchurch.” The Rev. Mr Bruce moved an amendment —“ That the word ‘ Dunedin’ be substituted for ‘Christchurch.’” Question put, the Senate divided with the following result for the amendment; — Ayes 4—Rev. Mr Bruce, Rev. Mr Johnstone, Mr Justice Richmond, Mr Heale. Noes 4—The Rev. Mr Andrew, Rev. Mr Buddie, the Chancellor, and Dr, Rector,

The Chancellor gave his casting vote with the ayes. The amendment was therefore carried. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Andrew, it was resolved —“ That the Chancellor enter into .communication with the Government, with a view to the University taking over the Civil Service examinations of the colony, combining the same with the matriculation examination.”

Dr. Hector moved—“ (1) That the examination for matriculation be identical with, or similar to, the senior Civil Service examination. (2) That junior scholarships be awarded upon extra questions appended to the matriculation examination. (3) That two-thirds of the junior scholarships be awarded on extra questions on the B.A. examination papers of the second year. (4) That one third of the senior scholarships be awarded to students in the third year on any branch of study who have passed the first B.A, examination or any holders of junior scholarships to be held during a further year of study only. (5) That the following members of the Senate be appointed to consider and report upon the best method of giving effect to the foregoing resolution, and to •onfer by letter with any professor of the University upon the subject. Committee to consist of the Chancellor, Mr Justice Richmond, Rev. Mr Johnstone, Rev, Mr Andrew, Mr Ilcale, and Mr Rolleston and the mover. Committee to bring up their report at the next annual meeting of the Senate.” The Vice-Chancellor moved, as an amendment to the first resolution, as follows : “ That the matriculation examinations ought to be conducted at the discretion of the several affiliated Colleges to which admission is sought; that the University of New Zealand is not concerned with the state of preparation under which students enter colleges, but only with that under which they go out for their degree.” The amendment was negatived, and Dr. Hector’s first resolution was carried. Th« remaining resolutions —two, three, four, and five—were carried.

On the motion of the Rev. Mr Andrew, it was resolved that in the mathematical examinations candidates be allowed to use all intelligible abbreviations. The Chancellor brought up the report of the select committee appointed to consider the case of Mr White. [This gentleman had passed a matriculation examination at the Otago University before it had become affiliated to the New Zealand University, and presented himself for examination for the B.A. degree.] On the motion of Mr Justice Richmond, it was resolved :—l. “ That clause XI. of the regulations specifying terms to be kept and examinations to be passed for obtaining the B.A. degree prescribes the only mode by which matriculated students of the University of Otago can obtain the degree withovit becoming matriculated students of the University of New Zealand; the Chancellor, therefore, was justified in informing Mr White that he was not entitled to present himself for examination.” 2. “ That it is desirable the regulation should be modified with a view to the examination of students in Mr White’s case.”

It was moved as a regulation by tbe Eev. Mr Andrew, and carried “ That students of the Otago University who matriculated before (he affiliation with the University of New Zealand may, at their option, be deemed to have been matriculated students of the University of New Zealand, and the terms which they have kept at the former University may be recognised at the latter.”

The Senate resolved itself into committee for the further consideration of the report of the select committee on the letter of Professor Sliand and Mr Macrae. The Senate proceeded to consider the regulations moved by the Yice-Chancellor, postponed from the previous sitting. The regulations were agreed to with some verbal amendments.

It. was resolved, on the motion of Mr Justice Richmond, “That for the purpose of awarding senior scholarships, there shall be added to the examination papers for the B.A. degree, questions on subjects of examination, for the express and solo purpose of awarding scholarships ; and no senior scholarship shall bo awarded unless the candidate shall exhibit a degree of proficiency satisfactory to the examiner.”

It was further resolved, in connection with the above, “That the resolution just passed be made a regidation of the University.” On the motion of the Rev. Mr Bruce, it was resolved—“ That the following members of the Senate be appointed to consider the rearrangement of the several regulations, their relation to each other, and what alterations it may be necessary to make in any of their sections with the view to render their meaning and harmony more apparent, as well as to promote otherwise the interests of the University ; and to prepare a report for the next meeting of the Senate —The Chancellor, Rev. Mr. Andrew,'Mr Justice Richmond, Rev. Mr Johnstone, Mr Ueale, Mr Rolleston, and Ur. Hector.”

The Vice-Chancellor brought up the report of the committee on the letters of Mr Macrae and Professor Shand, and the interpretation of regulations as follows The committee recommended that paragraphs 1 and 2 be referred to the committee appointed to consider the re-arrangement and alteration of regulations, and that the Senate shonld make regutions in accordance with the remainder of the report. The Chancellor brought up the report of the examiners for the Bowen prize to the following effect: —“ The examiners are unanimously of opinion that of the essays sent in for competition for the Bowen Prize, 1877, the essay headed ‘ Rule Britannia ’ is entitled to the first prize; and they find that the author of the said essay is Mr John Innes, of Canterbury College. The examiners therefore recommend that the Bowen prize for 1877 be awarded to Mr John Innes accordingly-” The Chancellor laid before the Senate two letters received from the Professorial Council of Canterbury College. The first related to alterations in the subjects of examination for junior scholarships and the B.A. degree. It was resolved, “That, in consequence of the late arrival of the suggestions in the letter, the consideration of them be deferred until next session.” The second letter referred to alterations in the regulations for senior scholarships, and the time of the annual examinations. It was ordered that the second letter be laid on the table.

The Rev. Mr Bruce produced evidence of status from applicants for degrees ad cundem. The papers, having been submitted, were examined by the Senate. The members expressed themselves satisfied with the evidence. The further consideration of the applications were deferred to the next annual meeting of the Senate, as they had arrived too late for the present year. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Bruce, it was resolved —“ That the examinations for the senior and junior scholarships and the B.A. degree should be held early in the month of December in each year.” On the motion of Dr. Hector, it was resolved—“ That teachers of five years’ standing be permitted to take their examination for the B.A. degree in two sections, and that the regulation in that behalf be amended accordingly.” On the motion of Dr. Hector, it was resolved —“That the Vice-Chancellor be requested to confer, when in England, with the Registrar of the University of London, with a view to obtaining examiners for degrees upon the recommendations suggested in the Chancellor’s report of 1876.”

It was also resolved that the Vice-Chan-cellor be requested to take such steps as he might deem to bo necessary to promote the granting to the New Zealand University participation in the Gilchrist scholarships. [These are travelling scholarships, to a participation in which the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney have been admitted The object of the resolution is to obtain the same privilege for the New Zealand University.] It was further resolved that the ViceChancellor bo requested to confer, when in England, with the General Medical Council of Great Britain, as to the course of medical studies which the New Zealand University should prescribe for the degrees M.B, and M.D.

On the motion of the Vice-Chancellor, it was resolved that the number of scholarships to be granted at the next examination should

be as follows : —Ten junior scholarships and five senior scholarships. The concluding meeting of the session was held on March 19th, when the Vice-Chan-cellor read the following report of the committee of the whole Senate appointed for the consideration of the Chancellor’s report: — The committee recommend that the Senate should confer the following ad eundem degrees : —A. D.’ B. Brandon, Cambridge University B.A ; Rutherford Waddell, Queen’s University, Ireland, M.A.; Andrew B. Suter, Cambridge University, M.A ;J. Mclntosh, Aberdeen, M.A. That the application of C. O. Mules’ degree ad eundem being too late for the present year, be postponed: that the IV. wen prize for 1878 be fixed at £lO, to be given in books; that the Chancellor should impress again upon the Governor that it is desirable arrangements should be made for a uniform matriculation examination throughout the colony ; _ that the Chancellor ho requested to communicate with the Government again in reference to the Gilchrist Scholarships.” The Chancellor rend his report of the Senate to his Excellency the Governor as follows :

(1.) In compliance with the 28th clause of the University Act, 1874, the Senate makes the report to his Excellency the Governor of the proceedings of the University since the date of its last report. (2 ) The Senate mot on the 9th of March, 1878, at the Museum buildings, Auckland, which place and time were fixed at the last annual meeting in 1877, as prescribed by the New Zealand University Act. (3.) The Senate having made certain amendments in the status es and regulations at present in force: the regulations passed with the view of giving effect to these amendments are herewith submitted for the approval of the Governor.

(4.) The Senate desire to draw the attention of the Government to the advisability of defining and proclaiming the reserves which, under the University Endowments Act, require to be defined and proclaimed. It has been intimated to the Senate, that as the term within which such definition and proclamation should have been made has elapsed, it will be necessary that fresh legislation should take place. Until this is done, the institutions which have an interest in the proceeds are suffering a seri us loss. (5.) The affiliated institutions have’continued to do their work satisfactorily during the past year. (G.) The Bowen Prize for the year was awarded, in accordance with the report of the examiners, to John limes, of Canterbury College, Christchurch.

(7.) There are now in the University nine graduates on whom the degree of Bachelor of Arts has been conferred by the University, after examination; sixty-five graduates from other Universities have been admitted ad eundem gradient. The number of matriculated students on the books of the University is now ninetyfour.

(8.) The Senate has under its consideration the question of granting medical degreisj as yet, however, it has not had before it all the information necessary ta enable it to decide upon a matter of such serious importance.

(9.) The Senate have respectfully to request that your Excellency would be pleased to cause application to be made to the authorities of the London University for the extension to this colony of the scholarships established by the Gilchrist Education Trust.

The report was adopted. This concluded the business of the session.