THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1882. NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2475, 14 March 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1882. NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

Last week two very important resolutions were carried in the New Zealand Univer-

sity Senate at present in session at Auckland. They were moved by Sir G. IT. O'Rorke, and were seconded by Bishop Redwood. They ran as follows :—" At-

tendance at lectnres in an institution

affiliated to the New Zealand University shall not be compulsory in the case or undergraduates residing more than ten miles from such institution." " Attendance at lectures in an institution affiliated to the New Zealand University shall not be compulsory in the case of undergraduates who may be engaged in acquiring a profession or trade, or in earning a livelihood." It is at once evident that whatever the effect of these resolutions may be in practice, in theory at all events they mark a decidedly new departure for the University. Sir G. M. O'Rorke based his resolutions on a desire to see carried out the last paragraph of section 4 of the New Zealand University Act, 1874, which is to the following effect:—" It ia hereby expressly declared and enacted that the University hereby established is so established, not for the purpose of teaching, but for the purpose of encouraging, in the manner hereinafter provided, the pursuit of a liberal education, and ascertaining by means of examination the persons who have acquired proficiency in literature, science, and art by the pursuit of a liberal course of education, and of

| rewarding them by academical degrees and certificates of proficiency as evidence of their respective attainments, and marks of honor proportioned thereto." By this clause it is clearly affirmed that the primary intention for the establishment of the University was the encouragement, by every means in the power of the University, of the pursuit of a liberal education. And it is equally manifest that the founders of the University did not contemplate that the benefits of the University should be confined alone to those who attended the professional lectures. We presume the

intention, when the New Zealand University Act was passed, was to give as wide a scope as p ssible to the good to bo done by the University. In a thinly populated country, and where, moreover, the inhabitants are not overburdened with money, it must be plain that some few students will be hopelessly out of the running if they are obliged to remove into a University town for tho purpose of attending lectures. Those too, who

" are engaged in acquiring a profession or trade, or in gaining a livelihood," will not be able to so alter their hours of work as to be able to take advantage of the labors of the Professors. But some ofjthese may be equally capable of passing a satisfactory examination as the students who are enjoying a full course of instruc-

tion. Viewed then in connection with the raison d'etre of the University, as set forth in the clause we have quoted above,

it seems very undesirable that any castiron rule should keep these "extern etudents" from the benefits and prestige to be derived from a University degree. It is possible that the older Universities inthe Mother Oounlry may, in the course of years, take a like view of the obligations they are under to foster learning irrespective of the fact whether the student attends or does not attend, the lectures of the University. Bat they have at least an argument in favour of the status quo that is not to be found in New Zealand. It is held that residence at one of the

older Universities forms in itself a valuable mental training quite irrespective of the amount of book learning that is acquired—that in fact it is an excellent preparation for the battle of life. Probably, however, too much stress is laid upon this, and the Universities themselves, by allowing " unattached students," i.e. students not specially attached to any college, to partake

in the benefits of the University, seem to have recognised that they were, sojae years ago, too exclusive. In New Zea- , land it cannot be assumed that any valuable mental effects are produced by a residence in Christehurch or Dunedin for the purpose of attending lectures. Personal contact with the Professors is of course at all times valuable, but the special benefits supposed to be derived by a residence in, say, Oxford or Cambridge, cannot be looked for here. There seems, therefore, no valid reason why the University should not altogether act up to the spirit under which it was framed. "We are glad to observe that Sir G. M. ' O'Rorke disclaimed all wish to see the standard of examination lowered for the " extern students." If, indeed, they were to be allowed to pass more easily than students attending lectures, a grievous wrong would be done to the latter, and the University wonld suffer most severely in reputation. A degree of the New Zealand University is now held in well merited repute, but, if its standard were lowered even for a single class of students, there is no doubt but that the degree, as a whole, would suffer. Besides such an arrangement would lead to complications of a most undesirable nature. The mover of the resolutions was very wise to at once remove all doubt on this subject. With regard to the practical result of these resolutions when carried into effect, we are inclined to think that it will not, after all, be very great. It appears to us to be passed in favor of certain ardent students who will in reality be found to be few and far between. It will require a young man of great mental parts and energy to qualify himself for a B.A degree without professorial assistance. All who wish to gain a degree and can afford it, will, as heretofore, take the benefit of the course of lectures provided. The quality of the teaching at the Canterbury and Dunedin Colleges is naturally so much higher than could be obtained by any young man working by himself, that, if he could possibly manage it, he would be sure to take advantage of the College lectures. Nevertheless, we welcome Sir G. M. O'Rorke's resolutions with pleasure, and are glad that they have passed. They affirm a healthy principle, and, for the sake of the few rarae aves that will take advantage of them, it is well that they have been adopted by the University Senate.