CALEDONIAN SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 23 November 1880, Page 2

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS.

At the meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society held last evening, the following report of the Sub-Committee appointed to consider the question of giving scholarships was brought up, and ordered to stand over until after the annual gathering : Recognising the fact that the encouragement of literature is one of the aims of the Caledonian Society, it was thought i that the time had now arrived when active steps should be taken towards the furtherance of the object. Keeping this in view, the Committee of last year made a recommendation" to the incoming Committee, approving of the principle. At a recent meeting of the Society the recommendation was endorsed, and a Sub-Committee appointed to draw up a report on the subject to be submitted to this meeting. Aocording to instruction your Sub-Com-mitteo met, and, after a considerable amount of careful thought, they havo the honor to lay before you the following

3. That the competition shall bo by public written and oral examination, conducted by the Socioty in such mannor, and in such place as they shall determine. 4. That gentlemen high in tho profession shall draw out the examination papers, and these papers shall bo examined by competent authorities. 5. That the examination shall inclndo all the branches of a liberal education, and the standards shall bo so regulated as to fully test the knowledge which a youth at the age might reasonably be expected to acquire. G. Should the holder die or become infirm, or leave the district during the currency of the bursary, then a fresh election would determine who should hold the honor for the remainder of the term. 7. That the successful candidates shall be at liberty to attend any Government school or accredited college in New Zealand.

8. That the first examination shall bo held in .Tune, 1881, at a place to be afterwards fixed, and all subsequent examinations in the month of June in each year. 9. The terms shall count from the Ist. of July, and the bursary shall be payable, quarterly. 10. That as soon as all preliminarieasrc* settled a list of snbjects shall be sont to. the headmaster of each school in the County. Your Committee have to state that tho only drawback in connection with tho matter is the fact that no year's committee can choose its successor. No doubt that, is a little unsatisfactory, but it is only afc most a bare possibility. The object is so laudable and the opinion of the Caledonian Society so unanimous on tho point that the possibility is very remote indeed. Still there is a contingency, and to avoid defeat it has been suggested that the constitution of the Caledonian Society bo altered, andl that half only of the directors retireaunually, retiring members to be determined by ballot. This would prevent any sudden changes being andl would be one way of assuring the bursaries. Your Committee, however, think that the effectual way would be the raising of a bursary fund of, say, LIOOO, the investment of which would finally secure tho. bursaries. Your Committee believe that if a proper and systematic effort weremade, the necessary amount could beraised. Of course the surplus funds of the Society, after giving due allowauce tothe charitable institutions of the town,, would go towards the formation of tho bursary fund. Your Committee feel assured of the suooess of the scheme. Tho object is a good one. The sympathy of the public will be enlisted, and eventually i the money will be forthcoming. ' D. Miller, Chairman of the Sub-Committee.,