N.Z. UNIVERSITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 299, 27 January 1910, Page 2

N.Z. UNIVERSITY.

ALTERATION OF MATRICULATIONSTANDARD. PROFESSOR BICKERTON'S APPEAL. Dunedin, Wednesday. The question of the matriculation standard was further considered by the University Senate yesterday. The recommendations made by the Scholarship Committee were considered in committee, and the tonowing were adopted t>v 14 votes to 4, and will come into operation on Ist January, 1911: That compulsory subjects of entrance examination be as follow: (1) English (two papers), including elementary questions in political geography and English history; (b) mathematics (two papers), including arithmetic, algebra, and elements of geometry; (c) Latin, Greek, French, or German (one paper); (d) and (except in case of a candidate who takes Latin or Greek) one of the following branches of science (one paper): Elementary mechanics, elementary heat and light, elementary electricity and magnetism, elementary chemistry, elementary zoology, elementary botany, elementary agriculture. Every candidate shall pass in five subjects, the remaining subject or subjects to be selected from the subjects mentioned in the existing statute, and not already taken by th e candidate. No candidate, shall offer liimself for examination in more than six subjects.

The Senate decided that the status ,ot the B.A. degree be amended by adding a provision that no undergraduate be allowed to keep terms for that degree In affiliated colleges unless he has passed in Latin at matriculation.

It was resolved that the question as to mathematics being a compulsory subject for the B.A. degree examinations lie referred to the Recess Committee appointed to consider proposed alterations in the B.A. and B.Ke. courses.

Professor Bickerton, of Christchurch. forwarded a considerable amount of printed matter relative to his theory of •partial impact, and information of the third body, and requested the Senate to In some way give his work recognition. He pointed out that he had devoted his life to tlie study of this matter, and that, though his theory had at first been treated lightly by scientific men, it was fast receiving world-wide recognition. Because ho had refused to give up belief in his hypothesis he had lost his posi tion in Canterbury College, and because people had chosen to regard him as a crank many of his enterprises had since failed, and he 'had lost some £7OOO. He was 68 years of age, and unless the Senate gave him recognition he was afraid he would not live to see the result of his life's work. The Senate, without discussion, resolved to "receive" the letter and thank Professor Bickerton for the printed matter forwarded. A motion that the governing bodies of affiliated colleges be supplied wijdi reports as to results of the November examinations was tabled bv 'Professor R. R. J. Scott, and was carried unanimously. Mr. Von H'nast moved that the ceremony of conferring degrees take place immediately before tho second term of each year. This was lost on the voices. The same gentleman then moved that the conduct of the capping; ceremonv be delegated to the profe=soria.l board of each eollesre. A general discussion ensued. during which the opinion was expressed that the executive of the Students' Association was the proper body to .prevent disorder on such occasions. The motion 'was eventually negatived by 12 to 7. Some further discussion ensued, but nothing came of it.