THE UNIVERSITY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 228, 13 June 1872, Page 6

THE UNIVERSITY.

The select committee of the Provincial Council to whom was relegated the question of considering what steps should be taken to establish law and medicine classes in connection with the University, had interviews with the University Council, and find that the only question of difficulty relates to ''ways and means,'' and that settled, the classes can be easily established. They report as follows :—: — It appears that there are between thirty and forty law students in Dunednn, who are at present qualifying themselves for admission to one <<r other of the two branches of the legal profession. In order to secure admission, it seems from the rules that those students must undergo an examination in classics .'md general knowledge as well as in law. The establishment of a law class would, in the opinion of the committee, bring to the classical and mathematical classos of the University a considerable number of students who are at present instructed by private teachers. This view, no doubt, will prove to be an accurate one, if the hours at which the various classes are held are not permitted to clash with one another. From the evidence which has been adduced before the committee, it appears that law students have no means of qualifying th.-maeves for their profession beyond the aid which hooka supply them with. The only society in Dunedin partaking of a forensic character is the Otago Law Cleiks' Association, aud that t best is a mere debating society, the atten lance being not very numerous. The committee believes tbat nearly the whole of the law clerks in Dunedin would attend the proposed Univer. sity class if established. The fees charged should be the same as those payable in connection witb the other classes of the University. The committee thinks that there should be two lecturers, each delivering one lecture a week. The committee has bo -n informed that the services of honorary lecturers can be secured, as Mr Justice Chapman and several leading members of the profession are willing to aid so desirable an object. Should this information prove to be correct, the c 'uimittee i 3 of opinion that the fees should be carried to a special account, with the object of purchasing some legal works of reference, or for distribution in prizes.

In reference to establishing medical classes in connection with the University, it has to report that, provided the Ho pital was made available for the instruction of students, and a competent professor of anatomy and physiology wa3 obtained from Home, there would be little difficulty in affording a good sound education, and in fitting students properly for the practice of their profession here, and it has every reason to believe that the degrees granted by this University would not be of an inferior character, or that the public would not benefit as much by the professional services of those obtaining them as by the same services as now or hereafter to be afforded by medical practitioners educated elsewhere. In conclusion, the committee desires very strongly to impress upon the Council and the Government tbe collateral advantages which would result from the adoption of the proposal now submitted While a good classical aud mathematical education may be obtained in other parts of the Colony, it is improbable that >ew Zealand will for many years to come be sufficiently populated to justify the establishment of more than one medical or legal school, and such schools being associated in connection with the Otago University, your committee cannot but thiuk that they would be the means of securing from other .'parts of the Colony a large number of students, who can at present acquire in their own districts an education amply sufficient to fit them to become useful and honorable members of society.