AN EDUCATIONAL SHAM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 231, 4 July 1872, Page 5

AN EDUCATIONAL SHAM.

This is the title of an article in the Nelson Colonist, in which the writer shows how the L 3,000 a year voted by the Colony to establish a rival to the Otago University, hi being spent. In the first place, LSOO is set aside to pay the travelling expenses of the Councillors of the New Zealand University, and LI a day besides, during their presence at certain meetings of that ornamental body. That is to say that LSOO, or about 17 per cent., is the cost of expending the balance of L 2,50 0; a state of finance which the House of Representatives will, we imagine, be indisposed to accept, especially as there is no University. Twenty scholarships have been established by tbe Council ; four at L7O, and sixteen at L 45 per annum. For these twenty scholarships only thirty-five competitors of the requisite age have presented themselves. And whence came they? With one or two exceptions, they are the sons of parents who are well able to pay for their children's education, li common school education, if sound elementary teaching had been amply provided for every child in the Colony, and if the finances of the Colony could have permitted the indulgence in luxuries, there might possibly have been found some shadow of excuse ; but even that would have been difficult in view of the existence of the Otaoo University, which is amply sufficient for all the wants of New Zealand in the matter of higher education for years to come ; and the fact of only 35 competitors entering the lists for scholarships of the aggregate value of LIOOO, is a proof of the fact. Moreover, the successful competitors do not appear to be bound to attend any College. They cannot attend the New Zealand University, for it doe* not exist, although its site has been fixed at Wellington. To send them to continue and advance in their studies at the various high schools in the Colony, is simply worse than useless, for it would so interfere with the existing requirements, as to prevent the teachers from carrying out their present course, and demand more time to the new comers in these higher studies than could be given to the regular pupils. It appears that in addition to these sums, the Council has resolved to pay to Nelson College Ll5O, to Wellington High School L3OO, to Christchurch College L3OO, to Auckland High School L3OO, and has set aside L3OO for Otago University, if she will accept it. It happens that nearly all of these educational establishments are already well endowed, and this money is thus given to well-con-ditioned institutions for the education of the rich, while in many places over the Colony there is a dearth of the means of common education, for which Bparsely populated districts languish in vain, and, perforce, bring up in ignorance those, whom a speaker at the educational meeting on Saturday, termed " savages" and ignorant devils. " The conclusion is obvious. It is sinful waste to spend money for objects of this kind, while such a state of educational dearth exists in various parts of New Zealand, which hunger for that preliminary education which the State should provide for eveyy child withjn its borders.

Libel. — The rumor that Mr Macassey had taken legal proceedings against Judge Ward, in respect of an article which appeared in the Timaru Herald recently, turns out to be correct. The writ was served on Mr Ward at Invercargill last week*