Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1874. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 372, 11 July 1874, Page 2

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDB REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1874. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

" Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest." So wrote the poet- over supposed dormant' powers of genius that had, so far as this world is concerned, been for ever sealed. It is not with such a scene in our minds, but with the possibilities of a living generation, that we now write;' It is possible there may be around us some David, wakening up his lyre by the rude touches of an imprctctised hand, to the echoes of the surrotuidiug hills ; yet longing for ihat mastery in the' divine art which the skilled in the ars poetae of the great masters of song might help him to attain. There may bo among us some embryo Miller,, eager co make the rocks pourforth fresh lessons by mastering in the first instauce, under competent guidance, the volumes they, have : already ,uttered ; or soiae incipient M.urray striving to equal, for communicative purposes, by his skill ! in languages the inhabitants' in the old | world, when " the whole earth was of one language and one speech ; " or some 1 duplicate Ferguson amusing the solitariness of a shspherd'a life- by rude gnomes and dials, and other rude contrivances with which he maps out the heavens ; or some Stephenaori pouring over a machine, | and either planning some improvement I of it or some fresh, application of its | existing principles, which shall yet i astonish an age that has by miracles of | mechanics' b^en rendered all but astonishment proof. If the general public feel no interest in. our present article, we look for sympathetic readers in the men who ' appreciate the cherishing aliment — the mind- fodder uupplied-by academic bowers. . The subject of higher education is likely to engage the , attention of the.^present Parliament, and .we want to give our readers the outline of the. proposed : legislation. About five, ok sis years. ago> ,

when the colony, generally was thinking about founding a New Zeaknd University, . the people of this province anticipated them by founding the Otago University. This, however, did not stop the colonial .movement, and accordingly, in 1870, the New Zealand University was launched,, Inxt with powers to come to some arrangewithin six months with the Oiago. How- 1 ever, as this involved making Dunedin the seat of the colonial institution, it could not be done. It was then contemplated to balance the Otago University by establishing, with colonial funds, an institution at Auckland ; but as that left the other provinces out in the cold, neither did that scheme command support. The New Zealand University meanwhile had a name to live, but little more. It attempted to discharge the functions of au examining body, in so far as the bestowment of scholarships on successful candidates was concerned ; but still there was no teaching staff, either in connexion with the University or legally affiliated to it. In this state of matters, it belongs to Canterbury to come forward with a plan fitted to reconcile the several Provinces, and promote the objects of higher education at the same time. That Province having in 1873 created and endowed a College ' with a revenue and teaching staff, .equal to' that of Otago, was not ambitious, like the latter, of discharging the functions of a fully developed University. The promoters were content to leave to the learned men, constituting the Senate of the Colonial University, the power of conferring degrees. Having taken up this ground, during the autumn, they sought an interview with the Otago University, which very widely ' took up similar ground. The two institutions then, by two delegates each, sought an interview with the existing Senate of the New Zealand University. They succeeded in persuading that body to abdicate the powers they had never put forth of a teaching body, and assume that of an examining body, with power to grant scholarships and other prizes, together with degrees .or certificates of scholarship. We have no doubt that this arrangement, which is after the pattern of the London University, will be found to work well. The University will prescribo a certain standard for matriculation, und follow its allumni, as it were, through their studies at the separate colleges, till they come up for final examination for diplomas, admitting its graduates as members of the body. ' Meanwhile, the Senatß .gives up its title to the extensive educational reserves, and contents itself with a sum equal to present requirements. Some ,furthe.r changes are- also to be made in the body as constituted, but space does not allow ua to go into these. Moreover Otago and Christchurch Colleges are to be affiliated to the University, but with no assistance from Colonial funds. The -other Provinces are to be aided, by help- of those reserves which the New Zealand University has given up,, to found similar institutions, but after a period of three years that help is to cease. • Th& Bill embracing these changed is likely to form a , Government measure, and is so fair on the whole in its provisions, that we desire for it the greatest success.