LETTERS PATENT TO THE NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1877 Session I, H-06

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187 7. NEW ZEALAND.

LETTERS PATENT TO THE NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

No. 1. The Hon. C. C. Bowen to Mr. Tanceed. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 4th January, 1877. I have the honor to transmit to you herewith the Charter passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom granting and declaring that degrees conferred by the University of New Zealand shall be recognized as academic distinctions and rewards of merit, and entitled to rank, precedence, and consideration in the United Kingdom and in the British Colonies and Possessions. I also enclose a copy of the despatch from the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies to his Excellency the Governor, covering the Charter. The despatch will be published in the New Zealand Gazette of next Thursday. I have, &c, Chaeles C. Bowen, The Chancellor, New Zealand University. (In the absence of the Colonial Secretary).

Enclosure in No. 1. Despatch from the Seceetaey of State to the Goveenoe of New Zealand. My Loed, — Downing Street, 7th September, 1876. With reference to my Despatch No. 13, of the 3rd March last, I have the honor to transmit to you a charter passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, granting and declaring that degrees conferred by the University of New Zealand shall be recognized as academic distinctions and rewards of merit, and entitled to rank, precedence, and consideration in the United Kingdom, and in the British Colonies and Possessions. The Agent-General for the Colony has been requested to repay to this department the sum of £54 135., being the expenses incurred in passing these Letters Patent. I have, _.c, Governor the Most Honorable the Marquis of Normanby, K.C.M.G. Caenaevon.

Charter for recognizing Degrees conferred by the University of New Zealand. Victoeia, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain aud Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India. To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: "Wheeeas, under and by virtue of the provisions of two Acts, the short titles whereof are, respectively, "The New Zealand University Act, 1874," and " The New Zealand University Act 1874 Amendment Act, 1875," the body corporate established by " The New Zealand University Act, 1870," has been reconstituted, and declared to be a University, consisting of a Chancellor, a Vice-Chancellor, Fellows, and Graduates, and as such has been incorporated and made a body politic, with perpetual succession, under the name of " The University of New Zealand," with power to grant the several degrees of Bachelor and Master in Arts, and Bachelor and Doctor in Law, Medicine, and Music: And whereas our right trusty and entirely-beloved cousin aud Councillor, George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of Normanby, Knight Commander of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, now Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over our said colony, hath moved Us to grant Letters Patent requiring all Our subjects to recognize the degrees given under the said recited Acts, in the same manner as if the said degrees had been granted by an University of the United Kingdom : Now know ye, that "We, taking the premises into consideration, and deeming it to be the duty of Our Eoyal Office, for the promotion of sound learning, to hold forth to all classes and denominations of Our faithful subjects, without any distinction whatsoever through Our dominions, encouragements for pursuing a regular ancl liberal course of education, and considering that many

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persons do prosecute or complete their studies in the ColoDy of New Zealand, on whom it is just to confer such distinctions and rewards as may induce them to persevere in such their laudable pursuits, do by virtue of Our prerogative and of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, by these presents, for Us, Our heirs and successors, will, grant, and declare that the degrees of Bachelor and Master in Arts, and Bachelor and Doctor in Law, Medicine, and Music, hereafter to be granted or conferred by the said University of New Zealand, shall be recognized as academic distinctions and rewards of merit, and be entitled to rank, precedence, and consideration in Our United Kingdom and in Our Colonies and Possessions throughout the world, as fully as if the said degrees had been granted by any University of Our said United Kingdom : And we further will and ordaiu that no variation of the constitution of the said University, which may at any time or from time to time be made by an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, shall, unless the standard of knowledge now established, or a like standard iv the opinion of Our Governor for the time being, duly proclaimed in Our said colony, be not preserved as a necessary condition for obtaining the aforesaid degrees therein, in any manner annul, abrogate, circumscribe, or diminish the privileges conferred on the said University by these Our Letters Patent, nor the ranks, rights, privileges, and considerations conferred by such degrees : And, lastly, We do hereby, for Us, Our heirs and successors, grant and declare that these Our Letters Patent, or the enrolment or exemplification thereof, shall be in and by all things valid and effectual in the law, according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and shall be construed aud judged iv the most favourable and beneficial sense for the best advantage of the said University, as well as in all Our Courts or elsewhere, notwithstanding any non-recital, uncertainty, or imperfection in these Our Letters Patent. In witness whereof wo have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent. Witness Ourself at Westminster, the 29th day of July, in the fortieth year of Our reign. By Warrant under the Queen's Sign-Manual. C. EOMILLY.

No. 2. Mr. Tanceed to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetaey. Sic, — University of New Zealand, Christchurch, 3rd January, 1877. I have the honor, in refererrce to your letter of the Ist June last, 70-1522, No. 41G, enclosing a despatch from the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to inquire whether the Letters Patent recognizing the degrees conferred by this University have been issued and received by His Excellency. In case they should have reached the colony, I should feel much obliged if you would forward to me either the original document or else a copy of the same. My reason for making this request is that I have lately received a communication from the General Council of Medical Education and Eegistration of the United Kingdom, requesting me to furnish them with a copy of the Charter of this University. I am, of course, not in a position to comply with this request until I have a copy myself. I have, &c, Heney John Tanceed, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Chancellor.

No. 3. Mr. Coopee to Mr. Tanceed. Sic, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, Bth January, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd January instant, inquiring whether the Letters Patent, recognizing the degrees conferred by the University of New Zealand, have been received by His Excellency, and requesting that in the event of their having reached the colony they may be forwarded to you. In reply, I beg to refer you to my letter of the 4th instant, transmitting the Charter of the University, which will probably reach you by this mail. I have, Ac, The Chancellor, University of New Zealand, (For the Colonial Secretary). Christchurch. G. S. Coopee,

No. 4. Mr. Tanceed to the Hon. the Colonial Seceetary. Sib,— University of New Zealand, Nelson, 21st March, 1877. In accordance with a resolution passed by the Senate of the University, I have the honor to request that you will be good enough to cause to be conveyed to the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies the thanks of the Senate for the Charter granted by Her Majesty the Queen to the University of New Zealand. I have, &C, Heney John Tanceed, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, "Wellington. Chancellor.

Authority : Qsoßax Didsbcet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB77.

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