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T.—No. 1.

for lectures and examinations, virile what is called the domwt —the home for the young men, is provided in affiliated Colleges belonging to the several religious denominations, none of which however could find the first-rate Professors that the University can. The young men from all these Colleges meet at the lectures and examinations, but the religious question is not mooted nor interfered with. But till some such course is adopted here I should be glad to see besides the exhibitions offered to boys at schools in New Zealand, scholarships at one of the Australian Universities leading on to scholarships tenable at an Imperial University. 3.] I should consider any examination held at the several candidates' own places of residence worthless. Nothing short of all the candidates coming together to be examined, both by written questions and orally, would satisfy a man that had much experience of schools and Colleges. The Board of Examiners must see the candidates, and judge by both modes specified, of the aptness and powers of the candidates. Until then such Professors as I have spoken of arc to be found in the Colony, I should suppose that there could be no dfficulty in bringing from North and South one or two competent examiners for the schools and the Australian Scholarships, appointing another from the central place of meeting, and in having the Board presided over by a Minister of Education —a Government officer. Of course the expenses of the examiners would be paid, and half the passage and all the expenses of sojourn, in the case of the candidates. 4.] I have been compelled by my argument to answer this in part already. I should recommend these exhibitions being offered to candidates at either Australian University, and then afterwards at Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin, or any National College of Ireland. I think a residence in London objectionable; but all the religious denominations have affiliated Colleges in the country, connected with the London University. I suppose that something similar is to be found in connection with the Scotch Universities. 5.] The cost of residence in a College at Sydney (with University expenses) ought not to exceed £200 per annum. ]n England, besides paying the passage, ,£250 ought to be offered. With regard to exhibitions at New Zealand Schools, £50 per annum would be sufficient. Parents might be fairly expected to defray the rest of the expenses, if any. 6.] A lad of sixteen going to an Australian University ought to be able to translate, &c., Homer and Xenophon, and also some easy English Prose into Greek. He ought to translate Virgil, Horace, and Livy fairly; some English into Latin prose, and know a little of Latin versification. He should know the first four books of Euclid, and all Arithmetic short of Algebra. He should be well versed in Greek, Roman, and English History and general Geography, and especially be practised in English Composition, and in learning by heart English Poetry. The subjects for examination at schools would vary with the ages of the boys from eleven to fifteen. The Principal and Professors of the Australian Universities would fix their own standard for the subsequent examination. Ido not quite gather the meaning of this question. If it means " such scholarships (and exhibitions) respectively," I have already answered the question. If the word "respectively" refers to subjects and limitations, I have answered the first part; and, with regard to limitations, I presume the question is raised whether any other criterion of merit besides proficiency in such Classical and Mathematical studies as I have spoken of should be used in giving exhibitions. After saying that in no case would I wish to sec a scholarship given without a certificate of good conduct, I would give the Board of Examiners power to recommend occasionally a lad who displayed some one peculiar gift or faculty, even if he did not come up to the required standard in all points. And the Minister of Education might well be at liberty to call in a Special Board of Examiners to examine any very remarkable candidate for honours in Mechanics or Civil Engineering. Moreover, it would be well to encourage those who are intended for the professions of Law or Medicine to study two years at the University before reading at an Inn of Law or walking the Hospitals. 7.] The time is not yet come for a New Zealand University. Those Provincial Colleges T spoke of would lead up to it when the population of the country has grown to fuller proportions. *x* I would venture to say that the words used in the foregoing questions have a technical meaning in the English Universities, and misapprehension might arise accordingly. To found or endow a scholarship means to pay down a lump sum to produce a certain annual income at the disposal of the College ; if no New Zealand Scholar claimed it it would be made an open scholarship for all competitors. Exhibitions are more nearly what I presume is intended by the New Zealand Legislature. They are in the gift of the Patron generally. If I am right in my idea of what the New Zealand Legislature means, the word " scholarship" should not be used at all, nor the words " found and endow." I understand that the object is "to offer to the youth of the Colony exhibitions at any New Zealand School, and at any Australian and Imperial University as the prize of a competitive examination." C. J. Wellington.

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REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE

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