H.-l

2

greatest service to the cause of education throughout the colony, and would tend at the same time to render the University more stable and more popular, because more useful and more widely known. The other institutions which, under the existing order of things, are affiliated to the University are either secondary schools (grammar schools or high schools) which add to their ordinary work the training of University undergraduates, or they are theological colleges. To the first class belong Auckland College, the Church of England Grammar School at Parnell (Auckland), Wellington College, and Nelson College. To the second class belong St. John's College (Auckland), Bishopdale College (Nelson), and Wesley College (Three Kings, Auckland), with which last is combined a Native school. Christ's College, Christchurch, belongs to both classes, being composed of two departments, of which the upper or collegiate department is in the main a theological college, and the lower department is a grammar school. Concerning all these colleges and schools more information is given in the appendix (V., VI., VII., and XIV.) to the interim report than it would be convenient to reproduce here. The University of Otago was founded in 1869 under a Provincial Ordinance, and was opened two years afterwards with a staff of three professors in the Faculty of Arts. Under the Provincial Ordinance the University enjoyed the power of conferring degrees, and, in order that these might take rank equally with those , conferred by other Universities, application was made for a Royal charter. But, , as the University of New Zealand, instituted in 1870, was also an applicant for a charter, and the Imperial Government was unwilling to grant more than one, long delay and tedious negotiations ensued. At length, in 1874, as the result of an agreement with Canterbury College, which had been established in 1873, the University of Otago waived its claim to a charter, and consented to hold in abeyance its power of conferring degrees, and both institutions became affiliated to the University of New Zealand, which, on its part, surrendered its teaching functions and promoted the passing of the Act of 1874, under which its powers are limited to examination and the conferring of degrees and other distinctions. The University of Otago is governed by a Council consisting of twelve members appointed for life, vacancies being filled up by the Governor of the colony. The Council appoints the professors and lecturers, with the exception of those professors whose chairs are maintained out of the Education Fund, administered by the Presbyterian Church of Otago, and manages the finances and general affairs of the institution. In the conduct of the educational affairs of the University the Council is assisted by the advice of a Professorial Board, consisting of all the professors and such lecturers as the Council may appoint to be members of the Board. In addition to the Faculty of Arts, the University contains a School of Medicine, a School of Law, and a School of Mines, to all of which further reference will be made under the head of Professional and Technical Schools. The staff of professors is as follows: Professor of Classics and English Language and Literature; Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy; Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy and Political Economy; Professor of Chemistry; Professor of Natural Science; Professor of Anatomy; Professor of Mining and Mineralogy. There are also lecturers in Law, in French, in and in Surgery. Quite recently a new chair has been established by the Presbyterian Synod, the holder of which will undertake the subjects of English Language and Literature, Constitutional History, and Political Economy. The difficulty mentioned in page xv. of our interim report has thus been disposed of for the present, the Synod having decided to endow a chair which the University Council was found willing to accept. The cost of the University buildings (including residences for the four senior professors) was £33,547, and they are worthy of the purpose for which they were erected. There is a valuable library, containing about 4,000 volumes, and open to the public during certain prescribed hours daily. It is to be regretted that the Council is at present unable (owing to the demands lately made upon its resources by the expenditure on buildings) to make regular additions to the library, and to

int. Rep., Appx. pp. 21-47 and

University of Otago. Int. Kep. —Min. of Pro., p. 33 j Appx., pp. 15, 21, 87. Appx. to Journals H. of E,., Sess. 1., 1879, H.-4.