NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7804, 6 March 1891, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

The Senate resumed at 10 a.m. yesterday. Present—The Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Hon. W. Rolieston, Hon. C. C. Bowen, Rev. J. Patersoa, Processor Shand, Moat Rev. Dr. Redwood, Dr. Fitchett. Right Rev. *Dr. Cowie, Professor J. M. Brown, Mr Hay, Professor Cook. Professor Cook brought up the report of the Committee on the Medical Course. Consideration of the report was made an order of the day for Friday. The Hon. C. C. Bowex brought up the following report of the Committee on the Junior Scholarship scheme. " The Committee recommend that the consideration of these questions be deferred until next session, and that information bearing on the subject be obtained from the principal and secondary schools during the recess." On the motion of the Hon. C. C. Bowjen the recommendation was agreed to. On the motion of the Rev. J. Paterson, it was resolved " That the Senate hold its next ordinary meeting at Wellington on the last Wednesday of February, 1892, at noon, and that the usual allowance be made to members for this session." Mr Hay brought up a further report of the Committee on minutes of Convocation. Consideration of the report was made an Order of the Day for Friday. The Senate then proceeded to the Orders of the Day. The Finance Committee reported—" The estimates of last year were considerably exceeded as regards both income and expenditure. The excess in income is partly due to a large increase in the number of candidates.who presented themselves at the November and more especially at the December examinations, and partly to an increase in the rate of interest on investments. The excess on expenditure is due in a great part to the increased cost of the November and December examinations, consequent on the increased number of candidates, and to the fact that some new examiners in medicine were ordered by the Senate. After the Finance Committee of last year had presented their report and the j actual surplus of income over expenditure amounted to £342, instead of £250 as estimated by the Committee. tThe cost of examiners on one hand and the amount of fees received on the other, continue to increase, but it is gratifying ! to note that the latter amount steadily gained on the former. " The following shows the progress that is being made towards an equalisation of the fees and tbe cost of the examinations: —1834, cost of examinations £1459, fees £491), excess of cost over fees .£969; 1885, £14(50, £639, £821; 1888, £1585, £742, £343; 1887, £1004, £1102, £562:1888, £1723, *1253, £470 ; 1889, £1877, £1343, £507 ; 1890, £1930 (appro*.), £1582, £348. Tne Committee desire to call attention to the very large proportion of the whole cost of the examinations which is absorbed by the general expenses connected with the holding of the examinations. To take the examinations of 188J, the last year for which full accounts are available, the Committee find that the amount paid to Examiners in Eugland was £624, and the amount paid to Examiners in New Zealand, including the Examiners in Law and Medicine, was £330. The whole sum paid to )he Examiners thus amounted to £954,. while the gen 3rul expenses of conductiug the examitions amounted to not less than £9*23. Of this large sum £401 goes to defray the expenses of supervision. The Committee think that an effort should be made to reduce this large item, and suggest that the number of centres of examination be kept as low as possible, that the remuneration allowed to Head Supervisors vary from £1 to £2 per diem, according to the number of candidates under tneir charge, and that the remuneration for Assistant Head Supervisors be fixed at 15d per diem, and tor Assistant Supervisors at 10s per diem. Another large item is £108 for advertising. Committee recommend that this item be largely curtailed. Other notable items, which, however, cannot be greatly reduced, are printing and stationery, salary of agent Iα England, expenses of English examiners, and cable messages. The Committee also think that the cost of printing the calendar and iniuutes was last year unreasonably high. The Committee submit the following estimates:— First, of income and expenditure on the general account for the current year; and, secondly, the receipts and liabilities of the Scholarship account.

" General Account—lncome—Statutory grant, £3000; fees, £1550; sale of calendar, £27; interest, £100 ; total income, £4737. Expenditure—Expenses of Senate, including special session, £330; office, including Registrar's salary, £520; examinations; £2030 ; printing and contingencies, £200; convocation, £20; scholarships, transfer from general account, £1500; less cost of scholarship examinations, £150—£1350; total expenditure, £4470; surplus, £267. " Scholarship accounts—Receipts—Transfer from general account as above, £1350; interest, £180; total receipts, £1830. Liabilities — Junior scholarships — Ten gained December, 1888, £450; ten gained jj&ceniber, 1889, £400; ten gained December, 1890. £400—£1250. Senior scholarships—Six awarded November, 1890, £360; total liabilities, £1610; surplus. £220. " The balance to the credit of the Genera Account on January Ist, 1891, was £4080. Of this sum £1000 is invested with the Scholarship fund at 6 percent-; £1000 is invested in Masterton Gas Debentures at 6 per cent; £800 i 3 placed on fixed deposit at 4£ per cent.; the imprest to the Agent in Eugland absorbs £777, and the rest is in the Bank on current account. The Committee recommend that the sum of £1000 now invested with the Scholarship Fund be transferred to the Scholarship Account. If this recommendation be adopted, the estimated surplus on the General Account will be diminished by £60, and the estimated surplus on the Scholarship Account will be increased by the same amount, thus making it possible to increase the number of scholarships. With a view to simplify the accounts of the University, and to make it possible to check without great labor the sum received in fees, the Committee recommend that the charge of £1 Is for the first section of the B.A. and B.Sc. Examinations be re imposed. On the numbers that came up for examination in November last the increase of income would be £85. Although the primary motive of the Committee in making this suggestion is not an increase of income, they nevertheless regard such an increase as highly desirable in view of ths considerable prospective cost of the examinations in agriculture and engineering which have been undertaken by the University. The Committee recommend that ten Junior Scholarships, of the value of £40 annually, and six Senior Scholarships, of the value ot £60, be offered for competition in 189 L"

On the motion of Dr. Shand, it was resolved —** That the number of centres of examination be restricted as closely as possible."

" That the remuneration allowed to head supervisors vary from £1 to £2 per diem, according to the number of candidates under their charge, and that the remuneration of assistant head supervisor be fixed at 15s per diem, and for assistant supervisors at 10s per diem." "That the expenses of advertising the December examinations be largely reduced." " That the sum of £1000 now invested with the scholarship fund be transferred to the scholarship account."

" That after toe year 1802 the charge of 1 guinea for first section of the B.A. and B.Sc- degree and the LL.B. examinations be re-imposed." " That ten junior scholarships and six senior scholarships be ottered for competition in 1891."

"That tne accounts of the University for 1890 which have been audited be passed." The Committee on Appointment of Examiners for December Examinations recommended the appointment of the following for 1891:— ft Latin, F. Fitenet fc, M.A., LL.D.; Greek, Bey. J. C.Andrew, M.A.; English, Mrs Evans, M.A.; French, Most Bey. Francis Kedwood, D.0,; German, Professor Salraond, £>.D.: arithmetic, J. K. Thornton, M.A., LL.B.: algebra. Professor Shand, M.A., LL.D.; euctid, Professor Gibbons, M.A.; history, J. Hay, ALA., LL.B.; geography, geography and history for Junior Scholarship, Professor Gilray, M.A.; phynies, Professor Shand, M.A., LL.O.; chemistry, Professor F. D. Brown, M.A.; mechanics, Professor Aldls, M.A.; biology, Professor Thomas, M.A.; Junior Scholarship mathematics. Professor Cook, M.A." On the motion of Mr Hat the recommendations were agreed to. The Committee on Applications for a<l eundem degrees, on the letter from Professor Aidis, and on the letter from Melbourne University reported: — <1). The Committee find that the application of Robert Dickeneon Duxfleld, M.A., of Dublin University, is in due form, and that he is entitled to be admitted to the o<i eundem degree of M.A. of this University. (2). That inasmuch Aα the Senate

have found that they have no power to graut degrees other than ad eundem or by their own examinations, the application of Miss Browning to be admitted to the degree of B.A. of this i/nlveraity, in virtue of holding a certificate of honors from Cambridge University, cannot be entertained. The Corn* mlttee recommend that the reaolu* tion of the Senate on this subject be communicated to Miss Browning, and also to Professor Aldi*. (8). The Committee have considered the communication from the Melbourne University suggesting that there should be some change in the admission to adeundem degrees, either in tho direction of limiting the admission by regulation, or of abolishing the system by an Act of Parliament. As our own regulation for admission to ad eundem degrees seems to work satisfactorily, the Committee do not recommeud that any change should be made, but suggest that a copy of the regulation be sent to the Chancellor of the Melbourne University. On the motion of the Rev. J. PatebsoN* it was resolved—" That Robert Dicfcenson Duxfleld, M.A., be admitted to the ad eundem degree of Master of Arts of this University." " That paragraphs 2 and 3 of the report be agreed to." The Vice-chancellor brought up the report of the Committee on the adjust* meat of the Honors Statutes to the new scheme of Junior Scholarships. Professor Cook brought up (the report of the Committee on the Medical course. The consideration of the reports was made an order of the day for Friday. The Senate proceeded to consider the Bills for new Statutes ordered by the Senate this session.

Ou the mociou of the Vice-Chanckllqb, it was resolved—" That the Bills be now read a first time, and that the coaaidera* tioa thereof, in Committee of the whole Senate, be made an order of the day tor Friday." The Chancellor laid on the table a letter from the Rev. D. Bruce, resigning his seat on the Senate.

Oα the motion of the Chancellor, It was resolved that Convocation be In* formed of the vacancy in the Senate, and that at their next meeting; they are entitled to elect a Fellow of the University. Professor Scott brought up the report of the Committee on the resolution ol Senate relating to the definition of geology for B.A. and B.Sc. degree. Professor Cook brought up a further reporc of the Committee on the adjust* ment of the Honors Statutes and taft scheme of senior scholarships. Consideration of the report was made an order of the day for Friday.