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Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14304, 15 March 1912, Page 9

(FKOII OTJB OWN COBItESroXDEXI). LONDON, February 7. THE HEIRS OP VASSALS. Tlio Duke of Argyll has at last gob somo satisfaction out of his litigation to prove tho ownership of Dunstaitnago Castle, in Argyllshire. This is ono of tho oldest fortresses in Scotland, its foundation being lost in antiquity. Up till 1747 it was quito clear, accordia*** to tho Court, that tho Argylls woro tho proprietors of tho stronghold, but from the very earliest times thero had been a Campbell as captain. These Campbells of Dunstaffnago wero vassals, and as such had not merely a right, but a duty to occupy tho castle, though it remained the property of tho superior. "When tho Clan Act was. passed in ]747, no change was-mado'in' property as between superior and vassal, and.tho obligation of tho vassal to keep the castle open to the superior and to furnish fuel still remained. On tho other hand, it was still aliko thcl duty and tho right of the vassal to remain in tho castle, with tho difference that ho now occupied it with peaceful servants instead of with aimed men. Tho Court of Session has now decided, as tho last stage of long litigation, that the Duko of Argyll is tho owner of tho property, but it refuses to stato that the present Campbell of Dunstaffnago,' the heir of tno old captains of the castle, has.no right or title of any kind in respect to it. ECHOES OF THE UNIVERSITY. ' Professor Salo continues his defenco of tho New Zealand University against tho strictures of "The Times," "at. tho risk of exposing himself to derision by comparing tho constitution of that University with those of Oxford and Cambridge," ho points out that these are the only two Universities similarly composed of entirely distinct and rival colleges. If, as "Tho Times"* says, Oxford is right in taking care that no student shall be examined by his own teacher, how is New Zealand' to tako the samo right course without going to England for examiners. "At_ present there aro no learned men in Now Zealand except those who aro teachers in tho four rival colleges. ,*'-' • .It'makes no difference, so far as a paper examination is concerned, whether the 'external' examiners live a quarter of a mile or fifteen hundred miles or fifteen thousand miles away. • And for all practical purposes New Zealand is nearer to England than to any other placo in the world." Thero" is one remedy which, although drastic, Professor Sale thinks should be considered—that is, to drop tho practice of awarding honours, senior scholarships, and other distinction, and confer only pass degrees, so that there shall be no competition. Ho supports heartily the demand of tho teaching staff of Victoria College for an enquiry, especially as regards their relations with the Council. "Nothing can go ou satisfactory until those relations are of a thoroughly friendly character." GUARANTEED STOCK. This has nothing to do with finance. It is only to state that therp is a prospect of Britain following tho example of some continental countries in insisting that no blood stock shall bo exported unless it has undergone a' thorough Stato inspection for soundness. Tho matter originated in representations mado by General Botha when ho was in England last year. He pointed out that under the present condition of freo trade stud cattle wero shipped to South Africa without any guarantee as to their health, and not infrequently they were found to be diseased and had to bo destroyed. This placed the favoured British stock at a great disadvantage as compared with Continental breeds, which the European Governments cuaranteo as sound and healthy, The Argentine, one cf the largest stock-buying countries in the world, has made similar representations, and it is now decided, on the recommendation of the Development Commission, to establish a national testing station for cattle.