UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 107, 29 January 1908, Page 9

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF RESEARCH,

! MEW DEGREE DENOUNCED

'ABB ! AMERICAN. METHODS WRONG ?

DEGREES IN* DIVINITY

V.i- UVnvorsity . Senato was engaged in keoh dcb'Ate during the, greater part -of--yes-terday. Tho subject of .contention in: the morning '/.was. the, pew research ,' degree of Bnche. c, of Science " B," which Professor Shand moved ahonld bo rescinded. The two .'naiii points on. which discussion turlied were the period at which students, should bo encouraged: to eom'mencA' rekeareh,' and tho inerits arid demerits of AmerieaU UiiivSrsity .methods;: /which . wero ; the subjeet of a vigorous attack by Professor Shand. Finally, tho.'subject was' deferred until tho Sciohcc Committee, which is dealing with the matter, has 'presented its roport. , * of Professor Salmond to put on record tbo regret felt by tho Senate, at the -'-.rejection.bf the' Bill to establish degrees in Divinity, was negatived'by senators, some of> w'hom"; appeared to foresee troublo in tho event of a secular body being empowered to -grant.; tfcse degrees. ' ' ' : . , .In ,the afternoon ah,'interesting discussion , tobli' place ,on; a recommendation in tho Scholarship' Committee's report for increasing tho number of professional .courses open ' to '/junior;scholars. The recommendation: was adopted,' after several members hai expressed their opinions, in favoilr of reserving ■ a '^pfopertion of junior scholarships lor students who should to the Arts or'V Science course, instead- of entering at once upon ;a course. Important amendments were made, on the recommendation of, tho Scholarships, Committee, , ini regard to tho number and condition's of senior scholarships. •

THE LIMITS OF RESEARCH. , BACHELOR OF SCIENCE "B" DEGREE. 'Professor Shand moved: "That the statute denoted 8 ' Bachelor of Science—B' bo rescinded, ' Ho stated that this statuto'. was /passed; 011 an ex parte statement in tho closing hours o{ this session,when there was an of hearing the arguments ftgainst ltiHo thought thaj;-the Senate recognised'that 'it - bad made' ii nlistak'p, and that jilOt b\\b ttiemher of , the Sertato ; would I now be Willing to vote' for. the statute as it stood: . That being so, the only, proper, manly, and straightforward course open-to them was. to.Tescind the statute. Ho feared that they would ; instead, to cobblo -up the »tatuto,-but that Would not Satisfy the Auckland.'aud Otago Board, who had protested agaiiist the Statute in toto. He hoped, that their protests would be published by tho ■ I'rcss-'tibm one end of New Zealand to:tho othorV."''-They constituted a vory heavy inevery articlo of which could be established: Previously lie had never heard a word -oppressed against' tho valuo' of New Zealand degrees, but tbeSenato's own professors held this statute in utter contempt. - tendency would ho for. the Rffiliat<jl'Uiiiversity Colleges in New Zealand to 'dissolve into four separate universities. He' fdid 'iiot think that the time for '.that nad'come, and lie hoped that it would notebme'for the hext fifty years, but it would bo'exceedingly unfortunate if, the'-'.Seriate »ere;:to'pass sUch degrees.as-thi.w He,urged ilsjo'-fthat thc'''ternfs"6fHh'tf<sfca;ltito ."we're-an lnffl9gemen{- 7 6r 3 'tte't9ndftiofis)-V(i¥ which tho DajiterKury,' an"d'Otago •'became ifUliatcd/td tho 'New Zealand University. Unclor ,Woso conditions, it tho-. staVid'ard 'of'rcquifDraerits. for Ntwf Zealand degrees, shpiild not fall below those of the' University of Melbourne.

"AMERICANISATION" DENOUNCED. Tile dcgreo was tho first attempt that had beori/ni'ado to Americanise tho New Zealand University. . It 'had not- been a conspicuous success, ; but -thero was a ' danger 'of going further in the same direction. There was a perfect-rfovoi- of. research in America, where sonic laboratories had been fitted .up at a cost , of- a quarter of. a million, while tlie whole-i world had been scoured for professors to-lead,the .way. in American research. There were : iri' tho United. -States nearly "as many professors as there were students in Great Britain, and professors, graduate and undergraduates, were- all feverishly engaged in research. And what'was the result 'i One would iexpect to .find- America leading, tho whole world in new discoveries;' But was this 'tho case? Speaking for tlie group of iciences which lie represented, America held sow-iexactly- the same position'as she did thirty years ago, and lagged behind tho ordinary, conservative, stick-in-the-mud countries si Europe. Within the-last ten. or twelve rears -'Piost astounding discoveries had been nadc in'physics, yet ho could not romember iho'name of single Ainorieans who had contributed anything to theso'wonderful disovorios (mombors — Millikon, Lnngloy, tnthorford). As regards' Rutherford, lie was mly speaking of the United States of .Imerica. Out of 113 references to new /bysical,discoveries in> a recent work on . this iubject, only 0110 was to America. Conservative stick;-in-ihc-mud England .was;far ahead of ; America, and far ahead of every; country ill'/the world, with France, Holland,' and Germany following behind England in tlie order- named. One doubted therefore whether ihp -American' method was tho right one. In" America a man-was set to research at once,. rvnil probably ho never attained to a profound knowledgo of the subjects, ho was investigatiiig. It was proposed td introduce tho'American system here. Thero wiis nothing which he valued'more than research,'but be! believed in giving the student a thorough 'mowledge of bis..subjoct-first. Ho was only >pposed /to sham theses pretending to .bo :esearch;-»nd ho objected to this new system if '■ make-belief being introduced into' A'ew Keakfid. ;

' AUCKLAND OBJECTIONS. ' . THe objections raised against the degree by Professorial Hoard were as follow:— ■ ■

I..'"That .tbe scheme docs-not ■ provide for adequate grounding either in general culturo or in "scientific knowledge. 2. ''That it renders it 'possible for a student to take a B.Sc. degree svhile still densely ignorant of the great body of even the most elementary science. For example, it is possible for a candidate to obtain tho degree of B.Sc. (research) by taking (say) Hebrew, History (English and constitutional), Puro and only'a single science. This scarcely requires further comment. .3. That the syllabus by its apparent simplicity, and the" small number of subjects required, appears to afford an easy way of ginning a degree; and is calculated to eneonrsgO candidates to attempt a kind of Work for which they are totally Unfitted, #nd to ; advance in one particular line of tsu'dy without that wider knowledgo of other eobjects' which will ultimately be necessary 'ror ' their progress.' ■ 4;' "That students should not bo encouraged to undertake a research while their knowledgo of a science is immature and nar-, row. A wide knowledge of a science ,is essential for the prosecution of any research worthy of the reward of a degree; in short, the width of knowledge necessary for icseareh is not reached at the 'pass' stage. C. "That a thesis is a very uncertain means of testing the merit of originality of a student. The subject is usually suggested by the teacher; atid much way depend on the suggestion of it profitable line; and. throughout,tho stimulus and guidance of tneteacher are. constantly required. There is ; no meatus of assessing or controlling tbe share taken by; a teacher in the thesis, eren though the results'he linallv put on record by the student hinisolfi It is almost unnecessary to add that the 'pass'. student wonkl require far more assistance than the 'honours' candidate, who has undertaken a wider range rtf study. (5. "That the present, scheme tends to lower, the duality of research and diminish

the esteem that attached to it while very rarely producing any results, of other than nominal value. 7. "That the Board beliovcs that the schome will diminish tlio estimation in which the B.Se. degfoc is held. This objection is strongly 'felt by the B.Se. students of the College. 1 ' thn Otago protest was 011 very, similar lines, \ EXTENT OF TIIE OBJECTIONS. ' Professor J. Mseinillan Brown saii that if thoy followed Professor Shttnd's lead and that of. tho two Boards quoted thov Would havo to v clear their system , of all the doctrinatcs and theses. ' . . Professor Shawl vigorously denied tins', and Dr.M'Uowell mntlo. denial on behalf of tho Auckland Professorial Board. ''he Objection Was only to research made onirad;oquato knowledge. Mv.. Batmie said th«fc members ..of the Auckland Professorial 1 Board : had expressly told him that they only objected to degrees for ( undergraduate research. ,

CASE : FOR. UNDERGRADUATE - RESEARCH.

! Professor J. Macmillaii Brown, m an eloquent. defence of such research, cjuoten Professor Rutherford avid Mr. J. Erskine fls eminent men who had been attracted to physics by the opportunities for research which thoy received at Canterbury College, They would havo ehoked off Rutherford completely from physics at least if- thoy,had not had any research thesis in the degree of honours. (Incredulous laughter.) He was not speaking, without'tho book. TlUreo years ago, when ho was in New .Zealand, 1 rofessor Rutherford osprcsse.d;to.him privately, and declared on- the publifl platform at Cantorbury College. his great indignation at the attempt, to cheek research in the University of Now Zealand, s and against those Who threw, out tho research thesits in the honours course. Ho told the speaker that W considered this one of the mOBt retrograde steps that had-beenmade by the Universityi .iTho fact that- the other Professorial Boards had not objected to tlto present statute implied to him .that, the younger professions wero less- averse to innovation. There had been conservative Professors from the tinio of Galileo. When the speaker.tfas a student of tho lat* Lord Kelvin, then "Sir" William Thompson, at Glasgow, the great scientist encouraged his students to become his assistants, and thoro was uo bar to i youth. There had;been instances of .youths m their teens who had made groat discoveries, and lie saw no' reason why in this young country they should not ha encouraged to de tho sanie. American Universities had received

hugo/benefaetions, simply because they were adapting their work -tp tho industrial , requirements of tho-tountry, and tho result was that' the industries of America Were overwhelming thoso of, England. ' (Mr/.Hay: "Question.") He hoped that Mr. Hay's "Question" would bo justified by the future. The' University of New Zealand did, not receive benefactions because people thought that 'it was only turning out book-worms. They thought that its professors'were ho >kwortns, that 110 practical work was: being done, that the University was not applyin; itself to the, country's _ wants. There-were numerous scientific subjects for investigation in connection with New Zealand's industries and resources, and the. University wqUldonly, get money from the mon who wcro| making tlieso industries when they gave: sonic attention, to such subjects. He Urged the encouragement of research with tost theses in other subjects besides' physics. The proper courso before .the Senate was to modify the statute so that it should, bo efficient, ,rmd so. that tho degree should mark a J standard Worthy of the University. VHo wbuld vote against the motion. , Mr. Hogben thought that' the ' Senate should admit what was just in the protests made against- the degree. A mistake had been made in passing the Statute Without referring it to tho Professorial Boards, but 'now that it was passed, embodying b most important p£in?iplo,, thoy /hould: amend the sS't-atuto so rts to Infc"rior, 'bttt e ®p^ior n degree; with : which it ebuld vbo brought more into line. He moved as an amend-' ineiit- that- tho operation of t-hp.! Statute be, suspended, that .a recess eomraittee ,bo. appointed to consider ,tho requirements of tho B.Sc. degrees, and to suggest such modifi-cations-in the B.Sc. "B" Statute as tlieythought desirable, and that the report embodying their suggestions should be referred to the Professorial Boards..' , Mr. Gordon seconded tho amendment.

THE STATUTE JUSTIFIED. The Chancellor said that if the Statute was properly carried but-, this would be just as efficient a. degree as any in the calendar. It provided for a passage in l four subjects, and- to attain this degree .there would- be necessary a wider culture- than ■ was required, for cither the IS.A. or, tho B.Se. degree. : Tho student had to pass in a literary subject, a rfiatheniat-ical subject, ono of tho groups of natural sciences, and one of tho subjects, in a sense also literary, such as mental science, economics, 1 and education. Tho degree thus provided for very extensive culture, and in addition it was; provided that the student could not obtain the degree, though ho passed in all f6ur'of these subjects, unless the examiner reported „that bis dissertation' entitled him thereto. He was therefore at a greater disadvantage than the candidate for the B.A. or B.Sc. degree, since ho must show that lie had done original work. They would find fen candidates who could fulfil" the other examination requirements to ono who could pass in original work. Hp had before him some of the American .theses which wore the work of undergraduates, and if tho original work required in New Zealand was' to be at all equal to that of America, tho number of studonts who would bo able to get the B.Sc. "B" degree would bo far fewer than those ablo to get the ordinary B.Sc. or B.A; degree. If research was not to be begun till knowledge wns complete, research would nover bo begun, hccause research was the acquisition of knowledge by observation aiid experiment. He was sorry that Professor. Shand bad x cast a, slur atr this policy, because it was American. The, Mosoley Commission had decided thufc Lugland was t fai' behind America in all stages of education,, those of tho University, secondary school, and primary school, and that the reason why the American working man, mechanic, and manager was alie-ad of tho Lngljrh depended entirely- on the education which America gave them. As an example of undergraduate research, ho called attention to the case of a former student of Victoria College, Jl'r. P. W. RmbeHson, who had devoted'himself to research with oneh success that- at the ago of oighteon he was elected a Fellow of'.the. Chemical Society of London. and had since lieeu invited by three leading German chemists' to enter their laboratories. To pass Professor Shand 9 motion would practically bo 10. say that there should be no research work m Now Zealand at all. He would leave the Statute as it was.

QUESTION DEFERRED. Mr Von Haast- moved as an amendment that the question he deferred till the report of the Seienco Committee, which was considering this subject, was .presented. Mr. Hoghon withdrew his motion in favour of Mr. Yon Haast's, which was duly seconded. Mr. Von Hiiast s amendment was earned by a large majority.

decrees in divinity. Professor Salmond moved, in nccordnneo with notice:'"That the Senate puts on record its regret at the rejection ol the Bill to establish, degrees in divinity, and nt the refusal of the Government to further the twice-expressed purjtose of/the Senate in this matter. The Senate finds itself debarred from giving encouragement, to one of the most important branches of learning. Further, it finds with regret that n large and important; scclion of its graduates aro debarred from privileges freely accorded to all others." Tho mover said that ho did not mean to imply any censure. on the Govornmept, which had to feel the pulse of its constituency, so to speak, and could do nothing if the members of tho Legislature wore, not sufficiently enlightened on the matter to give effect lo tbe "proposal. He stated that some, candidates had appealed to the University of Loudon to ostead its examinations for di..

vinity degrees to this country, and'if"this Wofp done tho, University of New Zealand would bo placed in an anomalous position. Tiio Jtev. A. Cameron, in seconding the motion, said that a grievous wrong had been donj; to some of Uio University's best graduates by the refusal, to establish tliOSo degrees. The OiiivorsiHes of London and of Watos found no diflioulty. in appointing examiners in divinity, who satisfied all th'f* denominations of A tmich larger world than ours. It was a mistake to say that, these examinations could not he carried out without (raising religious pro,indices. Tto Chancellor said that before tho. University could 1 grant these degrees it would have to affirm a new of gir•iiiK'ji degree for'* subject studied in »n institution which was outside the University. that students lor degrees had followed other courses at the University did not affect tho question. Ho also foresaw theological difficulties if such degrees were established. Tljc motion S w»s lost by 17. rotes to 7.

80 HO URSHI PS OOMMITTEE'S REPORT,

'SCOPE' OF iLVCRICULATION,

■■ Thft fciobdlnTships Committee reported as follows on matters" iii tho Chancellor's addresi that were referred to:— ' l.jTho Committee notes that' there' aro thrci classes of students holding University Junior Scholarships; viz.—(i.) Those who lire At, home, and do not travel long distance* to reach the University College; (ii.) thoso who,' though' living at homo, have to travel some considerable distance daily to attend tho college] (iii.) thoso who have to live away from homo to attend the college. In tho ease of (i.)'and (ii.) tho value of . tho arholnrship is £35' a year; in the ease of (iii.) the value is £o5 a year. The effect is that frith regard to - class (i.) tho actual valuo to n stndcnt of a,University Junior Scholarship is in most eases greater than .that of a Senior National Scholarship, but for classes (ji.Vand (iii.) tho actual value of the former is generally less than that of the latter. All additional eailso of inequality in the amounts availablo for tho personal expenses of students is found in tho disparity betwoen the amounts payable for foes', at tho seVcfal University Colleges. The cohihiittee 'considers that' equality. Of treat* tocnt for all holders of the scholarships call bo scoured only by some such method as tho following, which it accordingly recommends -',(1) That tho holder' of a Junior UniScholarship shall receive the sum ' of £25 per annum, in addition. to tho ', amount of tuition fees (if any) payable by._ him at the 'University ' Collego' to . which he belongs. (2). That, where the holder lives at home, hut is.obliged to travel more than, four miles daily each'way to prosecute his studies,' there shall bo paid to him ati \ ■ additional sum to meet the cost of-sUdh : travelling, but this additional sum shall not exceed £10 per annum. „ (8) That, whore tho, holder is obliged ■ to livo away from homo in order to prosecute his studies, thore shall be paid to him an additional sum of £30 per annum. Tho Committfce further 'recommended:— % (4V That the Crovornment be asked to , grant to holders of University Scholarships the same concessions ill respect of 1 railway tickets as are granted to those attending .technical schools. (5) That the Minister for Education be ttskod to grant bursaries to holders of •, University" Junior- '.Scholarships' in' tho' samo manner as to tho winners of "such scholarships in 1907. "" (6) That in Clause X of tho Statute •' "Junior University, Scholarships". ' (which commences, "any Junior Scholar ■ may, by permission of the Chancellor, ' enter upon a course of study in Medicine or Engineering") there be inserted after tho word " Engineering " the words " Mining, or Agriculture, or Veterinary Science, or similar bvanch of i Applied Science." . . : . i , (7) That tho Statute "Senior National 1 Scholarships" bo amended as follows:—: By deleting Clauses I and 11, and substituting therefor.the.following:—!.' Senior Scholarships, not exceeding twenty in number, shall be awarded annually ou tho result of the Junior Scholarship Examination of the University of New Zealand.' U. Candidates may bo persons of either, sex who, being resident 'in NeW Zealand for the three years immediately preceding the date of tho examination, are under nineteen years of age on the first dav of December of the year in which tho examination is held. As to Clause XIII, to. add the following subclause :—Whore the holdor of a Senior National Scholarship lives at home, but is obliged to travel more than, four, miles; ; daily each way in order to prosecute Ills ' studies,r|there shall- be' paiq'Ho him "air • additional sum to meet ;tho actual :eosfc .of. such travelling, but this additional sum-' shall not exceed .ten pounds per.annum. Tho Committee further proposed:~ • (8) That the announcement " Queen's Scholarships " on page 60 of tho Calendar .1907-8 should he altered so as.to road:— "No Queen's Scholarships will bo awarded after May-1, 1908, but.this will not affect any scholarship awarded before that date." ■' (!)) That the first paragraph of the note on page 00, beginning "Candidates should state," be deleted. The note reads: —Candidates should stato in orrlor of choice tho scholarships for which they enter. At present, owing to different conditions oi tenure, it may not lie possiblo to award according to choice;. ■ hut the preference of candidates will bo kept, in view." (10) That the Statute "Matriculation" ■be amended as to Clause I to read a 9 follows: —"No student shall bo matriculated until he shall havo passed tho Matriculation Examination or the Preliminary Examination of Medical Students or the Prelimjnary Examination in Jinginoering. 'Junior Scholars and unsuccessful candidates for Junior Scholarships who, in tho opinion of the Chancellor, upon the report of the examiners, are &t to be matriculated shall be held to have passed tho Matriculation Examination, but in no case shall any candidate bo deemed to havo passed such exanaination unless he lias satisfied the requirements in the compulsory subjects." '

Considerable discussion took place on the first five clauses of this report, the adoption of which was moved by Mr. Hogben. Professor Shand moved as au amendment: "That a conference be held of the Scholarshins Committeo and Finance Committee, with Professor J. Macmillan Brown addod, regarding the number and valuo-of the junior scholarships."

• PROFESSIONS A.\"D, CULTURE. Before the amendment was put it w»s agroe.d to consider Clause 6, for inore.isiiig the numbor of professional courses open to holders of junior scholarships. Professor J. Macmillan Brown said that students entered the University at too early an ago, and embarked too soon on their professional courses. It was a pity to see bovs and girls of sixteen and seventeen go straight into their professional subjects. It would be well if they could reserve some scholarships for students who would go through tho arts or scienco course, and increase thoir general culture, before entering on tho professional course. Thoy could not meddle with tho national scholarships, hut some of tbe junior scholarships might lie reserved for general culture students.

The' Chancellor also thought that now tho senior national scholarship had boon established, a few of the junior University scholarships, might b« reserved for studuuts lukiitg the arts or science course. Ten scholarships, of .ttiO eucli, might fiV confined to these studies, and the next live, of £05, wight be given to students who should ho allowed to g« in for uuy of the professional courses. Professors .Sale arid Sitaml favoured soino such reservation.jlr. -Von Haast said that the time had passed when students going in for their LL.li. degree would consent to take tho arts course first. Instead of paying u premium when he went into an office, th« lav.' student, now received the value of his services, and lie w.is not likely In accept a Scholarship not niuoh larger than his salary for the purpose of acquiring culture at the University, when he might he earning his Jiving and getting experience in hij profession »t the ■ <& me time.

The Rev. A. Cameron-thouajit--that tho slight increase of _ value whielr the Senato might give to tho junior scholarship as compared with the senior national scholarship, would 'not induce a candidate to take, the former, and enter for culture; subjects, if his object_ waS A professional degree, lie would bo in favour OF abolishing-the junior scholarships, leaving that t'ulld to the national scholarships, and devoting tho funds to. the purpose of encouraging 'research, The latter suggestion was also 1 put forward by Professor Shand. . - Mr. Hogben said that he was in' favour of increasing the value of the/junior scholarships, but not of-limiting tho courses which students cfluld take up. He thought that all their courses,'even those of a professional" kind, could n ljp madt^courses of culture. He' found from investigation that a great majority, of thoso students who took tho junior scholarship went 911 to take the B.A. and B.So. 'degrees, ■'Mr. Cohen: About !)0 per cent of them are teachers'. -. > ' Mr, Hoghen: Nearly half of them are not teachers. i Clauso 6, for the increase of courses open to junior scholars, was approved by 10 votes to 8. ' ■. Professor Shawl's motion was then carried, and _ consideration of Clauses I—-0' inclusive prior to this one Was deferred, : The remaining clauses of the report .were approved. . -

AUTHORS AND PERIODS. The Authors atid Periods Committee/recommended * 1. 'fhat with regard to the- proposals' of, three; professors Of English literature, for revision of the English syllabus, all bo referred back t-0 professors of 1 English for explanation aiid further definition-. n: That tho following bo the Authors and Poriods for 1910:— : . 1 Pass.-—Latin—Cnisar, "Gallic War,' vii, Horace, "Epistles I." Greek—Demosthenes, ''Oljrnthiacs," and "Philippic* 1." Aristophanes, f'Frogs." English—Corlylo, ."Sartor R-esartus." Milton, "Samson Agonistes." Shollcv, "Promentheus Unbound." Period: 1800 to IPSO. French—A. Daudot, "Petit Chose," Victor Hugo, "Hornaiti. Moliere, "Misanthrope." Period: 1820 to 1850. German—Gothe, "GoU von BevHclmigon." Schiller, "Jungfrau von Orleans.' Fouque, "Undine." History—lß2o.to 1880. Honours. —Latin —Cresar, 1 'Civil War." Horace, "Satires," "Epistles, 1 - and 'Ars Poetical." , Greeks—Demosthenes, "Dej-Cor-cfnn." .' Aristophanes, "Frogs," • 'Birds," "Wasps," English—Catlyle,. 'Sartor RcsartuSi" "Life of Sterling." Milton, [ son Agonistes,"'"Coinus," "Lycidns, "L'Allegro," VIU jiPensetoso." ; Shelloy, "Promot-beus UnbouiKl,' 1 "A.l:istor, "Adonais."- Period: 1800 to ISoO. French—A. Daudct, "Petit Choae.'' . Victor IWgo, "Hornani." Molibre, "Misanthrope." l'enclon, "Lettre a l'Academie." Du Bellay, "Dcffenso et Illustraeion," Imfontanie, "Fables." Chanson de Roland (Haehette). Period: .1820 to '1885. German—Utitno, "Gota von Berlichirif'.cll, ' I?Mist; /. '• Schiller, "Jungfrau von Orleans. I'ouque, "Undine." Gutekow, "Zopf uud Sehwert. Ebcrs, "Eine Frapo." Aiebelungcnhcd, 3<, 33. 39. History—lß2o to 1850.,. The report was adopted.

LAW. COMMITTEE'S REPORT. - / A further report of the Law Committee was presohted, and made an order of the day. for to-day. The Conimitt-eo reported' 1. That the- following be appointed examiners in liaw tin Nnw. /jcaland for the May, , and November cxaniinatioiis, 15)08: —Contracts— F.-Ei- Raumo, K.C., LL.D., Auokjand.-lro-. pertv (Part I)— Professor, J. ,\V. - Salmofld, M.A'., Wellington. Property .(? a . r IT Fitchett,- U.A., Lli.D., • Wollmgton. Evidence—U. V. von Hanslj M.A., JjL.D., Wellineton. Criminal Law—Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., 11.A., IjL.Bm Auckland. Torts—H, D. Bnmford, 8.A., LL.D., Auckland. Proce-Vliire—-M. Myers, LL.B., Wellington. New Zcfiland Lais-(for English Barristers and Solicitor.sV—Tl. H. Ostler. LL.B. , Commercial and industrial (for R. Com. Degree)— C.. O. Hutton, M.A'., LL.B., Wanganui. !2. That ptiho following bo appointed Examiners in Law for the LL.B. .and-LL.D: Degrees, Honours,- and Senior feoholarsUips Examinations for tho year 1908.. Roman Law, International Law, and the Conflict of La^'s—Professor Murison, M.A., Trin. Coll., London, 'or Professor Macintosh, 8,A.,' Edinburgh. Jurisprudence and Constitutional History—S. H. Leonard, 8.C.1;.. M.A. -The Law of Contracts and Torts (English Law) and the Special Departments of English L.iw included in Group O of t-ljo Honours in Law Statuto—D. M. Iverly, M.A., LL.B., Inner Temple, London. The Law: of Real Properfcy (New Zealand Lflw)r-Professor * Salmond, M.A. , , -;i. A question' has beon raised as to tho construction of- Clause IV 6f tho regulations' -for tho'-professional examinations -111 law (page 205 of tho Calendar). It has b'e'e.n the- 'practice,- ■in ' dealing with tjie nia'triculation results, whon a candidate has obtained slightly less than tho examiner's minimum in sonic subject, to treat the caso as a conditional pass, and to pass the candidate in that subject for matriculation if excellence is shown in other subjects. The .Committee is of opinion'that any candidate _ who has passed the Matriculation Examination, passing in Latin in the manner above-mentioned, is, under Clauso IV of the Law Professional Examination Regulations, entitled to a pass in the Solicitors General Knowledge Examination. That, the attention of their Honours tho Judges be drawn to this mat-tor with a view to the amendment of their regulations if so deairod.

. 4. Tho Comniittoe has considered the other correspondent Jrom candidates and has. no recommendation to make. 0. The Committee recommends that in tho caso of a candidate 'being prevented by illness from sitting at tho November Law Examination, application should bo niado to tho Senate tor leave to sit in the following May,\ and thnt each case, should then be dealt with

on its merits, and that they Statute "Tho Degreo of Baohelor of LaWs," Clauso XI, bo amended by adding the following words: " A candidate who is prevented by illness from-presenting himself at the ordinary examination may, by permission of tho Senate, present himself for examination at the supplementary. examination in the month of May." fi. The Committee recommends that Clauso IV of tho'Statute "Certificate? of Proficiency" be amended by adding the folloiving words: ''or in any subject of tho'examination for the. degree of Master of Laws until he has obtained a certificate in the same or some cognate subject at an examination for the degreo of Bachelor of Laws." 7. With reference to the bequest of Mr. Daniel O'Sullivau, a majority of the. Committee is of opinion that a principle is involved, namely, > whether such a befjUest should bo administered by the University or should be left to the administration of the Public Trustee or other Trustee or Trustees. The matter is therefore respectfully remitted to- the Senate to express its opinion oil the subject.

A COMPREHENSIVE MOTION. Mi'. Von Hnast has given notice of motion for to-morrow as follows: "That, a Recess Committee, consisting of Mr. Banme, Professor P. D. Brown, Professor J. Macmill.in Brown, the R-ov. A. Cameron, Professor Cook, the Rev. W. A. Evans, Professor Sliand, (ho Chancellor (ex officio), and the mover, bo appointed to consider and report 011 Doctor Starr Jordan's suggestions, the other suggestions contained in tho Chancellor's report, Mr. Cameron's motion, i.lio cu-ordinntion, of the University's degrees, and the revision of tho University system so as to bring the University education of New Zealand into line with modern developments in the leading Universities of Kuropo and America."