UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 8807, 23 April 1892, Page 2

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

LSOTUKSB on aioioov. A special meeting of the University donned, held this forenoon, for the consideration of the applications for the lectureship on geology, was attended by Messrs O. 0. Bussell (presiding), John McLean, B. L. Stanford, J. Allen, D. White, B. B. OargUl, and DrHocken. The candidates for the position were Messrs J. E. Don, M.A., F. Marshall, F. Morgan, and D. Wilkinson (at present lecturer on metallurgy at the Otago University). Mr Stanford proposed that Mr Wilkinson be appointed as lecturer on geology. He thought that the Oonnoil oonld not do better than appoint him to the chair, as be had given great satisfaction la the work which he had already done in the University. Without disparagement to any other applicant, he thought that Mr Wilkinson was head and shoulders above the rest, owing to his experience and the opportunities he bad had of acquiring a special knowledge of the subject of geology. Dr HooEEN seconded the motion. MrD. White moved that Mr Don be appointed. He thought that gentleman's testimonials showed that be was thoroughly well qualified for the position, fie bad taken the highest honors for geology that it was possible to take in onr University, and he had also shown that he took a great deal of interest in this special subject, and had had practical means of making himself acquainted with' the requirements of the chair. He had also been a very distinguished student, and his (Mr White’s) feeling was that if they oonld find in the ranks of their own students men who were quite capable of taking up the work required they should certainly be given the preference over applicants from other quarters. In addition to Mr Don’s professional qualifications, he (the speaker) was quite sure the Oonnoil could not get. a better man. He bad all the faculties of a first-rate teacher, and was able to inspire bis students with enthusiasm and get them to work with a rare will. It was an important thing that they should have a teacher who would create a feeling of that sort with the students of the University. Speaking of his own personal knowledge, he (Mr White) oonld say that the Education Department in New Zealand had placed Mr Don in the highest rank as a teacher, shoving that he was capable of doing the highest teaching work. At the present time he was one cf the teachers at the technical classes, and it was quite a rare thing for any student to be absent from his classes. He (the speaker) only mentioned that as an instance to show how Ur Don would very soon gather around him an earnest band of jonog fellows who were willing to study geology. He bad rare physique for this kind of work, and was prepared to undertake field zeology, and the work of that kind on Saturdays would only be a pleasure to him. The Council had acted wisely in advertising for applications for the position, as the qualifications of all the candidates were very high. He did not wish to say a single word by way of comparison, not did he think it would be vise to do so, but he expressed the hope that Ur Don would be appointed for the reasons that had been given. He was quite sure that if they were to appoint Ur Eon to the chair ho would prove a great success. Mr Cargill seconded the amendment if for no other reason than to show that Hr Don’s application had been considered, and that there was some weight attaching to the high qualifications, which were not only set forth in bis testimonials, but which had been testified to by Mr White.

Mr Allen said that though it was the tight principle that they should give the preference to locally-trained applicants, yet, with regard to the teaching of geology In the Otago University, it had been vary much of a rudimentary character in the past. He knew that all that Ur White had stated about Mr Don was perfectly tine, and, so far as he was able to study geology here, be had studied it extremely well, but knowing the method of teaching the subject here and the method in the Old Country, be (Mr Aden) could cot come to any other conclusion than this: that if they could get a man who was trained under Professor Judd one of the best professors in the South Kensington School, tfcey should do to. Any man who had been trained under Professor Judd, could not be anything but a first-class geologist. Mr J. M'Lfan agreed that they should give the preference to the local applicant, providing that the University did not suffer by his appointment. Mr Stanpobd said they had had experience of Mr Wilkinson’s teaching in the University for the last fourteen months. He thought he could appeal to Mr Allen in laying that no better teaching was given there. On the amendment being put, only the mover and seconder voted for it. The motion was subsequently carried by 4 votes to 2, and Mr Wilt inson's appointment agreed to.