UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 9462, 6 August 1894, Page 2

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting, held this afternoon, was attended by the Chancellor (Mr Justice Williams), Dr Hocken, Mr R. L. Stanford, Dr Burns, Mr K. B. Cargill, Mr D. White, the Rev. A. Cameron, and Professor S-ile. An apology was received for the absence of Mr George Grey Russell. Mr W. 1). Milne, as chairman of the meeting of graduates held on the "38th nit., forwarded the resolutions carried—notifying the appointment of the Rev. A. Cameron, expressing the graduates' sense of loss sustained by the U niveraity in the death of the late Dr Stuart, and conveying thanks to Mr John M 'Lean for his services as a member of the Council.

The Finance Cominittee reported that the bank-book showed a .credit of £28,7 10s* The treasurer had received from the executors the sum qf £IOO, left by the late chancellor, as a fund to provide prizes for certain subjects, and arrangements had been made for the investment of the siun. The interest would be available for prizes for the session of 1893. A letter was received ve goldfields arrears, amounting to £165. The letter was received, and inquiry was to be made into the matter. Requisitions from Mr Wilkinson, Dr Black, and for household requisites were recommended for sanction.—The report was adopted. The Mines Department transmitted copies of the amended scholarship regulations.— Mr thought that thauks were due to Mr Allen for his seryices to the Council, but they should get him to look into what seemed to be an oversight, in that there was no mention of mathematics in the requirements for the School of Mines Scholarship. —lt was decided to refer tha matter to the Mines Committee to consider and communicate with Mr Allen.

Mr D. Wilkinson, lecturer on mining and metallurgy, wrote as follows:—" On the Ist September, 1893, I requested your favorable consideration of an application for an increase of my salary. In the latter of the above date J stated that owing to a portion of my iuflome, namely, the lecture and assay fees, amounting to only about one-fourth of what might haye been reasonably anticipated I was greacly dissatisfied with my positiou. in the event of an unfavorable reply to my request I had decided to terminate my engagement, but this reply not being forthcoming until the end flf the year it would have been unfair to the mining students and inconvenient to the fjouncft and ; to myself to have at once resigned. I thus decided to remain at my post at least one year more. The position, so far as I am Governed, has not materially altered since the abpve date, except that the inoome of the University has decreased considerably. There is thus no probability of an improvement in my position, ljut perhaps a possibility of retrenchment, iam therefore, though very reluctantly, compelled to give you notice of my desire to terminate my engagement a* lecturer on metallurgy, etc., at the School of Mines. May I ask that you will allow this engagement to terminate six months from the Ist of September, 1894 ? May I ask ajso that you will permit me to complete my sessional work for 1894 on the Ist of OcteW-r-fU., three weeks before the end of the session* My reasons for making this request are : I have no definite post in yjew, and have decided to spend one os? two years in acquiring some American experience. I have certain prospects in the United States which necessitate my departure from Dunedin not later than the 2nd or 3rd of October, I have already given ft number of additional before and during the winter vacation, and shall have no difficulty in cem, pleting the visual eource by the above date. T have now almbst "completed four years' .s.eryi,ce »s' lepturer, and during this time I haye done my best toVfurther the interests of the school ' and of she students.-' May I ask that, you will gfye me' a testimonial to this effeot, stating also, your opinion of my ability as a Jscfcurer, etc.? I am extremely sorry that circum' Stanee* should thus compel' me to sever my fioweotion with $e Otago University. "~ The'letter WW .rawed to the Mines Committee.