UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Evening Star, Issue 12855, 22 January 1908, Page 6

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

THE CHANCELLOR’S ADDRESS. [Special to the Star.] WELLINGTON, .January 22. In his address to the Now Zealand University Senate to-day Sir Robert Stout (Chancellor) said that perhaps the most marked difference between our university institutions and those of the United States lies in the small amount that has been granted to our institutions by private persons. Wealthy men in the United States have given freely of their wealth to university institutions, but wealthy men here have done little for ours. If our wealthy men wero to give as freely of their wealth for liigher education as wealthy United Strikes .citizens, wo should have to record benefactions amounting to at least £400.000 a year. That is on a proportional estimate of the wealth and population of the respective countries. Our university institutions date back to 1871, when the Otago University began its active career. It is now 1908, and during the past thirty-seven years we have not received an aggregate of £40,000 from our wealthy men. In New Zealand during the past ten years the estates of twenty-one deceased persons, valued at over £IOO,OOO each, have passed through the Stamp Office, and not one of the deceased persons left anything for education. The average annual benefactions to the universities of the United States amount now to al>out £3,259,000. How is it, wo may well ask, that there is such enthusiasm for higher education in America and so little in New Zealand? Amidst the dearth from our wealthy settlers, I am glad to state that one settler, though not possessed of great wealth, has recognised the wants and claims of our university institutions. Mr Arthur Beverley died last year, at the - ripe age of eighty-sir years. He was a man of eminence in astronomy, botany, mechanics, and mathematics, and he was a celebrated inventor. Ho dkl not lake, much part in our public life, but lie helped in founding tho Otago Museum, being a member of the first Committee. He has by his will left the bulk of his fortune—between £15.000 and £16,000 —to the. Otago University. Many wealthy men have passed away since our university institutions were founded, birt ho is tho first to give a large sum for liigher education. I liope that his generosity may stimulate those who have made largo fortunes in New Zealand to emulate his Until our people possess the same passion for education as the inhabitants of North America wo cannot expect Now Zealand to take the high position which she should take as a nation lavishly endowed by Nature with wealth, opportunities, and the advantages of an equable climate.