UNIVERSITY OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6341, 15 March 1882, Page 6

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ZEALAND.

-—■—♦ The Senate sat yesterday, the Chancellor in the chair. Present : The Vice-Chancellor, Professoi-3 .Sale, Salmond, Brown, Shand, Von H°ast. I3i-:hin Kedwood, Revs. Bruce, Paterson. 'Habens, Andrew, Dr. Roseby, Mr. T. Jieale, and Bishop Cowie. The minut-;= o c the previous sitting were rei'l aad couiirmod. NATr/iIAI. .SCIENCE. Upon the recommendations for examinations for Junior Scholarships, that any two of the following scheduled subjects should be given :—lnorganic Chemistry, Electricity, Sound and Light, Heat. Klementary Meshinies of solid and i'.uid, Klementary tiiolo<u-, the Structure and Life History ot UncelluUr Onanisms and of Multi-Cellular Organisms, which have no differentiation of tissues; Anatomv Histology and Pnisiology of a flowerin- plant : Practical work—the_ Dissection a;:d Microscopical Examination ot tvpes of the above. U.-Ukkc; m: : I feel absolutely certain tint a real knowledge of natural science cannot be obtained without the student l.cin.- brought face to face with the object studied. Books do not give an accurate and full knowledge. object, and th'.' object alone, must !>e studied. Tiic Kev. Mr. Hαuks* : I cannot see how it can be s.ud that the knowledge to which a p.-rsaa was led by an honest curiositv should be alt.njother valueless. \Yi.;n *Profos.-or Mcllreuor referred to '•cram.'' during the present session, it must have appeared that if the whole of the sublet iniu'ht . c crammed m six months, the halt might be crammed in three. But the word was misleading. Auy knowledge must, to the extent.and degree that it was possessed, be valuable. I must say that I have obtained a great deal of such knowledge as I possess from books. I (lisse.-tc.f small subjects when I could cet them. I had an honest curiosity, and I took what appeared to me the best means to gratify it. I attended museums, and made such "observations as I could. I certainly se: considerable value upon the knowledge wiiicn I have obtained by this honest curiosity. Surely it cannot be said that it is worst; than none. Professor McGiiEC.or.: It must be recollected that every young student is not like Mr. Habens. Moreover, the teacher is a responsible person, who may not choose any method, but who must choose the best method of imparting the knowledge he possesses to his pupil. It was desirable to have an intensive not merely an extensive knowle-!:e of some department of nature. A thorough knowledge of auy one department of nature was not au achievement of easy accomplishment. Professor Sale : The great desire is to get the student to '>egiu his study at the right end. It is said that to require a certificate from the student before piesenting himself for examination is a hardship. But I think the resulati'ja might be carried out so that it would not operate as a hardship. A certificate might be obtained, not from the teacher, but from ■' teacher. There are

many nun whoso certificate could be relied on. "Such a pevsou tlie Chancellor might appoint. The Vick-Chanckli.ok : The motion is in enec: that r. c-ri.::ic.i:-j shall bo given of practical dissection of soma type : that in point of. iact the person giving the certificate shall hive seen that done.

Professor S.\LM'.>Ni> : Suppose a boy going ■svith his book through a tield, and by reference to his book identifying plants "(taking the subject to be botany). This lie does. The kno-.vle-.lge may not be the fullest. But what harm can such knowledge do him, or anybody else? He possesses an addition to his know-ledge. That must be regarded as a good tiling in itself. It was real knowledge as far a? it went, but what limit need be imagined to study of that kind, or how could the value of such knowledge be estimate!. I should prefer that the clause should be omitted.

The Rev. Mr. P.atek.-ox : I think it were better if the question were withdrawn. There were many men who would no doubt discharge their duties as faithful teachers, and would be strict in the terms of his certificate. But it is important that there should be no laxity in the terms or the substance of such a certificate. There was some danger of abuse.

Professor Shand : I think the best way of dealing with the whole of this science department is by means of a committee to sit during the recess, to consider the scope of these examinations, and the manner in which they should be conducted. I should be disposed to move a resolution to that effect, the committee to consist of Professor McGregor, Professor Voa Haast, and the Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Vox Haast : I must bring under the notice of the Senate that the subject of geology appeals to have been withdrawn. I should" like to hear it stated why that has been done. I consider that in a country of this kind the study is a very important one. There is no doubt that the material wealth of the country is intimately concerned with a full knowledge of this very valuable department of science. As to the question immediately before the Senate, it might be an instruction to the examiner in science to formulate !iis questions in such a way that the knowledge of the student could be practicallv ascertained. I shall move to that effect. \vi-:llis(;tox college. The VicE-CiiASCELi-iii: explained the effect of the report of the committee. The junior scholar referred to in the Chancellor's report had received the sum due to him on account of his scholarship up to the time when he should have presented himself for examination. The action taken by the Chancellor had l;ee:i sustained. The second clause provided for exemption in respect to attendance at lectures, aud keeping terms at an affiliated institution. It also suggested that provision be made by the university for their annual examinations. He suggested (o the Senate that it would be necessary to consider the position of those students, with a view to doing justice to them. They had attended ■Wellington College as an afiiliated institution, and they had entered upon their undergraduate course. But the Wellington College had become disalliliated. The consequence was that these students were arrested in their course. The cost of their examination at some other institutions would be a question for the Senate to consider. The hardship was undoubtedly great in some eases, but not so great in others. These students, who could not proceed with their studies in consequence of what had happened, were worthy of consideration. Wellington College had fallen to the rear in respect of the university course, and it had, therefore, become necessary it should be disafiiliated. The subject was one entirely for the Senate. The third clause of the report (published in yesterday's Hkrai.d) was omitted, and, on the motion of Dr. Hoscby, it ivas agreed that the co3t of the annual examination of the students of Wellington College, for whatever college their names should be placed in the books, be borne by the university. MEDICAL crBRIMJMJ.M. Professor McGregor, as chairman of the committee, in bringing up the scheme, said that there was no need to apprehend inconvenient haste in the proposals which were embodied in the scheme. The time had certainly corne in the colony when the university should contemplate having the direc-

tion of students being prepared for this profession. The correspondence with the Medical Council in Great Britain pointed out the direction in which the university-examinations should go. The recommendation of the committee wa3 before the Senate. There was no fear of haste, because it woald be half a dozen years before the degree could be given bv the" Isew Zealand University—that is, before all the necessary preparations and preliminaries would be complete. The report with resolution was referred to the Calendar Arrangement Committee. DEXTISTY. Professor McGrkuok brought up the proposed regulations. One of these was that the student must proceed to Dunedin from Auckland, at a cost oi £-20. Professor McGregor said this matter had been considered. It looked very like a hardship. But the committee sould not help itself. All the members of the examining body were in Dunedin.

The ViCE-CiiAN-CELLor. said that tnis was not a part of the university, but only a statutory duty imposed upon the Senate by the General Assembly.

Bishop Cowie : Why might not the student be examined in Auckland ': Students would fnul it a great hardship to have to spend i'-0 more than other students, in order to be examined at Dunedin.

Rev. Mr. Habess : I think that the examining body might . receive power to examine an absent student by report of a skilled professional dentist as to manipulation.

Professor Sai.mosd : The Senate could always know where students awaiting examination resided. In that case an appointment of a skilled local dentist to examine mi-jht be provided for. Professor Shand said the Senate should consider whether, by widening the examination to reports and certificates from outside parsons, would alloot the value of the degree. Dr. Hkctoei said there would be one authority attached to the examining body. He would probably know another member of the profession "at any particular place whose certificate was perfectly trustworthy. The Rev. Mr. Habeas' motion was asived to, and it was agreed that the term for which the Board of Examiners should be referred to the Calendar Committee. MI UTAH V CADETSHU". The Rev. Mr. Haiien.s said the privilege conferred on the Seuate was to nominate a cadet, who should go to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and after a year there receive his commission. The university would have the absolute nomination without further inquiry. The next question related to the preliminary examinations. Geometrical drawing was a compulsory subject. [The recommendations of the committee were laid on the table at a previous sitting.] Mr. Habess believed that this cadetship was a very great and valuable privilege, and would be very highly valued. He moved, that a committee be appointed to consider whether the cadetship could bo competed for this year. Bishop CowiF.said : It will now be possible for a retired oth'cer of the British army, not above the rank of Major, to send a son to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, on the nomination of the University Senate, with the assurance that the said son may obtain a commission in the cavalry or infantry at the end of one year's residence, on the payment of £-10 for ordinary college expenses. Moreover, during the young man's residence at Sandhurst, ho will receive an allowance of 3s a-day. DECREES IX SCIKSCE. Professor Von" Haast brought up the report of the committee upon the extension of the charter of the university, so as to enable it to confer degrees in science. The University Statute 1674-"> was recited, the science degree clause being struck out, in obedience to the representation. The Chancellor was requested to draw up the necessary petition to Her Majesty to extend the charter.

Rev. Dr. Rw.~xr:vbroiightforwardtheseheme for the definition of subjects for examination iu law. He said that tiie reference to the Judges had been without any tangible result. The subject bad hitherto been in a somewhat chaotic state. The speaker referred to the various authorities to be studied.

Kev. Mr. Hap.ens wished to know how far the recommendations made by the committee were in accordance with the recommendations of the examiner in England. The recommendations of the examiner in England were entitled to respect. Tiien there was an objection to recommendations of particular books. He thought the subject should be given to the student, who would use the best books that he could get.

Bishop Cowik said the University of Cambridge onlj- specified the subjects ; it named no books.

l'rofessor Siiavd said the examinations should be such as the Judges would accept.

It was agreed to defer the consideration of this subject, and the Chancellor was requested to again consult the Judges 011 the subject, in terms of the resolution passed in the last session of the .Senate. LL.I'.. EXAMINATION".

On the motion of Professor Brown , , it was agreed to arrange the subjects for the LL.B. examination according to the suggestion of the English examiner The Senate passed the alternative scheme (II.) of scholarships as follows :—"That the .Senate approve of Alternative Scheme No. 11. i. As far as it declares that eight junior scholarships, of ,C4o per annum, tenable for three years, be awarded every year. 2. That senior scholarships, of £60, tenable for one year, be offered to candidates at the time of taking their final examination for the IJ.A. degree. 'A. That the senior scholarships be awarded on the marks obtained in one subject, and not on the aggregate marks obtained in two or more sujc-cts. 4. That effect be not given to these arrangements until the Senate shall have determined the subjects or groups of subjects which candidates may select." PI\*AJ>CIA7. COM:.!ITTKK. The recommendations of the committee relating to increase of fees and to details of expenditure were agreed to. The Senate adjourned at .">.30 p.m.