AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7003, 28 April 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

MUNIFICENT GIM BY MS. JUSTICE GILLIES. A SPECIAL meeting of the University College Council was held at the College Building, Eden-street, on the Ist of April. Preient: — Mr. Justioe Gillies, Colonel Haultain, Mr. Heskeih, Dr. Campbell, Rev. A. Keid, Rev. D. Bruce. On the 'motion of Mr. Justice Gillies, Colonel Haultain, in the absence of Sir Maurioe O'Rorke, vpj voted to the ohair. After certain business re College and scholarship regulations (whioh will be found reported elsewhere) had been disposed of, Mr. Justice Gillies left the room, and Professors Brown and Thomas, by .request of the Counail, took seats at the Council table. The Chairman then read the following letter :— Rocklands, Epsom, Auckland, 29th March, 1884. To the Coancil of the Auckland University College : Gentlomen.—F r some time before her death, my late wife and myself had under our consideration the perpetuation of the memory of hrr uncle, the late Dr. Andrew Sinclair, K.N., who did so much for natural science In the only days of the colony. We had not quite fixed on the best way of commemorating him when her untimely death devolves 'upon me the duty of carrying - Into effect her wishes. From her uncle she Inherited certain properties which I have sold. I think I shall be carrying out her wishes, a3 well as my own desire, by devoting the proceeds, amounting to £3000, to the foundation of two scholarships for poor scholars in the Auckland University College, upon the following conditions, subject to the approval of the Council :— 1. Each scholarship shall entitle the holder to £100 per annum, tenable for three years, subject to the following conditions: —Any surplus or unapplied income to be accumulated and applied either in founding further scholarships, or by war of prizes to encourage students, as the Council may from time to time determine.

2. The two scholarships hereby founded shall be called respectively, " The Sinclair " and " The Gillies " scholarships, in memory of Dr. a Andrew Sinclair and of my late wife. 5. These scholarships shall be open for competition to all youths, male or female, born, in the colony, who at the' time of competing shaU be between the ages of sixteen and twenty years, and who shall satisfy the CouncU that neither they nor their parents or guardians are able to provide a University education for them without pecuniary aid. 4. The competitive examination of candidates for these scholarships shall bs in natural science only, including mathematics, but excluding classics, philosophy, and theology in any shape, and shaU be con* ducted by the professors of the Auckland University Collage for the time being, of mathematics, chemistry, mechanics, biology, geology, natural history, botany, electricity, and allied subjects. 6. Special weight shall be given by the examiners to attainments and capacity in natural history aud botany for the Sinclair scholarship, and in chemistry, biology, and electricity for the GilUes scholarship. 6. The examiners shall be entitled to certify to the CounoU that no sufficiently qualified candidate has appeared, whereupon the Council may decline to award the scholarship untU the next competition. 7. The holder of each scholarship shall be entitled to payment of a proportionate amount of hiß scholarship at the end ol each collegiate term on production of. a certificate from the professors under whom he has studied, of his diligent atteouaace and satisfactory progress in his studies. FalUng such certlfica e, or on an adverse report o( the professors, the Council may, by resolution, cancel and forfeit the scholar, ship. 8. The Council shall have ample power to make regulations for carrying into efleet, from time to time, the wishes hereinbefore expressed of the founder, special regard being had to the last paragraph of condition No. 3. 0, Conditions two, three, four, and five shall be unalterable, the others shaU be subjeot to the discretion of the Council. Upon informing me that yon have accepted the abo re proposal, 1 shall placo the mm of £3000 at your disposal, as you may direct. I trust that you wUI, without delay, take steps to make it productive, and to afford intending students at the CoUege tha earliest possible opportunity of availing themselves of this foundation.—l have, 4c„ Thomas B. Gillies.

Tha Ohaxbman : I regret very much> gentlsmen, the absence of Sir Maurice O'Rorke on this occasion. There are few men better able than himself to give apt and happy expression to their feelings. lam unfortunately of a very different disposition. This is not the first oooasion, as I think we are all aware, that Mr. Justice Gillies haß exhibited his munificence in endeavouring to promote the study of natural soience. The mention of Dr. Sinclair's name reminds me of many very pleasant hours I passed with him in former years. I used to follow him as a pupil through the forests, over the hills, and along the beaches of Hew Zealand, listening to his instruction, and enjoying his soolety whilst he was engaged continually in the collection of specimens of subjeots of natural history of every description, not simply for hiß own gratification, not to form a museum which hti oould retain himoelf under his own eye, but to send home to the institutions in England, where anything went for the benefit of the student j of science in the mother country. I knew also his niece, the late Mrs. Gillies, very well, and I know, the interest she took in everything of the kind in whioh her uncle wag so wrapt up. I must say tjiat if he ooald know how the sums he left were about to be disposed of—for the encouragement of pursuits that he so greatly loved—it would be very great satisfaction to him. I hope some other member of the Council will have something to say on this subjeot, and that a resolution will ba moved accepting the propositions made by Mr, Justice Gillies, in suitable terms. Professor Bbown said : Ai a professor of soience in this college, I feel extremely indebted to Mr. Justice Gillies for the liberality with whioh he proposes to enoourage soientifio studies here, and I do not doubt but that the names of Mrs. Gillies and of her unale, Dr. Sinclair, will long be remembered with gratitude in thiß colony. The conditions proposed are, I think, in the main, those whioh would suggest themselves' to anyone who had the interests of soience at heart. I might remark that I somewhat regret the absolute exclusion of classics,* philosophy, and kindred aubjeots, but. this is scarcely a time when we should oritioise too closely the letter whioh has just been read to us, As it has been suggested that I Bhould express an opinion upon the matter, I may say that X am uncertain *s to whether £80 a year would not be a sufficient sum to devote to one scholarship. „ Professor Thomas : We are all so much indebted to Mr. Justice Gillies for his munificence in founding these scholarships, and doing so much to encourage natural science here, that it seems hardly right to criticise details. I think perhaps it would be desirable, if in paragraph No. 3 Mr. Justice Gillies defined more exactly what he means by "natural history." Formerly it included a variety of subjeots, but its meaning has gradually been narrowed, and now the term has been given up altogether. I am not quite clear as to what is moant by the term in the paragraph; but I presume that it will be some subject such as is recognised by ordinary scholastio institutions, and recognised alno by the University of New, Zealand. I think perhaps it would be well that the regulations should be distinot as to the subjeots upon whioh rpeclal stress is to be laid. Mr. Hksketh : I not know that there is anythipg more to say on >>n occasion of this kind, unlesß it is simply to express one's "eelings and it does seem to me that this should be done briefly—for the very handsome donation ; and I think, unless there is some organic objection, if I may so use the term, we should acknowledge it in a very handsome way. I quite agree with Professor Thomas, that there should be no doubt about the subjeots. I thought of that when wo were discussing the" question of mental soienoe. Perhaps it would be as well to refer the point to Mr. Justice Gillies, and 'd it made dear beyond doubt. Dr. OaMFBELIi then proposed the -following resolution The Council of the University College, having heard the letter addressed to it by Mr. Justioe Sillies, haß to express its deep sense of gratitude for the enlightened liberality and good feeling whioh has dictated the presentation of the valuable endowments of the aoholarßhipß to this University, and that these be aooapted oil the conditions named by the donor."

The Rev. Mr. BBtJOE had no doubt that Mr. Justice Gillies would be agreeable to make any alterations in the terms of what he called the unalterable conditions, if the altarationa which it was desirable should be made were pointed out by experts; Mr.. Hesseth seconded the motion, , and it was carried unanimously.