UNIVERSITY SENATE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 46

UNIVERSITY SENATE

AUCKLAND, February 28. jAt the meeting of the University Senate to-day, the report of the Paw Committee recommending certain alterations in the law examinations' was adopted. The report of the Committee in Engineering was brought tip. The recommendations made a complete alteration in the engineering examinations. The Senate considered the report in committee. The Committee on Engineering presented a report embodying several alterations in the engineering course. The principal feature of the report was that it proposed, to create a new degree, viz., B.Sc., in electrical engineering. The Senate accepted the recommendation to create Hie now degree. it was also decided to consolidate the lour engineering examinations into two, the first examination not to be taken tili the end of the candidate’s second academic year, and the second examination not to be taken till the end of the candidate’s fourth academic year, with a proviso that portions of each examination may be taken at the end of the first and third years respectively. The details of the engineering course were also considerably altered, particularly with reference to mathematics, (for which different papers are now* to be set for scholarships and for honours) and physical science (the papers for which are to be raised in all engineering branches to the standard of the B.A. degree). A telegram was received from A. E. Currie, Christchurch, wlio 'was third on the list of junior scholars, relinquishing his scholarship, and in accordance with the ordinary practice, the registrar was instructed to offer the scholarship to D. S. Chisholm, who was first on the list - of unsuccessful candidates. The Senate, on consideration of Sir Robert Stout’s motion for the introduction of the subject of education among the subjects prescribed for the B.A. degree, passed the following resolution: —“The Senate affirms its conviction of the importance of having teachers instructed in pedagogy, and desires that the subject should as early as possible receive a. recognised place in the curriculum of study, whether by the appointment of lectureships or by its being attached to the chair of mental science; and that a representation to this effect be made to the councils of the several university colleges. The Senate is of opinion that although the subject of pedagogy cannot be regarded as an equivalent to any of tbe already recognised subjects for degrees, an arrangement might be made for its being taken as an extra- subject by teachers who are also taking mental science, and in event of their passing, a special certificate might be issued of proficiency in that subject.” The Committee on Authors and Periods reported that they were of opinion that the ceremony of conferring degrees should in all cases take place in public. They recommend that a statute be made as follows : —“Every degree gained by examinations shall be conferred in public by the chancellor or a deputy appointed by * him, either at a public meeting summoned for the purpose at one of the four principal towns of the colony or at a meeting of the University Senate.” The recommendation was adopted. The Committee on Authors and Periods recommended that the subject for the Macmillan Brown prize for the year 1902 be “Tbe Future of Imperialism.” The recommendation was adopted. Dr Salmond pointed out that this essay had to be dealt with in an imaginative manner. He thought it might be possible to get an alteration so useful Vo the students. AUCKLAND, March 1. The University Senate at its meeting to-day agreed to nominate Andrew B. Fryer, who* passed the first section of the examination of the B.A. degree, to a commission in the Imperial Cavalry or Infantry of the Line, provided he is in other respects qualified under the War Office regulations. This is in connection with the 1851 Exhibition Scholarship. The Senate decided to ask its agent in England to collect information as to the privileges* granted by various British universities to students of the New Zealand University. Professor Cook, the mover of the resolution adopted by the Senate on Tuesday to the effect that junior scholars must devote their whole time to university work and not hold any salaried appointment, asked leave to slightly alter the i esolution. He wished to amend it so that it would read “That all junior scholars will be expected to devote their whole time to university work during trm time,” the latter part ,of the resolution as last adopted being dropped. Standing orders iwere read to the effect that the adoption of a resolution by the Senate was equivalent to the second reading t of a Bill; that resolutions passed by the Senate had to be referred! to a committee to prepare a Bill thereon; and that the Bill must be considered in committee of the whole Senate. It was then agreed to go into com. mittee on the Bill. The committee reported l in favour of

the Bill amended, so that the resolution should apply only to term time. The Senate divided on the question, with, the result that the Bill ivas 'thrown out by nine votes to eight, tli r voting being as follows: Ayes, B—Professor Brown, Mr Cohen Professor Cook, Professor Sale, Dr Scott, Professor Shand, Professor Thomas, and the Chancellor. Noes, 9—The Vice-Chancellor, Bishop Cowie, Dr Fitehett, Mr Hay, Sir Mamie© o’Rorke, Sir James Prenderp. Hon W. Rolleston, Dr Salmond ’and Sir Robert Stout. The University Senate’s session at Auckland closed on Saturday. The nexc annual session will be held at Dunedin in February, 1902.