THE VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3639, 13 January 1899, Page 2

THE VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATIONS. REPORT OF THE EXAMINER. Wo were enabled yesterday to state the names of the wimiers of the Queen’s scholarships in connection with the Victoria College. The scholarships are of the value of £2O for city residents and £4O for those from the country, and the candidates wore restricted within the ago of 14 years. Tho term of scholarship is five years, and tho conditions state that tho holder must enter himself or herself (there is no sex restriction) upon the books of the college, attend the lectures, and diligently prosecute studios to the satisfaction of the Professorial Board, and will bo so exempt from tbo payment of lecture foes. Tho subjects on which candidates were examined wore— English Composition, Grammar, Geography, History (each carrying a maximum of 300 marks), - Science and Drawing (200 marks eacii), Arithmetic (400 marks), and one of tlio following subjects: Botany, Chemistry, Physiology, Domestic Economy, Physics (agricultural science). At least 50 per cent, of marks had to bo secured in English, Arithmetic and Geography. * The total number of candidates actually examined was 144, viz.—B7 from Wellington, 14 from Napier, 13 each from Wanganui and Nelson, C each from Greytown and New Plymouth, and 5 from Westport. In his report Mr Gammoll states that of tho 144 candidates 44 qualified in arithmetic, of whom 40 further qualified in English, whilst of these 40, 26 completed their qualification by obtaining the requisite number of marks in geography. Tho following arc the 26 who qualified, tho first six, reprinted for convenience of comparison, aro tho winners of tho scholarships, and tho others following in the order of their marks:

Speaking as to the character of tho answers as a whole tho examiner reports that they were excellent to an extent which surprised - and gladdened him. After making allowance for those candidates . who should not have presented themselves, the rest of tho work was marked by intelligence, thoroughness, accuracy, and in some subjects oven comprehensiveness, and evidence was given of careful training in tho preparation and arranging of answers. Evidently tho children had been, well trained in this most important art, and so wore able to exhibit their work in bold, symmetrical and transparent grouping, indicative of orderly and methodical minds. The remarks particularly apply to tho 20 candidates who have fully qualified themselves for scholarships, nhd “ of whom it is not too much ,to say,” tho report goes on, “ that every one of them fully deserves a scholarship had the requisite number been at the disposal of the Council.”

Mr Gammell goes on to say:—“Ono thing at least is certain. No ono can peruse such examination papers as those that have been laid before mo on the present occasion without the conviction being forced upon him that the system of, primary instruction as carried son in these districts of the colony (Wellington, Nelson, Westland, Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay ' and Taranaki) is thoroughly efficient.’,’ Passing from tho general to the particular, the -report states that the subjects specially well done were arithmetic and English, although the grammar section of tho must in many cases bo excluded. He qualifies tho remark on the arithmetic by saying that the working , of the sums was not in all cases shown UP, end the more mechanical sums, strangely enough, often proved too much for the candidate, while 'those involving the exercise of more intelligence and judgment were worked , successfully. The weak points in tho English papers wore in the . attempts at paraphrasing and derivation. The answers in elementary science were little short of perfection. In the five, subjects from which candidates - were allowed the choice of ope, ohollll3try or physiology wore tho favourites, arid tho, answers in tho former subject were specially noteworthy, showing thoroughness in teaching the. subject* Geography and history were the, weak points of tho papers, and itho examiner states that it is glarpigly evident that geography needs to receive much more attention and thorough treatment ■on the part of teachers,_ especially ,tho geography of the British islands and' Europe gonorally, which in at least one education district appears to be almost wholly unknown. As to history, where it is known af all, it is still too much in the of Standard 111. In drawing option was allowed to substitute practical solid geometry for either of tho oifior varieties, and 10 candidates from Napier, Wanganui and Nelson took tho option, but no Wellington candidate chose it—“a circumstance * says .the examiner, “not much, perhaps, to be regretted in view of tho fact that tho exorcises, from this district in both freehand and model .drawing wore of an exceptionally high order, some of them, indeed, nearly perfect..' - Mr Gammell suggests that if tho Education Department were' to eliminate solid geometry and - transfer the piano geometry to the sixth standard, a most useful reform would be effected. Tho fact that only 20 qualified for scholarships, although a good performance under existing conditions, will, the examiner thinks, prove, discouraging to competitors m future years. To avoid this be suggests that the minimum of marks re- . quir-cd should he reduced to .33 per cent, such minimum to be insisted on, not in three only, but in every subject of tho examination. Mr Gammell was much , impressed. by the extreme. yonthfulrtesa of the candidates engaged in the examinations; In view-of this ho ventures to suggest: that the programme of tho fifth .standard (instead of the sixth) would bo a more suitable tfesf for the Queen’s Scholarships than that which now ob- ' tains, ~ ■■ • ■

Mr Gammcll acknowledges assistance given in his work by Sir C. P. Powlcs, acting-secretary to tho Council, Mr A. D. Riley, Director of the Technical School, and tho Rev W. J. Hahens, Inspcctor-Gcncral of Schools.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. _ An adjourned meeting of the Victoria College Council was held last night. It was decided to have copies of Mr Gammell’s report printed and circu’atcd amongst members of the Council for discussion at next meeting. " Mr O’Regan complained about the shortness" of tho notice given, of the scholarship examinations,-and it was decided that notice of the next examinations should be given, at" the earliest possible moment,' and in such manner as shall bo decided at the next meeting of the Council. ■ = ; It was resolved, to pay Mr GammeU, £l6O for his services as‘examiner. ; : A took place as to the date " when teaching operations should commence, and a , decision was arrived at" that an endeavour should be made to commence work on or about the 31st March. " ■ ' ■■■ ■ ~The Chairman announced that urraiieoments’ were practically completed for’tho" use of tho Ministerial residence in Tinakerj road as a place in which the'classes could be held pending the erection of a University. " ' - " >

Possible marks, 2000 1. Bertram Joseph Jacobs, Thorndon School, Wellington 1639 2. Clara Millicont Taylor, Stratford School, Taranaki 1571 3. Donald Hall, Clyde quay School, Wellington . 1561 4. Thomas Mitchell, Stafford School, Westland 1501 5. Henry Greathoad Rex Mason, Clyde quay School, Wellington 1531 G. Frank William Gamble, Potono School ' 1477 Frederick A. Kitchingham, Greymouth ... 1462 George Rao Hutcheson, Terraco School, Wellington ... 1453 Thomas R. Lang, District School, Napier ... .., 1443 Meta Gibbs, Clyde quoy School, Wellington ... ... ... 1432 Graham R. Barnett, Tuamarina, Blenheim 1347 Diamond Jenness, Hutt School !!! 1316 Ada M. Powell, Stratford... 1S05 Ina Duglcby, District School, Napier ... 1298 William H. Pottitt, Nelson 1288 Harold Parkinson, Terraco School, Wellington ... 1286 Daniel Gustofson, Carterton 1244 William Gregory, Levin 1229 Frank Harley, Nelson 1229 Lilias G. Sartcn, Wanganui 1225 Margaret Meehan, Cheltenham ... 1219 Edith Wise, Nelson 1216 Frances L. Kiornan, Nelson ... 1208 Andrew , Paterson, "Newtown School, Wellington 1166 John Johnson, Clyde quay School, Wellington* John Dawson, Hastings 1105 1070