SCHOLARSHIPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1755, 15 August 1867, Page 5

SCHOLARSHIPS.

{To the Editor'of the Otago Daily Times.)

Str—Permit me, in answer, to your Correspondent " Civis," to state that until his letter appeared, I was not aware thatthe words "English Universities" appeared on the wrapper of the petition, wliich I presented to the General Assembly, and that I had nothing whatever to do with placing them there. If I might hazard a conjecture, the responsibility rests with the General Government printer; who probably, like very many others, is accustomed to use the word -" English" most innocently, as equivalent to the phrase, "of, or belonging to the United Kingdom." To draw any conclusion from such an error, is like condemning a book for a mistake in the lettering of its binding. In the body of the petition, for which alone I am responsible, the words " English University" occur only once, and then to state a matter of my own personal knowledge, which does not extend to other Universities. The prayer of the petition is, that Scholarships be founded " for the purpose of maintaining young men of this Colony in a University of the United Kingdom." In every other place where Universities are mentioned, they are the Universities of " the Mother Country." 1 was not aware that, as " Civis" says, that I had taken 4' Countryman" '' severely to task." ]f I had done so, 1 should however, have thought it not unjustifiable in the case of a gentleman, who, merely to round a teUing platform period, informs me and all other members of English Universities, that the men whom we most venerate, that our dearest personal friends, that we ourselves must—those at least who are not of "the nobUity"—consider ourselves as of " the snobUiby," or else "miserable recluses."

Further, Sir, "Countryman," a person apparently of some . culture, one, therefore, who might have known better, has not scrupled deUberately to import mto a question, beyond aU others demanding the calmest and most dispassionate consideration from every one who has the sUghtest regard forthe welfare of the community, such unnecessary, such disturbing elements as national jealousies and theological rancour. '..'■'•■

I had, Sir, no wish to take him or any one to task, "severely" or otherwise; but if I was betrayed into using strong expressions, fco which charge, however, I

do nofc plead guilty, I submit that I may at least urge justification. The only regret 1 have iv tho matter is, that I did not Use iii my petition evon wider terms. I do not see why tho Frenchmen, the' Germans, tho Americans and the other foreigners among us, should not, under the' proposed arrangement, sondthoirsons to those universities, which, it may bo presumed, they hold in the same jimt vonoration, as Englishmen and Scotchmen entertain for fcho Universities of thoir own countries.

I havo learned that it has been urged against my proceeding that I "did not take counsel." I did take counsel with nearly all tho mosfc enligbtonod and cultivated mon to whom I had access, andl acted on thoir advice. I also asked the consont of thoso to whom I am officially responsible, and from them I received assurances of assistance, and tho warmest sympathy. I could not wait; for every quartor I saw boys of high promise carried oil" by the tempting offer of ono pound a week, to bo promaturoiy perched on high stools in merchants' officos, or to bo kept fco run errands about the streets of Dunedin.—lain, &c, Frank C. Simmons. Dunedin, 14th August,