REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON COLLEGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2003, 1 June 1868, Page 5

REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON COLLEGE.

The following report was laid bc-forethe Provincial Council on the 2olh/May:— Youv Committee havo given the important subject remitted to them their careful consideration ; havo rnken a large amount of evidence- from a -variety of ■witnesses, whom they, believed "wore competent to t»ivo an opinion am the matter : nnd after reviewing the wholo rul 'jeet, and giving full" weight to the views of these who think the schemo.preuiaUiro, they have unanimously arrived at tho conclusion thai? the time Jus now corio when tho establishment of Oiillejio in ihis City may, with propriety, bo proceeded with. Tho reasons in favor of tho movement are, in tho opinion of your Committee, both numerous and conclusive. The Colony now contains upwards of 200,000 of an European, population ; haa Immense resonrcca only yet m iha infancy *A their dcvelop-ment; is a popular field fay settlement, which will cause a stendy increase to itr. population, wealth, social and intellectual progress ; while its •magnificent climate, so favorablo to tho Oeveloproent of physical and intellectna) power, jrivea it nn immense advani.aga over Australia, and leads to tho belief that'numbers of youth from the adjacent Colonies will, in tho event of the proposed College being j estaMiahed, come hero for the benefit of [ their health and to compete their €4ueft~

tion. Such an institution would, in the opinion of your Committee, also create a healthy stimulus in both tho High and District Schools ; and its establishment bo ; hailed with satisfaction by tho great bulk of tho population, in this City and throughout the Province. It is aleo an ascertained fact tliat nuraters of young men aro regular]}' sent out of the Colony to Europe, to complete their studies, and fit them for occupying positions in tho learned professions in their adopted country. Again, there arc, no doubt, many others whose parents cannot afford t« incur the expense of Bond in" them to Britain or elsewhere, but who would take advantage of a College in thoColony to obtain a higher education thanat present they aro able to do ; and the country would thus have tho benefit in after years of the talents and learning of many a promising youth, who has distinguished himself at the District and High Schools, and who only wants a Collego education to uvtka him an ornament to the Pulpit, the Seriate, or the Bar. This Province beinjj also the wealthiest and most advanced in tiio Colony, and Dunedin bcin;^ the largest centre of a nettled population, your Committee consider it the most suitable place for inaugurating an Institution such as that proposed ; and they aro unanimous in believing that tho necessary outlay on the part of the Province will bo more than compensated for by the advantages arising from the residence :un<>!i;_;nt us of men of culture Mich as Professors : the inducements that would be held out for respectable families to seiOc in our midst, from other parl.s of the Colony, Australia, and i Europe, and many other indirect bonelii.i ! which it in unnecessary to point out. There is a!.w reafson to believo that, unions early action » taken by Otaco on tho subject, some of the other Provinces will take -he lead in this important matter. Your Committee are of opinion that there i« no mtccshily at present for any expense being incurred in building operatioiuyand that two or three rooms—if they can bo secured--in tho new Post Oiiice would meet all the requirements of the case in tho meantime. Three professors, they ■ elieve, wuaild ho Miliicient. to ft.irt with, ;nnl the selection ourht. to bo entrusted to the Home Agents of the I Province. Tho majority of the witnesses examined .seemed tv think that one chair should be for Clar-sica, Kn^lish Lrin:;uarro, Literature, and lliV,tory'; another for Mathematics (mire arid applied), Chemistry, and Nutural Science; »ml the third, Mental Philosophy and Political Economy. Without expressing any decided view as to the different brandies which should at first be tu-.ij.Oit, your Committee nre stron;:ly of opinion that the great aim of <ho proposed institution .should bo that, the instruction given Li of a popular and practical character, kucli as would meet the requirements of tho «reat'Kt number, and be within c;ts;y reach of ;ill the youth of this Colony who desire to push" their education beyond the limits provided for by the admirable educational system now in operation in this Province. Towards the maintenance of the Institution, there appears to be a fund in the h.iiids of the Trustees for Religions and Educational purposes, which, by Ordinance, is to be applied to the* endowment, of a secular eliair in any College that may he cfifsil.Hi.hed here, and this fund would Wnt once available. To supply whatever J3 otherwise mcesaary, your Committee Concur in the proposal contained in His Honor's address to tho Council to set apart 100,000 acres of tho pastoral lands of the Province, and invest it in Trustees as a permanent endowment. Such lands should lxj selected from country of a purely pantora! character, not likely to bo required for settlement ; and as the lands bo- selected would make tho runs of which they are composed of much greater value, your Committee would suggest that all country -within the Province which on investigation is found suited for tho purpose be tendered for by the present pastoral tenants, or some other plim adopted, with the view of obtainingas largo a bonns as possible. T6«ciUTy out tho views entertained by your Committee, th«> following resolutions are therefore recommended for adoption bythe CVnmcU, viz, :— 1:. That the time lias arrived when it is d«sirab)o that ftteps should be taken to establish a .College- in this Cit\'. 2. That 100.000 acres of tho Pnaiornl Lands of tho Province should be reserved, and vevted in Trustee* ivs a jjermanent en- !; dowment to the Fnfititution ; . and that) an j! Ordinance shonld ho introdnccd by iha dovernment during the present Scujoa of the Council, to carry this mtoctTuct. '.I, That aa booh as such Ordinance hri passed tho Council, and the nccca*a-y nr-,-rangwncnts can be made, steps bo bvhen to secure the cervices of Uirco competent I'rofessorn. 4. That the branches of education taught by the diflerent Chairs should be of a tliorongbly practical character, »uite<l to tho circumstances of tho.Colony, aiul ca'cabited to meet the requirements of tho ynutha vho will, in fnture years, take a more or lesa prominent part in Us affairs. i>. Tliat tbe luatitutioa bo under tho management of a Council of ei^hfc or ten, who shall not be subject to political enutrol.