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Otago Daily Times, Issue 2005, 3 June 1868, Page 4

Tub College Report, which appeared in the Times on Monday last, wo recommend to tho earnest consideration of our readers. Mr Turnbull, tho Clininn.in of tho Committee, and the gentlemen associated with him, after careful inquiry, unanimously declare that tho proposal to establish a College in Dunodin is timely, reasonable, and required by tho necessitieH of the Colony. In favor of its immediate establishment, they urgo that tho " Colony -has a large European popula- " tion—has immense resources only yet " in the infancy of the'r development—is " a popular field for settlement, which will " cause a steady increase to its popula- " tion, wealth, social, and intellectual " progress ; as, also, that its bracing "climate, so favorable to the develop- " xnent of physical and intellectual " power, '13 likely, in the event of the " proposed College being cstabliHhcd, " to bring, from the adjacent Colonies, " numbers of youth for the benefit of " their health and the completion of their " education." They further state that such an institution would operate favorably on both the High and District Schools, and that its establishment would be hailed with satisfaction by tho groat bulk of tho population in this City and throughout the Province. The Committeu, «a n.i s uv be expected from men of their practical characters, recommend that tho College begin with three Professors, to give instruction in Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Elementary Chemistry, Political Economy, Mental Science, Civil History, English Language and Literature, and the Classics. A little consideration will show that these subjects enter more or less vitally into tho education and training requisite for the surveyor, the engineer, the statesman, the teacher, the clergy iran, and the lawyer—tho higher workers, who are always in increasing demand in Colonies. The Committee rightly consider that there is no immediate necessity for incurring expense in building operations, as a few rooms—say, in the new Poat Office— would, for a time, afford ample accommodation.

We have every confidence that the Council will give the fullest consideration to this report, and proceed to carry out its recommendation as the fitting crown to the educational system now in operation in this Province. History shows that the most enlightened statesmen have always been forward to foster such institutions. With a view to popularise the University of St. Andrews, then newly founded, James I. of Scotland was wont to converse familiarly with students who had distinguished themselves, and to reward them with offices in. the State, or benefices in the Church. The Parliament of one of his successors enacted compulsory education as regarded the oldest sons of the nobility and wealthy freeholders, requiring them, after a full course at a Grammar School, to attend Borne University for a period of not less than three years : thus giving an example of an appreciation of education in an age when it was scarcely to be looked for. Professor Ccsmo Innes, in his Historical Sketches, describes the sceno preabnted in Glasgow, on the day of the foundation of its University, 417 years ago, when the City turned out in holiday attire, the windows and outer stairs decked with green boughs, and the balconies . gay with bright carpets and banners, with the country people crowding in, kindly tenants of the Barony, sturdy yeomen from the Upper Wards, mounted, and with their dames on pillions behind them, willing to please their Bishop, who took a mighty interest in its object; while Maxwells and Hamiltons, Douglases and Oolquhouns, rode in -with a dim. vision of the matter in hand, and of the effects that might result from it to future generations. To the Cathedral they crowded, where, after mass was celebrated, in the presence of the dignitaries

of tho Church, tho Barons and the people, amid tho pealing of the organ, tho clang of trumpets, and clouds of incense, tho far-seeing and good Bishop Turnlmll promulgated tho Papal Bulk of erection and privilege, and solemnly inaugurated the University. From what we know of onr people, wo have no hesitation in saying that tho inauguration of tho Collego will bo a day of gladness for tho opening of a chief fountain of knowledge in the land of their adoption.