NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3253, 10 July 1872, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS.

to tut; kijitoh

Silt On perusing the list, published by you to-day, of the candidates for the New Zealand University Scholarships, I feel considerably disgusted at the humiliating position occupied by tlione competitors who hail from Outgo. That wo, with our Wisted ■superiority in matters educational, should be, in a contest of this nature, bo disgracefully beaten by Canterbury and Nelson aeoiriH almost incomprehensible. Such, however, «'.";iiiß to bo the fact; and I, and 1 doubt not, others, would be glad to know the reason why. An analysis •of the lint libo'.vH tliat out of .'lB competitor/*, 12 wort; from Otago, viz., 2 from the University, 8 from the High School, and 2 apparently from otherschooh in iJuncdiu ; and 1 find that of tlii-.ie 12 not one is mentioned •■as being distinguished in Classics, and only one, Mr Wilding, from the University, in Mathematics, it sec;ns, therefore, to follow, that in tho#e two most important branches of a higher education, we, or at least the competitors sent- by Otago to the late exnmin.ition, are signally deficient. I ask again, to what is tliis result due '! It Heeinß to me that it must be caused cither by a want: of intelligence, talent, or application, on the {tart of tho candidates themselves, on tin; one hand ; or, on the other, iby a want of capacity, energy, or system, -on the part of their tcacheru. Which, if ■either, in tli« true- solution ?—I am, &c,

.1. I).

Port Chalmers, -July Bth