THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1573.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3634, 27 September 1873, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1573.

University matters have occupied, as was to be expected, a somewhat prominent place in.,the. legislation of the Session. It is evident that the present position of the two Universities cannot remain unaltered, and, whether this year or next, that steps must be taken to simplify the present anomalous state of things. On the one hand, we have the University of New Zealand deliberately defying the law which gave it birth, and contravening almost every regulation of the Act which created it; on the other, the Otago University, without the status it deserves, working in unobtrusive quiet, and denied the few privileges which it requires for its proper efficiency. We do not doubt that Mr Brads haw was right in withdrawing his motion, recommending the Otago University for a Eoyal Charfcei\ In the present temper of the House, and considering the small Provincial' jealousies which would have secured many votes in opposition to his proposal, he acted wisely; though we confess to a regret that the matter was not brought to an issue, so that we might know who are our friends and who our foes. We understand that the Government have given an assurance that they will not recommend one University without the other to the Colonial Secretary, and thus we are secured against the danger which, many of the friends of our local institution dreaded, viz., that during the recess the younger University should, have caught us napping, and obtained the Royal wqn-imatur to our great injury. The way being thus cleared, and time being given for deliberate negotiation, we believe that the affiliation of our own institution to that of the Colony may very possibly be accomplished. It seems likely that the New Zealand University Council will enter upon the question in a very different spirit from the high handed and domineering temper which frustrated, all attempts at negotiation two years ago. They have found by experience that though they may fancy themselves to be fit representatives of the higher education of the Colony, and -admirably calculated to administer and direct the studies of the more intelligent of its youthful members, the country by no means esteems them at their own exorbitant price, and could very well dispense with them altogether. On the other hand the Ofcago University Council have found that, partly from local jealousy, partly from a distrust of a Scotch University education, they are are not so well supported in the House as they thought la fact it appears that neither University can beat the •other-in the aretfa of the Assembly, and that they must either go on sparring with each other, or else they must join forces arid combine the excellences of both institutions in one strong phalanx. Briefly, what we have to give in any project of union is a | local izsd teaching body, and a very strong one; what we have to receive is the probability of a Royal Charter.. Though neither matter is unimportant, it will be clear to all those who have the cause of education really at heart, fchat our marriage dot is of incomparably more value than the nominal honour which we may gain by union. Still, we are far from "despising the value of a Royal Charter, as bearing a certain value in the eyes of those who are notvery well acquainted with the internal working of our College. Governments are changing and* uncertain bodies, and though the present Executive maybe inclined to deal righteously in the matter, a very few changes* in their personnel might cause a change in their views of justice. j

.We understand that, taking all the circumstances into consideration, the Otago Council, through its Chancellor, have offered certain general terms of union which Mr Tancued and his confreres have been pleased to look upon with kindly eyes, and which will probably form the basis of affiliation or union. Before anything certain is determined upon we hope that our Council will scan with great care that part of the agreement which has regard to the future examinations for degrees. It must be remembered that on this matter will depend to a great extent the whole character of the future teaching given not only in our College, asit will be then, but in the High School, and even in the Grammar Schools. Schools must in the long run work up to the University to which they send their best pupils, and any neglect of this point now would only secure future catastrophes of tie same nature as that which has befallen our own High School for the past two years. We are aware, for instance, that it has been said again and again in Wellington that our chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy is only an ingeniously contrived method for inculcating Calvinism, and consequent 3?resbyterianism. However ridiculous such an accusation may seem to us down here, it is worth remembering as a sign of a tendency to alter the direction °of our curriculum, and require possibly from candidates ior a degree, a greater proficiency in frowsy-Qreek lore., while the more modern branches of learninoare neglected. In the regulations, too^ issued for the New Zealand Scholarship examinations next year, the subjects are so arranged that no knowledge of Latin will be of any avail without a certain competent knowledge of Greek. To insist upon this is simply to exclude a considerable number, and those not the worst, of the candidates altogether from any chance of success. It is quite evident that when aboy's education stops early he cannot acquire any knowledge of Greek to be of real value to him in after life, while the Latin Accidence (even though indifferently learned) will be of sterling value in the acquirement of almost every modern language. We shall advert to this matter on another occasion; we only wish to wave

our local Council that the management of the examination, appointment of examiners, and detail of subjects to be brought up by candidates, must be carefully considered in any agreement for affiliation.