THE CELTIC CHAIR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4163, 22 June 1875, Page 3

THE CELTIC CHAIR.

TO THE EDITOIi. Siu—There is no doubt that anything that will loosen the constipated purse-strings of our wealthy Celtic brethren must be productive of good, and there seems every reason to believe that, from a philological point of view, the study of the mutterings of even the Australian Blacks can be turned to account scientifically ; but I confess that, as a Celtic colonist, I fail to see what claim the proposed Chair in Edinburgh has upon me. Will the Vice-Chancellor of our local University, or Dr Menzies (another member of its Council), or our worthy Speaker of the Provincial Council (who, though only only ;. mongrel Celt, would fain rank among pure-blooded Gaels), or any other clansman who attended the gathering the other day, answer me any or all of the following questions?— What claim has Edinburgh University to have such a Chair any more than Glasgow, Dublin, or Dunediu ? "Is not this charitable appeal initiated and supported by nearly all the Celtic aristocracy and landed gentry of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales ? What right have these men to expect assistance from their poorer clansmen, who have been driven from their native heath through lordly oppression, porridge, aud bvaxy ? Is it not the fact that our local Univerity underpays its own Professors, ! and that some of its teachers give their services for nothing, simply because there are not funds to pay them? Is not our new Medical School started on a very insufficient basis, just for want of funds ? i Have the above members of the LTnivei-sity . Council interested themselves in any way to I get up subscriptions in aid of any of the much more* clamant necessities of our local Univer- . sity ? s What chance is there of the aforesaid wealthy 5 aristocracy giving a sixpence in aid of our own . more pressing necessities'? After having been 1 driven out of a country that could not support - us, will we be consulting our own self respect - in sending one sixpence to satisfy this beggar's i appeal from men, any one of whom ismore'able 1 to endow a Celtic Chair than all the Celts in i Otago are to contribute a sixpence ? f In conclusion, Sir, I do think if "the insuffit ciency of the education" of Highlanders alluded ■- to in the appeal read to the meeting needed any .1 proof, it is fully borne out by the simplicity of .- these "children of the mist" in being coolly made to " stand and deliver " black mail at the bidding of chiefs, who, though 17,000 miles distant, have evidently yet not lost their tribal sway.—l am, &c, Eor, Eoy.