THE NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6392, 8 August 1882, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir,—ln your issue of to-day you publish the resolutions passed by the New Zealand University Senate, at'its last session, on the.subject of the ceremonies to be observed on the occasion of presenting diplomas. • The practical effect of two of these resolutions will, I think, strike the community of Dunedin with great surprise.

The resolutions to which I refer are: "3. That when unable to present the diplomas in person the Chancellor appoint a Fellow of the University to do so;" and "8. That on the occasion of presenting diplomas it is not desirable that any addresses be delivered, save by the Chancellor and members of the Senate appointed by him." Some time-ago the Rev. Dr Stuart, for reasons, doubtless, satisfactory to himself, resigned his seat on the New Zealand University Senate. The effect of the resolutions, therefore, is that on the occasion of the New Zealand University presenting diplomas to Otago students, the Chancellor of the Otago University can only be present as one of those "persons holding academic degrees, for whom it is not, of course, competent for the Senate to prescribe any rules"; and that in the halls over which he presides tho Chancellor of the University of Qtago is positively disqualified from speaking a single word of public welcome to the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand.

It seems to me quite plain that every legitimate aim of the Senate would have been secured by the insertion in rule S of the words "or ex-Fellow," and in rule 8 of the words "or ex-members." In present circumstances, will the success of the ceremonial not be materially diminished ? , What kind of reoeption can the Chancellor of the New Zealand University anticipate at the hands of the friends of the University of Otago ? In particular, will the members of the Otago University Council sit silent under this affront to their Chancellor?

If I am not mistaken, Professors Sale, Shand, and Macgregor, and' the Revs. Dr Roseby and Salmond were all present at the meeting of Senate at which these resolutions were perpetrated, and surely must have foreseen their effect. If these gentlemen can set themselves right with the public in this matter, I respectfully think they ought to lose no time in doing so. —I am, &c, Decency as well as Obder.

August sth,