The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Ressurexi. SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5107, 30 May 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Ressurexi. SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1885.

It would appear to a calm and dispassionate observer of the negotiations which hare been pending between the Melbourne University and one of the Auckland Professors, that too mnoh fuea has been made over the appointment of Professor Tucker to a position in the Victorian institution. Some stress has been kid on

the statement; that the learned Professor was brought from England on a five years' engagement, and a very fair allowance for his expenses to this colony, was paid, of course, by his employers. If this bo the . case, and the Auckland University authorities are as eager as it would seem they are, surely they can compel their servant to adhere to the terms of his agreement r that is if he does cot feel himself in honor bound — dismissing tho legal side of the question—to do so. The trouble and turmoil which has arisen, would appear to make it that Professor Tucker is one of those heaven-born instructors whose place, if rendered vacant, it would be impossible to fill; now, we really cannot look at the matter in this light. That the worthy man is able and well qualified to fulfil the duties entrusted to him there should be no doubt; if he were not so, it is only reasonable to infer that he would not have been appointed to his present position, but it certainly says little for the educational establishments of Great Britain to, for one moment, insinuate that equally com* petent professors are without the reach of the Auckland or any other university should they be required. The action of the Melbourne institution in appointing Professor Tucker can be taken little exception to. It is not their business to pry into the arrangements made between any other similar establishments and their employes. If an application be made to them for an appointment, or in case of a vacancy occurring in their professorial ranks, the name of a suitable candidate be submitted to them, and they are satisfied with his fitness, their duty ends in appointing him—there is no inquisitorial board existing in connection with Colonial Universities. Should Prof. Tucker elect to take the appointment offered to him in the Melbourne University, doubtless he will do so from a stern' sense of duty to himself, as doubtless the position secured is a superior one in emoluments and status to that he now holds. As has been elsewhere suggested —looking at the matter from a purely business light, and this is evidently what the Professor - has done—all that the Council should see to is, that the expense attendant on introducing Professor Tucker to a lucrative appointment in another colony should be re paid to the Auckland University. Some little delay may be occasioned in selecting a successar for the chair likely to be vacated, but it is—we are convinced — only a matter of sending Home again, when, there is little doubt, an equally capable man will be discovered to fill the "vacant chair." It seems to us that all the fuss made over the threatened departure of one of the staff of the ataff in the Auckland University is unnecessary, and displays a sad want of self-respect on the part of those who have made it. It cannot be gratify ing to the amour propre of the gentleman who has looked after himself before considering the convenience of those to whom he is indebted for bis introduction to colonial notice.