QUESTIONS FOR DECISION BY THE SENATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5557, 3 March 1886, Page 3

QUESTIONS FOR DECISION BY THE SENATE.

A. — interpretation of statutes. 1. The Statutes Prescribing the Course in Science. — Several letters have been received during the year from graduates in arts. Borne of whom desired to proceed last November, by examination to a degree in science, whilst others wished that their arts course should be accepted, and that a science degree should be conferred upon them. It appeared to me that the postponement by the Senate last year (Minutes, pp. 46, 47), of all resolutions as to the course in science of any but undergraduates, precluded any action at present in this direction, and I was therefore unable to satisfy the wishes of the applicants. I lay the letters received before the Senate for its decision. Connected with the above applications are the questions whether the taking of honours in science qualifies for the degree oJ^ M.A., and what ia the position of candidates in science as regards senior scholarships. My attention has also been drawn to the fact that, whilst the statute "honours in science" declares that "the scope of all subjects shall be the samo " as for honours in arts, tho prescription of subjects in the two is different, and teachers have been in doubt as to the work required in science. Some difficulty was experienced by the Eecess Committee on the entrance examination as to whether candidates should be taken to pass for matriculation in arts or science. Only one gave notice of his intention to matriculate in science, but there were others who, failing in the subject *• Latin," could not matriculate in arts, and were yet in a position to matriculate, if they chose, in science, having passed in seven other subjects. Others, again, had so passed that they were qualified either in science or in arts. It is desirable, I think, that the Senate should decide whether candidates in arts failing to pass should be entitled to matriculate in science. A decision is also desirable as to the status of successful candidates for junior scholarships, undor similar circumstances. 2. The Statute " Terms and Lectures." — Undergraduates exempted from attendance at lectures havo applied to me for information as to the standard of their annual examinations under Section 11. of this Statute. In the absence of any prescription by the Senate,

I have been unable to give them this inj formation, i Four students of this class J came up during the year, and I arranged ' for their examination ; but I could not lay \ down any definite rule for the guidance of the Examiners. The matter would present no difficulty if the different Affiliated Colleges would agree, on receipt of the candidates' fees, to conduct these exami- . nations ; but one of th^e Colleges declines to j do so, and some difficulty has resulted in • carrying out the provisions of the Statute. ; In view of the fact that the number of [ these candidates may be expected to in- . crease every year, I suggest to the Senate ; that provision should be made for the ! appointment of and payment for the j requisite places, Examiners, and Supervisors, and for a standard of examination. J 3. Biology for the Medical Preliminary Examination. — The definition of this subject, to which I referred in my last report, i was not settled by the Senate at its last i Session, and is still a matter of aoubt (see Minutes, 1885, p. 44). The Examiner whom j I appointed in biology last November set papers in both zoology and botany ; but it ; might be well that the Senate should ■ define the subject more particularly. 4. A j candidate for the B.A. degree in November i mistook the date of examination in one of j the papers, but was allowed to take the i paper subsequently, and I have for- | warded his answers with the rest to j England, subject to the decision of i the Senate. I submit the declaration ! which he has made on the matter. I 5. A candidate in Physical Science for the J B.A. degree last November was unable, as j he resided where there was no affiliated i College, and as it was impracticable for j him to procure the requisite apparatus, to ; pass a practical examination before a ' teacher in any affiliated College as pres- I cribed by the Statute " The Degree of j Bachelor of Arts" (Section I., Clause 9, Sub- j Bection), I permitted him to pass this ex- j amination before a teacher in the town j where he resided, subject to the decision o* the Senate. B. — QUESTIONS POSTPONED FROM LAST SESSION. 1. The Disaffiliation of St John's College. — This matter was not decided by the J Senate (see Minutes, 1885, pp. 42, 43). 2. The Medical Preliminary Examination. — i The subject Biology has already been men- j tioned, but there is also a proposal (see j Minutes, 1885, pp. 43, 44), for tho addition j of Physics, and for the making of all the subjects compulsory, consideration of which was deferred until this session. 3. The Course in Science. — In addition to the questions already referred to, there have to be considered this year Clauses 5, 6 and 7 of the Eeport of the Select Committee on this subject (Minutes of 1885, p. 46). 4. The Examination of Teachers for Classification. — The Senate has to consider the letter from the Education Department on this question (see Minutes, 1885, p. 49). C. — SUGGESTED PROVISIONS. I would ask the Senate to make provision for the payment, on a definite scale, of the examiners and supervisors of the different medical examinations : at present I have had some difficulty in arranging for this. A regular scale of remuneration for all such services is desirable.