EDUCATION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3246, 8 July 1871, Page 2

EDUCATION.

Another matter of colonial interest is tho action by the Council of the University of New Zealand at its first meeting. The following resolutions, moved by the Bishop of Christchurch, were carried in sub.committee of the New Zealand University Council : — That whereas the Council has affirmed that arrangements should be made by which one university alone should exist in New Zealand, with affiliated colleges, this Council earnestly recommends that the University of Otago should be affiliated to or brought into union with the University of New Zealand, with full control over its endowments, and over those which may hereafter be conferred on it from out of the consolidated revenue of the colony. That the University of Otago, thus affiliated, should have, under the direction of its own Council, the local administration of the Otago University, and that the members of the said Council be constituted a corporation. That the power of conferring degrees rest with the University of New Zealand alone, and that arrangements be made with the affiliated College or University of Otago, under which its professors and tutors may form a part of the board of examiners. Whereupon the following resolutions were passed by the Council of the Otago University and forwarded for the consideration of the Council of the New Zealand University. Ist. That the New Zealand University Act provides distinctly, as a term of amalgamation, that the University of Uevv Zealand shall be established at Dunedin ; whereas the resolutions of the Council make no reference to its location at Dunedin or in any other place, and therefore aro not consistent in that respect with the letter or the spirit of the act. 2nd. Thafc the resolutions of the Council do nofc touch the question on which this Council has felt it necessary to lay considerable stress— namely, the constitution of the Council on amalgamation. 3rd. This Council therefore respectfully request the Council of the New Zealand University to give its consideration to the above points, and to favor this Council with its opinions on the several terms of amalgamation contained in the proposals already submitted. 4th. That this Council earnestly desires the union of the Universities of New Zealand and Otago in terras of tho said act. sth. That this Council is in favor of the affiliation of Colleges possessing the means of imparting advanced instruction in classics, mathematics, and philosophy, and of arrangements by which examinations for degrees shall be conducted, in places to be hereafter named, by examiners chosen every third year by the Council of the University. The Council of the New Zealand University, in reply, sent the following resolutions : — Ist. That the University Act, 1870, provides for an agreement betweon the University of New Zealand of the one part, and the University of Otago of the other part, whereby the dissolution of the University of Otago shall be effected. 2nd. That the said Act provides, further, that if the Council of the University of Otago, within sis months from the passing of the act, enter into such agreement, the University of New Zealand shall be established at Dunedin ; but, in default thereof, that the University of New Zealand may be founded at such other place as the Governor may select* thus leaving it optional with the Governor, after the lapse of six months, to establish the University, or not to establish it, as he shall deem expedient, at any particular place in the colony. 3rd. That it appears to this Council undesirable for the present, until further

i experience of the working of the Univer- * sity shall have been obtained, and larger , opportunities afforded for forming a correct judgment of the requirements of the ' colony as a whole, td fix upon any particular place in the colony as the perma- , nent site of the University. 4th. That for the present this Council shall confine its action to the founding of lectures in affiliated institutions and of University scholarships, to be competed for by youths within the colony, and that for this purpose the selection of any definite location for the University is not necessary. . 6th. That with regard to the question of the constitution of the Council on * amalgamation, this Council does not believe that any alteration in this respect is required by the circumstances of the case, nor is such alteration permitted by the wording of the act, which makes no provision for amalgamation, but only for the dissolution of the University of Otago. 6th. That this Council concurs with the University of Otugo in earnestly desiring the union of the Universities of New Zealand and Otago, but only on terms which will be fair to all Colleges which may be affiliated. 4g| ( Accordingly, the Council in terms of the * fourth resolution have advertised in all the colonial journals that the sum of £1,500 has been appropriated by the University for the subsidising, in affiliated scholastic or collegiate institutions of professorships, the precise nature of which will be determined hereafter ; and, also, that £1,080 will be awarded for twenty scholarships in several different branches of education. A noteworthy feature in the regulations is that proficiency in any one branch will be rated as of higher value than a superficial knowledge in several branches; The Otago University, we leara by telegraph, was formally opened on the sth inst, with great eclat, Major Richardson, the Chancellor, delivering the inaugural discourse. The University opens with three Professors of distinguished attainments, and established reputation. The question of education has been very fully debated in colonial journals throughout the month, and the General Government are preparing a colonial measure, to be submitted to the Assembly. The subject is beset here with peculiar difficulties, some parts of the colony having made great provision, and some little, if any, for the education of the people. The religious and denominational questions, added to the difficulties as to vested rights, sure to arise when the colony seeks to make provincial educational institutions colonial in their character, not to speak of local jealousies ever ready to crop up, will render the task of the Government no easy one. The Government are, we understand, giving the matter their most anxious consideration, and the Premier, it is understood, will take charge of the bill in the Assembly. The Colonial Treasurer is expected in Wellington by the 17th , August, the Assembly meeting on the 14th. Extensive alterations and improvements are being made in the Parliament buildings and the Governor's residence is completed and furnished. It is expected that Lady Bowea will accompany his Excellency and remain in Wellington. A telegram haß just been received, stating that the Earl and Countess Belmore have just arrived from Sydney, and are guests with his Excellency at Auckland.