S.—IB

2

the course of medical studies, certificates from professors who have their recognition. A communication recently received from the Royal College of Surgeons, London, bases its refusal of immediate recognition on the want of assurance as to the completeness of our course of medical instruction. This will appear by the letter of the Eoyal College of Surgeons accompanying this report. We feel confident, however, that we shall receive recognition for our two first medical years (anni medici). We still keep in view the expediency of establishing a complete and efficient Medical School at as early a period as the means at the disposal of the Council will permit, and I am desired to assure your Excellency that the exertions of the Council to this end will not be relaxed. Soon after the end of the session of 1876, the Professor of Anatomy and Physiology (Dr. Coughtrey) sent in his resignation, at tho same time expressing his willingness to continue his functions for a time. But as the vacation had then several months to run, and as there was only one student of anatomy, the Council accepted his resignation .at once. No time was lost in taking steps to secure the services of a well-qualified anatomist in the late Professor's place. We put ourselves in communication with tho gentlemen who had for many years acted as Agents for the Province of Otago, who had from the first institution of the University evinced great zeal in promoting its success, and had rendered great service to the University on several occasions, always acting with the advice of eminent professional men. The result was that on the 9th of April, a telegram, dated 3rd of April, was received announcing the appointment of Dr. John Halliday Scott, M.B. and CM. Edinburgh. The Agents further announced that Dr. Scott was prepared to sail on the 3rd of May, but that he asked for another month, which the Council at once granted. As Dr. Scott cannot reach Dunedin until the session has more than half expired, the Council contemplates the possibility of extending the term into the vacation, should the requirements of the students of anatomy render such a course necessary, so that such students will not lose a term. No step will be taken in this matter, however, until Professor Scott has had an opportunity of conferring with the Professorial Board, and it is .almost unnecessary to add that, if such extension be deemed necessary, it will be confined to the class or classes of the Professor of Anatomy. Several changes have taken place in the Council and in the lecturers since the last report. The late Chancellor (Sir John Eichardson) during the last session resigned not only his office of Chancellor, but his seat in the Council. His late colleagues are sensible of the constant interest which Sir John Eichardson evinced for the welfare of the University, and they regard his loss with unfeigned regret. At the same time tho Hon. Dr. Menzies, who on many occasions rendered considerable service to the University in his place in Parliament, sent in his resignation. The vacancies in the Council caused by these resignations were filled up by the appointment of James Macandrew, Esq., M.H.R., and James Fulton, Esq , R.M.; and H. S. Chapman, Esq., late Judge of the Supreme Court, was unanimously elected Chancellor. Soon afterwards the Council was deprived of the services of Dr. Edward Hulme, by his sudden death. He was one of the earliest medical practitioners in Otago, and had served as a member of the Council from its first organization, and, as well on private as public grounds, the members of the Council deplore his loss. It is almost unnecessary, and indeed only formal, to remind your Excellency that the vacancy caused by the deatli of Dr. Hiitlme has been filled up by the appointment of Mr. Justice Williams, an appointment which is extremely gratifying to all the members of the Council. Just before the commencement of the session of 1876, the University was deprived of the services of their Law Lecturer, Mr. Stout, by his election as a member of the House of Representatives. It is due to him to say that he performed the duties of his office with zeal, and to the satisfaction of the Council. The Council appointed in his place Mr. Frederick Revans Chapman, of the Inner Temple, barristcr-at-law, of whose zeal and efficiency the Council is also satisfied. As in the case of Mr. Stout, Mr. Chapman has been appointed a member of the Professorial Board. On the 28th of November, 1876, the Council received a communication from the Factor of the Board of Property of the Otago Presbyterian Church, to the effect that they were in a position to endow a second professorial chair in the Department of Literature find Arts in the University of Otago, and the Council was requested to suggest the particular faculty, or subject of teaching, which they would recommend. The Council accordingly, on the llth of December, passed a resolution, the substance of which was that they recommended a chair of natural science should be established. But when the Presbyteritin Synod met, the necessary steps for the object contemplated could not be taken in accordance with the constitution, before the Synod of next year shall assemble. In the meantime the Council was deeply impressed with the necessity of rendering as complete as possible all the branches of science usually deemed to be essential to a full course of medicaal education, such as botany, zoology, and other branches of natural history. Captain Hutton, the Curator of the Otago Museum, had been lecturing iv some brauches of natural science, to the gretit advantage of the students, and the Council has since secured his valuable services permanently, by appointing him Professor of Natural Science. The library of the University has lately been considerably augmented by the acquisition of the greater part of the library of the late Provincial Council, which has been handed over to the University by order of the General Government. The library of the University now consists of upwards of 4,000 volumes. The scientific portion, selected for the most part by the several professors, is very ample ; Jind that which is commonly called the reference portion, such as dictionaries, encyclopaedias (general tind special), and scientific works in series, is equally so. Nor is the historical or linguistic portion scanty. This library has been formed partly out of the funds of the University, partly out of very liberal private subscriptions, amounting to about £1,000, aud ptirtly out of contributions voted by the late Provincitil Council of Otago. The Council of the University was informed that the Provincial Government had placed upon their last estimates (which were never passed) a sum of £600 for the library, which sum has been calculated upon the amount of private contributions and the contingent of the' University. But, in communicating on the subject with the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, the Council was informed that the money was not available, and that in the copy of the estimates iv the possession of the General Government no such ttmount was to be found. The Council is not without hope that