UNIVERSITY SENATE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5213, 1 March 1904, Page 2

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Tho [Now Zealand University Senate resumed Its session yesterday afternoon, tho Chancellor, Sir Hobert Scout, presiding. ENLARGEMENT OF CHAPTER. Tho Statutes Committee recommended; "That the Government bo asked to introduce a Sill to enable tho University to grant the degrees of Doctor of Literature, Piaster or Laws, Master of Surgery, Master of Science, Bachelor and Doctor of Divinity, Bachelor, Master and Doctor, in tho following branches of applied science;—Agriculture, veterinary medicine, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, mining engineering, metallurgical engineering, public health, dental surgery, commerce, and naval architecture. That tho Bill contain a clause validating tho statutes hitherto made by the'University with respect to Bachelor and Doctor of Science in Agriculture and the various branches of engineering. Tho Chancellor enumerated the denominational difficulties that faced the Senate by tho establishment of tho Divinity degree proposed by the committee, particularly in regard to the question of examiners.

Eov A. Cameron said a largo number of students felt that they wore being unfaiiflly treated in not being able to go forward ±or this degree, and ho instanced tho case of a student who last year lb aid to go to Yal'o in. order to get the degree, whilst another New Zealand student was now there' qualifying. .Provision was made for students obtaining their degree in’ every other profession hut this one.

Professor Salmond. considered that samo members of tho Senate had exaggerated the sectarian difficulties that might possibly arise in making provision for this degree. Ho must bo an ill-chosen examiner and a very narrow-minded man who, examining students in any branch of theology, would for a moment allow his theological opinions to interfere with his judgment. Professor Sale the advisab’.cness of including anything in this charter which might involve them in difficulties. Ho thought they ought to adhere as far as possible to the original intention of their charter, and pointed out what might arise with Church history being made a subject of examination. They should keep clear of all subjects that might lead them into difficulties.

Rov \V. A. Evans failed to discover the gi’ouncls for the expression of fear of practically bursting up tho whole? university by tbo granting of degrees in. Divinity. Tho difficulties of sectarianism ',n.t were likely to aviso wero not real; tho Divinity papers would, ho duly set, and answered according to tno student s knowledge. Was there, lie asked, such a science known as theology? If sp, 1 tlien it should ho placed in tho same position as tho other sciences. Dr Fitchott believed '.that the inclusion of tho nropoaed Divinity degree would jeopardise tho whole Bill m its passage through Parliament. There would ho a .long dehato upon the proposal and ho suggested that it should he withdrawn now,'and, if necessary,^introduce another Bill afterwards, aeahng -with tho Divinity degree alone, and it could then Bear its own fate. After further discussion, tho recommendation of tho. commitlCO in icgaid to tho Divinity degree was struck out ami tho report, with this omission, was adopted. ' ; BACHELOR OF LAWS. Tho Statutes Committee made tho following recommendations to amend tno statute regarding tho degree of Bachelor of Laws: — Clauso I. of the statute of the degree of Bachelor of Laws is repealed, and the following is substituted therefor Candidates for tho degree of Bachelor or Laws sh'dl tops tho matriculation examination shilll keep towns for two years in accordance with the statute _of “ Terms and Lectures, 5 ’ and thereafter shall pass three University examinations (hereinafter referred to as the first, tho second, and the third examinations) 6n November, at intervals of not less than one year from cadi other. Provided however, that tho first section of tho third examination may ho taken in the same year ais the second examination. Tho said throe examinations may ho taken in any order. Students who have not kept terras, hut who, when qualifying as barristers, and solicitors, have passed the third examination, may be allowed to. keep terms and pass tho first and second examinations, and on so doing, and paying, tho requisite fees, shall ho entitled to tho degree. Clause V. of tho ■statute is-repealed, and tho following substituted therefor: —A candidate may take the third examination either as a whole or in two sections. If ho takes it as a whole, and fails to pass, in at least two subjects, ho shall bo deemed to have failed in tiro whole examination. If ho takes it as a Whole, and passes in ait least two subjects, hut not in all, ho shall ho entitled to .a sectional pass in all the subjects passed, not, however,; exceeding three, such . three to ho determined, where necessary, by the examiners; and tho remaining subjects shall constitute the second section. If ho takes the third examination in sections, ho shall for tho first section bo entitled, to take any Of the subjects as specified by him, being not ices than two nor more than live. If lie fails to pass in at least two subjects', he shall bo deemed to have failed in the whole section. If ho passes in,at least two subjects, ho shall he entitled to a sectional pass in all tho subject® passed, not, however,' exceeding throe, such three to ho determined where necessary by the examiners. Tho second section shall consiiot of all tho subjects not duly pkssed in tho first section, and if /tho candidate fails to ' pass in "any of them, ho shall ho doomed to havo failed in itlio whole of the second section.

Clausa VII. of the statute is repealed, and the following is substituted therefor; —The foe for each examination, or, whore tho third examination is not taken as a wholo. for each section thereof, shall bo Wo guineas, subject in all cases to the provisions of the statute “ Conduct of University Examinations.” -*-Tbo Bill passed its first stages, and was made an order for toKlay. GENERAL. Tlio Hon J. A. Tolo was reappointed to tho Sonata, to represent tbo Auckland Grammar School Board. Mr Allan Thomson, of Dunedin, one of the two candidates equal for tbo Exhibition scholarship, telegraphed protesting against the decision of the Senate in regard to the scholarship (which was awarded to Air A. R. Andrew, who, in tho opinion of the higher honours). —Received. The Senate will resume to-day at 11 a.m.