P.-No. 1.

and 2, which I could expect to be of much value. I think the opinion of gentlemen who have had considerable personal experience in teaching and examining must be more valuable than those of persons who speak from a limited experience, or from general impressions or theoretical notions ; but I would suggest that it is not desirable that the Board of Examiners should be composed of many members, and that it is desirable it should include competent persons of different antecedents ; that they should not all be laymen, or all clerical; that they should not all be men educated in the same school or University, and that their tenure of office should not be a short one. Fluctuation or frequent changes in the constitution or operation of such boards are generally most mischievous. Fixity of purpose and method ought, I think, to be prominent characteristics of such a body. There may, I fear, be some difficulty in procuring the services of competent examiners, not directly connected with any educational establishment in the Colony, as would be obviously desirable, if practicable. It is evident that the examination must be conducted in writing, for it would be very inconvenient and costly, I might say impracticable, to insist either on the candidates coming to some central place for examination, or for the examiners making a tour of the Colony for the purpose. 4.] With respect to the Universities in connection with which I think scholarships should be instituted, it seems to me that it would be inconsistent with the composition of our Colonial population, and with the characteristics of our general institutions to be very exclusive, although the ancient Universities of England naturally suggest themselves as affording special attractions to youths honourably ambitious of distinction. I should, I think, feel inclined to leave the selection open to the successful competitors, subject to the consent of their parents or guardians, and to certain limits and conditions. I think that if these scholarships are to be on a sufficiently liberal scale to provide not merely for the expenses of tuition, but also for those of subsistence, the Universities to be chosen must be such as afford means of official surveillance over the personal life and habits of the scholar, and that the pecuniary amount of the scholarship should be governed by an estimate of the comparative cost of tuition and maintenance (under official care) at the University selected. Thus, if the Universities for choice were (say) Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Trinity College, Dublin, London University (i.e., King's College or University College, London,) the amount of scholarships should be regulated according to the fair average cost of tuition and maintenance at the several places, and 1 believe the difference would be very considerable. I think it would be necessary, in making the necessary calculations, to assume that the more expensive Universities would almost always be selected. 5.] I am of opinion, as I have just stated, that the value of the scholarships should depend upon the University selected by the successful competitors; and, I believe, that to cover all University expenses during the year, and the cost of a private Tutor during the vacations, the maximum would be about .£3OO, and the minimum should not be much less than ,€l5O, according to the University selected, but that the selection of the more expensive Universities ought to be anticipated. C] I am not prepared to make any specific recommendation as to the subjects and limitations of the competition for such scholarships respectively. I think a prospectus ought to be drawn up and circulated by the Board of Examiners, specifying the subjects of examination, and the minimum amount of excellence which shall entitle the best competition to the scholarships, for I do not think it would be proper to award a scholarship to the best candidate if his degree of attainment were a low one. In the selection of subjects and limits, the Board would have to be governed by a consideration of the character of the matriculation examinations at the various Universities open for selection, and the average proficiency in Classics and Sciences requisite to give a scholar going to any of the Universities a fair chance of academic success by the application of a fair amount of industry and ability to the work. Skillful examiners would be able so to frame these questions as to give the candidates wide range and ample opportunities of showing the extent of their acquirements in each department; and every precaution which experience suggests would be adopted to prevent the introduction or to neutralize the effects of the pernicious system of " cramming," which has produced such baneful effects upon education in the mother country, and which tends to frustrate the true objects of examination. These remarks are to a great extent applicable to examinations for exhibitions as well as for scholarships. 7.] I think it would be quite premature to establish a New Zealand University at present. The Colony does not at present possess means enough for educating a sufficient number of youths to a high enough point of acquirement to supply classes of pupils for the different courses of an University. The cost of such an establishment, even if moderately comprehensive and well supplied, would he very heavy in proportion to the present population and means of the Colony,, and the advantages to be derived from it could not be anything like so great as can be obtained in the old established Universities of Europe, with their large experience and their traditionary esprit de corps. But although I think it would be all but absurd to attempt to establish a Colonial University for some time to come, I am of opinion that a great deal of good might be done by the

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REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE