F.—No. 1.

William Phakazyn, Esq., 8.A., LL.B.—l.] I strongly recommend the foundation of scholarships in connection with the English Universities. The Australian Universities have not yet attained such a position as to render it desirable to send scholars to them in preference to the English Universities, it appearing that the expense in either case would be nearly the same. 2.] I consider exhibitions as second in importance to University Scholarships; but if the means at command would justify the foundation of exhibitions in the various schools of this Colony, I think the benefit to the schools would be considerable. The children of the poorer classes arc commonly obliged to leave school at the age of twelve or thirteen. They would therefore be excluded from competing for scholarships, unless means were provided for keepiug the most deserving of them at school for four or five years longer than is usual; and exhibitions would fulfil this object very well. 3.J As to the conduct of examinations, I would recommend the establishment of a system of simultaneous examination at the principal towns of the Colony, the papers being furnished by a central Board, and the answers transmitted to them for consideration. The papers might be distinguished by mottoes, with the names in scaled envelopes. As to the formation of a Board of Examiners, there would be little difficulty in finding fit persons, masters of schools, and graduates of Universities, &c, who might be divided into classes, each taking sonic particular branch of knowledge. 4.] Preferring, as I do, the British Universities, I am confined to four—Oxford, Cambridge, London, and Dublin. The Scotch Universities are in general too poorly endowed to otter many advantages to those who hope to derive from success in their studies the means of fitting themselves for a profession. The University of London, though its machinery is in many respects very admirable, has few means of maintaining discipline outside the lecture room, and it is almost entirely without a •University society. I am not aware of any advantages in the University of Dublin which are not shared by Oxford and Cambridge, and the chances of scholarships and fellowships are, I believe, smaller at Dublin than at cither Oxford or Cambridge. Therefore I recommend Oxford and Cambridge. v.] The amount of a scholarship ought to be about £200 per annum, and it should last four years. I found this statement on the following estimate of a year's expenses in my own college, by no means an extravagant one :— Residence, including long vacation, 210 days— £ s. d. College Tutor .. .. .. .. .. 18 0 0 Private Tutor .. .. .. .. .. 34 0 0 Dinners, 2s. 2d. per diem .. .. .. .. 20 0 0 Commons, Gd. per diem .. .. .. .. 6 0 0 llooms .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 0 0 Grocer .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 0 0 Books and Stationery .. .. .. .. 8 0 0 Travelling expenses .. .. .. .. .. 500 Library, Coals, Laundress, Bedmaker, &c., &c. .. .. 10 0 0 £13*1 0 0 leaving a margin for other personal expenses of £69. At some Colleges (Trinity and St. John's, Cambridge, for instance) sizarships are readily obtained. A sizarship is worth about £10 per annum. In addition to the above arc some University fees, such as matriculation, little-go, and degree, varying from £3 to £12. The time of residence at Cambridge, for a man who takes classical honours, is three years and six mouths. At Oxford the residence is longer. 6.] If the scholarships arc confined to Oxford and Cambridge, it is necessary to appoint in the first instance an examination which shall test the ability of the candidates to pass the compulsory examinations at these Universities. These require only a very moderate knowledge of Greek, Latin, and the elementary Mathematics. On reaching such a standard the papers might well be divided into mathematical and classical. As to the former I would recommend a very searching examination in the more elementary parts, not going higher, for example, than the principles of the Differential and Integral Calculus. As to the latter Ido not feel competent to give any opinion. The other subjects of study, such as Mental and Moral Philosophy on the one hand, and Physical Science on the other, do not fulfil so well as Classics and Mathematics the conditions of developing the intellect; and the former is often disgusting to young persons. Moreover, the English Universities (Oxford especially) afford few advantages to those who take up those subjects. I would limit the age of candidates to, say from sixteen to nineteen. This would afford four trials to each candidate, and would ensure that each who succeeded would be at an age to derive most benefit from a University training.

46

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE