F.—No. 1.

tested, would infuse energy into the whole system. I need only refer to the interest with which public school men look to University honours which each public school annually wins. 4.] I have already said Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, Edinburgh, and the New Zealand University. But, I sec no object in attaching a definite number of scholarships to each University. It would be far better simply to endow scholarships, and leave it open to the scholar to select the University which suited him best. 5.] I think £250 a-year for scholarships. Ido not think that enough to cover the cost of private tuition, and the expenses of the vacations, but I do not think the Colony ought to find more. The boy's friends ought to meet the State in providing means, and in many instances the lad would win University prizes which would help him. I would give the same amount to whatever University he went. 6.] As nearly as possible the subjects which would test the chance of the youth's success in a University career; but decidedly not so as to test any special or professional information. Sufficiently extensive, however, to enable the University authorities to advise the youth as to which British University he would have the greatest chance of succeeding at. I think it should comprise at least what are called the first year's subjects. 7.] I have already replied to this question inferentially. I think it a subject of far more importance than any other connected with the subject of education. So much so, indeed, that I believe all our education will be very narrow and partial, until something of a National life and spirit is infused into it by uniting all those who really stand in the first rank in the educated world (so to speak) of the Colony, into one organized body, and so bringing their abilities and learning to bear on the whole educational system. I can hardly add to what I have already said on this subject. *#* I think the University should be near, but not in, or within five miles of, one of the principal towns. Some such place as Porirua would be most suitable. Complete but not extensive buildings would be necessary. As a very rough estimate of the expense I should put down— £ For estate and buildings .. .. .. .. .. 20,000 Annual cost — Principal .. .. .. .. .. 1,500 Four Fellows in residence, turn about, with travelling expenses, at .€SOO each .. .. .. 2,000 Twenty scholarships at £250 .. .. .. 5,000 One hundred exhibitions at £50 .. .. 5,000 13,500 Say—an annual cost of £15,000. One hundred thousand acres of land, selected in all parts of the Colony, would before long produce this income; and in the meantime advances should be made from the Consolidated Fund. James Edward FitzGerald.

AUCKLAND. Hon. W. Swainson. —I.] Under existing circumstances I am not prepared to recommend that University Scholarships should be founded by the Government. 2.] I am not prepared to recommend that the public funds should at present be applied to this purpose. 3.] I have no practical suggestion to make on this subject, except that, if possible, I think it would be desirable that the f Pass " examination should be made in the Province in which the candidate may reside. The Central Board of Examiners might send to the Judge, or some other responsible officer of the district, written questions, under sealed covers, to be opened by him in the presence of the candidates, who should answer them in writing in his presence. The answers should then be forwarded by him to the Central Board of Examiners, who should decide on the competency of the several candidates. 4.] The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, at the option of each scholar. 5.] I think that £200 a-ycar would be sufficient for that purpose. 6.] In order to secure a reasonably high degree of attainment on the part of the scholar, I think there should be two examinations, viz. : —A " Pass " Examination and a " Competitive " Examination ; the former, to test the general fitness of the candidate ; the latter, to determine their relative merit. 7.] I think that a University, with English Professors of high standing, would be a great advantage to the Colony, and that it would greatly encourage " within the existing Schools o» the Colony a higher class of studies than that which the pupils generally can now be induced to prosecute." As there is no reasonable prospect of a University being founded, and sufficiently endowed by the efforts and munificence of private individuals, I think that the establishment of a New Zealand University is an object to which the public funds may be properly and advantageously applied. I think too thait the establishment of a New Zealand University should precede the founding of the scholarships and exhibitions referred to in Questions 1 and 2. Taurarua, 17th August, 1867. Wm. Swainson. 16

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ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS.