Y.—BTo. 1.

No. 2. To the Honourable the House of Representatives of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, Petition of the Very Rev. Henry Jacobs, M.A., Dean of Christchurch, Sheweth, — That your petitioner is Dean of Christchurch, in the Province of Canterbury. That a meeting of persons interested in the establishment of Colonial Scholarships was held at the College Library, Christchurcli, on Monday, the 2nd September instant, and an adjournment of such meeting on Wednesday, the 4th of September, when the following Resolutions were passed : — 1. That, in the opinion of this meeting, any successful candidate for the public scholarships proposed to be created by the General Assembly should have the option of completing his studies at any of the Universities of the United Kingdom ; or in case of his intention to go to the bar, or to study for the medical profession, that he should have the option of entering any of the Inns of Court of London, or any one of the recognized Schools of Medicine in the United Kingdom. 2. That every such scholarship should be tenable for not less than four years, and should be of the annual value of not less than £200, with the addition of £100 for travelling and other extra expenses of the first year, and £100 for those of the last year. 3. That all competitive examinations should be such as to test the qualifications of the candidates for the highest kind of University education. 4. That while this meeting would regard with satisfaction any public measure by w rhich the present educational standard in the Colony may be improved, it considers that at present the establishment of a University for New Zealand is premature. 5. That the Chairman of the Meeting be requested to draw up petitions to the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives, embodying the resolutions adopted at the two meetings held on September 2nd and September 4th, and to sign such petitions on behalf of the meeting. That your petitioner humbly requests your Honourable House to take the Resolutions embodied in this petition into your favourable consideration. And your petitioner will ever pray. Heney Jacobs, Chairman of the Meetings referred to in the above petition.

No. 3. To the Honourable the House of Representatives of New Zealand, The humble Petition of the Sub-Warden and Fellows of Christ's College, Canterbury, Siiewetii, — That your petitioners are of opinion that the cause of education in the Colony of New Zealand would be greatly promoted by the institution of New Zealand Scholarships to be competed for by young men resident in the Colony, and tenable at any one of the Universities of Great Britain and Ireland. Tour petitioners, therefore, arc earnestly desirous of urging upon your Honourable House the expediency of making provision during the present Session for the institution of one or more such scholarships. And your petitioners will ever pray. [Here follow twelve signatures.]

No. 4. To the Honourable Members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, The Petition of the undersigned Directors of the High School of Christchurch, Humbly sheweth, — That your petitioners have learned with great satisfaction that the proposition to found certain scholarships for securing University education to a number of students in this Colony has been favourably entertained by your Honourable House. That the High Schools and Grammar Schools of the Colony will be greatly benefited and encouraged by such a measure. That there are many Universities in the United Kingdom and on the Continent of Europe, at which the young men of New Zealand might with the greatest profit prosecute their studies in literature, in science, or in the learned professions. That the foundation of a New Zealand University is, in the opinion of your petitioners, a work of great importance, and meriting instant attention." That the establishment of scholarships at such University, and as rewards for great diligence and proficiency in study thereat, would be of great benefit to the Colony at large. That, meanwhile, the establishment of lectureships on Natural Science, Physics, and Mental Philosophy at the seats of the principal existing schools of the Colony would be productive of great and widely-extended benefits, and might be accomplished at a moderate cost.

71

ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS.