Hill. — On University Extension. 401 



were large and ample for the wants of the several schools and 

 colleges there can be no manner of doubt. If now the high 

 schools are excluded from consideration, seeing they form no 

 part of the higher aspect of training as a branch of university 

 work, there remain in the colony four university colleges as 

 centres of teaching, and the University proper, which is simply 

 an examining body for conferring degrees. The large en- 

 dowments held by at least three of the colleges have already 

 been enumerated. 



With respect to the functions of the University, the Act 

 of 1874, under which it was constituted, says, "That the 

 University hereby established is so established not for 

 the purpose of teaching, but for the purpose of encourag- 

 ing in the manner hereinafter provided the pursuit of a 

 liberal education, and ascertaining by means of examina- 

 tion the persons who have acquired proficiency in litera- 

 ture, science, or art by the pursuit of a liberal course of 

 education." From this extract it will be seen that the 

 University has no power to foster higher education further 

 than to grant degrees in art, science, and literature. Thus 

 the authorities of the University could not establish colleges 

 or classes for teaching purposes, nor does it appear from the 

 Act that they could promote the establishment of centres of 

 instruction outside the area of the present university colleges 

 on the lines of the extension scheme which is being so suc- 

 cessfully carried on by all the English universities. The 

 only really active teaching forces in the colony for the ad- 

 vancement of the higher learning are the four university 

 colleges, and each of these might extend its operations. 

 These institutions are affiliated to the New Zealand Univer- 

 sity, and they carry on in each centre the same kind of 

 academical preparation as Cambridge and Oxford in England, 

 where the power of conferring degrees is held by each uni- 

 versity. Here the university colleges possess no such au- 

 thority, except that the Otago University Council may confer 

 degrees under an old provincial Ordinance, but which for all 

 practical purposes is now a dead-letter. The power of con- 

 ferring degrees held by the University, which exists as an 

 entity apart from the college, is of much importance, for, 

 whilst the latter can aim at specialisation and adaptation to 

 local requirements, the same standard of attainments is de- 

 manded from all in the University examinations. The power 

 possessed by the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, or Lon- 

 don of conferring degrees may have advantages in the opinion 

 of some compared with the plan adopted in our own colony. 

 A Cambridge man is one of a special type, distinct in many 

 respects from an Oxford man, and a London graduate differs 

 from both. It is probable, however, that a degree issued by 

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