﻿2 Npao Zealand Institute. 



seems the pi'ominent characteristic of public opinion at the present day; I mean 

 the active interest that has been awakened in everything which tends to the 

 diffusion of sound education, and to the better qualification of the youth of the 

 Colony for fulfilling their duty and privilege of self-government. The 

 measures adopted last year by the Parliament for the foundation of a Colonial 

 University, and the actual establishment in the vigorous Province of Otago (in 

 this as in other respects a true off-shoot of Scotland) '•' of a University which is 

 already in operation, are striking proofs of the general desire for education of 

 the highest class. At the same time the Bill introduced by the Government, 

 and now under the earnest consideration of the Legislature, shows that primary 

 and secondary education will also be zealously fostered by the State. 



The recent arrival of several accomplished and learned Professors to occupy 

 the chairs of the Otago University is an epoch in the history of New Zealand 

 which may probably hereafter be more prominent in the annals of this countiy, 

 and may exercise more enduring influence than many events to which greater 

 present importance has been attached. The proposed system of Affiliated 

 Colleges, on the basis of local examinations, is in accordance with the direction 

 in which the English Universities are now tending. Like the constitution of 

 our own Society, this appears to be the system best adapted to the geographical 

 position of New Zealand ; for, while it does not preclude the most successful 

 College in whatsoever Province from proving and maintaining its pre-eminence, 

 it encourages rather than limits that emulation by which alone a high state of 

 efficiency in educational establishments can be secured. 



NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY. 



In connection with this subject, I wish to make one remark — of course, in 

 my capacity, not of Governor of the Colony, but of President of the Institute. 

 It is this :— In common with the joint committee of both Houses of the 

 Legislature, and of most of those who have given full attention to the point, I 

 think it very desirable that some well-considered and equitable arrangement 

 should be made whereby the two existing University Councils may be 

 amalgamated — by which our available resources may be economised, and there 

 may be thus erected, on the foundations already so carefully laid, one great and 

 truly national University of .New Zealand. 



TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION, 



Turning to the question of technical and scientific education, to which I 

 di'ew attention in my address of last year, I have much pleasure in announcing 

 that the scheme for establishing a course of practical instruction in connection 



* "In almost all the periods of the history of Scotland, whatever documents deal 

 with the social condition of the country reveal a machinery for education always 

 abundant." — Burton's "History of Scotland," chap. .39. 



