^0 Transactions of the South Afvicaii Philosopliical Soclctij. 



.another £4,000, and there is also now an additional endowment of 

 £2,000 per annum in support of University extension work, which 

 has been successfully undertaken. As necessity has arisen the 

 Government has not hesitated to make additions to the amount of the 

 statutory endowment, the sum voted in some years varying beyond 

 the stated sum to as large a figure as £13,000. It may also be 

 noted that three denominational and one women's affiliated colleges 

 have an annual State endowment of £500 each towards the stipend 

 •of their respective principals. The feature which calls for special 

 notice in connection with Sydney is the fact that the private 

 foundations of the University have evidenced both a prudent and 

 generous spirit on the part of those possessed of wealth. The total 

 value of these private foundations, as they stand in the books of the 

 University, is no less a sum than £404,752. The income from 

 these sources devoted to the funds of the University is £6,392, 

 besides some £12,000 given to special scholarships. Incomes such 

 as these place University teaching upon no uncertain foundation, and 

 it is specially well to bear in mind the principle of statutory 

 endowment in reference to the annual contribution of these Colonial 

 Governments. 



It is so easy to challenge an annual grant, and to mar the work of 

 an institution under the influence of some passing local excitement, 

 so that it is no small advantage to have certain sums definitely 

 secured to be devoted to the work in hand in stormy as w^ell as in 

 sunny years. The case of the University of Tasmania affords an 

 illustration of a grant having l^een cut down on several occasions, 

 for six successive years indeed, sums varying from £1,000 to £1,500 

 having been taken from the grant, necessitating amended legislation 

 to provide for the original sum of £4,000, mentioned in the Act, 

 being annually provided in the estimates. Educationalists are not 

 always the most worldly-wise of men, nor are they all born diplomats, 

 <ind it is desirable that the national support of a University should 

 not be made contingent upon the passing excitement which may be 

 created by an idiosyncracy of the man who receives a grant, and we 

 may add, nor yet upon that of the man who votes it. 



The Canadian Universities have largely benefited by private 

 munificence, and are some of them rich in the endowments which 

 they possess. McGill has endowments valued at some three 

 millions of dollars, and in its equipment in many departments bears 

 w^itness to the practical wisdom of many of its benefactors in bygone 

 years. Commencing with an endowment which its founder designed 

 at first for tbe establishing of a medical faculty, it has grown into a 

 great University, l)iit, to tlie lionour of the memory of McGill, has 



