ANNUAL MEETING. 
455 
here was already a division, for they could not in one ex¬ 
amination carry on the three. Tn naming the subjects, it 
was very likely that some might have to be transposed from 
one examination to another. 
Mr. P . Taylor said he thought there was a great disad¬ 
vantage in having intervals between the examinations, 
because it would give the young man an opportunity of 
getting up the examination like a parrot, whereas, if he 
were taken on the different subjects consecutively, the ex¬ 
aminers could more accurately determine his calibre. With 
regard to the preliminary examination, he understood that 
there was one. Did the Council propose to institute a more 
severe and rigid ])reliminary examination of the veterinary 
pupil when he was brought to the College ? 
The Presicle7it, in reply, said—I tliink it ha’s already been 
stated that the Council have no power to institute a pre¬ 
liminary examination at all. It is merely a suggestion. 
Onr Charter does not give us the power. 
Professor Spookier said—The only power we have is 
to consult with the authorities of the schools. 
Mr. Taylor. —Professor Williams appears to want to come 
to some understanding for getting the power. 
Professor Spooner. —And very right, too. 
Mr. Wilkinson said his impression was that the examina¬ 
tions were to be consecutive, but that the subjects were to 
he divided, so that one day there should be a practical ex¬ 
amination, another a written, and the third day in succession 
that the candidate should go through the final examination. 
Tliat was his impression when the subject was discussed at 
the Council Board, and he was borne out in that by his 
friend Mr. Pritchard, senr. With reference to the prelimi¬ 
nary education, it was a subject to which he had given his 
mind for a great many years, and his impression was that, 
thongh the Council had no power to dictate to the schools 
how they should admit their pupils or how they should edu¬ 
cate them, they had a distinct power to compel the schools 
to make their examination more stringent, because, if they 
liked, they could examine the candidates upon ordinary lite¬ 
rature. 
Professor Spooner said they were not competent at present. 
Mr. Wilkinson said he thought they were. If a candidate 
did not know the English language, the examining board 
had a direct power to reject him. Therefore, Mr. Taylor 
might rest satisfied that, when the Council was in a position— 
which it was not in now, in consequence of the unfortunate 
division which had taken place in the profession—to take 
