VII.—Report of University Committee.

Your Committee beg to report that they have carried out the instructions of last meeting of Synod, by advertising the Lang and Synod Scholarships to be competed for, the former by students of the second year, and the latter by entrants, at an examination to take place on the 30th April, 1872. It was agreed that the examiuation of competitors for the Lang Scholarship should be conducted by means of written papers on the following subjects, viz—1. A paper of questions on Euclid, Books I and II, to be drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Johnson—value, 75 marks; 2. Algebra, up to Quadratics, Rev. Mr. Alves—value, 75 marks; 3. English History and Literature (reign of Queen Elizabeth), Rev. Mr. Todd—value, 100 marks; 4. Roman History, Century before Christ, Rev. Mr. Sutherland—value, 100 marks; 5. Latin, I Georgics, Rev. Mr. Watt—value, 100 marks; 6. Greek, I Iliad, Rev. Mr. Watt—value, 100 marks. It was resolved that the examination for the Synod Scholarship should be by means of similar papers, viz—1. A paper on English History, reign of George III, by Rev. Mr. Sutherland—value, 100 marks; 2. Arithmetic, Rev. Dr. Stuart—value, 100 marks; 3. Euclid, Book I, Rev. Dr. Stuart—value, 100 marks; 4. Bible Knowledge, four Gospels, Rev. Mr. Chisholm—value, 100 marks; 5. English Grammar and Analysis, Rev. Dr. Stuart—value, 100marks; 6. Latin, De Amicitia, Rev. Mr. Watt—value, 100 marks; 7. Greek, Grammar, Rev. Mr. Watt—value, 50 marks. It was further resolved that no competitor be eligible for a Scholarship who had not made at least two-thirds of the total value attached to the various papers.

On the day fixed for holding the competition the Committee met in the vestry of Knox Church, and there appeared in accordance with previous intimation given by them, Mr. Charles Connor, second year's student in the University of Otago, the sole candidate for the Lang Scholarship; and Messrs Arthur Grant, Thomas Irving, and Joseph Class, competitors for the Synod Scholarship. The examination took up the best part of two days, with the following results—Out of 100 marks, the value attached to each of the papers in Latin, Greek, English History and Literature, and Roman History, Connor made 68, 34, 85, and 84 respectively; and out of 75 marks attached to each of the two papers on Euclid and Algebra, he made 75 and 26. In a word, out of a total of 550 marks Connor made 372, which being above the two-thirds previously fixed upon as the minimum of eligibility, the Lang Scholarship was accordingly adjudged to him. The competitors for the Synod Scholarship made the following number of marks each—Out of 100, value of paper on History of George III, Grant, 77; Irving, 51; Closs, 64. Arithmetic, Grant, 57; Irving, 38; Closs,. 60. Euclid, Grant, 97; Irving, 80; Closs, 60. Latin, Grant, 53; Irving, 72; Closs, 17. Bible Knowledge, Grant, 94; Irving, 37; Closs, 50. English Grammar and Analysis, Grant, 60; Irving, 79; Closs, 32. Out of 50, value attached to paper on Greek Grammar, Grant, 48; Irving, 47; Closs, 42. Out of a total of 650 marks, Grant made 486; Irving, 404; Closs, 303. The Synod Scholarship was therefore adjudged to Grant, who had made the largest percentage of marks over all the papers.

Your Committee would take the liberty of suggesting to the Synod that energetic steps be taken for providing additional bursaries for students who may have the ministry of this Church in view. They would remind the Synod of what is being done by the American Presbyterian Church as an example to us in this direction. At the present moment the majority of the young men studying for the Ministry of that Church, or a very large proportion of them, are supported at their studies by the Board of Education connected with the Church. Out of 57 young men studying with a view to the Ministry, under the jurisdiction: of the Synod of New York, 37 hold scholarships from the Board of Education. In no other way could the ranks of the Ministry in the American Presbyterian Church be recruited amidst the peculiar circumstances of a new country. Nor will it be amiss to remind the Synod that even in the home country aspirants to the Ministry have always received encouragement in their studies. Many of the clergy of the Church of England have received their education at the universities by means of scholarships connected with the various great schools. In Scotland a considerable number of the theological students of the Established, Free, and United Presbyterian Churches are provided with such scholarships, of more or less value. Your Committee have a profound conviction that unless some more than ordinary inducements be held out to young men in the Colonies—the long curriculum of study demanded of aspirants to the Ministry of our Church, and the page 30 numerous openings of various kinds afforded to young men for starting in life without going through such a long noviciate as our Church imposes, will determany from the work who might otherwise feel drawn towards it. We would therefore recommend that the several Presbyteries of our Church be requested by the Synod each to provide one or two scholarships. In submitting their report your Committee hope that the Synod will take this last suggestion into their most serious consideration.