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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 50

Charter of the University

page 31

Charter of the University.

Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India: To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:

Whereas, under and by virtue of the provisions of two Acts, the Short Titles whereof are respectively "The New Zealand University Act, 1874," and "The New Zealand University Act, 1874, Amendment Act, 1875," the body corporate established by "The New Zealand University' Act, 1870," has been reconstituted, and declared to be a University, consisting of a Chancellor, a Vice-Chancellor, Fellows, and Graduates, and as such has been incorporated and made a body politic, with perpetual succession, under the name of "The University of New Zealand," with power to grant the several degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts, and Bachelor and Doctor in Law, Medicine, and Music: And whereas our Right Trusty and entirely-beloved Cousin and Councillor, George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of Norman by, Knight Commander of our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, now our Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over our said colony, hath moved us to grant Letters Patent requiring all our subjects to recognise the degrees given under the said recited Acts, in the same manner as if the said degrees had been granted by a University of the United Kingdom: Now know ye that We, taking the premises into consideration, and deeming it to be the duty of our Royal Office, for the promotion of sound learning, to hold forth to all classes and denominations of our faithful subjects, without any distinction whatever through our dominions, encouragements for pursuing a regular and liberal course of education, and considering that many persons do prosecute or complete their studies in the Colony of New Zealand on whom it is just to confer such distinctions and rewards as may induce them to persevere in such their laudable pursuits, do by virtue page 32 of our prerogative and of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, by these presents, for Us, our heirs and successors, will, grant, and declare that the degrees of Bachelor and Master in Arts, and Bachelor and Doctor in I/aw, Medicine, and Music, hereafter to be granted or conferred by the said University of New Zealand, shall be recognised as Academic distinctions and rewards of merit, and be entitled to rank, precedence, and consideration in our United Kingdom and in our colonies and possessions through-out the world, as fully as if the said degrees had been granted by any University of our said United Kingdom: And We further will and ordain that no variation of the constitution of the said University which may at any time or from time to time be made by an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand shall, unless the standard of knowledge now established, or a like standard in the opinion of our Governor for the time being, duly proclaimed in our said colony, be not preserved as a necessary condition for obtaining the aforesaid degrees therein, in any manner annul, abrogate, circumscribe, or diminish the privileges conferred on the said University by these our Letters Patent, nor the ranks, rights, privileges, and considerations conferred by such degrees: And, lastly, We do hereby, for Us, our heirs and successors, grant and declare, that these our Letters Patent, or the enrolment or exemplification thereof, shall he in and by all things valid and effectual in the law, according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and shall be construed and judged in the most favourable and beneficial sense for the best advantage of the said University, as well in all our Courts as elsewhere, notwithstanding any non-recital, uncertainty, or imperfection in these our Letters Patent.

In witness whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made Patent. Witness Ourself at Westminster, the twenty-ninth day of July, in the fortieth year of our reign.

By Warrant under the Queen's Sign-Manual.

C. Romilly.