Generous gifts to Otago University

IN these days when the University is being subjected to criticism, much of it adverse and anonymous, it is gratifying to draw attention to the fact that there are citizens who still have confidence in our educational institutions. At a recent meeting of the University Council the foundation of the Edmond Scholarship in Chemistry was announced. The gift of £2000 by Mr Edmond will enable the Council to offer a scholarship of £200 per annum. It is now reported that the Knox College Council has received the gift of a Fellowship of £150 which will carry with it free quarters in Knox College. This gift must represent a capital value of something like £4000. In addition to the above two fellowships, the University received a short time ago a handsome gift to establish a lectureship in ethnology. New Zealand, within its own borders and by virtue of its situation in the Pacific offers special facilities for research in this important subject, and if this research is not made soon the opportunity may well be lost to the world forever. We understand that the University council will soon make an announcement concerning the Smeaton bequest. This bequest will enable the university to do something for science, perhaps for physics. We cannot conceive of any way of rendering service to our time and country more valuable than that of helping to make men and women by giving them a good education. The foundation of the above lectureship and fellowships is an act of enlightened patriotism.