10 * Appendix to Eighth Report of two causes which, I am informed, would account for the reduction.
The first of these is that, in order to conform to changes recently made by Parliament with regard to medical qualifications, each Candidate must now pass a complete examination in the three branches of Medicine, Surgeiy, and Obstetrics.
The examinations hi these several branches are now regarded and counted by us as constituting a single examination, and form in the aggregate a complete qualification in the three branches.
But in former years each Candidate generally entered for two or perhaps three of these branches, involving entirely separate examinations.
The other cause to which may be attributed some portion of the reduction I have noted is this :—It was formerly the rule that those Candidates who presented themselves for examination, and who, for any reason, did not pass thereat, might again enter for the same Examination on two subsequent occasions without the payment of a further fee.
This year, however, a new regulation has come into force by which any one fee is available only for the single examination for which it has been actually paid.
The Fees charged for Examinations (seldom more than £1) are so very low, that this regulation cannot be regarded as any substantial hardship upon the Candidates.
It was well known that under the old conditions Candidates were in the habit of presenting themselves solely for the purpose of seeing what the Exam¬ ination was like, without having the smallest expectation of passing; and, inasmuch as in the Faculty of Arts, the number of our Candidates has not fallen off (1,199 as against 1,197 last year)—we may fairly infer that our numbers in this department also are likely in the near future still further to increase.
For the first time since the University was founded, we are to-day in the position of awarding no less than Four Studentships of the value of £300 each.
As legards most of these Studentships, they have been gained after very keen competition, and in every case the successful Candidate has shown that a long and difficult course has been thoroughly mastered.
Where all have clone so well it is perhaps invidious to give special prominence to the name of one, but I cannot refrain from mentioning Mr.
George Woodburn, of Queen's College, Belfast, to whom the Studentship in Mental and Moral Science has been awarded, as the result of an examination which the Examiners have reported as excep¬ tionally brilliant.
As a consequence, it will be to-day my privilege to hand to that young gentleman the Gold Medal of the University, a distinction very seldom awarded.
Having mentioned Mr.
Woodburn, I cannot refrain from saying a word as to his competitor, Mr.
William Magennis, of University College, St.
Stephen's-green, whose answering was also so good as to win from the Examiners a special report to the Senate; and I am confident I am expressing the unanimous feeling of my colleagues of that Body when I say that it is with very deep regret that we find ourselves unable, having regard to the Statutes of the University, to award him a Studentship also.
However, I am informed that he will be eligible to present himself for the Studentship next year, and we all most heartily wish him success on that occasion.
Amongst the Degrees to be conferred to-day is that of Doctor of Music.
It is the first time in our history that that Degree has been awarded upon the result of an Examination, and we heartily congratulate Miss Annie Patterson, who is aires Jy not merely a Bachelor of Music, but also a Bachelor of Arts, upoi.
tne success which she has gained.
