University and Educational Intelligence

BIRMINGHAM.—At the last meeting of the City Council the recommendation of the Education Committee to allot to the University the proceeds of a penny rate was discussed. The amount which would have been raised by such a rate is about 16000l at present, and would increase with the growth of the city. Some opposition to the recommendation was made by the supporters of the Birmingham and Midland Institute, who wished 1000l. per annum to be granted to that institution. Further opposition came from some of the Socialist members of the Council on the ground that the money would be better spent in increasing the facilities for secondary education to the poorer classes. A letter was read from the Board of Education pointing out that the ear-marking of so large a sum as that required by the Education Committee for additional scholarships would materially lessen the value of the grant to the University for the purpose of diminishing its present debt, and this would be taken into consideration in allotting the Treasury grant, which was to be allocated to the various applicants in proportion to the amount of local support forthcoming. The result of the discussion was the assigning of a sum of 15,000l. per annum from April 1 until further notice.