VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 251, 16 July 1908, Page 5

VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly mooting-of tho Victoria' College Council was held last ovcning, there being present Mr. T. It. Homing (in tho chair) •Sir Robert Stout, Messrs. H. D. Bell, F. P. Wilson, C. Wat-son, Rev. W. A. Evans, Dr. C. Prcndcrgast-Knight, C. Wilson, A. W. Hogg, M.P., and A. T. Maginnity. Accounts amounting to £677 16s. lOd. were passed for payment. The statement of finances showed that tho balance at the bank on the General Account was £2301 16s. lOtl. ; payments required amounted to £677 16s. 10d., leaving a balance of £162-1. Tho balance at tho bank in respect of tho Laboratory Account was £19 4s. 9d. Tho sum of £2800 in tho General Account, and £1030 in tho Laboratory Account, was stated to be on deposit. Grants amounting to £1500 (Statutory Grant, -£1000; Specialisation Grant, £500), had been received from the Government. ,■ A letter was received from the Secretary for Education (Sir E. O. Gibbes), stating that Mr. D. Petrie, M.A., Inspector of Schools, Auckland, who was . preparing an account of the grasses indigenous to the Auckland, Campbell, Bounty, Macquarie, and the' Snares Islands, desired to obtain the loan of all tho known species of grass contained in tho Herbarium of tho late Professor Kirk, now ik the care of the College. It was agreed to grant tho request that Professor Kirk and Mr. J. S. Tonnant, M.A., be-appointed to niako the selections indicated. .- A • memorandum was received from the Premier's Offico. stating that it was not possible at present to fix a definite date upon which the Premier and the Minister for Education (Hon. G. Fowlds) would receive a'deputation from the College Council. Mr. R. B. Gibbons wrote resigning his Senior Queen's Scholarship. Professor Brown (Classics) wrote, recommending that Mr. D. Jenriess, who had just written an admirable thesis on Tiberius, in which diligent and careful research, and originality of treatment were displayed, be granted the full Research Scholarship, as he deserved to proceed to Oxford to prosecute research study at that University. The recommendation was adopted. • Mr. F. ,P. Wilson raised the question of improving the main entrance of the College grounds, facing: the Kelburno" Parade. The Gardens Committee of the Council had a sum of £300 at its disposal, and ho hesired to know if something could be done in the direction of making-the approach, which in its,present condition.was an eye-sore, moro attractive.' . It'was resolved that tho Gardens Committeo be asked to furnish a report upon the matter. The Chairman (Mr. T. ;R. Fleming) referred to' the question of amending legislation referring to the proposal to change the designation of the Collego from "Victoria College," to, "Victoria University College," ■and also providing for tho question of leave of absence;. Ho stated that' Professor Salmond, of the Crown Law Office, desired to know whether the Council intended to proceed with the matter.'-It was decided that the Ahhorney-General (Dr. Findlay) beasked to introduce legislation in tho direction required. ' • , Some time ago Mr. A. T. Maginnity, tho Nelson representative,-on tho Council, raised the question of University Extension Lectures, and a committee was appointed to report upon the question. The committee subsequently roported that tho scheme was, financially, rather beyond tho resources of tho- Council,: and could only be practically considered when tho' funds of the. Collego were established on a sounder bap is. Mr. Maginnity happened to be absent when tho report was ■ submitted. -. .Referring to the matter, Mr. Maginnity said that the report had been somewhat discouraging to tho ■ Nelson people. The Chairman said that there was no intention on the part of the Council to discourage the idea: 1 The question was purely one of . finance, and in tho present condition the Council could not contemplate it. . Sir Robert Stout suggested that: the College Professors might bo prevailed upon to givO course of lectures in the various centres of the district during the'summer vacation. Lectures on classical literature might be given one year, and a science courso .tho succeeding year. Thoro was, of course,- a financial aspect to the suggestion. , The matter then dropped.