A PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2611, 5 November 1915, Page 6

A PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE

FOR WEEmNCTON

iIM&TORir wseconßary ■'■:■: — -SCHOOL',:-;:"" ;;

-At meeting of the- Hospital Committee of the Wellington.Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, held yesterday, the tenders for the lease of that fine property m Hobson Street for so long in-tho occupation of the T. C. Williams wore opened' and dealt with. Subjeot to confirmation of the board the tender of the R«v. Dtr. Gibb, of Wellington, was accepted. That tender con{Sisted of an offer to take over tie pro'.perty at a certain rental on an annual (tenancy. Dr. Gibb tendered for tho lease of tho property on behalf of the Wellington Presbytery, which is to utiliso it for the. purposes of a Presbyterian College, for which it can -bo readily . adapted. There are three'. acres of beautifully-laid-out grounds, and a residence containing thirty rooms, situated within easy reach of the centre of the City, yet remote from the heavy street . itraffic. . ..-.-■ •■--.

; The Presbytery of Wellington some tune ago appointed, on the motion of Dr. Gibb, a large and representative comnnttee to' consider the .question of instituting a' college either for boys or girls in Wellington or its neighbourhood. After much careful thought and ;consideration of all the issues involved, •and having received a generous donation of upwards of £1000 as'the. first contribution to a fund which will, it is •hoped, ultimately compass the erection of suitable buildings, the' committee came to a decision.to.proceed with the venture, and the Presbytery heartily approved. As a beginning the fine property mentioned above has been leased. The building is equipped with every convenience. Several largo an'dlofty and well-lit. :rooms are available for class rooms. The. college will open in February next. ■■; .

The school, which will be known as Scots.College, will be under the charge ■of two gentlemen of high standing m the academic and educational world. Mr. S.'R. Dickinson, M.A., holds the diploma of Education of Melbourne University,-, and was Final Honounnan in Classics and Philology. He was for some time' principal of Leslie House School, •Hobart, ■ and examiner, to Teachers' 'Registration Board and State Scholarship Board, Tasmania. Mr. G. H. Utt- : ley, M;A., -M.Sc.; of the University of New Zealand, and F.G.S., London, was •Honounnan in Mental Science and classified Al New Zealand Educational Department. Formerly Mr; Uttley was first-assistant arid senior house master in the Waitaki Boys' 'School, and is at present Science and Mathematical master,: Presbyterian Ladies'' College, Melbourne;.

The co-principals make an unusually strong combination.' Mr. Dickinson, who has had .many years' experience "as-head master of a leading day and boarding school in Hobart, will, be responsible for the genoral organisation of' tho school, and will manage tho classical literature and history side. Mr. Uttley' who. has an■ exceptional scientific training and much experience in the largest boarding school in New-Zealand, will, .control the 'mathematical'- and science branches and; organise and manage the. boarding department. The college, wo/ are informed, will be conducted on lines presenting many new features. The guiding principle in framing tho courses of studies will be the claims of -the individual, boy whose special.needs will receive particular attention. Classes will be kept small in order to secure this particular caro. "While the utmost attention will be given to tie development of the pupils' minds, : tlie formation of character will ever bo a primary consideration,, While the faith 3ii which parents desire their sons brought up will, with'the breadth of view which is characteristic of tho Presbyterian Church, •' be sedulously conserved, the college will aim at imparting sound religious -instruction;. Although it, is recognised that.religious training in schools should not merely depend on formal teaching of religious books, but should draw Its vitality.from the whole atmosphere of an institution, religious instruction based on.the Scriptures will form a definite part of the scliool'curriculum. It will be-'.-treated in such a .manner that boys whoare from other than Presbyterian homes may participate ni it without prejudice to their own faith, whilo exemption 'from attendance at such lessons may be granted to those liylibse parents desire so. ... The executive of-the committee who are responsible for the- college are the Revs, Dr.f Gibb, (chairman), A. 0 Standage (secretary),. Mr. S. Clarke Johnson (treasurer),':;the Hon. J; G. W. Aitken the Rev. W.'„J. Comrie, and Messrs. w' M. Hannay and G. A. Troup.