CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 35, 10 July 1874, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was held on Thursday at :3.30 p.m. Present—Mr J. S. Williams (president), His Honor the Superintendent, Right Rev the Primate, His Honor the Judge, Revs C. Fraser, W. J. Habcns, W, W, Willock, and J. Bullet, Messrs Potts, Knight, Tancred, Montgomery, Inglis, Cowlisbaw, Kennaway, Bowen, and Dr Turnbull. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The Chairman said it would be necessary for the meeting to proceed to the election of a chairman for the ensuing year, the term of office of the present one expiring on the 9th July. The Bth clause of the Ordinance under which they were incorporated provided for the election of a chairman yearly by the votes of the members then present at the meeting; His Honor the Superintendent raid he had very great pleasure in rising to propose that Mr J. S. Williams be re-elected rs chairman. [Hear, hear.] There could be no more efficient one found, and he felt sure the public would feel great satisfaction in the election. [Hear, hear.] His Honor the Judge said he would second the motion with a great deal of pleasure ; indeed, he was about to move the resolution himself, when his Honor the Superintendent rose and anticipated him. Mr Williams said he had no objection to undertake the duties again for another year ; but it seemed to him that it would be productive of interest in the work of the College if the chairmanship was filled by the various members of the Board of Governors in turn. However, he would, as he had said, undertake the office for another year. [Hear, hear.] The motion was then put and carried unanimously. OPENING THE MUSEUM. The chairman said the next business before the meeting would be the consideration of the following resolution, given notice of by Mr Inglis at last meeting of the Board, viz; —“ That the Museum be opened to the public for three hours on Good Friday and Christmas Day.” Mr Inglis said he would like to amend his resolution slightly, by inserting the words — “ and on all general holidays.” The amendment was made. Mr Inglis desired, in bringing this motion forward, to disclaim most emphatically any intention of importing any polemics or religious differences into their discussions. Indeed, so far from this, he had always endeavoured most studiously to keep any semblance of pole mics out of any discussion of public matters in which he had been concerned. It seemed to him that this resolution followed as a natural sequence upon the resolution they had already carried as regarded opening the Museum on Sunday. He did not say whether that resolution was right or wrong, but it appeared to him that this came as a matter of course, and that to be consistent they must agree to it. He would not say anything further, but would simply move the resolution. After some little time had elapsed without the resolution being seconded, The Rev C. Fraser seconded the resolution. It had been said that no application had been made for this step, but it seemed to him that it was to be deprecated that this should be sought for. The days were observed by a large number of the community as holidays, and upon holidays there was always a large attendance at the Museum.

The Right Rev the Primate had not been present at the last meeting when the resolution passed at the recent session of the Provincial Council as to opening the Museum came before the Board of Governors, but it appeared to him from what he had read that a great deal of pressure had been brought to bear upon them from without, the resolution he had referred to coming from the Provincial Council, whom they were bound to regard as the representatives of public opinion. But in this case it was very different; the pressure came to them, not from without, but from their own midst, and ho deprecated it being brought forward as likely to cause dissension amongst them, and a division of opinion on religious matters, which he did not think should take place there. [Hear, hear.] Respecting the resolution passed last meeting relative to the opening of the Museum on Sunday, he did not say that he should have voted against it if he had been present, but he should have voted for it with very great reluctance. He might say that he looked upon the present motion as a very different one. Though the opening of the Museum on Sunday was opposed to the habits in which they had been brought up, it was not really so repugnant to a large section of the community as the holding holiday and festival on Good Friday, one of the most solemn days in the celebration of two religious bodies. It was well known that this day was. in the bodies to which he referred, held as particularly solemn, and not at all one upon which persons should keep holiday. As to Christmas day, there was not so much objection, as that was regarded in the light of a festival. As he had said before, he deprecated the introduction of resolutions of this character, as likely to bring on polemical discussion amongst them, and for this and the other grounds he had advanced, be should oppose the resolutions now before the Board. IT is Honor the Judge was quite of the same opinion as the Eight Rev the Primate. The fact was, that Good Friday was regarded by the communion to which he (the judge) belonged, and also the Roman Catholic Church, as a day of mourning and sorrow, rather than of festivity and holiday making. They were asked to wound the feelings of a very large section of the community, and for what? Simply that the Museum should be opened for three hours on one day in the year. He should move as an amendment that the words “ Good Friday" be omitted,

so that the resolution would read, “ That the Museum be opened for three hours on Christmas Day and other public holidays throughout the year.” Mr W. Kcnuaway would wish to know whether the Museum was now opened on general holidays ? His Honor the Superintendent said that the Museum was open on all general holidays. Mr Kcnuaway would then point out that this motion was aimed at opening the Museum on Christmas Day and Good Friday. Well now they were going to open the Museum for Gfty-two days more than formerly in the year, and there was now no room for people to say that there was not opportunity for all persons to see the Museum. He should oppose the motion. His Honor the Superintendent said he would suggest to the mover and seconder of this resolution the propriety of withdrawing it. [Hear, hear.] They had had an opportunity of ventilating the subject, and of hearing the opinions of the Board on the subject, and now he thought that they should withdraw it. [Hear, hear.] While saying this, however, he was bound to say this also, that he considered the Board of Governors of the College had arrived at the resolution passed at the last meeting of the board as to the opening of the Museum to the public on Sundays on the broad ground that one man’s liberty should not be judged by another man’s conscience—in other words, on the ground of religions liberty and equality,—and he might say he was in favor of it. Now the College, by passing this resolution, had laid down and assented to that broad principle, and it seemed to him that, to be consistent, they would be bound to acquiesce if a request were made to them by a section or sections of the community, to whom the observance of a special day or days was,not a matter of importance for the the Museum on those days. While saying this, personally he could not go with the mover and seconder in the matter of going to the Museum on Good Friday, but he should feel bound to vote for it if the representatives of any sections of the community who held these views came to the College and asked for the opening of the Museum on certain days, on the broad ground of religious liberty for their respective bodies. He, however, was very sorry to sec the motion brought forward, and would suggest its withdrawal. [Hear, hear.] Mr Potts agreed with Mr Kcnuaway, that there was no necessity for opening the Museum on additional days. The people had now the opportunity of seeing the Museum on Sundays, and he looked upon it that it was not at all necessary to open it as now proposed. He should oppose the resolution. Mr Bowen said jt appeared to him that the burden of proof as to the necessity which existed for the opening of the Museum on the days named in the resolution laid upon the mover of the motion. It seemed to him that it was a fairly debateable point, whether the Museum should be opened on Sundays ; but with regard to that before the meeting, he saw no necessity for it, and therefore should vote against it.

Rev W. J. Habeas hoped this resolution would be withdrawn. It had been deprecated that sectarian divisions should be brought into the College, but if this resolution was put to a division, he should be placed in a very peculiar position. It was contended against this resolution that a large section of the community, who were impressed with the solemnity of Good Friday, were likely to be wounded, as far as their feelings were concerned, by the carrying of this resolution. But he would desire to point out that there was a very much larger section of the community who regarded fifty-two days in the year as particularly sanctified but whose opinions had not been in the least respected either by the Provincial Council or the Board of Governors. [Hear, hear.] Dr Turnbull contended that they were now forming the community into two distinct religious sections. Those who were now so enthusiastic in coming forward to ask them to spare the feelings of a certain section of the community had been very lukewarm in the matter of the opinions of those who opposed the opening of the Museum on Sundays. Good Friday to a large portion of the community was nothing more than an ordinary day and he therefore should support the resolution. Mr Inglis said that he would withdraw his motion if the meeting would grant his leave. He desired to deny that there was any attempt to divide the community into two sections, or that he had been actuated by any polemical spirit in bringing this resolution forward. The fact was that a number of persons could not get to the Museum except on these days, and he thought they should allow them these opportunities. However as it appeared to be the wish of the meeting he would ask leave to withdraw it. The motion was then withdrawn. CATALOGUE OP THE MUSEUM.

Mr Knight moved—“ That it be an instruction to the Museum committee to cause a catalogue to be prepared of the contents of the Museum, and published with the English names of the specimens.” Mr Kennaway seconded the resolution.

The Chairman read the following memorandum from Dr Haast, the Director of the Museum, on the subject. “ June 22nd, 1874. Memo concerning catalogue or guide to the contents of the Canterbury Museum. As soon as the Maori house is erected, so that it can be used for the New Zealand ethnological collections, and by which a little room for other specimens will be obtained in the present buildings, it is my intention to issue at once a guide to the contents of the Canterbury Museum, for which most of the material is ready. Such a pamphlet, with ground plans attached, ought to be sold at about sixpence, or at the most one shilling, and should be loss a catalogue (for which the time has not yet come until there is sufficient accommodation for the final arrangements of the specimens in a larger building) than a companion to visitors who, by its aid, will obtain a general insight into the contents of each room in which the specimens are temporarily arranged. At the same time, the attention of the public will bo directed to those more remarkable objects in each room, which ought not to be overlooked, even by a casual observer or visitor ; and, in this way, a great deal of useful information would be disseminated in a small compass, which would not otherwise be available. Similar guides have been issued by many museums in the Old and New Worlds, where proper catalogues have not yet been published, and have answered very well.— Juiaus IT A A ST, Direct or.” After some discussion,

Mr Knight withdrew his resolution, on the understanding that the Museum committee

would take steps to carry out the idea embodied in the memorandum of the Director. ERECTION OF THE LABORATORY, BTC.

The Chairman said the next business before the Board was the consideration of a recommendation from the site committee for the erection of a laboratory, &c., on the plans prepared by Mr Bickerton. It might, perhaps, be as well if he gave the Board a brief history of the circumstances which had occurred in reference to this matter. The site committee it would be recollected, had been instructed to call for tenders for the erection of the College on the plans as accepted. This was done, but the lowest tender received was over £7OOO, while the amount voted for the building by the Provincial Council was only £SOOO. Under these circumstances, the committee requested him (the chairman) to write to his Honor the Superintendent, bringing the circumstances of the case before him, and pointing out that the money voted was not sufficient, though they had endeavored to bring the plans within the cost as far as possible. 'The result of the application was, that an amount of £BOOO was agreed to be put on the estimates ; subsequently Mr Bickerton, the professor of chemistry, arrived, and in his interviews with the committee ho had pointed out that it would be necessary in order to give instruction fully in technical science, that special buildings and laboratories should be erected, and he submitted sketch plans of the same for adoption. This would involve the expenditure of £3OOO, and application was again made to the Provincial Council for this sura for the erection of the buildings for the purpose of delivering lectures in technical science. He was glad to say that this amount had been granted, and they now had the £BOOO voted for the completion of the building, and the £3OOO specially voted for the erection of the buildings according to the plan of Mr Bickerton. The site committee and the general purposes committee had been sitting together, and had had conversations with Mr Bickerton, who had submitted his plans. The resolution arrived at by the site committee was as follows :—“ That Mr Bickertou’s plans be adopted, and that it be a recommendation to the Board of Governors to obtain plans and estimate of cost of the same.” The question of site had been unsettled up to now, but he believed a Bill was now before the General Assembly empowering the Provincial Government to hand over the site in the domain to the College. After some discussion, Rev W. J. Habens moved —“ That it be an instruction to the site committee to confer with Mr Bickerton and the architect of the College, and to take such steps as may be found necessary to ascertain the cost of providing such accommodation as may be required for the conduct of the chemistry department.” Mr Bowen seconded the motion.

Mr Covvlishaw moved the following words as an addition to the resolution :—“ Taking into consideration the desirability of having the College buildings on one site.” Rev Mr Habens accepted the amendment, and the resolution was agreed to.

Mr Potts moved as a further amendment —“ That it be an instruction to the general purposes committee to ascertain if they can obtain and secure temporary occupation of a building for the use of the Professor of Chemistry.” Mr Inglis seconded this, which was agreed to. PLANS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY. The Chairman said that the library committee had been instructed to offer a premium of £ls for the best design for 'he erection of the public library; and they were also instructed to request Messrs Mountfort, Armson, Farr, and Strouts to compete. A circular letter was sent to each of the architects named, and the time for reception of the plans fixed for 27th May. Subsequently, on receipt of a letter to that effect from the Institute of Architects, the time was further extended to the 27th June. This latter date fell on a Saturday, but the reception of plans was further extended to Monday at the request of Mr Armson, one of the competitors. On this day the committee met, when only three plans were submitted, viz,, from Messrs Mountfort, Strouts, and Farr, Mr Armson not having completed his plan. The committee did not care for any of the plans submitted, and knowing that Mr Armson was preparing a plan, further adjourned the matter till the following Wednesday, when Mr Armson’s plan was before them. They were agreed that, with some modifications, they should recommend the acceptance of Mr Armson’s plan, and accordingly they now did so.

After some discussion, in the course of which Dr Turnbull presented n complaint from the other architects respecting the extension of time, His Honor the Superintendent moved—- “ That the recommendation of the library committee be adopted, and that Mr Armson’s plans be accepted.” Mr Kennaway seconded the motion, which was carried. The Board then adjourned.