CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 53, 31 July 1874, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College took place on Thursday at the Public Library. Present—Mr Joshua Strange Williams (chairman), the Right Rev the Primate, the Revs W. J. Habeas, J. Buller, W. W. Willock, and C. Fraser, Dr Turnbull, and Messrs H. J. Tancred, C. C. Bowen, and J, Inglis. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The chairman read the following letter from the Secretary for Public Works: — “ I am directed by his Honor the Superintendent to inform the Board of Governors that the Provincial Government is prepared to hand over to them the material belonging to the Maori house, and to place at their disposal the sum of £SOO voted by the Provincial Council at its late session, provided that the Board is willing to undertake the erection of the building. “ The Government, however, in making this proposal wish it to be clearly understood that no expenditure in addition to the above sum, which has been voted expressly for the Maori house, can be sanctioned under the circumstances. The vote of £SOO must be taken to cover all expenses of any kind, including architect’s commission, which were not provided for by the vote of the Provincial Council of the session before last.” The Rev J. Buller moved—“ That the Board are willing to undertake the erection of the Maori house on the Government providing £SOO for that purpose.”

The Chairman said the next business to consider was a request of the museum committee, who asked for an authority to arrange for the preparations of plans for additions to the museum. It was resolved—“ That the consideration should be deferred until the precise functions were defined, and the question of the different committees settled.”

Mr Tancred moved 41 That the library, site, general purposes, and museum committees be discharged at the conclusion of meeting.” The Kev J. Buller seconded the motion which was agreed to. The Chairman said that no rule had been fixed as to the number of each committee or the quorums, and he thought it would be as well to decide that question before the election of the new committees was proceeded with. Mr Bowen moved—“ That the Board of Governors proceed to the appointment of three committees, to be called respectively :

1, 1 The College and general purposes committee.’ 2. ‘The# library committee.’ 3 ‘The museum commit t"c,’ each committee to consist of the chairman and eight other members, three to form a quorum.” The motion was seconded by the Rev Mr Bailer, and agreed to. ■ The election of the committee’s was then proceeded with by ballot, with the following result :—“College and general purposes committee”—The Bight Bev the Primate, Kevs W. J. Habens and C. Fraser, his Honor the Superintendent, and Messrs Tancrcd, Bowen, A. C. Knight, and Montgomery. “Library committee”—Revs W. j. Habens and J. Bailor, Dr Turnbull, and Messrs Tancrcd, Bowen, Montgomery, Could, and Inglis. “Museum committee” —His Honor the Superintendent, the Rev W. VV. Willock, Mr Justice Grcsson, and Messrs Gould, Webb, Potts, Enys, and Bowen. Dr Turnbull moved mittees hold office until the close of the quarterly meeting to be held in July, 1870, each committee to have the power to lilt up vacancies.”

The resolution was seconded by Mr Bowen, and carried. The-chairman said the next business was the authority to the museum committee for the preparation of plans. The Bev Mr Habens moved—“ That the museum committee be authorised to arrange for the preparation of plans for additions to the museum.”

The motion was seconded by the Rev Mr Ruller, and carried. The Chairman then stated the action taken by the general purposes committee on the telegram received from Lord Lyttelton relative to a mathematical professor, and which they had already seen in the papers. The committee had been endeavouring to procure a room for Mr Bickertou, but experienced very great difficulty in obtaining one. The Oddfellows’ Hall had been secured for a time, and Mr Bickertou would deliver a course of popular lectures every Thursday night, commencing on Thursday, tilth August. Mr Bickertou intended to give a popular account of the present state of experimental science, illustrated with profuse experiments. The lectures would be of such a nature that any person of ordinary intelligence would be able to comprehend them. He wished also to refer to another matter. Since the acceptance of Mr Armson’s design for the Public Library, two letters had been received —one from Mr A. Lean, president of the Canterbury Architects’ Association, and the other from Mr S. C. Farr, architect. The library committee had reconsidered the action taken by them, and had come to the conclusion that no injustice had been done to the other competitors ; and the committee considered the course taken by them to have been perfectly justifiable, and were willing to further justify themselves if called upon by the Board. In saying this they regretted that the course taken by them did not meet with the approval of the Architects’ Association, but they did not think that any breach of professional etiquette had been committed. So far as Mr, Farr’s letter was concerned, it was exceedingly objectionable, as he stated in it that the committee had allowed themselves to be hoodwinked. Beyond reading it no further notice had been taken of it,

By the desire of the Board, the secretary read the following letter received from Mr A. Lean :

“ Sir—At a meeting of the Canterbury Association of Architects the following resolution was carried unanimously 1 That the Canterbury Association of Architects, without expressing censure on the committee, or the architect whose design for the Public Library was accepted, protest against the recent decision of the committee on the competitive designs on the ground of its being irregular, and contrary to the conditions furnished to the competitors in receiving a design after the date fixed.’ The Association further desired me to forward the same to the Board of Governors. I have, &c., A. Lean, President.” On the motion of the Rev Mr Fraser it was resolved—“ That the letter received from the president of the Canterbury Architects’ Association be entered on the minutes.” It was decided not to read the letter received from Mr Farr, and the Board then adjourned.