CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 200, 29 January 1875, Page 2

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Governors of the above was held on Thursday afternoon at the Public Library. Present—Mr J. S. Williams (chairman), Right Rev the Primate, His Honor the Judge, Revs C. Fraser, W. W. Willock, Dr Turnbull, Messrs Webb, Tancred, and Inglis. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.

The chairman said that the plans for the new public library building had been adopted by the committee, and had been remitted to the architect to prepare detailed specifications, which he had promised should be ready at an early date. The present building had been painted and sundry small alterations and improvements effected. He might also say that it had been insured for £I2OO and the books for £BOO. Some additional shelving had been provided in view of the arrival of a large consignment of new books now on board the Geraldine Paget and Waimate. Respecting the additions to the Museum building the committee had called for tenders for the erection, but all sent in were too high. Only £14,000 had been voted by the Provincial Council, whilst the lowest tender on the original plans was about £20,000. The architect had therefore been requested to modify his plans so as to bring the building within the vote, and also to invite tenders on the modified basis. This had been done and the tenders, as received by the architect acting under these instructions, were now before the Board for their acceptance or otherwise. Of course, the action of the committee in calling for tenders did not in any way prejudice the Board of Governors, because it would be for the Board to say whether they approved of the action of the museum committee. In the original plan there was a group of rooms which it was now proposed to sweep away, and one of the towers shown in the first plan would be removed. The hot water heating apparatus had been removed, and open fireplaces substituted. In faet several savings and reductions had been made, which it was thought would bring the estimated cost within the amount voted by the Provincial Council for the purpose. The total amount of the amended tender was £1^,311. He desired, while on this subject, to call the attention of the Board to a letter from the Provincial Secretary, in which the Government pointed ont that the £14,000 voted by the Council would include all expenses connected with the building, including furniture and internal fittings. Now the were under the impression thqt the £14,000 had bc’en voted fbir t"he purpose

of erecting certain additions to the Museum, and not at all to do with the furniture, as the letter of the Secretary of a previous date informed them that the amount of £14,000 was avail* able for erection of additional buildings. There was no word as to the internal fitting, which the governors certainly did not think were to be defrayed out of the amount placed at the disposal of the governors. Mr Webb pointed out that there wai nothing said in the Provincial Council on the vote being passed as to conditions. Dr Turnbull corroborated the remark of Mr Webb.

The tender received was from Messrs England Brothers for the carpentering portion of the work, and from Mr J. Tait for the stone and brickwork.

After some discussion on the matter, The Rev Mr Willock said that he thought they were too ambitious. He thought they should get their architect to design a building less ugly than the one now under consideration. The present building was most ugly ; no one could say a word for it, and he did think it was a great shame to occupy so fine a site with a building so hideous as this one.

Mr Webb pointed out that the director had informed the Board that the present modified building would only contain the specimens now on the way, and in the store, so that they could not reduce the- present plan. Rev C. Fraser advocated the erection of the College and the Museum on the same site, which would place some £25,000 at the disposal of the Board, and enable them to erect a building alike commodious and elegant. The Chairman declined to allow that question to be discussed, as it should be brought on in a regular way by notice. The question before the governors now was the acceptance or rejection of the modified plans of the architect for the Museum additions.

Mr Webb moved—“ That the Board approves of the modified plans for additions to the Museum building, and authorises the acceptance of the tenders of Messrs England Bros and Mr Tait, subject to the approval of the Provincial Government.” He thought that it would be desirable to accept the tenders at once, and get on with the work. His Honor the Judge seconded the motion.

The Rev W. W. Willock opposed the resolution.

The resolution was then put and carried with one dissentient, the Rev W. Willock. The chairman said that at a late meeting of the museum committee a memorandum was laid before the committee from the director, suggesting that he should visit Europe with a view of collecting specimens and information. The memorandum was most exhaustive, and he (the chairman) had forwarded it with a letter from himself to the Government. The Government, however, had not replied to his communication. The museum committee were generally of opinion that it was advisable for Dr Haast to visit Europe as proposed. He (the chairman) had asked the Governmen what amount, if any, they would be prepared to grant towards the expenses of the trip, and also for the purchase of specimens. The matter, however, was still in the hands of the Government, and he (the chairman) would be prepared to lay the whole of the correspondence before the Board at its next meeting. Dr Haast, he might say, contemplated being absent about a year, and he thought that while the new buildings were being erected would be the best time. A. letter was read from the director asking for six weeks’ leave of absence on urgent private business. On the motion of Mr Tancred, seconded by His Honor the Judge, the leave was granted. A recommendation was brought up from the college committee, recommending that the services of the Professors in Modern Languages and Jurisprudence should be continued during the Lent term of 1875. They had now two Professors in Christchur h— ; viz, Professors Brown and Bickerton, whilst they knew that Professor Cook, the Mathematical Professor, was in Melbourne, and might be expected by the next steamer.

Some conversation ensued as to the small* ness of attendance of students in the Jurisprudence class, Dr Turnbull suggesting that examining judges should make aiule to compel law students to attend the lectures on jurisprudence. His Honor the Judge pointed out that it would not be well for one Judge to make a rule of this kind, as it was necessary that the examinations throughout the judicial districts should be uniform.

Mr Inglis moved—“ That the lecturers on Modern Languages and Jurisprudence be asked to continue during the Lent term, 1876.”

His Honor the Judge seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A recommendation was read from the college committee, that the fee for the present term for attendance on lectures two hours of the week, be 10s 6d. The recommendation was agreed to by the Board on the motion of the Rev Mr Willock, seconded by Mr Inglis. The chairman brought under notice the seal of the college, which had been manufactured.

Rev C. Fraser moved—“ That the seal produced be the common seal of the Canterbury College.” Mr Inglis seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The chairman brought under the notice of the Board the desirability of obtaining the right of way in rear of the sections held by the college. It had been brought under the notice of the Government, and the matter would, he hoped, shortly receive attention. The general purposes committee had engaged the old Oddfellows* Hall for one year at £SO per annum. Professor Bickertou would commence lecturing in this hall under some difficulty, but still until a permanent building was secured this would be a central place. The Government had advanced £l5O for the purchase of fittings, &c, which would be removed when the permanent building was erected.

Rev Mr-Fraser moved, pursuant to notice —“ That the library committee be requested to take into consideration the the arrangements nece«sary for affording due facilities to professors and student in connection with the library.” It was very desirable that both professors and students should have an opportunity of consulting the various works of reference. He thought the library committee should be enabled to communicate with the professors, with a view of ascertaining what they would require for their studentfe and tljemsejves. He thought.there could be no opposition to the motion, u it

was exceedingly important that the students should be afforded every facility for the prosecution of their studies. The Right Rev the Primate seconded the motion.

Mr Inglis could not see that there was any necessity for the motion, as the professors and students had the same facilities of consulting the works of reference as the general public. If it was wanted to let these books out of the library for reference, he objected most strongly to this being done. The Rev 0. Fraser wished to point out that the resolution contemplated the development of the special department of the library by consultation between the professors and the library committee. Mr Inglis said that the library committee would only be too glad to communicate with the professors on the matter. The chairman said that they had a sum of money to their credit in the Bank, handed over from the Collegiate Union for the purpose of purchasing classical works, and he believed there was special reference made o facilities afforded to the students. After some further discussion the moti n was agreed to.