CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 261, 13 April 1875, Page 4

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors was held yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, at the Public Library. Present—Mr Gresson, in the chair ; the Primate of New Zealand, his Honor the Superintendent, Rev C. Fraser, Rev W. J. Habens, Rev J. Buller, Rev Canon Willock, Messrs G. Gould, H. R. Webb, W. P. Cowlishaw, and H. J. Tancred.

The Chairman said that he had waited on the Provincial Government, asking permission to accept tenders for modified plans of the museum buildings without using inferior materials. The Government gave the required permission, and tenders were obtained and approved of. The amounts of the tenders were—Tait’s, £6281 17s; England, Bros, £6329 Bs. These together were within the £ 14,000 voted by nearly £IOO. He might also report that the Provincial Government had authorised the grant of £IOOO for books, and that the money was ready to be applied for.

In reply to Mr Gould, the chairman stated that he understood the reduction made by the architect in the plans referred to the area of the building. He was not prepared to say whether the tower was omitted in the modified design, but he understood the reduction to be simply that of area. The principal object of the meeting was to authorise the chairman to affix the seal of the college to the contract for erecting the museum buildings, as it was thought that without such authority the contract would not be binding. Ultimately it was decided to postpone this business until a later period of the day, in order to confer with Mr Mountfort, the architect, as to whether the modified plans included the erection of the tower. The chairman said that the next business was the question of a local analyst, [lie then read the correspondence, extracts from which have already been published on the subject], and after some conversation, Rev G. Fraser moved —“ That the Board of Governors recommend to the Government the appointment of Mr Bickerton as Government analyst, under the Adulteration of Food Act, on the following terms—viz, £IOO a year, and 10s 6d for each case, provided that for all samples of the same article submitted for analysis on the same day, beyond the first four, half fees should be charged, on the condition that the laboratory be open all the year round for cases coming under the Act.”

Rev J. Buller seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Rev C. Fraser said he hoped it would not go forth to the public that the Board oi Governors were averse to the professor of chemistry being engaged to analyse ores, minerals, and other articles by private parties. On the contrary, it was one great object of the professor’s appointment that the province should have a man upon the spot qualified to undertake such work. Rev W. J, Habens said that in order to remedy that it would be well that the Board should adopt the scale of charges recommended by the committee. He would therefore move—“ That the charges of the professor of chemistry for analysis be according to the following scale, as recommended by the College committee—Gold and platinum, £3 3s ; testing over —qualitative examination of simple minerals, £1 Is: ditto compound. £2 2s ; estimation of value and amount of carbonates in limestone, £1 Isjichlorium in chlorate of lime, £1 Is; alkalis in soda, £1 Is ; available oxygen in manganese, £1 Is ; soap, £2 2s ; examination of clays, limestones, building stones, &c, &c, for manufacturing and building purposes, £2 2s ; amount of alcohol in a liquid, £1 Is ; amount of sulphur and phosphorus in iron, £2 2s ; quantitative analyses of iron ores (amount of iron), £1 Is; complete analysis, £2 2s; other analysis in proportion to time employed, or an estimate would be given. Coal —Calorific value, £1 Is; amount of sulphur and ash, £1 Is; suitability for gas, £1 Is ; complete analysis, £2 2s. Water— Examination for lead, &c., £1 Is ; for domestic purposes, £1 Is; for commercial purposes, £1 Is ; complete quantitative, £3 3s. Manures—Amount of nitrogen, £1 Is ; of phosphates, £1 Is ; estimation of general value, £2 2s ; complete quantitative, £3 3s. Soils—Qualitative, £1 Is ; quantitative, important elements, £2 2s ; complete, £6 6s ; Assays—Lead, £1 Is ; antimony, £1 Is ; tin, £1 Is ; silver, £2 2s ; iron, £1 Is ; testing for poison in human subject, £lO 10s ; in all other cases, £3 35.” Mr Webb seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Tancred moved “ That 10 per cent of the fees for analyses, whether under the ‘ Adulteration of Food Act ’ or otherwise received by the Professor of Chemistry, be paid over by him to the Board of Governors,”

Rev C. Fraser seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Webb, having obtained the suspension of standing' order No 26, moved “ That the chairman and library committee be requested to wait on the Provincial Government, asking them to place on the estimates a sufficient sum to enable the Board of Governors to accept the tender of Mr James Tait for the sum of £10,292 towards the erection of the public library.” He believed that it was most desirable this matter should be settled at once, so that the necessary grant might be obtained.

Mr Cowlishaw seconded the motion, which was agreed to

Rev W. J. Habens said that he understood the chairman in his opening remarks to say that the sum of £IOOO granted by the Government for the purchase of books of reference was available. In addition to this there was a sum of £2OO which had been subscribed for the same purpose. He would, thesefore, move “ That it be an instruction to the library committee to order books of reference to the extent of the funds now in hand available for that purpose.” Rev J. Bullet seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Board then proceeded to consider a proposal by Professor Bickerton to deliver a course of popular lectures on agricultural chemistry, which had been referred to the College committee, and upon which the committee reported to the following effect;— That the committee approve of such course of lectures, and would undertake the responsibility thereof; but in view of the expenditure for chemicals and breakage, they could

not regard any surplus that might arise therefrom as more than apparent.

Rev 0. Fraser moved—“ That Professor Bickerton’s proposal for the delivery of three popular lectures on agricultural" chemistry be accepted. The balance of receipts, after defraying all expenses, including chemicals, to bc.handed over to the Professor as fees.” Rev J. Buller seconded the motion.

Mr Tancred said that although he was inclined to give Professor Bickerton every facility for these popular lectures, yet he thought that the Professor should himself find the chemicals required for the purpose. He (Mr Tancred) hardly thought it was part of the work of the College to provide for popular lectures, neither did he think any very great amount of knowledge was to be acquired from merely attending popular lectures ; any person who wanted to acquire a knowledge of agricultural chemistry should enter his name as a student, and go through a regular course of study. Mr Webb said that in his opinion the object of these lectures was to induce in young men and others a taste for scientific knowledge, and they would thus probably be the means of inducing many to join the classes who would not otherwise do so, Rev. W. J. Habens said that the question to be considered as to these popular lectures was that of funds. Whilst not objecting to these lectures he certainly did not think it right that the funds of the College, which were intended for regular study in the higher branches of education, should be appropriated for defraying the expenses attendant upon popular lectures, which should be self-sup-porting. The motion was put and agreed to. With regard to the Museum buildings, it was resolved, after an adjournment to Mr Mountfort’s office, on the motion of Rev C. Fraser, seconded by Rev Canon Willock — “ That the modification of the proposed addition to the Museum buildings be adopted, omitting the northern portion of the plan as sketched out, but retaining the large gallery room with the tower and offices, and that, subject to the approval of the Government, the chairman be authorised to affix the seal of the Board of Governors to the contracts; provided that the cost of the work agreed upon shall not exceed the sum at the disposal of the Board.” The Board then adjourned.