CANTERBURY COLLEGE

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 326, 29 June 1875, Page 4

CANTERBURY COLLEGE

A meeting of the Board of Governors was held at 10 aim. yesterday. Present—Mr H. B. Gresson (chairman), Right Hev the Primate, Revs Fraser, Willock, Buller, and Habeus, Dr Turnbull, Messrs Montgomery, Hamilton, Tancred, Potts, Cowlishaw, Hamilton, Wilkin, aud Enys. The chairman said that letters had been ' written to the gentlemen who had been elected Governors at last meeting in room of those retiring. He might say that he had received a letter from Sir Cracroft Wilson intimating that he would be unable from press of public business to accept the office of Governor. Letters had been received from the Hon E. W. Stafford, and Mr R. Wilkin, accepting their appointments as Governors, and he (the chairman) was also given to understand that Mr Hamilton had consented to act. With regard to the Maori bouse a" letter had been written to the Government, but no reply had been received. Two further vacancies would occur on the Board, owing to the absence from the Board for over six months of the Hon C, O. Bowen and Mr Studholme. The Rev Mr Habeas said that he would give notice that his Honor Mr Justice Johnson be elected as a member of the Board. He should also have had great pleasure in proposing Dr Foster, who had very large experience in University work, but Dr Foster was a lecturer on jurisprudence, and he did not think it would be right that any one holding an office of emolument under the Board should be elected as a Governor. Dr Turnbull hoped that it would not go forth that the Board objected to elect a gentleman simply because he. lectured upon any particular subject. He should object to a full professor being elected as a Governor, but he did not think that gentlemen who were in receipt of an honorarium, which was all it amounted to, should be excluded. Mr Cowlishaw said that he objected to any member of that Board nominating a candidate without previous notice, as he thought that at least two months’ notice should be given, so that nominations might be received in the meantime, and the Board would then be enabled to make a selection. The Rev Mr Habens wished distinctly to deny that in moving as he had done, he had the slightest intention of taking the Board by surprise. After some further discussion it was agreed that the Board should proceed to the election of Governors at the quarterly meetings.

Respecting the shipment of a certain amount of books per Suez mail, the secretary read the following letter he had written to Mr Stanford, of London: — “ Public Library, Christchurch, “ Canterbury, N.Z., June 4th, 1875.

“ Sir,—l have to request that you will be good enough to forward monthly by the Suez n ail a parcel of books not exceeding in price £lO, addressed to the chairman of the Canterbury College, Christchurch, Canterbury, N Z. The library for which the works are to be selected, as you are already aware, is a public one, and includes readers of all classes and shades of opinion. A reference to the books already ordered will assist you in deciding what class of publications would be most suitable, of course the primary object is to procure the newest and most valuable works; While the committee are not anxious to introduce books of a decidedly controversial character, at the same time it would not be expedient wholly to exclude such works, for example, as “ Supernatural Religion ” or Mr Gladstone’s late pamphlet upon the subject of the Vatican decrees, or the answers thereto. As a general rule, it would not be desirable to send works of fiction, but with regard to such publications, an exception might be made as to those of a few authors, such as George Eliot, for example. “ It is assumed that the usual discount of 25 per cent off the published price will be allowed, and in order to save time the books may be sent as published, without waiting to have them bound or stamped. In any order that may be sent after this date, should any of the books included in it have been already forwarded in the monthly parcel, you will please strike them out, unless otherwise specially instructed. 1 am directed to express a hope that in selecting the works you will exercire all the care in your power, with a due regard to the foregoing instructions, “ I have, &c, “ F. de c. Malet, “ Secretary. “ Mr B. Stanford, “ 6 and 7, Charing Cross, London.” The chairman said that the object for which the meeting had been ca'led was to consider what steps should be taken with regard to the Museum contract. He would ask the secretary to read the message of his Honor the Superintendent to the Provincial Council on the subject, together with the last letter from the Government, dated the 2nd of June, on the same matter. Mr F. de 0. Malet (secretary) read the documents, which have already appeared. Mr Bnys said he looked upon the letter before the Board as simply implying the suspension of the Museum buildings, but he thought a deputation should also wait upon the Government and ask them to go on with the contract, or rather to do away with the suspension and renew operations. The Chairman—And to ascertain whether his Honor’s message has changed the formerly expressed opinions of the Government on this matter ? Mr Enys—Yes, to ask the Government to remove the existing suspension on the work, and to go on with the carrying out of the contract as originally intended. I beg to move the following resolution ; —“ That a deputation be appointed to wait upon the Provincial Government to enquire as to the present position of the Museum contract, and to ask if the operations suspended under it can be resumed.” The Eev 0, Fraser seconded the motion. In answer to a question from Dr Turnbull The chairman said that so far as he understood the advice of the present legal adviser of the Government it placed the matter in a different light to that in which it had been viewed.by the Government formerly. [Hear, hear.] The motion was then put and agreed to, Mr Enys moved—“ That the deputation consist of the chairman, the Lord Bishop of Christchurch, Mr Potts, and the mover.” The Rev 0. Fraser seconded the motion, which was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Potts, the name of the Rev W. J. Habens was added to the deputation. The Chairman said, as regarded the grant for books for the public library, he had addressed the following letter to' the Govern-

“Canterbury Public Library, Juno 25, 1875, Sir, —With reference lo the voucher for £IOOO grant to the Public Library from the vote of £SOOO for public libraries, I have the honor to inform you that the library committee is sending home an order by the outgoing mail, and to request that you will be good enough to state what sums may be reckoned upon as the amount of the grant, in order to assist the committee in preparing this order. The voucter has been sent in for £IOOO, the amount granted last year. May I ask you to be good enough to forward me a reply at your earliest convenience. “ I have, &c, “ H. B. Gbesson, “ Chairman, “ The Provincial Secretary, “ Christchurch.” To this letter the following memo, had been 3 eceived. — “June 25, 1875. “ Government have decided to let you have £SOO for immediate order for books) but until general allocation of vote is considered, c innot say what further amount, if any, will come to you. A formal letter to this effect is coming. “ A. Blakiston.” The chairman said that no formal letter as spoken of in the memo had yet been received, but he had thought it his duty to lay the whole matter before the meeting to show what had been done. The meeting then proceeded to consider what steps should be taken in order to take advantage of the grant of £4OOO for building public library. Mr Cowlishaw moved—“ That the Library committee place themselves in communication with the Government, and take steps for obtaining a suitable design for a building against next quarterly meeting.” The meeting then adjourned.