CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 360, 7 August 1875, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors was held yesterday morning, at ten o'clock, at the Public Library. Present —Mr H. B. Gresson (chairman), the Most Kev the Primate, Bevs Canon Willock, W. J. Habens, J. Buller, and C. Fraser, Dv Turnbull, and Messrs H. J. Tancred, J. Inglis, J. W. Hamilton, and B. Wilkin. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary of Ceylon, which had been forwarded from Wellington to his Honor the Superintendent, asking to be furnisbed with a copy of the regulations affectiDg the administration of the Canterbury Museum, This letter had been forwarded to Dr Von Haast, who replied, giving the information desired.

A letter was read from the Provincial Secretary, in reference to the scale of fees for analyses fixed by the Board in connection with the appointment of Professor Bickerton as public analyst. The Government regretted they could not consider the terms proposed as favorable as they should wish for th« interests of the public. The appointment would only be, therefore, for the present financial year. The whole question would have to be submitted at the next session of the Provincial Council. The following letter was read from the Secretary to the University of New Zealand :

" University of New Zealand, " Christchurch, July 19th, 1875

«( Sir,—l have the honor to inform you, by direction of the Chancellor, that it is proposed by this University to ask the various affiliated institutions to conduct in future the matriculation examinations for this University. "In the event of your Board acceding to the above request, will you be kind enough to inform the Chancellor of the time fixed for Buch examination, and of the fees, if aDy, payable to your College in that behalf, in addition to those payable to the University, with the view of making the same known to candidates for matriculation.

"By the regulation specifying the terms to be kept, and the examinations to be passed for the B.A. degree, all matriculated students are under an obligation to present themselves for examination every year at some affiliated institution. This applies both to students who are on the books of such institution, and to those who are not. With regard to the latter class your Board will probably fix some fee for admission to the annual examinations. In such case would you be as good as to inform the chancellor thereof, in order that he may make it known to students. " I have, &c, " W. M. Maskell, secretary. " The Chairman Board of Governors, " Canterbury College." Ou the motion of the Eev Mr Ilabens, the letter was referred to the general committee, ] with full power to act. On the motion of the Rev Mr Habenp, the standing orders were suspended to allow of the Rev Mr Praser moving the motion standing in his name, which had lapsed at the last meeting from the want of a quorum. Mr Fraser then moved the following motion :—" That a general committee be appointed in lieu oE the three existing committees, and that such committee shall consist of nine members, and shall meet on the first Monday in every month, at 10 o'clock a.m., at the Public Library, four to be a quorum." The Rev Mr Buller seconded the motion. Mr Tancred suggested the addition of the words, " and at such other times as might be found necessary." The chairman thought that it might be left to the chairman of the committee to call the meetings. Mr Fraser, with permission, added to his motion, " and that the chairman be empowered to call such furthoi meetings as may be found necessary." After some discussion, at the suggestion

of some of the Governors, Mr Fraser divided his resolution into three, with alterations, which were carried, as follows : " That a general committee be appointed, in lieu of the three existing committers." " That such committee shall consist of twelve members." " The committee to meet at least once a month—four to be a quorum—at such hour as they may propose ; the .chairman to have power"to call further meetings if required." Mr Habens moved for a return of the number of students attending the lectures of the various professors. He did so because a member of the Government had made a statement of the number of students attending the classes which was incorrect, and he considered that a correct return should be placed before the public. Mr Knight (it was he whom he alluded to), when addressing his constituents, had told them that some thirteen or fourteen lads were attending the classes of Professor Bickerton. In reply to him (Mr Habens) Professor bickerton had told him that all these lads were above the age of twenty-one. The Rev Mr Buller seconded the motion. The secretary laid the following returns on the table : " Canterbury College—Return of students on the books of the College during the Trinity Term. 1875 (up to date)—l, Latin elementary, 24 ; 2, Greek, 11 ; 3, Latin (junior), 12 ; 4, English literature, 7 ; 5, Latin (senior), 7; 6, Greek, 4 ; 7, Philosophical literature of Greece, Rome, and England ; 8, arithmetic, 9 ; 9, Euclid, 14; 10, algebra (senr), 8; 11, do (junr), 15; 12, trigonometry, 5; 13, electricity, 1; 14, chemistry of metals, 11; 15, agricultural chemistry, 5; 16, chemistry, elementary, 10; 17, zoology of vertebratse, 1; 18, human physiology, 1; 19, French, 9; 20, German, 5; 21, jurisprudence, —. " Total number of students on the books of the College during the Trinity Term up to July 29th, 1875. Lent Term—l, Latin (sen), 6; 2, Latin (jun), 20; 3, Greek, 3; 4, English literature. 11; 5, arithmetic, 11; 6, algebra, 28; 7, Euclid, 12; 8, trigonometry, 6; 9, chemistry, 19; 10, chemistry (elementary), 20; 11, botany, 2; 12, modern languages, 13; 13, jurisprudence, 2. Total number of students on the books of the college during Lent term, 87." The following was also laid on the table by the secretary:—"List of undergraduates of the New Zealand University on the books of the Canterbury College, Lent term, 1875 : —l, W. H. Atack; 2, H. Cotterill; 3, W. B. Douglas; 4,T. S. Foster; 5, W. H. Hammond; 6, H. Hill; 7, W. P. Reeves; 8, F. W. Smith; 9, J. R. Thornton; 10, J. R. Wilkinson. Trinity term, 1875—1, W. B. Douglas; 2, T. 8. Foster; 3, Henry Hill; 4, F. W. Smith; 5, J. R. Thornton; 6, J. R. Wilkinson." A letter was read from Mr W. B. Mountfort, architect, informing the Board that the contractor's solicitor had received a reply rom the Government, to the effect that no further obstacles would be made to the progress of the museum work, provided the contractor would forego all claim to compensation. Mr Mountford applied for £3OO commission, and £22 16s paid by him for advertising. A ballot was then taken for the election of the general committee, when the following gentlemen were declared to be elected — Most Rev the Primate, Mr Tancred, Rev W. J. Habens, Rev J. Buller, Dr Turnbull, Mr W. Montgomery, Rev C. Fraser, Mr J. Inglis, Rev Canon Willock, Mr R. Wilkin, Mr H. R. Webb, and Mr J. W. Hamilton. The Rev Mr Fraser moved—" That the secretary be instructed to inform Professor Bickerton that the Government had agreed to appoint him Government Analyst under the Adulteration of Food Act, with the consent of the Board." Mr Tancred seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read signed by twenty-two up-country teachers at present attending the University lectures, saying that many of the lectures were so arranged as to meet the convenience of those living in the country as regarded railway travelling, yet the great expense attending travelling caused much inconvenience, and many were unable to avail themselves of the privilege; pointing out the provision made for pupils attending the Government schools, and requesting the influence of the Board to obtain a similar concession in favor of teachers; adding that if their case were not favorably considered. many who now attended from long distances at considerable sacrifice, would have to deny themselves advantages so nearly within their Mr Hamilton moved—" That a copy of the letter be forwarded to the Provincial Government, with a recommendation that the application marte by the teachers may be favorably considered." The Rev Mr Habens seconded the motion, which was carried. The following letter was read from Mr A. Lean, President of the Canterbury Association of Architects :

"The Chairman, Board Governors, Canterbury College. " Christchurch, July 29, 1875; "Sir—The Canterbury Association of Architects have had their attention drawn to a report of a meeting of the Board of Governors, at which, during a discussion on a Bill of Charges, rendered by a member of the association, certain comments ou the association were made, which that body deem it only fair and just should not be allowed to pass without notice. " The association is there represented as countenancing such a contingency as the following:— " An architect instructed to prepare plans at a cost of £4OOO, claiming commission on £50,000, such sum being the amount of the lowest tender. " I have the honour, respectfully, to point out to you that the printed rules of the association countenance no such charge. "The architect claims commission on the amount expended, or proposed to be expended, by his client, and the client sanctions this amount. " Firstly, by specific instructions that this sum be not exceeded ; or, " Secondly, by acquiescing in an increase of the amount to be expended ; or, " Thirdly, by making no restriction whatever as to cost. " Mr Armson, in the case in question, has informed the association that the committee perfectly understood, prior to tenders being received, that the building could not be built for either £4OOO or £CO9O, and, therefore, the amount of the lowest tender was no matter of surprise to the committee. " The clause in the rules pertinent to this case runs as follows :—' In the absence of .iuy satisfactory tender upon which to compute the charge, it is to be taken on the

' architect's estimate.' And there being virtually no ' architect's estimate' within the meaning of the ni' the only basis on which the charge ci.uM bo made would be the lowest tender received. " Again, at the same meeting, a parallel was drawn between the scales of charges of the Association of Architects and of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. "The association cannot admit any analogy in the time or trouble involved in the work performed, but if any weight be attached to usage, it cannot be denied that the charges of architects are far more defensible than those made by the merchants; for this reason that, while the per centages sanctioned by the Chamber of Commerce would in England be considered excessive, the charges adopted by the association are literally a transcript of those of the Koyal Institute of British Architects, and this notwithstanding thailocal circumstances would in equity warrant a considerable increase over the English fees.

" The Board will perhaps recognise the propriety of publishing this opinion from the association, inasmuch as very strong expressions were used by some of the Governors oa what appears to have been an incomplete view of the circumstances connected with the case under discussion. " I have the honor to be, sir, " Your most obedient servant, Alex. Lean, " President of the Canterbury Association of Architects."

Mr Hamilton moved—" That the thanks of the governing body be given to the President of the Canterbury Association of Architects for his letter, and that it be pointed out to him at the same time that the hypothetical case referred to in the letter was anwered in the affirmative by a member of a that body." Mr Tancred seconded the motion.

The motion was agreed to. The chairman said that a geological collection, presented by the Messrs Bealey, was now somewhat in the way through want of room, and Dr Von Haast arid Professor Bickerton would like to have portions of the collection. He desired to have the opinion of the Board in this matter.

Some discussion followed, a general feeling being expressed that the collection should not be broken up without the consent of the donors. Ultimately, it was resolved to refer the matter 1o the library committee.

The following report was read from the j library committee :• " The committee met on the 19th of July last, and had an interview with the architect. Instructions were given to Mr Armson to prepare plans for the new building, with a view to its being built of brick, the architect undertaking to have all the necessary plans and working drawings completed within eight weeks from date. " Circulating Library.—Since the Ist of January last, 120 works, comprising several volumes, have been placed in the circulating department of the library, and a further instalment of sixty-seven works will shortly come to hand, being on board the Oriana, which is now discharging at Lyttelton. Four orders, covering 193 works, have been sent to Mr Edward Stanford, of 55 Charing Cross, since the above date, and advices have been received of one order having been executed, and the books shipped by the Lactura, which left London on the 4th of June. The Board have already been made aware that Mr Stanford, by letter, of the 4th of June last, has been requested to forward monthly, by the Suez mail, a parcel of books not exceeding ten pounds in value. " Reference Library.— Some time back the committee sent an order for books of reference to the value of £650, to Mr James Bain, of No 1 Haymarket ; 601 volumes, representing £358 4s 6d, have been received, and two other cases, containing 194 volumes, amounting to a further sum of £l3O 7s lOd, are on board the White Rose, now in Lyttelton harbor. From advices received the books comprising the balance of thisordermay shortly be lookedfor. By the last Suez mail an order to the value of about £BOO was forwarded to the same firm, on the 30th of June last the number of volumos in the Library was :—Circulating department, 3959 ; roforence. 1143. It is believed that about 800 volumes win be added to the circulating department during the year ending 31st December next. The above figures do not include unbound periodicals or blue books, of which there are about eighty. On the 30th June last, the number of subscribers to the circulating library was 530, as against 317 on the 31st December, 1873, before the Library was taken over by the Board of Governors, as from the trustees oi the Library Institute. " Public Reading-room—Subjoined is a list containing the English, Foreign, Australian, and New Zealand newspapers and magazines to be found in the reading-room, which is open free to the public between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., on every day of the week excepting Sunday. " English and Foreign Newspapers and Magazines. — Dublin Warder, London News, Engineer, Saturday Review, Gardeners' Chronicle, Home News (two copies), Field, Mail, Punch, Edinburgh Weekly Review, Scientific American, Graphic, Spectator, Art Journal, Athemeum, Atlantic Monthly, Rlackwood, Builder, CasselPs, Chambers' Journal, Cornhill, All the Year Round, Fortnightly Review, Good Words, Leisure Hour, London Society, Macmillan, Iron, Once a Week, Temple Bar, Tinsley, Contemporary Review, Edinburgh Review,Westminster Review, Gentleman's Magazine, Quarterly Review, Scribuer's Monthly, Eraser's. Colonial papers—Australian —Australasian, Australasian Sketcher, Sydney Mail, Adelaide Observer, Hobart Town Mercury, Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser. New Zealand —Auckland—Daily Southern Cross, Thames Advertiser, Thames Evening Star, Taranaki Herald, Hawkes Bay Herald ; Wellington —New Zealand Times, Evening Post, Tribune ; Nelson—Colonist, Evening Mail ; Canterbury—Lyttelton Times, Press, Star, Giobo, Timaru Herald ; Otago —Daily Times, Saturday Advertiser, Southland Times, Southland News; West Coast Times. Westport Times, Grey River Argus, Ross Guardian, Educational Gazette, New Zea land Church News, New Zealand Wesleyan." Dr Turnbull suggested that a financial statement should be furnished with regard to the circulating library, and also a state ment of estimated expenditure for nexl year, so that it might be laid before the public. The chairman said he had been informed that a statement had been made up to the 30th of last June, and that a complete one up to January could easily bo made out. The secretary promised to have the return furnished as desired.

The chairman said the next thing to be considered had reference to the proposed

establishment of a medical school. Some time ago Drs Powell and Prins had waited on him on this matter, as a deputation from the committee of the medical staff. lie requested the deputation to put their views on paper, and in compliance with that request the following letter had been forwarded: —"Worcester street west, June 30th, 1875. —Sir, —A committee of the staff of the Christchurch Hospital appointed to report on the feasibility of establishing a Medical School in Christchurch waited upon you, by consent of the Provincial Government, ou July 28th inst, with the purpose of ascertaing whether the corporation of the Cantorbury College could be secured. In compliance with your request, I have the honor to place before you the views of the deputaI tion. You are aware, sir, that in Dunediu a similar school has been partially established by the Dunedin University, and we presume that in the event of the granting of medical degrees by the New Zealand University, it would be necessary to affiliate the medical schools to the University: but we believe that we are correct in supposing that the Canter bury College has no present intention of taking steps to give instruction in medicine. We are anxious, therefore, to avail ourselves of the services of the Professor of Chemistry, and the Lecturer of Physiology to the College and wish to know whether the Board of Governors will permit those gentlemen to deliver courses of lectures suited to the requirements of students of medicine, and on what conditions. The promoters of the school have at present no funds available for the payment of lecturers; but when they are in a position to report favorably to the Government, as to the possibility of establishing a school on a satisfactory basis, they hope that the Government may see their way to providing an endowment. Under any circumstances the staff of lecturers being necessarily large, the remuneration will for some time to come be altogether inadequate. It is necessary that students of medicine intending to obtain English qualifications should, prior to their commencing their course of professional study, pass an examination in Arts, recognised by the General Medical Council of Great Britain ; such an examination is instituted by Christ's College, and we would be glad to know whether it is proposed to obtain recognition of the Matriculation Examination of the New Zealand University. We have the honor to be sir, your obedient servants, Llewellyn Powell, M.D., for the committee. J. B. Gresson, Esq., Chairman of Board of Governors, Canterbury College." He (the chairman) might say that the letter had been submitted to the professors, asking whether they could give lectures to medical students without interfering with their other work. A reply had been received from Professor Bickerton, who said he would find no difficulty in arranging his lectures to suit those students.

After some remarks from governors it was resolved, on the motion of the Rev Mr Habens—" That the letter referring to the establishment of a medical school be referred to the committee, with instructions to forward as. far as practicable the wishes expressed in the letter." Mr Habens asked whether any official com* munication had been received from the Government relative to the Museum. The chairman replied that no communication other than Mr Mountfort's letter, had been received on this subject. The Rev Mr 'Fraser moved—" That Mr Mountfort's claim of £3OO for commission on the Museum be paid, together with £22 for advertisements; and that the committee be authorised to make enquiries as to the intentions of the Government in regard to the Museum, and to superintend the carrying out of the buildings." The chairman said he had received a letter from Mr A. C. Knight, resigning his position a*j Governor. The following gentlemen were nominated as 'governors:—Messrs R. W. Fereday, Hon G. Buckley, J. N. Tosswill, Hon J. B. Acland, M.A., F. J. Garrick, and Judge Johnston. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Habens gave notice of the following motion—" That the three professors be requested to prepare proposals for the constitution of a Professorial Board, and to submit ihoir views upon the matter to this Board at an early date" Rev Mr Fraser—" That no nominations to fill vacancies taking place at the Board of Governors be received until such vacancies have been duly intimated to the members at a previous meeting." The Board then adjourned.