CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 454, 27 November 1875, Page 2

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors was held yesterday at the Public Library. Present—Yen Archdeacon Willock, Revs W. J. Habens, C. Fraser, and J. Buller, Hon E W. Stafford, aud Messrs H. B. Gresson, J, N. Tosswill, J. Inglis, W. J. W. Hamilton, and H. R. Webb. In the absence of the chairman of the Board, Mr H. B. Gression was moved to .he chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read aud confirmed.

The chairman said that a telegram from Mr Montgomery to the secretary had been placed in his hands, stating that he (Mr Montgomery) was unavoidably absent at Akaroa. The first business before the meeting would be the election of two governors. The following gentlemen were proposed and seconded to fill the vacancies.

Mr J. Y. Colborne-Veel, proposed by the Rev W. J. Habens, siconded by the Rev C. Fraser.

Mr B. W. Fereday, proposed by Mr J. Inglis, seconded by Mr J. N. Tosswill. Mr E, G. J, Stevens, proposed by Mr J. Inglis, seconded by the Rev 0. Fraser. A ballot was taken, resulting in the election of Messrs Colborne-Yeel and Stevens, the numbers being—Mr Veel 7, Mr Stevens 5, and Mr Fereday 4. The chairman said he understood the plans of the College buildi igs were now ready to place before the Boa'd, and that they had been prepared with a view to reduce tin expense, as the Government were unable to grant the additional sum of £3OOO asked for.

The secretary thei read the following letter from the Provincial Secretary, dated 24th November, having reference to this matter:—

“ I have the honor to state that, with reference to the request submitted to the

Government by a deputation from the Board! of Governors that an additional sum of £3 *OO should be granted to them for the College building, the Government are unable to accede to this request. I have to apologise for the delay in forwarding this reply, but the Executive have been prevented by various circumstances from considering the question previously.” The plans were then submitted by Mr Mountfort, architect. After being considered, the following motion, moved by the Rev Mr Habens and seconded by Mr Tosswill, was agreed to—‘That the Board approves generally of the plana submitted for the College, but would prefer some change in the arrangement of the windows of the lower lecture room, to avoid the present uniform ascent, and, with this suggestion, refers the matter to the building committee to carry out.”

The chairman said there was a resolution passed at a previous meeting that the professors should be written to proposing the formation of a Professorial Board, and asking those gentlemen to submit suggestions for carrying out this scheme. The following letter, containing suggestions, had been received from the professors : “ Christchurch, October 16, 1875. “ The Chairman of the Board of Governors, Canterbury College.

“ Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that, after due consideration, the Professors of Canterbury College have decided to recommend to the Board of Governors of the College the following scheme for the formation of a Professorial Board : 1. The Professorial Board shall consist of the professors and two members of the Board of Governors, to be chosen annually by the latter—three to form a quorum. “2. The Professorial Board shall elect one of their number as chairman for a year, who shall preside at the meetings of the Board, and in case of his absence the members of the Board then present shall elect one of themselves to act as chairman for that meeting. The chairman to be the medium of communication with the Board of Governors. “3. The Professorial Board shall meet at least once a month during term time. “4. The functions of the Professorial Board shall be as follows : “A. To deal with all questions relating to the discipline of the students. Students who may deem themselves aggrieved may appeal to the Board of Governors. “ B Subject to the approval of tLe Board of Governors, to decide upon the course of study to be pursued, and to fix the days and hours of lectures and of examination. *• C. Subject to the approval of the Board of Governors, to prescribe the subjects of examination for prizes or other College rewards. “ D. To give through the Registrar such instruction as may be necessary to the porter or other College servants. “ E. To furnish to the Board of Governors such information as they (the Governors) may require, or the Professorial Board may d em necessary, and also to offer such suggestions for the consideration of the Board of Governors as the Professorial Board may deem advisable. *■ I may mention that in drafting the above scheme the professors were careful first to inform themselves of the constitution, powers, and duties of the Professorial Boards both at Melbourne and at Dunedin. At Melbourne the Board consists of the professors and the chancellor and the vicechancellor of the University who are ex officio members. At Dunedin the Board consists of the professors and such of the lecturers as the Council may appoint to be members of the Board. The powers and duties in each case are almost identical with those set out in the earlier part of this letter. “ I have, &c, “ C. H. H. Cook, “ Professor of Mathematics.” The dbllege committee had considered the paper received, and had framed thefollowing memo :—“ That the report on a Professorial Board be forwarded to the Board of Governors, with this recommendation, that for the present the Professors be requested to resolve themselves into a committee (with one of their number as chairman), to carry out the general purposes suggested in the report, subject to the direction of the College committee."

The Rev Mr Fraser moved—“ That the recommendation of the committee be approved, and that a copy be forwarded to the Professors.” Mr Webb seconded the resolution.

The Rev Mr Habens, as the proposer of the original resolution for the appointment of a Professorial Board, would accept the recommendation as a temporary measure until the matter had taken a more definite form. The chairman said he had been informed that catalogues of books in circulation in the library, and those in the reference library had been distributed amongst the members The class list for Michaelmas term had been placed on the table. In reply to Archdeacon Willock, the s°cretary said that sixty students bad attended last term and seventy-seven the previous term.

On the motion of Ihe Rev Mr Habens> seconded by the Rev Mr Buller, it was resolved—“ That the chairman be requested to have the conveyance from his Honor the Superintendent to the College of the classical school reserves, duly stamped and registered, and also that he be requested to obtain the signature of the chieffsurveyor to the plans." The Board then adjourned.