CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 534, 4 March 1876, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

The adjourned meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was held at the Public Library, at 3 pm. yesterday. Present—Mr Wm. Montgomery (chairman), the Primate, Rev 0. Fraser, Yen Archdeacon Willock, Hon J. B. A. Acland, Hon B. W. Stafford, Messrs Mellish, H. B. Gresson, J. Inglis, J. Colborne-Veel, H. R, Webb, W. j. W. Hamilton, E. C. J. Stevens, J. N. Toss will, and W. P. Oowlishaw. The chairman said he had waited on the Government to see; whether the approved of the estimates of the College, and he had received a memo from Mr Maskell, the Provincial Secretary, stating that the Government would recommend the estimates as sent in to the Colonial Government. The building committee had considered the motion passed at last meeting relative to the tenders for the college buildings, and had recommended that the laboratory be erected of galvanised iron—a room distinct from and behind the stone building. He would now read the memorandum forwarded that day by the Provincial Secretary, which was as follows :—“ Provincial Secre-

tary’s office, Christchurch, Match 2nd, 1876 “ Referring to our conversation of this morning relative to the estimates of the College for the six months ending September 30tb, 1876, the Government will recommend for the approval of the Colonial Government, these estimates, at least as far as regards the continuance of appointments hitherto in existence. Of course the final approval rests with the Colonial Government. —W. M. Maskkll, Provincial Secretary.” A letter was read from Mr R. Wilkin, resigning his seat as Governor, owing to not having time to attend to the duties of the office.

The Board then proceeded to consider the list of applicants for the registrarship, Yen Archdeacon Willock suggested that the election should be by ballot, and that the Governors present should first give in a list of candidates for whom they would vote and that the candidates receiving the highest number of votes should be retained upon the list until reduced, to say two, when the Governors might record their votes for one of the candidates. He would move that the election be by ballot, Mr Hellish seconded the motion, which was carried.

Hessrs Hamilton and Acland were appointed scrutineers. On the ballot, Hr F. G. Stedman was declared duly elected. The chairman placed before the meeting the prospectus issued by the College. Now that the Government had agreed to the estimates of the College, it was perhaps as well for the Board to consider whether it would not be well to continue the lectures on Modern Languages and Jurisprudence, in accordance with the recommendation of the committee. These were included in the syllabus, but if the Board agreed to this, it would be necessary to make arrangements with the lecturers. The recommendations of the College committee were as follows : “The committee has had under considera-

tion how the attendance at the lectures of

the professors and lecturers could be increased, and having given due attention to I communications, written and verbal, received from the professors, and after conferring with Dr Powell, lecturer on Biology, reports as follows: —That additional lecture rooms are urgently required, and that greater publicity should be given to the course of lectures. There is an additional room in the small Oddfellows’ Hall, which can be obtained for £2O per annum. If this were secured the Hall would be given up wholly to the professors, except on Monday evenings, from 7 o’clock. Dr Powell has arranged with Professor Bickerton that the lecture on Biology can be given in them. The committee recommend that this additional room be engaged. With the view of giving greater publicity a prospectus has been prepared by the professors which the committee' recommend to the Board to be printed for distribution. Professor Bickerton and Dr - Powell propose to give each three public lectures, in the Oddfellows’ Hall, during the term, and Professor Brown will give lectures also, if his regular class work will allow sufficient time. The committee recommends that the proposal be sanctioned by the Board.” Rev C, Fraser suggested that it would be as well if the Board considered the memo, of the Provincial Secretary. - • The chairman said the Provincial Secretary’s'memo, only referred to the appointments now in existence. The Board had thought of appointing a Professor of Geology, but the Government had not yet considered and decided upon this matter. It would of course be open to the Board to communi- : ? cate with the Colonial Government by telegram. Dr Turnbull moved—“ That Rev Mr Tur* rell and Dr Foster be requested to deliver their lectures on Modern Languages and Jurisprudence for one term.” «. Mr Veel seconded the mdtion. - Rev 0. Fraser pointed out that the Government only stated that they would support the estimate for the appointment of officers now engaged. It seemed to him that at present they were at sea altogether, and he thought they, should allow the appointments of the lecturers on Modern Languages aud Jurisprudence to stand over. He would like to see these appointments omitted for the present, with an expression of regret that they were unable from want of definite information as to the possibility of funds being available to continue these lectures.

The Chairman thought it would be as well before making appointments that they should ■ ■ communicate with Hon C. C. Bowen on the part of the Colonial Government. The chairman might see the Hon Mr Bowen, and then, if the answer were satisfactory, arrangements might -be made with the lecturers.

T Mr Cpwlishaw would move, as an amendment—“ That upon the chairman receiving a satisfactory assurance from the Colonial Government as to the funds being forthcoming, he be authorised to make arrangements for the delivery of lectures upon three subjects, viz— geology, modern languages, and juris prudence.” Mr Yeel wished to make a few remarks on the subject. The committee had reported that they recommended the appointment of a professor of geology, and that they had t communicated with Dr Haast as to his terms. ,At the time no resolution was come to because it was not known whether the Government would consent to the matter. What ho wanted to point oat tothe Board was this,

that they were not appointing a Professor of Geology—they were not making a new chair, which should be done formally and after notice —but that whoever was appointed would simply be a lecturer on geology, and stand on the same footing as the lecturers on modern history and jurisprudence. He mentioned this because it was as well that this should be settled and perfectly understood.

The Rev 0. Fraser quite agreed with Mr Veel. He understood that the lecturer on geology would be on the same footing as the other lecturers, merely being engaged for one term. Of course if their means allowed they might go still further, and make the matter permanent. Dr Turnbull maintained that the Board had accepted the fact ef the appointment of a professor of geology, and he did not think they should go behind that. Mr Veel thought that the creation of a new chair was one of such importance that it ought to be considered at a fuller Board meeting than the present one. After some discussion it was resolved—- “ That the chairman be requested to communicate with the Colonial and Provincial Governments, with a view of ascertaining what funds would be at the disposal of the college for the six months for professor or lecturer on geology, and lecturers on modern languages and jurisprudence, and that a meeting be called to receive the report of the chairman,” Mr Oowlishaw’s resolution being withdrawn. The prospectus ofqlectures, &c, for distribution was brought up by the chairman, and approved of by the Board. The Board then proceeded to consider the recommendation of the college committee to build the laboratory of wood and corrugated iron. One of the contractors who had complied with the conditions had been conferred with, and had offered to do the work at a certain price, but even this was above the money they had in hand, if they still determined to build the whole in stone. The committee saw their way clear to build the College, with the main building in stone and the laboratory in rear in wood and iron, within the amount of money at their disposal; Time was precious, and it might be thought advisable to instruct the building committee to carry out the work, and they would have the fittings, &c, within the sum voted.

On the motion of Mr Hellish, the recommendation of the building committee was adopted. Hr Hamilton moved—* 1 That the building committee be authorised to arrange with the builder who tendered to carry on the building of the college at a cost within the sum available, the main part to be of stone and the chemistry department of wood and iron.” Hr Veel seconded the motion. Hr Hellish moved as an amendment—--11 That the committee be authorised to call for fresh tenders, in accordance with the recommendation of the committee, to be sent in by 13th Harch.” Mr Tosswill seconded the amendment, as he felt sure that it was only right, in connection with large works such as this, that tenders should be called for. Rev 0. Fraser would ask Hr Hellish to accept a motion, which he would propose as follows:— 11 That the committee make arrangements for proceeding with the work.” Hr Hellish declined to do this. Hr Hamilton withdrew his resolution, and Hr Hellish’s amendment was carried. It was resolved that the chairman be authorised to rent the additional room at the small Oddfellows’ Hall at the rent of £2O per annum. Rev 0. Fraser moved —“That Mr Hellish be appointed as a member of the College committee in room of Rev James Buller, resigned. Mr Hamilton seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The consideration of the letter from Dr Prins respecting the medical school was adjourned. On the motion of Hr Hellish, it was resolved— 11 That the recommendation of the committee as regarded the lectures of the professors should be adopted.”