BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1280, 26 April 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

The ordinary meeting of the Board of Governors was held yesterday at the Boardroom. Present —Mr W. Montgomery (chairman), Rev. C. Fraser, Messrs F. de c. Malet, J. Colborne-Vcel, 11. R. Webb, R, W. Fereday, C. C. Bowen, T. H. Potts, J. W. Hamilton, E. C. J. Stevens, H. P. Lance, Dr. Coward, and Hon. J. Hall. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, the following busi ness was transacted ; chairman’s statement.

The Chairman stated that, with regard to the Girls’ High School, the first term of this year had just been completed. The number of pupils during the term was 115. At the commencement of the term the pupils were examined that they might be classed according to their attainments, and during ths last week a careful examination had neon held to ascertain what progress each pupil had made during the term. The Lady Principal was now preparing a report, which would be finished in a few days, and would be laid before the Board at its next meeting. Ho understood that the Inspector General of Schools would inspect the Girls’ High School early in June, and trusted the InspectorGeneral’s report would yu entirely satisfactory, and givji increased confidence to the public. With regard to the School of Agriculture, Mr Ivey had written to say he intended to leave Melbourne for Canterbury during the second week of this month, fie might therefore be expected to arrive here in a few days. The sections of land purchased fov the model farm had been duly conveyed, and the money had been paid to the vendorg, Respecting the establishment of th° Boys’ High School at Timavu, it would be in the recollection of members of the Board that when application was made to the Government for funds to establish high schools in Canterbury, the sura of £(1000 was asked forjtlio school atTimaru. That'amount had boon obtained, was now lying In the Bant; at interest, and/ no doubt the Boaycl would acDiye thoiily to lake steps towards procuring U site and ejecting the buildings. The College had not brought this matter before the Board sooner, because it was thought it might be advisable to wait till alter the election of the Board of Education for bouth Canterbury, when he, the -ohaiytoan, might vioit and gonfer with the chairman M fioWd reepciwf Pitty After re*

ceiving the report of the conference, the College committee could give the matter their best attention, nnd prepare a report for the consideration of the Board. As the Board of Education would meet on the 30th inst., and elect a chairman, the conference might be held early in May. He might state that he had made some enquiries respecting a site, and had been informed by Mr T. H-dl that there were some sections belonging to Government in n good position which might be obtained. It would bo an important consideration if a good site could be obtained without cost, «o that all the money could be used for buildings. Respecting endowments for secondary education lie would remind them that lust session an Act of the Assembly was passed for the appointment of the education reserves for primary and secondary education. One fourth part of those reserves was to be sot apart for secondary, and three-fourths for primary education. These reserves would be vested in five commissioners, three of whom would be appointed by the Governor, and two by the Board or Boards of Education in each provincial district. The revenue from reserves set apart for secondary education would bo appropriated by the commissioners. He understood that the number of a toes set apart forsecondary education was about 16,000. The revenue to be derived therefrom would probably be £IBOS at present, but would be considerably increased in a few years. In 1882 the revenue would be upwards of £2200. He mentioned this for the information of members, and because it would be necessary to shortly consider the b' I st method of obtaining duly qualified masters for the Boys’ High school. The commissioners for managing the reserves would be in office in a few days, and probably the College committee would be able to obtain information, and lay the same before the Board at its next meeting. election of member. The Board elected Mr J. D. Enys in the room of the Hon. J. B. Acl md, resigned. COMMITTEES. The Rev. 0. Eraser moved—“ That the School of Agriculture committee be reduced to six members, and that the College committee be increased to eight.” The motion was divided, and the question of the Agricultural School committee discussed first. Several members spoke against the proposed reduction, and eventually the whole motion was with Irawn. DAY OF MEETING. Mr Malet m wed that in standing order No. 1 the word “ l ist” be omitted, and the word “ second” inserted in its place. The ohj -et cf the motion was to make the day of meeting for the Board the second Thursday instead of the last Thursday of each month, as the present arrangement clashes with the mail day. The Rev. 0. Fraser referred to the mail time table, from which he showed that as the mail arrangements now stood the last Thursday in the month would not clash with the Board’s meetings, Mr Malet, by leave, withdrew his motion. EASTERN WING OF THE COLLEGE. The consideration of the following resolution, passed at the last meeting was then proceeded with : —“ That the eastern wing of the College be built according to original design, and that the funds be drawn by way of loan from the proceeds of sale of reserves in proportion to amount received, up to date, from each reserve.” The Chairman read the opinion of Mr Cowhshaw to the effect that the words “ by of loan” would have no efficacy. Mr Stevens asked if the question of loan had not been reported upon by the Agricultural school committee, to whom it had been referred. The Chairman replied that the committee had reported upon the question that it was not one for them, but for the College, to decide upon. Dr. Coward moved, and Mr Hamilton seconded, the omission of the words “ by way of loan.” Hon. J. Hall here asked by whose authority the trees on the newly-purchased ground were being cut down. The Chairman said that only those which were close to the footpath had been cut down. He sent at once to stop any more trees being cut down. Mr Bowen wished to call attention to the exceedingly small site upon which the present buildings are erected. He would suggest that the Boys School site should be appropriated to the College. He thought the Girls’ School site might be used for the Boys’ School, and the Girls’ School he would like to see placed on a totally different site. Eventually the Boys’ School could be erected on another site. Hon. J. Hall called Mr Bowen to order. The subject was one which had his sympathies, but was not exactly open for discussion on the present motion, Mr Stevens believed the question was, whether the amount of £3200 bo taien from the proceeds of the sale of ihs Agricultural School reserves. The Chairman said the money was to be taken from all the reserves pro rata to the amount acquired up to date. Mr Stevens did not think this fair, unless recompense was afterwards made to those funds which were thus drawn upon. Mr Yeel said the Act authorised the Board to spend £IO,OOO in the purchase of sites and erection of buildings. Mr Potts would place on record his opposition to the motion. The Agricultural School funds should not be appropriated in the manner proposed, as ho considered it won,ld be against the original intention of the Provincial Council. The Hon. J. Hall considered that it was not unreasonable that the several branches of the institution should contribute towaids the expenses of the general scheme of the College. The Act evidently contemplated this. If the Provincial Council had to make the endowments now they would not vote so large an endowment to the School of Agriculture. It was only by a “iluke” that this endowment had turned out to be ten times richer than any other. Mr Fereday agreed with the motion. The Chairman agreed with Mr Hall that it had never been anticipated that the Agricultural School reserve would prove to be so rich. Many things which would really be of value to agriculture would be taught in the College, which could not be taught in the Agricultural School. He quoted the following extract from Mr Pearson’s “ Report on the State of Public Education ;n Victoria ” ; Nor would it bo difficult I think to arrange fqr students receiving some practical instruction in laud surveying, if the success of the school appeared to warrant any extra expense. This would leave mechanics, engineering, comrarativo anatomy, and physiology, mineralogy, geology, and entomology, subjects that can he : best taught in a University, and in the,neighbourhood of a museum, for th,ft Melbourne course, to be arranged by tfye faculty of practical science, as it shall think lit. The subject q here mentioned could well be taught in Christchurch, and the funds of the Agricultural School might fairly be devoted to an institution in which they were taught. After some further discussion, the question of the omission of the words “ by way of loan” was put and carried, and the motion thus amended was also carried. The Board the:; went into committee. On resuming, the following report was adopted ; —« TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT AT MUSEUM. The Coll geand Museum committee ';C “ formation of Technical Department at Museum,” report that at the conference jt was resolved — 1. “That it is desirable to establ sh a Depart* meat of Technical Science at the Museum.” 2. “ That a portion of the space in the Museum should be set apart for the Department of Technical Science,” The committee would recommend that the Museum committee be requested to take steps to give effect to the above resolutions. The consideration of other matters waa postponed till next meeting. NOTICES 01 MOTION. The Hon. Jj. Hall gave notice of the following motion—“ That it is desirable a bound Copy of the several Acts and Ordinances by which the Canterbury College is established «nci governed should be provided for the use of each governor; that- the standing orders, list of governors, and of committees bp included in the same binding, together with the prospectus of fha College for the current year.” "* . Mr Bowen gave notice of the following motion—' 1 That the College should purchase the site of the Boy’s High School for College purposes, and that another site should bp PUf* chased fw the High School/ *