CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1569, 28 February 1879, Page 4

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Thursday, February 27, 1879. A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was held at 11 a.m. Present—Mr Wm. Montgomery (chairman), the Primate, Rev. C. Fraser, Messrs Bowen, Enys, Tosswill, Tanorec!, E. Wakefield, Webb, Malet, Stevens. LETTERS OF APOLOGY. Letters were read Irom Messrs Pereday and Hamilton, apologising for absence on account of illness ; also from Dr. Coward, on the ground of his duties as Coroner. chairman’s statement. The Chairman said that, in anticipation of the discussion of the appointment ot a biological professor, he had bad a balance-sheet prepared. The order of business was theu stated by the Chairman. NOMINATIONS. Mr Malet nominated Mr Wm. Reeves as a governor to till one of the vacancies. Rev. C. Fraser seconded the motion. Mr Tosswill nominated Mr John Grigg. Mr Tancred seconded the nomination. RETURN OP ATTENDANCE. Mr Malet moved—“ That at the annual meeting of the Board a return of the attendance of members on the various committees be prepared and laid on the table,” Mr Enys seconded the motion. Rev. C. Fraser would like to see this principle extended to the Board. After some remarks from Messrs Enys and Stevens, the motion was agreed to. THE OTAGO UNIYEBSITY AND THE ROYAL CHARTER. The Chairman having explained the present Eosition of the debate on this question, which ad been adjourned from a previous meeting, said that Mr Stevens having moved the adjournment of the debate, was in possession of the Board. It was thought however that Mr Wakefield had not spoken all he intended to do, and therefore if the Board agreed he would call on Mr Wakefield to move his resolutions. [Hear, hear. ] Mr Wakefield said he had altered his first resolution somewhat, so as to leave the future condition of the University untouched. This ho had done to meet the suggestion of Mr Stevens. He would now move “1. That the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College, whilst agreeing with the College committee that the University of New Zealand should be the only body empowered to grant degrees in New Zealand, cannot adopt their view that in the event of the Otago University applying for a Royal Charter, the Canterbury College should make ti similar application. (2.) That a petition should bo drawn up on the part of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, and transmitted to the Imperial Government through the Chancellor of the New Zealand University that the New Zealand University may be maintained as the only body empowered to grunt degrees in Now Zealand.” He thought he had said all he find 'o sn.v it, leaving the matter in the hands of the Board. ivi r Enys seconded the motion. The Chairman referred to a point of order which had arisen at a former meeting, and quoted May’s Parliamentary Practice to show that Mr Wakefield’s amendment was in order The question was then put that the report of the College committee be adopted, which was negatived. The next question put was that the words roposed by Mr Wakefield should be inserted n lieu of the words so struck out. Rev. 0. Fraser said he desired to move—

That a University bo established for the Middle Island, to consist in the first instance of the Canterbury College and the University College of Otago.” He thought the subject was one that deserved careful consideration, a nd ho trusted that no interprovincial jealousies would stand in the way if it was thought desirable. The intimate connection which had been established between Christchurch and Dunedin seemed to point to the ease with which the amalgamation such as he Sroposed would be enabled to be carried out. le thought that the professors of the two bodies would work well together, and that the University could be worked out of the two present colleges. Another reason in favour of having a university established for the Middle Island was that they would start fully equipped, the Colleges of Otago and Canterbury having all the necessary buildings, &c. This was not the case with the North Island, and it seemed to him to be a pity that the Middle Island should be kept back for this reason. He thought that there would be no difficulty in establishing the University which he had spoken of. Rev. C. Fraser’s amendment was not seconded. Mr i’ancred quite agreed with Mr Wakefield’s motion, but he thought it might be supplemented by reasons. One of these was that the Imperial Government had already refused to grant two charters to Universities in New Zealand, and the other was that they might interfere with the work of the Royal Commission, as they might decide on a totally different plan to what might be done under a re-organisation. This,it would be seen, might altogether interfere with the work of the commission. Mr Stevens said he was entirely prepared to support Mr Wakefield’s motion in full. He felt that the sooner they made it clear that the general cast of the University should not be interfered with, beyond the necessary details in its management, the better. He did not think that the statements of the reason of the Royal Commission referred to by Mr Tancred should at all influence the reception of their petition at home. He trusted that the Board would unanimously agree with Mr Wakefield’s resolution and carry it. The motion was then put and agreed to unanimously. Mr Wakefield then moved—“ That a committee be appointed to draw up a petition in accordance with the foregoing resolution, to consist of the Chairman, Messrs Malet, Stevens, Tanored, and the mover.” Mr Toss will seconded the motion, which was agreed to. EETTJEK. The Chairman laid upon the table a return of the receipts and expenditure of the College. He said that in future he thought that it would bo better to have the accounts made up to 31st December, us their year commenced on the Ist January. He had therefore prepared an estimate of the receipts and expenditure to 31st December, in anticipation of the discussion of the question of the appoint ment of a Professor of Biology. The Board went into committee to consider the return. On the Board resuming, it was resolved that the question of the appointment of a Professor of Biology be postponed until next meeting, and that the chairman be requested to prepare a return of the estimated revenue and expenditure for the year 1880. EBPOET OF COLLEGE COMMITTEE. The report of the committee was read as follows : The committee reports having arranged with Professor Bickerton to lecture on Science to the pupils at the Girls’ High school for a first and second term, and Dr. Powell for the third term, at the rate of twenty guineas per term. The report was adopted, on the motion of the Primate. LIBRARY COMMITTEE, The library committee reported as follows : The committee reports the appointment of Miss Gillon as assistant at the Public Library, in accordance with the resolution of the Board, January 30th. The report was adopted. ESTATES COMMITTEE. The report of the estates committee was read aa follows: The committee reports the payment to Captain Cain of the purchase-money for the Boys’ High School site. Timaru, illso being retained until certain roads are opened. The report was adopted. BESKHVK9, In answer to a question from Mr Stevens, The Chairman said that he had not yet received any award on the subject of the reserves of the College from the Government. LOAN ON BESBBVE9. The Chairman said he had telegraphed to the Colonial Treasurer, asking tor authority to borrow £SOOO on security of their reserves, and had received an answer in the affirmative. Mr Stevens said that he thought the Board should lend money to the Girls’ High School

themselves, instead of going outside in the I open market to borrow money. To do this . latter would very likely make a dilference of some 2 per cent, in the cost of the loan. I The Chairman said he thought it was proh- ’ able they would require to have legislation on the matter before they could do what Mr Stevens suggested. Mr Stevens would like to see the money put to a deposit account until legislation did take plnce. The Chairman said that ho thought the College committee should have power to accept the lowest tender that had been sent in for the erection of the Boys’ High School. Mr Stevens moved —“ That the College committee have power to accept the lowest tender, previously laid before the Board, for the erection of the Boys’ High School.” Mr Wakefield seconded the motion, which was agreed to, MEDICAL SCHOOL RESERVE. Mr Stevens asked whether the survey of the Medical School reserve had been completed. The Chairman replied in the affirmative. Mr Stevens would then move—“ That the estates committee be requested to consider the advisabloness or otherwise of letting the Medical School reserve.” Mr Toss will seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CATALOGUES AT PUBLIC LIBRARY. Mr Stevens said that he was very much astonished to see the statement that no catalogue existed in the Public Library. [Hear, hear.] He thought that if this was so, the sooner it was altered the better. The Registrar said that the catalogue of the Reference Library was almost completed. As regarded the Circulating Library, they were getting so many books that the formation of a catalogue would be a work of some difficulty. Mr Enys said he desired to bring under the notice of the Board a plan which he had seen effectively used in one of the largest libraries of America. It comprised a series of cards fastened by bars to prevent the re moval. On these cards the names of the books were inscribed, and thus a complete catalogue would be formed. [Hear, hoar.] The Chairman undertook to ascertain the cost of printing a catalogue, and also to consider the suggestion of Air Enys. FORMATION OF MEDICAL SCHOOL. The Chairman said that they had before them a letter from the Dean of Medical Faculty relative to the formation of a medical school. As Dr. Turnbull, who took groat interest in this matter, was absent, it would perhaps be as well if the matter stood over. It was resolved to postpone the matter until next meeting of the Board. A r IBIT OF ROYAL COMMISSION. The Chairman said that he had received a letter from the Royal Commission on higher education, stating that they would be in Christchurch in April, and asking for the use of the College rooms, which he had granted. [Hear, hear.] The information required by the Commission from the College would also be ready. The Board then adjourned.