CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1643, 27 May 1879, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was held yesterday. Present—Mr W. Montgomery (chairman), the Primate, Rev. 0. Eraser, Drs Coward and Turnbull, Messrs J. Colbornc-Yeel, H. J. Tancred, E. de o. Malet, W. Reeves, and E. C. J. Stevens. chairman’s statement. Tho Chairman said that the fir. t business would be tho consideration of a letter respecting too establishment of tho medical school. MEDICAL SCHOOL. The following letter was read from the Dean of tho Medical Faculty; Christchurch, November 27th, 1878. Sir,—Your medical Council in drawing the attention of the Board of Governors to the future prospects of the medical school, and the desirableness of bringing the school into actual professional work, would first re-state the position. Medical practitioners in Christchurch drew up a scheme for the formation of a medical school. The Provinci d Government adopted the scheme, created sixteen lectureships, and gazetted eleven lecturers to carry out the programme. Each lecturer bound himself in writing to take up the part assigned to him when called upon. Tho school after a time, became a department of your college, and through the exertions of the Board, tho Colonial Government was induced to reserve for tho purposes of the school 5000 acres of land. Up to this dato it has, from the absence of the necessary funds, been impossible to begin practical work, but not from any difficulty in procuring students. Twelve months ago wo had deli ite applications from eight parents or guardians for admission of youths, and at this date we are safe in saying wo could begin with ten students. Three reasons induce me to send this report to you. 1. Tho near prospect of a small annual income. 2. The proposed re-adjustment of tho profsssionate, and of the finances of the college. 3, The claims of this school for consideration in any fresh scheme for the enlargement of tho work of the College. The smallest amount necessary for defraying the annual expenses of your medical department would be £iood, as shown in tho detail subsequently. We conjecture that the five thousand acres if let at the present time would realise ,£IOOO a year. It is the appropriation by the College of tho additional iJIOiO a year, for which we now ask yonr consideration. It is not the duty of yonr medical council to point ont how that sum may bo obtained, but rather to indicate the least sum necessary to call yonr medical school into practical existence now, or at some early date, say May, 1880, and also to point how small the required sum really is for tho -work which may bo accomplished in comparison to the amount annually expended on the present number of matriculated students in tho Faculty of Arts, and that proposed for the Agricultural School. Of coarse w'c quite ad nit that the departments first established have superior claims for development to any school subsequently attached, bat we submit that when new claims are proposed it should be a matter for serious enquiry whether a school such as ours m*y not accomplish more real good to the community than would tho foundation of any fresh branch of art or science. Wo have already stated the eleven lecturers h ve been gazetted, and the number may scea great, but no school aiming at securing a degree in medicine for i ! s students is allowed to work wi h a sumTer number. Granting, therefore, that the number

of lecturers must be c oven, we indicate us a possible allocation of the <£2ooo the following table ; Medicine £3200 Surgery .... 200 Anatomy (descriptive and surgical) ... 200 Physiology and General Anatomy... ... 200 Chemistry ... ... ... ... ... 2^o Demon-trillions in Anatomy 200 Midwifery and Diseases of Women and Ciiildr n 100 Materia Medica and Therapeutics ... ICO Forensic Medicine ... ... ... ... UO Pathology 100 Botany 100 Secretary, porter, and general expenses ... 300 £32000

I When it, realised tint the lecturers who are to receive ,£.;00 a your mn«-t each deliver a lecture of eve hour on five days of the week for six J months, ami that tho-c at .£IOO a year must | do'ho same work for three months, it must be ■ c needed that the j roposed rate of remuneration tis not excessive; indeed it may safely be said j that the lecturers undertake to give a large I amount of unpaid work for the sake of establishing the school of medicine. We would, before concluding, ask you to bear in mind whatever the result of this application may be, the necessity that exists for obtaining Legislative authority for connecting your medical school with the Ch istchurch Hospital. Your Medical Council has given much attention to the question of establishing an efficient medical school in New Zealand, and the Council believes that at no distant date the work must be undertaken by some province, either for the whole colony or at any rate by one place for each Island. Your Council can with confidence recommend the College to undertake] the work of raising in Christchurch a medical school, because the requisite materials exist here for the formation of such a school, one that will develop an entrance to our young men to a most honorable calling, that will prove a benefit to the communities of the colony, and by its success wiil contribute largely to the honor and stability of your College. I have, &c. J. S. Turnbull Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Tanterbrny College.

Dr. Turnbull said that this matter had been before them for some time, and he would now move—“ That the chairmen endeavour to secure the appropriation of an additional 5000 acres in trust to tho Canterbury College for paying the expenses of a medical school.” Ho was convinced that a medical School should be established for each Island of the colony, so that tho youth of the colony could bo educated in the profession of medicine. This 'school had, ho contended, as great claims upon them as the establishment of schools of mines, schools of agriculture, &c. This, ho would contend, would afford to tho youths of the colony a chance to come into the profession, and the public as a whole would benefit. It would also bo a benefit to parents who had boys growing up, and it was the duty of a Board such as this to offer such an cutlet for youths of promise. The third benefit he had to urge was tho keeping of tho youths at home while studying their profession, ar d thus continuing the parental supervision. He felt that the school, if established in Christchurch, would be able soon to take a position equal to the provincial schools at home. It would bo necessary fer them to have an opportunity of having an official connection with the Hospital, so as their professors and students might have the entree of the Christchurch Hospital. AtHome it was considered quite a boon for the medical staff of a school such as he wished to see established to carry on tho medical work of the Hospital so that there was never any question as to the footing of students, &c., in the Hospital, as they wore likely to start with several pupils. Ho thought there should be a legal enactment, separating the Christchurch Hospital from the administration of Charitable Aid or Hospital Boards. That was, ho wished the Government to face the question of reserving a Hospital from the operation of the general scheme of charitable aid, making it as a sort of normal school for the instruction of their students belonging to their school. They would, if this were done, have students from other parts of tho colonies coming here, and tho Hospital thus reserved would be tho centre of medical intelligence in tho island. What he wanted to see was a hospital reserved, in both islands, attached to the medical schools. The period fixed for the commencement of tho school—May, 1880 — seemed to him to be a proper time, and one which was not at all hurried or premature. The great question of course was funds, and he would urge the Board to instruct the chairman to apply to the Government for an additional grant of 5000 acres. So far as this was concerned, he was quite ready to modify the resolution if the Board desired it. Mr Stevens seconded the resolution. He thought as tho Medical School had been formed as a department of the College, no effort should bo spared to give it practical effect. Though seconding the resolution, he must suggest an alteration of the proposed grant of land. Ho was disposed to think that the rent proposed to be obtained would bo inadequate, as all that they could get was about 4s per acre. It would be better he thought to have a power of sale, because if they did not do so it would result in the scheme being left in abeyance for many years to come. Whatever land would bo open to them for selection, supposing they got the grant of 5000 acres, would not produce 4s per acre rent. Another point was whether the time spent in study here would be recognised at home, supposing any young man wished to complete a course at home. If not, then the time spent here would be lost. Ho thought they should look forward to these two points, viz., tho obtaining of money so as to proceed with the work of tho school, and tho recognition of tho medical school, so as the time spent in studying at the College in New Zealand might be recognised. As regarded the entree of tho Hospital, there was no doubt that this was absolutely necessary. The Chairman said that they might get the answer of the Government on this matter at the next meeting, so that they might then apply for Legislative power to sell tho land and invest tho same in freehold security.

Rev. 0. Fraser said that he would like to sec Mr Stevens’ suggestion as to the sale of land incorporated in the resolution. As regarded the recognition of the school, he might mention that the Dunedin classes had made application to be recognised. One part of the recognition of medical students was that they should have attended one hundred lectures, and if the college held out this opportunity through the semi-medical chairs already established to comply with this requirement young men would find that they had gone through a part of their course when they went home to finish their studies. He thought the motion of Dr, Turnbull was one wliich they could all support, and ho thought it was a thing (which ought to bo brought before the Government and Legislature.

Mr Malet asked whether the college had any power to deal with the reserve for the medical school—that was to sell it.

The Chairman said the college could not deal with it in the way spoke of. Mr Malet then thought tho remarks of Mr Stevens opened up a very important question, as it was for the Board to consider whether, if the rent derivable from these reserves was not sufficient to defray tho expenses of the school, it was not necessary to obtain powers to sell the land.

The Chairman suggested to Dr. Turnbull that the resolution should read thus, “ That the Government bo requested to reserve an additional 5000 acres of agricultural land to defray the expenses of a medical scheol in Christchurch.”

Dr. Turnbull, in reply, agreed to accept tho proposal of tho Chairman, As regarded the recognition by homo schools, he might say that tho answer of tho homo medical schools had been practically this, “ Establish your school, settle your course, and then apply for recognition, us wo cannot recognise a problematical school.” It seemed to him that the University of New Zealand was able to grant degrees which would kc recognised throughout the British Empire. It was open to the Board, he desired to point out, to decide to give one or two years’ study only, after which the student might go home. The mol ion as amended, on the suggest ion of the chairman, was then put and agreed to. Mr Malet said that it had been urged that the right of entree should bo secured to the students and professors to the Hospital. He thought that the Government should be asked to grant authority to the teachers, professors, and students to enter the Christchurch Hospital. Ho did not think it should at all interfere with the management of the Hospital; but it was quite as necessary for the professors and students to have the entree to the Hospital as to provide tho funds. He would move-“ That the chairman be authorised to communicate with the Government, with a view to obtain legislative enactment giving tho right of entree to the Christchurch Hospital to the professors, lecturers, end students of tho medical school, when established, for the purposes of medical teaching,” Dr, Coward seconded tho motion.

Rev. C. Fraser thought that the resolution should contain the words “ that such a connection should exist between the medical school and the Hospital, so as to advance the interests of medical education.”

Dr Turnbull said that the Hospital at present was supported bj the ratepayers, and it was not for the Government to give any body of men the entree to a hospital without consulting those who had to pay for and practically manage the Hospital, It might lie thought draw the attention of the Government to the necessity which existed for the isolation of one hoipital in each island for the purposes of medical education. Rev. C. Fraser said ho would move as an amendment —“ That the Board represent to the Government the advisableness of securing such a connection between the Hospital and Medical School as may promote the interests of medical education.”

There being no seconder, the amendment fell through. The original motion was then agreed to. BBPOBT OF THE COLLEGE COMMITTEE. The report of tho College committee was rend, recommending that they should be authorised to call for and accept tenders for partition and fittings. On tho motion of Mr Mulct, tho committee were empowered to call for and accept tenders for fittings as requested, the question of tho partitions being postponed. GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. The Board then proceeded to consider the recommendations of the examiners respecting tho examinations for the Girls’ High School exhibitions, Ss|lt was resolved to adopt them and also to fix tho ages of those competing at the same as last year. THE LIBRARY. The Chairman said that the committee had sent home an order for books for the College Library. THE PROFESSORSHIP OF CLASSICS. Mr Yeel asked, without notice, who was responsible for the advertisement appearing in the Home papers for a classical professor for the College ? The Chairman read the letter of instructions forwarded to Mr Maude, who had been requested to act as convener of the commission to select the classical professor for the College. Mr Yeel would like to ask whether the advertisement appearing in the “ Times” of March 15th had been prepared in the colony or at Home ? If the latter, he would like the officers of tho College here to be relieved of the responsibility of such an advertisement, which was not a credit to anyone, The advertisement stated that the Board would be at liberty to dismiss the tho Professor in case of misconduct without notice and without compensation. Now, there was nothing of this kind in the instructions at all.

Mr Stevens would desire to call the attention of the Board to the advertisement, which styled tho gentleman to be appointed “the Professor,” as if they only had one Professor. The Chairman said that there were no instructions sent from here as to the advertisement, nor any form sent. He supposed that the advertisement had been drawn up by the Professors at Home. MUSEUM COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The report of the Museum committee was read, recommending that a honorarium of £25 be granted to the taxidermist. Mr Stevens asked if the committee had considered the question of whether it would be necessary to have a taxidermist permanently f The Chairman said that the committee were of opinion that tho specimens would jbe better and more economically set up by sending them to England. The report of the committee was adopted. GIBLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. The Chairman said it would be necessary to have the site of tho Girls’ High School fenced in and planted, so as to shelter it and to shield the students from observation. Mr Stevens asked when it was likely the building would bo erected on the site P The Chairman said that the committee would be prepared to submit a sketch plan of the new building at next meeting. It was not intended to build now whilst the prices were so high, because they had but a small amount of money at their disposal. It was intended about August or September, when the price of building would be cheaper, to have the building proceeded with. Mr Stevens would hope that the committee would be careful as to what they were going to do. He hoped they would not erect a galvanised iron fence, as it was notably the worst to plant against. He would also point out that ,'pimis insignis, which had been spoken of by the Chairman, was the worst tree to put into a small lot. Mr Malet moved—“ That the College committee be authorised to fence and plant the site of the Girls’ High school.” Rev. C. Fraser seconded the motion. Mr Stevens moved as an amendment — “That tho words ‘and plant’ be left out.” The amendment was not seconded, and the original motion was agreed to. THE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. It was resolved that the chairman and the agricultural school committee make arrangements for a visit of the Board to tho Agricultural school, at Lincoln, at an early date. Tho Board then adjourned.