CANTERBURY COLLEGE GOVERNORS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1682, 11 July 1879, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE GOVERNORS.

Tho annual meeting of the Board of Governors of tho Canterbury College was held yesterday morning, at 11 o’clock. There were present—Mr Montgomery (chairman), tho Most Eov. the Primate, Messrs J. Y. C. Teel, F. do c. Malet, “W. J. W. Hamilton, E. YV. Fereday, J. Grigg, and Dr. Coward. Tho minutes of the last meeting wore read and confirmed. CUAIBJIAH’S STATEMENT, The Chairman, said—This being the annual meeting of the Board, the principal business will bo the election of a chairman and a committee for tho ensuing year. Last year I made a brief statement showing tho progress made and the work done in tho various departments under the control of the Board. 'This year I propose to adopt a similar course, as I think it may be considered of some advantage in after years, if our annual statement could bo consulted as a reference. It is a matter of congratulation that during the past year there has been a considerable increase in the number of students matriculated to the ■University of New Zealand, who attended tho classes of this College, compared with the number of the previous year, Tho number

during last your was 27, the previous year 20. The total number of students, matriculated and non-matrioulated, that attended the classes during the year just closed, was 74. Mr Frederick Fitohett and Mr James Hay, two students of this College, obtained the B.A. degree at the University examination hold in December. Mr Frederick Fitohett and Mr James Hay obtained each a third year scholarship. The new wing of the College was finished in June. Contracts have been entered into for the furniture and fittings. The lecture rooms should be ready for the classes at the commencement of next term. The Board decided at the conference with the professors that it was expedient two chairs should be established, one for the ancient classics and one for English language and literature; and Professor Brown, having elected to take the chair of English literature, a commission was appointed to elect a classical professor in England. The commissioners were—Professor Jowett, of Oxford ; Professor Seely, of Cambridge ; Professor Blackio, of Edinburgh ; and Mr T. W. Maude, M.A., formerly a governor of this College. These gentlemen kindly undertook the duty, and selected Mr Frank William Haslam, 8.A., of Cambridge, who obtained a first class in 1871. Mr Haslam should arrive bore early in January next, and commence his duti s at the beginning of the term in March, 1880. A petition from this Board was forwarded to the Queen in May last, showing that it would be injurious to the cause of higher education _to create two universities in New Zealand having equal privileges, and playing that no institution other than the University of Now Zealand should have a Royal Charter. The new wing of the Museum was opened to the public in September last. A great number of specimens has been received during the past year, and exchanges made in return. The collections are now being ticketed on a uniform plan. A catalogue is in course of preparation, and the work is considerably advanced. A guide book will be published before the end of December next. The important New Zealand botanical collection has been carefully arranged in cabinets, and a room appropriated to the collection, thus affording facility for reference and study which was much required. Professor Yon Haast, the director, is preparing a aeries of specimens of natural history, geology, and ethnology for 'the Sydney exhibition, as it was considered a duty to contribute to the success of that undertaking. The Board appropriated a sum of money at the last annual meeting for expenses attending the transmission from England of models for the technical department of the museum. Sir Julius Yogel very kindly interested himself and promised such articles, and by his influence models of steamers, four eases of submarine telegraphic cables (which were exhibited at the Paris and Philadelphia Exhibitions), a case of specimens of india-rubber and gutta-percha in their various forms of manufacture, were obtained from Sir Penrose Julyan, Admiral Richards, and Mr S. W. Silver as donations. Some of these have been received, and others are on the way out. The Board is very much indebted to Sir Julius for his kindness in this matter. School of Agriculture.—A contract was entered into for the buildings of this school on the 26th July last, the buildings to be finished in October. Amount of contract, £10,967 13s 4d. Machinery and chemicals to the value of £967 huve been < rierei from England, and implements to the value of £390 have been purchased here ; £936 Is 6d have been expended on the purchase of stock. As the school should be ready to receive pupils in January next, the Board decided on the matriculation examination, which would bo required from youths intending to enter as students, and also on the subjects to be taught at the school. The Board having established scholarships, six in number, each of the value of £SO per annum and fees, or in other words free board and tuition open to young men from any part of New Zealand, conditions under which youths can compete for the scholarships have been decided, on and will shortly be published for general information. Girls’ High School.—The Girls’ High School has made favorable progress. The commissioners on higher education examined the school in April last. That report cannot be made public until after the meeting of Parliament, but I have reason to believe the report will be favorable. Examinations, conducted by Professors Brown and Cook, for the scholarships granted by the Board, were held in December last, when Janette Grossman and Caroline Woodley each gainei one of the open scholarships of the value of £2O. The close scholarships, value £lO each, wore awarded to Cecilia Ross, Elizabeth Milsom, Ellon Pitoaithly, and Winifred Cox. In addition to these scholarships valuable prizes of books were given to deserving pupils at the annual meeting held on the 13 ih December. The total number of pupils attending the classes during the three terms commencing in September last was 117, the number attending the present term is 85. The Board decided to purchase the site and buildings of the present school, to be used as a School of Art and lecture rooms, and to erect now school buildings on the site purchased the previous year near Cranmer Square. That site has been fenced in, and is now being planted. A sketch plan of the proposed school buildings has been approved by the Board, and tenders for the building will shortly bo called for. Boys’High School.—A contract was entered into for the Boys’ High School buildings on the 27th March last. The buildings to be completed on the 27th June next. Amount of contract £BBB9. An Act was passed by the General Assembly lust session endowing this school with a portion of the reserves set apart in 1877 for secondary education. The number of acres allocated for this school was 9320. Of these 5816 acres aie leased for a term of years, and 3504 are not yet let. As the school will probably bo ready to receive pupils in September, 1880, the Board has made arrangements to procure two masters from the United Kingdom, and to obtain the assistant masters in New Zealand or from the Australian colonies. Out of the money ro coived from the Government for the Timaru High School, tho Board purchased a site of five acres and a half near the boundary of the town. The balance of the money, less £SO retained to meet legal expenses, was paid over to the Timaru High School Board. Public Library. Considerable additions have been made to the books in tho Public Library—l 96 volumes have been added to the reference department and 762 volumes to the circulating library. In the reference department there are now 5210 volumes, and in the circulating department upwards of COOO volumes. Orders have been sent to England for 680 additional volumes. The number of subscribers last quarter was 1056. Tho usual supnly of periodical and newspapers has been maintained. A catalogue of the books in the reference department is now being published, and a catalogue of the books in the circulating library is in course of preparation. School of Mines. —Advices have been received from Professor Yon Hod sht’er that seven cases of metallurgical specimens from the School cf Mines will be forwarded by the Austrian corvette Heligoland, which vessel will bring articles for the Sydney Exhibition and visit New Zealand afterwards. Mr George Thorrcau, of Sandhurst, who undertook to procure the models for timbering mines, has informed the director of the Museum that tho models will be finished this month and will bo forwarded immediately afterwaids. School of Medicine.—The reserve made as an endowment for tho school of medicine was found on survey to bo 243 acres lees than the number gazetted. G*ing to the depressed state of tho farming interest this year, this reserve Las not been leased. The question of the estab’.ishm ;nt of this school at an early period received the anxious consideration of the Board, and as it was the opinion of the members that the endowment made was inadequate for tho support of the school, it was decided to make application to the Government for a further grant of land. That application was made in May, and up to this date no reply has been received. The establishment of a medical school in Christchurch is a matter of such importance that I have no doubt tho Board will again apply to tho Government, and take whatever other steps may be considered necessary. A memorandum kindly furnished by the secretary of the Board of Eduoition of Otago, containing much valuable information respecting the School of Art in Dunedin, has been laid before the Board, and I would suggest that , the question of establishing a similar school • litre should have tho earnest attention of ; members.

Accounts—Tho accounts of the Board for the financial year ending 31st December lust, wore duly audited and certified as being correct by Mr Ollivier, who was appointed by tho Government for that purpose. The balance sheet, showing tho exact state of the accounts of tho various departments on tho

let of this month, is now on the table for the information of members. In concluding this statement, I think I may soy that the Board has given careful attention to and decided on many_ important matters affecting higher education in this provincial district, that the members fully recognise their responsibilities, and that they consider it a great privilege to be in a position where they can effectively further the cause of education in New Zealand. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. The Primate proposed that Mr Montgomery be re-elected chairman of the Board of Governors, That gentleman had boon most earnest in his endeavors to forward the objects which the institution had in view, and he (the Primate) thought the Board would do well to re-appoint him if he would accept the office. Mr Hamilton seconded the motion, and also spoke of the indebtedness of the Board to its late chairman. No other member was proposed, and the motion was then put and carried. Mr Montgomery briefly returned thanks, and promised to continue to use his best endeavors on behalf of the College. COMMITTEES. The following committees were appointed: College Committee —The Most Rev. the Primate, H. J. Tancred, Rev. Charles Fraser, J. Y. Oolbornc-Yeel, P. de c. Malet, C. O. Bowen. Estates —W. J. W. Hamilton, J. N. Tosswill, E. O. J. Stevens, R. W. Foreday, F. de C. Malet, J. Origg. Museum—T. H. Potts, R W. Feredsy, Dr. Coward, J. D. Enys. Library—John Inglis, E. C. J. Stevens, Dr. Coward, C. O. Bowen, W. Beeves. School of Agriculture —H.J. Tancred, J. N. Tosswill, E. O.J. Stevens, B. J. 8. Harman, H. P. Lance, J. Q-rigg. Medical Council—Rev. Charles Fraser, John Inglis, E. O. J. Stevens, J. Y. ColborneYeel, F. de c. Malet. Certain routine business was then transacted, and the Board adjourned.