CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1993, 14 July 1880, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

The following is the chairman’s statement, | read at the annual meeting of the Board of Governors, on Monday, July 12th : On this the annual meeting of the Board of this College, I propose to give the usual statement of the work done during the past year. The increasing attendance of students at the College lectures is gratifying evidence of steady and satisfactory progress. Last year 129 students attended classes, which, compared with the attendance of the previous year, shows an increase of 55 students. The number of students attending each lecture during the last term was as follows : —Pass Latin, translation, 34; pass Latin, trans. and comp., 26; pass Greek, translation,3 j honors Latin, trans. and comp., 12 ; honors Latin, literary, 14; honors and pass Greek, trans. and comp., 5; honors Greek, literary, 4; Greek and Eoman history, 6; Elizabethan literature, 34; Shakespeare’s Henry IV. and V., 37 ; composition lecture, 32 ; Chaucer’s Times, &0., 19; philological lecture, 18: Piers Plowman, 13 ; authors’ lecture, 13; Eoman Empire, 11; Elizabethan period, 9 ; mathematics, _ lower division, 14 ; mathematics, upper division, 6 ; mechanics and hydrostatics, 6 ; advanced mathematics, 3 ; junior chemistry, 9 ; senior chemistry, 1 ; honours chemistry, 1 ; junior heat, 14 ; senior electricity, 5; laboratory practice, 9 ; junior geology, 1 ; senior geology, 2 ; junior botany, 1 ; senior botany, 2 ; junior zoology, 1 ; senior zoology, 1 ; French, University subjects, 6 ; French, senior, 3 ; French, junior, 2 ; German, University subjects, 1 j German senior, G ; experimental science course, 36. The number of matriculated students last year was thirty-four, showing an advance on the pro•viousyearof eleven students. Two students of this college, James Hay, 8.A., and Frederick Fitchett, 8.A., entered at the recent examination of the University of New Zealand for honours and for the degree of M.A. They were both successful. James Hay is the first student of the University of New Zealand who has taken double first-class honours. He received a first class in Political Science and a first class in Latin and English, Frederick Fitchett took first class honours in Political Science, including Jurisprudence, Constitutional History, General History and Political Economy. He also passed the examination for the degree ofLX.B. Out of the six students of the University of New Zealand who passed this year the final examination for the degree of Bachelor of Arts, five belong to this College, viz.. Miss Anne Jane Bolton, Miss Helen Connon, William Henry Herbert, James Eonaldson Thornton, Herbert William Williams. Ten students of this College entered in the recent examinations for the first section of the B.A. degree, and all were successful. Two of these, however, entered under the teachers’ regulations, which permit teachers of five years’ standing to enter for the University examinations without passing the College examinations. The names of the ten students are :—Miss Gertrude Grierson, J. G. L. Scott, Edwin Watkins, John Innes, Charles Chilton, Benjamin Michael Connal, William Bookless Douglas, William Fidler, Thomas Soholfield Foster, Basil Keith Senior Lawrence. Out of eleven senior scholarships given by the University of New Zealand on the results of the examinations lately held, seven were gained by the following students of this College : —O. Chilton, B. M. Connal, W. B. Douglas, W. Fidler, Gertrude Grierson, W. H. Herbert, J. Illness. It is worthy of remark that the greater portion of these examinations for scholarships and degrees was conducted by examiners in England. This fact places the results as a test of the University work done in New Zealand beyond question. The Senate of the University has decided to continue this course for this year, and to have examiners appointed in England for all the degree and senior scholarship examinations. The benefit of such a step to the higher education in New Zealand are self-evident, even though they are not unattended with certain inconveniences to the students of this College. The length of time which must necessarily elapse between the examinations and the announcement of the results may somewhat interfere with the College terms, but the Board has now under its consideration means of obviating this inconvenience. The College Exhibitions, given for excellence in the Honours work at the College Annual Examination', were awarded at the end of session 1879 to —Miss Helen Connon, English and French; B, M. Connal and T. S. Foster, Latin ; O. Chilton, Mathematics ; H. W. Williams, Natural and Physical Science. The College hasreason to deplore the untimely death of one of its most able and zealous lecturers, Dr. LI. Powell. He is regretted by all, esteemed as he was for his attainments, ability

and uniform courtesy. Last year I mentioned in my annual statement that the commissioners appointed by the Board to select a Professor of Classics, in Erglaud, had selected Mr Prank William Haslam, M.A., late scholar of Bt. John’s College, Cambridge. Professor Haslam arrived here in December last, and has emered on his professional duties. In consequence of the death of Dr. Powell it became necessary to make provision for teaching the subjects on which ha had been engaged, and the Board considering that the time hod arrived

for the appointment of a Profeasor of Biology, to lecture to students attending the College and also to the students of the School of Agriculture, determined to make such an appointment. In consequence of this decision, Professor Hutton, F.G.8., 0.M.Z.5., formerly Professor of Natural Science in the Otago University, and Curator of the Museum, was duly appointed to the chair on the 22nd of October last, the conditions being that he would conduct the biological classes in this college, and give lectures on the same subjects on two days in each week to the students of the School of Agriculture. The Board, seeing the necessity of forming a library of technical boobs for the use of students, has fitted up a room in the college for the purpose, and has already placed on the shelves upwards of 630 volumes; 500 additional volumes have been ordered from England. In reply to the petition forwarded in May, 1879, from this Board to the Queen, showing that it would be injurious to the cause of higher education to create two universities in New Zealand having equal privileges, and praying that no institution other than the University of New Zealand should have a Boyal Charter, the Secretary of State for the Colonies intimated to His Excellency the Governor that ho had not thought it his duty to advise Her Majesty to authorise any stops towards granting letters patent to the University of Otago. School of Technical Science. —For this school seven cases of mechanical models have been purchased through the agency of Sir Julius Vogel from the Freres Chretiens of Paris, and are now at tho museum. Messrs TVTnnn and Co., of New York have been written to, and in reply have promised to use their utmost endeavors to procure models of modem machinery and implements from various manufacturers, and forward them for the use of the schools. Messrs Hubbell and Oheeabro of Syracuse, Now York, are also sending specimens. The Museum Committee is now making out a list of articles to be procured from England for the Technical School of Science and School of Design, in accordance with the vote of the Board by which £750 was appropriated for these purposes. The Board will probably be asked on an early day to consider the expediency of providing additional spaoo in the Museum for the mechanical models which have already been received, and others which should arrive during the present year.

Canterbury Museum. —During this year numerous and valuable additions in Natural History, Ethnology, and Technology,'both by ■way of exchange and donations, have been added to the Museum, Exchanges were received from seven (7) foreign museums, while collections of New Zealand specimens were sent to eight (8) institutions. One hundred and forty-six (146) contributors have made presentations, of which many are of considerable value and interest, the most important being those from the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, Messrs E. W, Eereday, 8. W. Silver in London, Dr. G. Bennett in Sydney, Mr E. L. Holmes in Fiji, Professor E. W. Hutton, and the Marchess Qinori in Florence. The number of visitors on weekdays, public holidays, and Sunday afternoons, have been larger than in any preceding year, A number of show cases have been ordered, and are now being delivered at the Museum; by moans of them further alterations in the arrangement of the specimens can be ob viated, and as soon as they are filled and ticketed a guide-book to the publie collections will be issued. Collections of building stones and timbers, moa skeletons, and a series of specimens illustrating the ethnology of New Zealand and foreign countries were sent to the Sydney International Exhibition, where they were distinguished by several first class awards. At the wish of the Melbourne Exhibition Commissioners these specimens have been forwarded from Sydney to Victoria, to bo exhibited at the forthcoming Melbourne International Exhibition. School of Agriculture.—The school buildings, having accommodation for twenty resident students and apartments for the director, have been completed, and are now ready for the reception of students. The school will open on the 19th instant. In addition to the instruction to be given by the director, Professor Hutton will give lectures to the students on Biology. Mr N, Carrington has been appointed as laboratory assistant. Applications have been invited by advertisement for a mathematical master, and other teachers will be engaged, as it is the intention of the Board that the instruction to be given to the students attending this school shall be of a thoroughly practical and scientific character. The examinations of candidates who competed for the scholarships given by the Board, and open to all New Zealand, were held in February and June. The names of the successful candidates are—J. T. Partridge, T. M, Marr, G. Slater, J. Green, J. E. Hart, and W. H. Strouts. Two intending students passed successfully the entrance examination. The school will, therefore, open with eight resident students, and it may reasonably be expected that before the end of the year there will he as many students in residence as there are apartments for their accommodation. Girls’ High School. —This school has made satisfactory progress during the past year. The attendance has been nearly the same as that of the preceding year. Eighty-eight pupils are attending during the present term. Examinations were held by Professors Brown and Cook in December last, and a favorable report was given by those gentlemen. The exhibitions of £2O each were gained by Caroline Woodley, Elizabeth Milsom, and Elizabeth Harris. The exhibitions of £lO each were gained by Edith Searle, Ellen Pitcaithley, Marion Kempthorne, and Eva Kempthorne. Prizes were also given to the deserving pupils at the annual meeting held in December. One of the pupils, Jannette Grossman, gained a University Junior Scholarship last year. She is, I believe, the first candidate from any Girls’ High School in New Zealand who has obtained one of these scholarships. Tenders were received for erecting the now buildings for this school on the site near Cranmer square, purchased in 1878. A tender for £4567 8s 9d was accepted, the buildings to be completed in February next. Boys’ High School.—The school building is nearly finished. All arrangements had been made for opening the school in Jonuary next. Commissioners were duly appointed to select two masters of high attainments in England, and the Board hope to receive advice of their appointment by the mail due hero in August. By a letter received a few days ago from Dr. Abbott, of the City of London School, who was requested to act as convener of the meeting of the Commissioners, the Board was informed that owing to failing health he was unable to take the duty. The College committee, to whom the Board delegated the power, took prompt action in the matter. Letters will be forwarded by the outgoing mail to Mr Walter Kennaway, who was largely instrumental in founding this College, and who has taken great interest in its progress, to make all necessary arrangements for the meeting of the Commissioners. The committee has decided to open the school in May next, instead of January as originally intended. This unavoidable delay is much te bo regretted, but obviously it would be unwise to make a commencement before the arrival of the teachers to be selected by the Commissioners. Public Library.—Additional fittings, which were much required, have been provided. Considerable additions have been made during the year to the books both in the reference and circulating departments. 452 volumes for the reference library were lost in the ship Knowsley Hall, but were insured. Orders were immediately sent to England for a similar shipment. 145 volumes have lately arrived in the Norfolk, and the remainder is how in Lyttelton Harbor in the ship Hudson, 408 volumes have been added to the circulating department, and upwards of 800 additional volumes have been ordered from Eng land. To meet the growing requirements of the subscribers, the number of periodicals has , been largely increased, as many as six copies of each of the most popular periodicals being

now received monthly. There are now upwards of 11,000 volumes in the library. Catalogues of the books have boon compiled and printed, at a cost of £ll3 10s. These catalogues can bo obtained from the assistant librarian. The subscribero to the circulating department are much more numerous, the list for last quarter being 1347. School of Mines —A very valuable collection of metallurgical specimens, selected and forwarded by Professor von Hochstetter, has been received and placed for the present in the museum. The annual grant of £l5O has not been received from the Treasury, the Minister of Education having refused to sanction the payment. School of Medicine—Nothing further has been done towards establishing this school, owing to the want of funds. The reserve of 4752 acres set apart as an endowment has not been leased, as it was not considered advisable to let the land at a very low rental for a term of years. The school cannot bo commenced

in such a way as to warrant a reasonable hope of success without adequate means, and as the rental which the land would bring in if leased in these depressed times would be quite insufficient, the Board determined to wait for an improvement in tho value of land before inviting tenders for leasing. But there is no alteration in the opinions of the Governors of this College as to the importance of the establishment of a medical school. Accounts.—The accounts for the Board for the financial year ending 31st December last were duly audited and certified as being correct by Mr Ollivier, who was appointed by the Government for that purpose. A copy of the accounts thus audited, together with a balance-sheet showing the exact state of the accounts of the various departments under tho control of the Board, made up to tho Ist insfc., is now on the tablo for the information of members.