CANTERBURY COLLEGE

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2004, 27 July 1880, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE

A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College was held yesterday afternoon, there being present—Mr F. de O. Malet (acting chairman), the Primate, the Eev. O. Fraser, Dr. Coward, Messrs. H. R. Webb, Tosswill, Fereday, Inglis, Yeel, Reeves, Tahcred, and Hamilton. A list of correspondence inwards and outwards since last meeting was read. The library committee reported the appointment of Mr D. Francis as assistant librarian at £SO a year, which was approved. In answer to an observation from Mr Webb, tha secretary reported that two copies of all the popular novels of the day had been ordered.

Mr Webb asked whether or not the Board was aware that tbe library contained books of an atheistical tendency, Tho matter was referred to the library committee for consideration.

The agricultural committee recommended that travelling expenses be allowed students at the Agricultural School to and from their homes. Also that the committee be authorised to fill up two vacant scholarships. It was remarked with regard to the first, that the object was to make the school thoroughly colonial, and afford equal facilities to students from any part of the colony. Concerning the latter recommendation, it was stated that at the late examination six scholarships were obtained, but two were not taken up. The report was adopted, the committee being authorised to fix the terms of the school.

An expenditure of £3O was authorised to protect apparatus in College laboratory, and tha. placing of lights to College entrance was under consideration.

Tho following was read : The College committee have fully considered the letter of the professorial council of the 21st April, remitted to them on the 28th June last by resolution sf the Board for its consideration and report. The committee ware of opinion that it is in the beat interest of university education in the colony that the examinations for degrees, Ac., should he conducted as at present in England, that course being certain, as far as possible, to avoid all suspicion of partiality in the conduct of the examinations, and being most calculated to inspire public confidence in the working of the institutions affiliated to the University of New Zealand ; and asked Mr Malet and Professor Brown, the chairman of the professorial council, to go to Dunedin and confer with the authorities of the University of Otago, wffh a view to secure such arrangements of college terms as might be generally suited for the conduct of the university examinations.

The report of the deputation is as follows Christchurch, 19th July, 1880._ Sir,—We have the honor to report that, in accordance with the following resolutions of the college committee —“ That the college committee communicate with the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand "and with tbe council of the Otago University, with the view of securing such arrangements of College terms as might be generally suited for the conduct of the University examinations ; that the chairman of the committee and the chairman of the professorial council be requested to go to Dunedin and confer with tne authorities of tha Otago University in terms of the above! resolution.” we proceeded to Dunedin and mot the Chancellor of the Otago University, the chairman of the Professorial Board, and Professor Shand. "We stated the object of our deputation, and asked the representatives of the Otago University to state what they thought the best means of facilitating tha present scheme of New Zealand Universify examinations. They stated that the Otago University having six moniha of long vacation, and having the end of their session on the day of the commencement of the New Zealand University examinations, there was no necessity on their part to fall in with the arrangements for the conduct of the examinations. They suggested that the session of the Canterbury College should commence a fortnight later, say on the fourth Monday in March, in order that it might end in the middle of November instead of in the beginning of November as at present. The two sessions would thus end contemporaneously, thus leaving four months for the examinations, and the receipts of the results from England. It _ was our opinion that this was the only feasible course left for Canterbury College. The resolution of the Professorial Council, recommending tbe Board that whatever alteration was made it should not be in the direction of compression of tbe terms, was rescinded at a meeting held on Wednesday, the 14th inst., the day before we left for Dunedin. But we think that it would be more beneficial to the College to retain the present length of the session, and meet the difficulty without compressing the terms. We would therefore recommend that the course suggested above should bo adopted. To prevent the necessity of any change in the future, we came to an understanding with the Otago representatives that the authorities of the Otago University would take no action such as would interfere with the commencement of tho examinations of the University of New Zealand in the middle of November. Wo also took tho liberty of consulting with the Otago representatives on other means of facilitating the conduct of tho examinations in England, and agreed with them that the following suggestions should be made by both Colleges to tho Chancellor and to the Senate of the University of Now Zealand, and that the first should bo urged on tho immediate attention of the Chancellor for the conduct of this year’s examinations 1. That forms should be sent to examiners in which to make up their reports. 2. That examiners should be appointed for three years. 3. That a paid agent at home_ should manage the business part of the examinations. 4. That some person, such as the Registrar of the London University, should be associated with Dr. Carpenter in appointing examiners, in order to obviate any inconvenience that might arise from Dr. Carpenter’s being unable to act at once.

We have the honour to be. Sir, Yonr obedient servants, (Signed) ’ F. de c. Malbt, J. M. Bbown. The Chairman Board of Governors, Canterbury College. Tho committee recommend the following resolutions for the adoption of the Board—l. That

the Board of Governors of tha Canterbury College are of opinion that the action of the Senate in providing for the conduct of the examinations of the University of New Zealand in England is the best that can be adopted in the present circumstances of the {colony. 11. That in order to adapt the College terms to this arrangement, the session of the Canterbury College should begin two weeks later, viz , on the fourth Monday _in March and end two weeks later, viz., on the third Wednesday in November. 111. That the following suggestions should be made to the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand and to the Senate :—l. That forms should be sent to examiners, in which to make up their reports. 2. That examiners should be appointed for three years. (.The following recommendation of the Professorial Council was substituted !—“ That although examiners bo appointed from year to year, yet, in order to secure continuity of standard of examination, it is desirable that the same examiners be appointed, except so far as they are disqualified by the 23rd clause of the University Act, 1874.’’] 3, That a paid agent in England should manage the business part of the examination. 4. That some person such as the Registrar of the London University should be associated with such other persons as may be appointed examiners in order to obviate any inconvenience that might arise from the latter being unable to act at once. . The resolutions were agreed to, and, on the motion of the Rev. Mr Fraser, it was resolved that they bo forwarded to tho Senate Chancellor. The Board then resolved itself into committee.