CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2465, 1 March 1882, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College was hela yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Present— Mr W. Montgomery, M.H.B. (chairman), Messrs T H. Potts, F. do o. Malet, B. W. Pereday, John Inglis, W. Beeves, W. J. W. Hamilton, H. B. Webb, J. C. Veel, Bev. O. Eraser, Dr. Coward, the Most Bev. the Primate. Tbe Chairman said he had received a letter from Dr. Turnbnll apologising for his absence, owing to his having to attend a pressing case of illness.

Mr Potts, before the business was proceeded with, drew attention to the damage which was being done to books in the reference library. In several instances valuable plates had recently been removed. Could not some stepß be taken to prevent this practice ? The Chairman said the library committee were aware that some unscrupulous persons were in the habit of injuring the books in the manner referred to, and had on former occasions offered rewards for the detection of the thieves, but without success. They would willingly give £SO if they could discover any of the offenders.

The Bev. C. Eraser suggested that a small charge for admission to tbe referenoe library might be made to cover any damages done to the books. The Chairman said this could not be done.

On the motion of Mr Malet, seconded by the Primate, leave of absence for twelve months was granted to Mr O. C. Bowen, a member of the Board.

The adjourned debate was resumed on the following motion by Mr Fereday :—" That no moneys arising from the reserves lor tbe Canterbury Museum, Library, and School of Technical Soience, be expended on the circulating department and reading-room." Mr Inglis said some of the remarks made by Dr. Turnbull in opposition to the motion were objectionable in the extreme, and proceeded to oriticise the speech of Dr. Turnbull at length. It was very extraordinary that Dr. Turnbull, who had been on the Board for eight or ten years, should only just discover that a misappropriation of funds bad been going on. He agreed that the subject should be ventilated, and thought a conclusive answer shonld be given to the gross charge brought by Dr. Turnbull against the other members of the Board. He had been able to obtain a copy of the return from which Dr. Turnbull was supposed to have obtained his facts, and whioh he believed was not the same as the return authoritatively laid on the table. Dr. Turnbull evidently did not understand the document, and his calculations and figures were all wrong. The speaker then proceeded to criticise Dr. Turnbull's figures. So far from the circulating library having been robbed of £1692, as stated by Dr. Turnbull, it bad robbed the other departments by that amonnt or something like it. He would support the motion. The Rev. O. Eraser opposed the motion. The title of the Aot, "Canterbury Museum and Library Ordinance, ' implied that the School of Technical Science was not to go in advance of the other objects mentioned. When the books, furniture, &c, of the Mechanics' Institute were handed over it was expressly stated that a library should be maintained " under and in pursuanoe of the provisions of the Canterbury Museum and Library Ordinanoe." If the Board adopted the motion of Mr Fereday they would violate the engagement under which they accepted that property. The Chairman did not think they were bound to maintain the circulating library beyond the extent to whioh the subscriptions warranted ; but he thought they were bound to maintain the reading-loom, and he would be glad to support an amendment to strike out the words "and reading-room" from the motion. The circulating library should be maintained by those who received the benefit of it, viz , the subscribers. It was sever contemplated that the funds of the trust should be devoted to this object and, as far as he could ascertain, in no other country was a circulating library supported by Government funds. He would therefore vote for tbe resolution, with the exoeption of the part referring to the reading room. Mr Malet moved, and Mr Hamilton seconded—" That the words ' and reading room' be omitted."

The amendment was pnt and carried. Mr Malet thought the thanks of the Board were due to Mr Inglis for the trouble he had taken in placing this matter so dearly before the Board, and in correcting erroneous impressions which had been created by Dr. Turnbull 1 a remarks.

Mr Fereday replied on the debate. He maintained that the Board had no right to spend any money on the circulating library beyond tbe amount reoeived in the shape of subscriptions. The motion was then put and carried on the voices. The Bev. O. Fraser desired to enter his protest against the action just taken, on tbe ground that it was opposed to tbe spirit if not the letter of the trust under whioh the property of the library institute was held by the Board. The Chairman ruled that it was not corn* petent for a member to enter a protest. Tbe Board then went into committee, and further considered the estimates for the ensuing year. Progress was made and reported. The Chairman announced that the school of arts would be opened on the Ist March next, and that several applications had been reoeived from intending students. A pamphlet had been issued giving particulars in relation to the institution, and copies had been circulated among the workmen in the large manufacturing and other establishments. The Board then adjourned.