BOARD Of GOVERNORS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6497, 23 December 1881, Page 6

BOARD Of GOVERNORS.

A special meeting of ‘he (Mini Board of Governors wa* told yestrr day afternoon, when the following uwmtoro were present :-Mr W. Montgomery Jh ; »*«.), the Most Her the Primal*, th# «*v t. Prater, Dr Turnbull, Mr F. d# LCoward, Mr R. W. Fereday Mr H «. Jkjbb, Mr 11. J. Tanmd, Mr J. Gngg, and Mr U. V. Bowen. ouAioxaa'a statmmwk. The Chairman #aid he had rolled the metal mooting for tho consideration of Jrerations in the t’cllsg# Wvnoar. which reqaired to be decided below it# publication ? to ask that tbs College Oommrttos migot bove power to appoint a German roaster tor the Bov*’ High beboel { th»t the J-chtvol of Art* Commutes might be autnomsd to determine "hat fittings, Ac., should *e arranged f r the school: tha*- tht bebool of Agriculture Committee might be am powered to r . r.d Home for a dft’ry man ; andtorltir rontoierarioa of matters relating to the I «Wic Library. rrnuc uwubt He would firot lake the qu«U.>n of wivoh net ire bad been given al U»e jm.-vious me*?it -, and would, therefor®, oa» «}° n Feredav. . . ~ Mr \VehS had undsvstood that it wa* the :■ tontfen of the B.vtrd that thi* queiUcn 4j,.n,ldk» considewd at an ordinary ««»•

Chairman raid it mii't hr forward, but of 00-rse the B*mKi could, if they c car, postpone the consideration. Mr Fereday had no objection lo its poll* p, :, TV?-.? if this »»• the wtih of the Board ■ ■,{, Ckairsnan had called upon Mr Fereday to •; ore his resolution ; if he did to t.i »o he need not. If he did move il, peri,a,.. f n.c u.cmtor of the Board might I hen itv-re ! be adjournment of the dwenssioo. Mr IVec-dav moved—“lhat v.o moneys uri-uig iiom *lh« wwerve* *et arid® a* an eu-,oK’m<nt for the Mureurn and school of Techrwai rrienee be expended oa the Public Li’-rarv, a- far a* relate* to the circulating dcpsrti'avet t and the rcadmg-toom.” > Before fpeskin.,- to flic question, he would like to Vkow i‘ an adjouroment of the discussion sras going to be made. , It ben 2 apparently the wish of the Board that the ciectiMion should be at once taken, Mr Fcredsy continued ; The reason for hi* meviag the resolution was that he found that t, v- r- large amount of money had been expended -a”the Public Library, upon the eiroulating and reading depirtnwtit#. He, xrished to make tho motion particularly with j reference to the circulating department. Huricg the last few year* 2914 woii* of fiction iiad torn purchased for the circulating libra:v ; and he contended th*t under the Oantcrbury Museum and Library Ordinance the trust was defined. And, again, the eacmd section cf the Canterbury .Museum acd Li 1 rarr Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1573, wa* a* follows: — “ All specimens of natural history statuary eains, picture*, article* of vertu, mode!*, iurait-nre, and other personal property, when so u»,. c r .-d, shall be held by the said College upn; the trust, and for the specific purposes cwatomplsfed and intended by the Canterbury Mu,e--m and Library Orcioanoe, 1870; and id! endowmet,!.* made for tha purpose of the raid Oirtcrbary Museum, Library, and B. hod of Technical Science, or any of them, ai d the rents, issues, and profit* arising there from shall be held, received, and applied by the *®id Canterbury College for the tptcific object, or objects, for which such endowments were originally granted or given.' He maintained that the endowment?, therefore, could only be applied to that specific EimpOir. The Library, which had been the sit.ttt#, was hooded over to the Board by tin tie of a deed which raid that the library was to he managed bj the Canterbury College, it* accordance with the prorifior* of that act, "The* C«ipterbary Museum and Libra?* Ordinance ; *’|&od it went on to covenant that the Oo!lee - Ihould maintain a Circulating Library XsSr-i-y, -onnerled with the Museum, was cot latended t) be a Circulating Li- rarr and Brad/ic I'jt-Ec He contended ij-auU B—J kn-% th-r-fore, no right to spend any moneys cl :.M :; v: nue set a.art for that particular purr'-j.-'- bwaaw the Public Library existed o far a* they were concerned. He «cu: c-aalead tbs - , it was iileasal lo thus bp; ra, r -ine any of the funds arising from rc- ♦ ».( i-t a;, trt ter that purpose. That wa? the j, ri»f.r, •*?: v he moved the present resolctioa. al.<" I.ad 5 ecu only 2814 works of fiction i u-ing the la*t three year*! And if. - ;> rxtec ed to go on appro-prii*:c-ner of wfa-cb the Museum and H.h-' ■ of i> Science had great nerd, i:<r s’: •• g of ?:■•,?*;» for winch prop]? th.u.’d v>y. He considered that no money thori •• be devoted to eu-h a purpose except whs; rsfrom the subscripliocs.

I*r Turnbull was sorry that he had been stir :r -rijj trim a severe cold for the last ten da-. -, but he wauJd endeavour to eprskso that b« might be hoard. He had seldom kn'-wn s question of so much public importance to be introduced in so me»gren*«d narrow ♦.-» this of Mr Fereday’* had. Ho i iln re were a few things in C’ar.trrTury ;o ettirrlr popuW as the Public Library. He thought &s they were going on, a-d us public opiutou came bo be expressed upon (1-*- sul-J-'ct, they would fird that Mr Fereday’* motion would shut, up the Public library. Mr Fereday said that the Coll-ge had no ri/bt to spend money on the*e work* of CctT-n, a: d ssrerted that the Board hi-1 t» e i appropriating the fund* of the C.dpge for the purchase of novels. If the li'-tjtui vdopted (hi* view they would justly be fcc used of being actuated by motive* of ri ...ol'.-.-s prudery. Throughout the country circ-;1 *tlng librorie* of a similar character were #u; ported and countenanced bv Road Board* ar d public bodies, ar.tf who were the 00-, err ors of the Canterbury College that they should Sanctimoniously refuse lo support, waat lie niatijlaim-d was one of the motl civilising institution! the district p t-ffv-': ? If they took the College, the Ainu, urn, tii* Agricultural School, the School of Ar;», the Buy*’ High School, snd the (Kris' High School- the »ix institution* outrid- t'.r Public Library upon which the fund* at -htir disposal were expended what ■re.te these ? They were all institutions for the her eSt of the rising generation. But he would tty that the generation already risen thoul; h*v» some expenditure for their Pers-fit cut of tho enormous revenue the Braid i ant relied. The cost of the circulating liCfirv was no! (no much to devote for the b-r (lit ■/ i-i* wives a til daughter* of the cat.rsa-ir. The Board were entrusted with the ni >ixry of the public—it was net tnelr own m. t.rv —who wj»hed to read works of fiction, and who, he would like to know, had appointed the Board public tensors to *,y vhat htois the people should read and whai the;, should not read. They were arrogating to lUtTßwdve*, through Mr Fereday, n petition which the public would very toon ouit them from. Be intended l-» give notice cf motor), declaring "that five should be entc'rd from am-.iig the subscriber* to the Public Library to assist the Library Committee in the choice of books.” Lit tue people hr.ve a lay m ih« m_ttcr. At the present time the Board a; ted in a very arbitrary manner. They had already taken five outsider* into the Medical Council to assist the five member# t.f the Bearn'# Committee, ami he mid they ought to lake some of the subscriber* into consult*tion, ard appoint five out of them to uthl the Library Committee «o that the wtshe* of tb* subscriber* to the Library might be oocs ;lt-<l. He would give notice The Cfuurman could not receive any notice while the bosiaei# of the Board was going

Dr i umbul! would move as an amend* merit—-That the paper* on the table giv.r.jr r. statement of the expenditure and income of the Public Library be publbheti in ed r *■«isement form in the Zv'W/oa Time* am! the P/iH for one week, an>i th? t»nj d:* on the subject be postponed till Uie fire! meeting of the Board m Januarr." fie might eay that the statement was a most extraordinary instaaoj of whit he would terra extreme care in making up of accounts, boc#4iss h» was going to prove that not unit had co money of the endowment been spent,

but that the College «u in debt lo the Public UJW to the extent of £1692- Membtrt «oW think that cxosediß|ly difficult for him to do* 1,11(1 used forcible language. The Chairman ! Ho forcible as to be *»oie* what out of order. . .... Mr Uawen: The language t* used tn quite aPickwickian sense. . |> Turnbull t From 1874 to IHSI the Government subsidies to the Circulating Library, a* shown in Uis return laid «!*•" the table, amounted to AMM6 >,,*l' J,’ P mint of catalogue* amounted to £- 1 -? 6* W 5 the subssripUon* amounted to JC-tS-tll 4* .til, making » total of £7472 14a Id. The Chairman: How do you gcl.&fldO from subscriptions? 1 don’t wish to inter* Turnbull could mww the Chairman that Im **• q«do right in what he«M. fhe »uh*#riptio»a were as follows**£* » IR7S, £m is. 6d t 1876. £»W 12s fit t 1877 £465 It* fid t 1878, £s*6 7* HU i 1879. xwtr m» nd s im im 4# m { •«<* to < W, si, DBI, £lsl t making ft total of 14501 4, *y. On bad not token into account the subscription* and «üb#idi«» to the reference demrtmeat, which were in 1874 ;--d?iiim'rip£\m U 6d t in 1875. Provincial Govsniment grant, 11600 » and in 1870. a Government grant of *I4OO. 11 was diatlastly marked on the Committee’# own return that what he had given was the income of too circulating department, and that income no had shown to be £7472. The expenditure on hooka inihe circulating library during theeefi Tear# had hern only £2460, then he would fake one third of the expenditure for incidental*, which would give the circulating library £1730, add to tbUa third of £477o*pent for building*} which would giro £ISBO, and the tot al amount spent in Use eight year* would bo £6780. If ibi* amount wa* deducted from tha £i473, which he had ehown to have been lisp income of the circulating department, it would bo found th .t £1632 wa. *till due. Ho thought ho had now made this ouito plain. Ho maintained that there had been two source* of income, one grant* from Government, and the other the subscriptions, and that the endowment fund* had boon in no way touched. Seme £I7OO had boon unaccounted for j that was the word ho had intended to use. Mr Feredav me to a point of order. He did not know’if Dr Turnbull considered ho was speaking to the motion or not, but in his (Mr Fereday’s) opinion he was travelling entirely outside of it. He (Mr Fercday) did not say that the College wa* rot to find the money for maintaining the Library j ho admitted that it wm« bound to do so. AU that ho said was that the particular fund* from the endowment for th* Museum and School of Technical Science could not bo so applied. The Chairman ruled that Dr Turnbull was quite in order. Dr Turnbull was quite ready to moot Mr Fereday’e motion in every shape he pleased, bat thought the Board should know on whst footing they stood. Ho had shown that of the income which had been derived from the Circulating Library, £1632 had not been spent. He would go further and would deliberately state that on the whole Library not one single penny h«d come out of the endowment funds, bstond tbo sum of £l2B. Was not that something to glorify themselves upon ? He had paid some attention to thi* thing, and they would find that hi* figures were correct. * Their whole expenditure on the Library had been £13473 in eight year*, and their whole income bad been £11,358, leaving a deficit of £2121. Theci caklinglibrary balance wiped that all cut with the exception of £428. The Board matt not rest their claims to popularity cn that. 'He stood up there to tell the public that the Public Library had been supported out of money belonging to the people, not out of the College money. He wanted to show that they had supported the Public Library very judiciously. Let any one lam to the I2th page of the paper on the table, stating the amount spent on the Public Library buildings. Inference ran through the whole of the document. They

* ' *•- ■? . fik- -*• ■ • o*ll ttak-<A *2*«awt £4770 on the building*, but of that sum, if he was not mistaken, £4OOO bad come direct from the Pmrin** 1 - • penny from any endowment. There vaa one matter in connection with the building to which ho would like to refer, and that was the caretaker’s hou*e, which was a disgrace. The Chairman: Sou are goirg a little outride the question. Dr Turnbull: It is a building. Why not st-rd some m'>ner on that ? lie bad air eady alluded to one inference. A second was this. The rc'crcncc library, which bad been taken over at the tame Unto as the Institute, was set down at harin® contained 1190 relume*, and the statement went on to say: “To these hare been added up to date 5194, making a total of 633* volumes.” Would it not be in* f erred f roin that that the College had purchased 5194 volumes, and put them into the re* frrence library ? But the fact was quite to the contrary. The College bad received a present of the whole of the Provincial library, and to that they had added what they had bought, and so made up the number 5194. He cow came to the reading room. Ho would ask the Chairman or any member of the Board if this was fair? For his own part he looked upon it as neither fair, prudent, nor wise, nor anything that wo* right. In all these returns were charged to the circulating department all the periodicals and news* papers for the reading-room. He would ask them was this just or wise to make the subscribers who paid money out of their pockets p»y for the free reading-room ? It was monstrous. The reading room ought to be made into a separate department. The Board deliberately took the money out of people's pocket*, and made the nubile a gift of a free reading-room more or lose unprofitable, with that money. The motion of Mr Fereday particularly exemplified the stylo of the Board's legislature. Was it ever before heard that a Board which waa amply subsidised a* it was, fostered a department which paid nothing and cheeked the growth of a department which did pay ? Tnis was certainly not caving that those who did help themselves should be helped, but that those who did not help themselves should bo helped. He looked upon the matter as one which required very thorough ventilation. He was not going to detain them any longer, but he had pointed out what he thought deserved serious attention, Ho did not ray that the Board bad been blameworthy, but it had Wen going on without making auy enquiry, and be wished to have •he matter now thoroughly ventilated. He would fc« quite content to ho proved to be wioog t t long a* lie could get the condition of the library made useful and healthful, which it *ii not at present. Ho would ask them to agree to bis motion—* 4 That the papers cow on the table, giving the expenditure and income of the Public library, be published in advertisement form in the lAiUtltom Timet and tbs Prett for one week, and that the discussion on them be postponed to Ibo next meeting of the Board.

The Chairman asked if any member would eerond J)r TurnbuU’c amendment. The Her 0. Vrmer would second the motion of Ur Turnbull. He did so for tide reason. It would be eery distinctly in the recollection of nil that the vote of £4OUO from the Provincial Government vw virtually » grant to the Library as it then ezitUd, so that the Htjferenre Library wee enjoying that of which sotnuch had been made. He wae surprised to note the distinction which Mr Fereday drew between the reference and the clrcuklin* department* j for one wee only the comjilcment of the other. It wee most drrirablo that copies of the earne book* of *'• snce should be in both department*, for it wa* important that a epare copy ehould be lying m the hefcrence Library, while a student who wished to read it at hi* own houso should be able to take a copy out of the i i culating Library. In fact, the Public Library was incomplete unite* a oony wae in each department. i|e oould not understand upon whet ground Mr Fereday withed to make such a distinction a« the motion made, lie would bo gUd to ere a areal host of ecientiGo work* in the Circulating Library. The Act did not * peaking of a reference library, or of a library at distinct from the Muteum. The expense* in the return* were spoken of with regaid to tfe© wail© but ootj ote diptr* moist

had any income. If then wa* a reading* room perfectly free, that was tha work of that Board, and no part of the original Lrhrary, and that being the case tha Board should undoubtedly provide Ilia funds to maintain it. Both the Heading Room and the lleferonw Library were free, and he could not see why one should not be charged to the endowment fund* a* well as the other*, bo far from expecting *uch a motion a* Mr Fomist’e, be bat rather expected that they would hear a motion proposed saying that it Wa* high lime that Mi.-e—s-y ono-Uiird—o( the revenue trom 100,000 aero*, should be devoted to this department. Kscedeht and admirable as were the Museum and the School of Technical Science, he thought that certainly the circulating library wa* nut of a second im* porlatice. lie thought t hat the paper* which had been laid on the table ought to be pub* li«hed, and was convinced that if they were thoroughly looked thus everyone, even Mr Farwlay himself, would bo convinced that it wa* time that the Library should h»to more justice shown it, 'lhe Chairman thought that the latter part of the amendment, that suggesting a post* ponement of the discussion, wa* what Dr Turnbull wiihtd now put. The formtr part Wa* not an amendment, but should bo the subject of another resolution. Dr Turnbull and tha Her Mr Fraser contented to Uia amendment bring altered a* suggest'd. The Chairman said the rol -rna had already been prepared, and ho would suggest that the amendment should be simply—" That the debate bo adjourned.” Mr Mulct asked if he had correctly understood Mr Foreday to slate that no portion of the income from the reserves could be applied to the Circulating Library. Mr fereday was cunnnord that no portion of that mouey could bo legally applied to anything but a library in connection with the Museum and School of Technical Science. That was hi* argument. The Chairman, if no member wished to ray anything, thought he must say a word or two himself. Widi regard to what Dr Turnbull bad said as lo £1691 being taken by the College, ho wished to say that every shi ling derived from the Library had been expended on it.

Dr Turnbull asked to be allowed to say that ho had explained that the amount £1692 hod gone to the Reference Library. Tho Chairman pointed out that £IOOO, which should have been credited to tho Reference Library, had been to tho Circulating Library. With >■ c.ird to tho question that Dr Turubull had j. -. -d—we# it tair that the subscribers to tho Circulating Library should pay for the reading-room f—ho would only say that not one single shilling of the subscribers’ money had been expended on the Reading Boom. ■ The amendment for adjourning the debate to the ordinary masting in January was earned. JJr lurnbull formally m>rod for a return showing tht- particular# winch bad been furnished by tho doeumen s from which ho had been speaking. The Board agreed to the motion. Tho Chairman said that he would have to look ore? the documents, os ho saw there was a mistake. To have them printed, as Dr Turnbull had proposed, would cost a great deal of money. Mr Males suggested that copies should bo left in the Library. If tho public took such an interest in tho matter it was stated, they would take the trouble of coming and looking at them. Dr Turnbull moved—“ That the returns be published, leaving it to the discretion of the Chairman to say how many times.” The Kev 0. Frarer seconded tho motion. The question was put, when Mr Maiet proposed, a* an amendment—- " That a small advertisement be published, informing the public that the documents could be seen at the Library." Dr Coward oocondcd tho amendment. Mr Webb would oppose both the motion and the amendment. There was no reason, if this was done, why the whole of tho Cnringn account# should not be published in the same way. the public free ?■ The Chairman : People go in and read the periodicals. Dr Turnbull o.insiders It effects the subscribers, and they could see it there certajrlv But I will have a copy in the Reading Boom. w

Air ting# sympathised with the views expressed by Mr Webb. The Board was just as well able to deal with the question now as they would be after the publication of the information. The real point was the meaning of a legal document, and public pressure would not assist the Board in their judgment. He had no objection to the public having every information, but he did object to a member bringing public opinion to bear upon tho interpretation of a document. The question raised by Mr Fereday did not affect the past but the future action of the Board. Bo (Ur Qrigg) would vote against both motion and amendment. Dr Turnbull asked that Mr Oowlisbaw's opinion on the endowment might be read. Tho Registrar read the opinion, which ha# already been published. Mr Fereday replied briefly to Dr Turnbull. Mr Malet had no objection to the accounts being slated. The sooner the public knew the accounts the better. They were ail forwarded annually to Parliament. The Chairman said this was tho case t the accounts were annually audited and laid before i’arli»ment.

The amendment waa carried on tho voice*, as follow*:—” That the return* of the revenue and expenditure of the Public Library be placed is tho library for (ho •■formation of tho public, and that notice of this be published in the morning papers.” Dr Turnbull gave notice of the following resolution, which be would more o» Jan. 80 s —"That five be selected from among the subscribers to a»iit the Library Committee in the choice of book*.” Mieoßtuumotrs. Tho Board then ipado certain alterations in the College calendar, repealing section I of Regulation 7, and substituting another in accordance with notice already published. The Board gav.i the College Committee power to make arrangement* for a German muter being engaged for the Boy*' High School. The Board authorised the School of Art* Committee to make sLeiation* in the building* and fitting*, to arm go for the management of the sosod, and to publish a prospectus, &o. The (school of Agriculture Committee recommended that Mr Bowron be empowered to engage a dairyman in England, and be allowed a fee of £lO The dairyman and wife to have £lB5 a year. Air Webb asked if it wa* not possible to engage a dairyman here. The Chairman **id the Committee had mode the recommendation after mature deliberation. Mr Qrigg did not think the proposal a wise one. The matter wa* left to the Committee to re-eon»ider, they having power to act. The standing order* having been impended, tenders for heating the Agricultural school with hot water were opened, and the lows*t tender, from Mc«»n Bruit Bros for £839 I 0», was accented, subject to the approval of the Ohiirijmn and the architect.

No President of the United Staler, from Washington to Garfield, wae born in a city. The Italian Minister of Public Work* lit* given order* fur the survey of a direst railway line from Home to Maple*, •• wae propoiwi nine year* ago by Denise. The present Lord Mayor of London is the first Irishman who ever field that ofßce. Hie name is M‘Arthur, and he began business a* a draper in Londonderry. Mr# Elizabeth Cretzsr is claimed by Mury. land to he the oldetl paneioner in the United States, «he being one hand red and three I**t December, and the widow of John t‘re *w, who eerred in the war of 1813.

The Wooiety for tbo Propagation of the Gospel (Church of England) haa consecrated » cathedral, which cost £6OOO. at Norfolk Island, where a colony of Pitcairn Inlanders was established a few y«»rs ago.