WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5270, 13 February 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

A deputation of College Governors, consisting of Sir William Fitzherbert, M.H.R., Mr. G. Hunter, M.H.R., Mr. Dransfield, the Bev. IVir. Paterson, 'anti Mr. Buckley, waited upon the Premier yesterday afternoon, with reference to matters below stated. Sir WSAIAM Fiteiierbert, when introducing the deputation, said they had asked for an interview, as Governors of the Wellington College, for the purpose of representing the difficulties under which they stood with regard to the financial position of that institution. He need not remind the Premier that the Wellington College was an institution which he (Sir George Grey) had founded, and was one which had since received care from those interested locally in its progress. After some ups and downs, they had succeeded in really establishing an institution which he thought somewhat carried out the original intention of the founders; but owing, whether wisely or not they were not in a position to say, to the political changes which had taken place in the Constitution of the country, this institution, which had been fostered and carefully provided for by the Provincial Council, as the representatives of the people of the then Province of Wellington, was now without an endowment. It was the duty of the deputation to point out that the sister institutions in Otago, Christchurch, and Nelson were in the receipt of endowments. These institutions imparted a higher tone to the educational standard there. This they thought was absolutely necessary. They did not refer to the wealth of the other colleges in any spirit of envy, but would point out that whilst the colleges spoken of had thousands of pounds of yearly income from their endowments, they (the Wellington College) had nothing of the sort, and the public were called upon to subscribe out of their own pockets for the maintenance of the college. The Provincial Council did its duty well and faithfully in upholding the college as far as possible. The Board of Governors had considered its position, and thought it right to state that their overdraft was about £I3OO at the present time, and they did not see their way to carry on the institution in the manner in which it should he carried on unless they received assistance from the Government. He (Sir Wrn. Fitzherbert) then gave a history of the appointment of Mr. Wilson, the principal of the College, and commented upon his excellent qualities as a teacher. . He said the governors had clone all they could to carry on the college, although they were in great difficulties, and now found themselves aground. They were making a clean breast of the matter - , and had come to ask whether ho (the Premier) could see his way to recommend to Parliament next year the vote of a sum of £ISOO in aid of the institution. The deputation only asked this for one year. The Superintendent and Provincial Council of Wellington agreed to certain grants of land to the extent of ten thousand acres, but owing to the abolition of the provinces the Council never made the grant, and up to the present time no Crown grant has been issued for the laud. . The deputation desired the Premier to recommend Parliament to grant ten thousand acres of land, and if their request was acceded to they believed they would he able to carry on I the work of the College satisfactorily. It was their desire to give to this institution a character which they believed to be entirely consonant with modern and correct views of higher education, extending not only to young men but also to young women. The Rev. Mr. Paterson said : I think Sir William Fitzherbert has stated our wants very clearly. We are not at present able to carry on the institution without a grant similar to what was formerly accorded by the Provincial Council, and similar also to what was made by the House last session, and which helped us out of our difficulties temporarily. The Governors of the College wish, if possible, to add another branch of knowledge to the list of subjects already taught—probably it will be chemistry. The Hon. Mr. Maoandrew, who was present, said that the papers respecting the grant of ten thousand acres of land had been before him for some considerable time, and he had been anxious to carry out the arrangement. A good deal of correspondence had taken place on the subject, and the grant would have been issued ere now had it not been for some technical objection which had been raised. He did not anticipate that there would be any difficulty in settling the matter. The Premier said : Of course it will depend upon the will of the Assembly as to whether a grant of more than ten thousand acres of land shall be given to the governors as an endowment. I think we might introduce a measure embracing this matter into the Assembly next session. No doubt Parliament will be inclined to place the Wellington College in the same position as other kindred institutions. The Hon. Mr. Macandkew said there would be no difficulty about the ten thousand acres of land which had been granted as an endowment to the college by the Provincial Council, but he doubted whether the Assembly would extend the quantity. The Premier promised that the Government would do what they could for the governors of the college. He thought the matter was a most important one, and he would be glad to forward their views in any way he could. The deputation then thanked the Premier, and withdrew.