WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5531, 18 December 1878, Page 3

WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

"An adjourned meeting of the Board of Governors was held «t 2 p.m. yesterday, in tho room of the exProvinclal Secretary. Present—Hon. Mr. Buckley, Hon. Mr. Gisborne, Rev. J. Paterson, hia Worship th« Mayor, and Messrs. Jackson, Brandon, and Hutchison. Tho chair was occupied formally by Mr. Brandon, as chairman of the meeting on the previous day, but after the reading and confirmation of the minutes, that gentleman vacated the chair. On the motion of tho Rev. J. Paterson, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Buckley, the chair was taken by the Hon. Mr. Gisborne. REPORT OP COMMITTEE. The Rev. J. Paterson brought up tho following ad interim report of tho committee appointed to consider the state of tho College, and to suggest suen changes as might be considered deal able:— . “Your committee, after carefully considering the present condition of tho College and finding that during tho last three yenrs there has been a gradual decrease in tho number of pupils attending, until during this term there aro only seventy, and that there is only one matriculated University student and no University scholars this year; finding also that the present income of the College is only some £ISOO, while the expenditure is about £2700 rectmmend that with a view to the reorganisation of the institution and to tho promotion of its greater efficiency, the first stoo should be to give all the masters (the principal included) such legal notice ns may be necessary, that their services are di-ponsed with, It being umlerstoeci that any of them shall bo eligib e for re-appointment. “ James Paterson, “ Convener of Committee. “ Wellington, 17th December, 1878.” , The Hon Mr. Buckley moved that the report just read be adopted. Tho matters referred to the committee were considered at a meeting hold that nay, and it was not without some very strong reason Indeed that tho committee came to the conclusion they had arrived at. namely, to draw up an ad tntertni report such as had been placed before the Board no did not wish to say anything more on the subject at present, but would simply move tho adoption oi tn© report. The Rev. J. Paterson, in seconding the motion, said it was understood that tho committee would continue their diligence in this matter, and that this was merely ono step which they had to suggest at tins stage. Tho committee would continue to consider matters relating to tho College. Tho motion for tho adoption of tho report was agreed to.

THE CASE MISS JONES. Tho Chairman said the next question on the order paper was t -o consideration of a letter which had been received fr >m Miss L. A. Jones. .. His Worship tho Mayor said that they might ait for another hour and a half, and as the room was so small, ho thought he was justified in placing the Council-room at the disposal of tho Board. An adjournment was immediately made to tho wty Council chamber. . , . - , Mr. Brandon expressed a wish to see Miss Jones letter before it was read, and tho letter was handed to him accordingly. ~ „ . . The Chairman then called upon the Secretary to road tho letter as follows: “ We llngton, Dec. 14. 1878. . “Gentlemen,—l beg fo inform you that I have in my possession tho keys usually hold by the matron of the Wellington College. “Under the circumstances made known to you through tho columns of the Press in ray leaving the College. I have declined to hand ti»em over to Mr. Wilson, but will deliver them up to tho Board if you will call a meeting for such. I shall also ask you to bo pleased to inform me what course you intend to pursue in the matter of my discharge from tho position I have hold f r the past five years. ... “ I shall further ask you to make an inquiry into tho cause of my leaving the College, and the management and conduct of the College in general. My evidence in that will bo justly at your disposal, and waiting your answer,—l am. &c., “L. A. Jones. “To the Governors Wellington College." Tho Chairman: That is the letter. It will be in order and most convenient that members of 'ho Board should take any action they may consider necessary in reference to this letter. I may state that Miss Jones is in no way a servant of the Board of Governors. We never knew her, or had anything to do with her or with the performance of her duties ; ,wo did not even know her by name until we »aw-it m the newspapers She is the private servant, I behove, of the principal of the College, brought out by him from England. That is the position she holds j she has, of course, no relation with the Board. If she makes any charges against tho management of the College, or against any officer connected with that management, tho Board will consider whether or not it is its duty to inquire into those charges : but ns to tho delivery of tho keys, or considering herself in any way tho servant of the Board, she Is quite under a misapprehension in thinking that tho Board have anything to do with her. She Is the private servant of the principal, and the Board knew nothing about her, even by name, until this matter occurred. Mr. Brandon ; She says she is ready to give'up tho keys of a certain portion of tho building. Then sho wants an investigation. We had better ask her to give up the keys, and then ask her to make her charges specifically. The Chairman : If you make a motion on tho subject, it will then come up for discussion by Board, and if th< Board wishes to take action it can do so.. Mr. Brandon : I beg to move that Miss Jones be requested to give up tho keys to Mr. Wilson referred to in her letter; and if sho has any charges to make against Mr. Wilson or any other officer of the College, that sho he requested to make such charges in writing, amt specifically. Mr. Jackson seconded tho motion. The Chairman : Mr. Wilson is in attendance. Tho committee asked him to be in attendance here in order that the Board might take his evidence if they considered it necessary on any point. But before coming to a decision on this motion, Mr. Wilson could bo brought here -drectly, as he is waiting in the Provincial Council library. The Rev. J Paterson : I was about to say that after what has taken placo in connection with this case, which is not only brought before us by this letter, but by what wo have seen in tho newspape-s, it might be right, and I think it would, to give Mr. Wilson an opportuinty if he chose of making any statement In regard to this matter that he might think proper to make. There is a degree of mystery about the matter, and a number of insinuations which, so far as I understand tho case at present, seem to rao to bo quite unwarrantable, quite unjustifiable. At the same time, it may be well to clear up that sort of mystery In which tho case is enveloped, and this might bo done if Mr Wilson is allowed an opportunity of making any statement he wiahejs. If charges are made against him by Miss Jones, of course lie will have an opportunity of replying to them. Sho does not make any charges against Mr Wilson of an improper character, but there la at present an amount of mystery about the matter which might bo removed if we wore to hear Mr. Wilson.

The Hon. Mr. Buckley : I look upon this matter in this way-On certain information which has come to our knowledge, and from other reasons, we. as a committee, thought it proper to-day to draw up the ad interim report which has been adopted by the Board. We have taken the course which in our opinion is desirable, namely, to give notice that the services of the teaching staff of the College will be dispensed with, in order that a reorganisation may take place. Any private quarrel between Miss Jones and Mr. Wilson is a matter which wo are scarce'y called upon to discuss or entertain. If we had been continuing the services of Mr. Wilson, I think wo might have been justified in doing bo, but there are no charges against Mr. Wilson brought under the notice of the Board. If sho has anything to bring against Mr. Wilson there are remedies in tho way other people have remedies for wrongs : but 1 think wo have no business to interfere when the charges are not before us. I don't think wo ought to hoar Mr. Wilson In reply to statements made by the newspapers. If Mr. Wilson had taken the course of sending in a letter to the Board in answer to charges broug t against him, then it would have b en necessary to inquire into the matter, hut at present I think it Is scarcely in our province to do so. The Chairman asked whether any other member of the Board wished to express his opinion on (ho question whether Mr Wilson should be asked to make any statement? Perhaps that question had better be disposed of before t >c original motien was put. Mr. Brandon : What is he going to make a statement about before a charge is made ? The Mayor ; I understood the chairman to mean that if Mr Wilson wished to volunteer any statement wo would be perfectly justified in asking him to do so. Charges have been made against him in the newspapers ; his character has been assailed, and Ms character is the property of the Board as well as of himself. He has got charge of the College, and I think it is a matter of very great importance to the Board that the character of its principal should not bo assailed, or, if assailed, wo should Inquire into the truth or otherwise of the charge. If Mr Wilson wishes to volunteer a statement, wo should give him an opportunity, which probably he would bo glad to avail himself of. Mr. Brandon : I think the proper course would bo to ask Mr Wilson whether ho has anything to say. We should ask him that in writing. The Chairman: This Is a question which has arisen incidentally on the main question. It would be convenient if some member of the Board would move a resolution in order to test the feeling of the Board as to whether Mr. Wilson should bo asked to come hero or not. If the Board does >»ot want him to come, ho might bo relieved of his attendance. He is now in attendance, on the suggestion of the committee. Tho Hon. Mr Buckley : Wo have nothing boforo us, and X don’t see what right wo have to take notice of what this paper or that paper Bars, There is no charge against Mr. Wilson before tho Board. Tho Mayor ; I propose that Mr. Wilson bo askod, in view of the various statements that have appeared in the newspapers, whether ho desires to make any statement, -rally or in writing, in reference to those matters which have appeared in the public Press, The Bov. J. Paterson: I think It is a duty wo owo to Mr Wilson, to the Institution, and to ourselves as g vomers, that wo should hoar Mr Wilson. Tho matter has boon discussed in the newspapers and talked about in town. Tire reputation of the College is Involved in his own, and in kindness to Mr Wilson, and in justice to tho institution end ourselves, wo should give him an opportunity of making any statement he shall think (it to make. Mr Hutchison : It ia quite clear he dm not wish to volunteer a statement in writing, or wo should havo had it hero to day. If ho is going to make any statement, I think it should bo purely voluntary. Tho Bov. J. Paterson; That is quite understood. Mr Jackson did not think tho Board should ask Mr Wilson to make any statement when there was no charge brought against him. ~, . , The Hon. Mr Buckley: If you ask him to make a statement you place him in rather an awkward position and you will bo bound to do something. I don t think that at present wo are called upan to investigate an Tho Chairman put Mr Bransflold’s motion, which was negatived. Ayes: Messrs Dransiield and Paterson’ noes: Messrs Buckley, Jackson, and Hutchison. The Chairman ; I find I have got a deliberative and a casting vote. I shall giro my deliberative vote with tho noes. Unless there are specific charges against Mr. Wilson, lie does not know what to answer When Miss Jones makes specific charges, then the fullest investigation will bo necessary, but I don’t think Mr. Wilson could now make a voluntary statement without bringing charges himself against Miss Jones. She lias not made any specific charges against Mr. Wilson, and I therefore give my vote with tho noes. . . Mr. Brandon’s motion was than put. Mr Hutchison : I should bo prepared to support tho motion if tho words “that she bo requested to give up tho keys” were struck out. As the governors of the College wo hav nothing to do with the keys ; it is nuito a private matter between Mr. Wilson and this lady; I don’t think tho governors havo anything to do with tho keys of the larder, the presses, or anything of that sort ■ The Mayor thought it very unbecoming on the part of the Board to invito Miss Jones to make charges against Mr, Wilson. Tho Chairman : Sho implies in lior lottor that sho has charges against tho management of the College. Mr. Brandon’s motion Is that sho shall make her charges specifically, Wo have nothing to do with the keys; sho states alio Is prepared to give them up, and the nost question Is, whether we should indicate tho proper party to whom sho la to give tho keys. If tho question bo not amended I shall nut it as it stands. Tho motion was put in its original form. Ayes : Messrs. Paterson, Buckley, and Jackson, No: Mr. Prawfield.

| The Chairman inquired how Mr. Hutchison intoMr.Ci llUTonißON: I am perfectly certain there must be an inquiry, but I can neither say aye nor no to the motion. She may have a lion on the keys I ;or all I know to the contrary. I have no reas nto suppose sho should give up the keys to Mr. Wilson. The Chairman gave hia rote in favor "f the motion. After the transaction of some business of a routine nature, the Board adjourned, on the understanding that the chairman should call a special meeting should tho necessity arise before tho date of next oruinary meeting.