WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5662, 23 May 1879, Page 7

WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Governors of this institution was held on Friday, May 9th. Present — The Chairman (Hon. W. Gisborne), Rev. J. Paterson, Dr. Hector, Sir. Brandon, Mr. Henry Jackson, and Mr. Hutchison. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Principal, drawing attention to the necessity for an alteration in the date of a certain examination in connection with the University. The Governors made an alteration as suggested. Letters were received from several of the retiring masters thanking the Governors for past favors.—The Governors approved a mortgage of £SOOO at 10 per cent, for five years, and also an arrangement made by Mr. Brandon in respect of overdue interest. Considerable discussion [which it is not deemed prudent to publish] ensued on financial matters, and ultimately a resolution was passed to the following effect : —That the Governors approve the memorandum sent by the sub-committee to the Minister of Education, and that the Government be requested to give effect thereto by placing a sum of £7OOO on the Estimates, and by bringing in a Bill enabling the Governors to sell endowments of rural lands conditionally on re-investing the proceeds in other lands, of mortgage on freehold; and further that by the same Act the endowments of the College be increased. A long discussion then ensued on the subject of retaining the services of Professor Kirk as lecturer on natural science. The Governors agreed that it would be a great blow to the institution to lose Mr. Kirk’s services, but seemed in doubt as to where the funds for providing his salary were to come from; Dr. Hector especially pointed out that if x tbe College ceased, to teach natural science it must cease to be affiliated to the New Zealand University, which would involve a serious breach of faith with the undergraduates who had put themselves in training in connection with the College. Further, the College would lapse into the position of a grammar school merely, and the Governors could not expect to devote their endowments to teaching grammar school subjects. The Legislature certainly would not look upon the institution with any favor, because the pbject of giving endowments was to encourage higher education, which, it was recognised, could not be taught merely on the proceeds of fees. The Canterbury College ta.ught scarcely any grammar school subjects. —Rev. Mr. Paterson ; So with the Otago College.—Dr. Hector : Yes. I may state that I think the Commission on Higher Education will make some recommendation on the point. —Rev. Mr. Paterson thought all the credit the College had gained had come through Mr. Kirk.—Ultimately it was resolved to call a special meeting of the Governors to consider the matter.—lt was resolved to apply for a labor gang to form roads on that portion of the reserve around the College, which the Governors have received power to lease. —The meeting then adjourned.