H.—l

56

Wednesday, 28th January, 1880. The Commission met at Canterbury College at 11 a.m. Present: The Hon. Gr. M. O'Eorke, M.H.E. (Chairman), Professors Brown and Cook, the Eev. W. J. Habens (Secretary), Dr. Macdonald, the Eev. W. E. Mulgan, and Professors Sale, Shand, and Ulrich. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. On the motion of Professor Shand, seconded by the Eev. W. E. Mulgan, Resolved, That the Hon. Gr. M. O'Eorke and the Eev. W. J. Habens be a Committee to revise the minutes and select the papers to be printed in the Appendix. On the motion of the Eev. W. E. Mulgan, the Commission went into Committee to consider Topic IX. The Commission having resumed, the Committee reported certain resolutions adopted by it. On the motion of the Eev. W. J. Habens, it was ordered that the Committee's report be printed. On the motion of Dr. Macdonald, the Commission adjourned, to meet again at the same place on the 29th January at 11 a.m.

Thursday, 29th January, 1880. The Commission met at Canterbury College at 11 a.m. Present: The Hon. Gr. M. O'Eorke (Chairman), Professors Brown and Cook, the Eev. W. J. Hatens (Secretary), Dr. Macdonald, the Eev. ~W. E. Mulgan, Professors Sale, Shand, and Ulrich. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following papers were laid on the table: —(l.) A letter from Mr. Barr, civil engineer, Dunedin, replying to the circular, and offering to make a statement on the subject of apprentices learning the profession of civil engineer. (2.) A letter from the Chief Clerk, Education Department, Wellington, enclosing a statement from the Secretary for Public Works as to the number (4) of engineering cadets in the Government employ. On the motion of the Hon. Gr. M. O'Eorke, seconded by Professor Shand, Resolved, That the Commission take the opinions of Mr. Blair, Engineer in Charge of Public Works Department for the South Island, and of Mr. Blackett, Engineer in Charge of Public Works Department for the North Island, on the matter of training engineering cadets. On the motion of Professor Sale, seconded by Dr. Macdonald, Resolved, That Mr. Barr's evidence be taken, if the Commission be sitting when he is in Christchurch. On the motion of the Hon. Gr. M. O'Eorke, seconded by the Eev. W. E. Mulgan, Resolved, That provision should be made for allowing or compelling professors of the University Colleges and headmasters of secondary schools to retire on half-pay after fifteen years' service, and on two-thirds pay after twenty years' service. On the motion of the Hon. Gr. M. O'Eorke, Resolved, That the headmasters of ail grammar schools should be graduates of some University in Her Majesty's dominions. On the motion of the Eev. W. J. Habens, seconded by Professor Brown, Resolved, That reference be made in the Eeport to the draft Bill on the University and University Colleges prepared last year, and that the Bill be printed in the Appendix. On the motion of Mr. O'Eorke, seconded by Professor Ulrich, Resolved, That there should be a general Act prescribing conditions under which new grammar schools should be established, and regulating the constitution of such schools. On the motion of Professor Ulrich, the Commission went into Committee to consider the best means of giving effect to the foregoing resolutions. The Commission having resumed, the report of the Committee was received. On the motion of Dr. Macdonald, the Commission adjourned, to meet again in the same place on the 30th instant at 11 a.m.

Eriday, 30th January, 1880. The Commission met at Canterbury College at 11 a.m. Present: The Hon. G-. M. O'Eorke (Chairman), Professors Brown and Cook, the Rev. W. J. Habens (Secretary), Dr. Macdonald, the Eev. W. E. Mulgan, Professors Sale, Shand, and Ulrich. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The following papers were laid on the table : —(1.) A telegram from Mr. Blair, Engineer in Charge, South Island, stating that he hoped to be in Christchurch to give evidence within a fortnight, but that, if detained beyond that time, he would forward a written statement; and asking if there were any particular questions the Commission wished to put to him. (2.) A letter in reply to the circular was read from Mr. Charles Daly, surveyor, Wangaehu. On the motion of the Eev. W. J. Habens, seconded by Professor Sale, Resolved, That Mr. Blair be informed that his examination would refer to the general question of education for the profession of engineering, and especially as to the sufficiency or otherwise of the instruction received in offices, the desirability of instituting a chair of engineering in one or more of the University Colleges, and the best means of obtaining some guarantee for the efficiency of practitioners. On the motion of Professor Sale, the Commission went into Committee to consider Topic 11.-E. The Commission having resumed, progress was reported, and the Committee obtained leave to sit again to consider Topic 11.-E. On the motion of Professor Shand, seconded by the Eev. W. J. Habens, Resolved, That further information be obtained as to the financial position of the secondary schools for the year 1879. On the motion of the Eev. W. J. Habens, the Commission went into Committee to consider Topic X. The Commission having resumed, progress was reported, and leave was given to sit again.