E.—7

Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: THE CANTERBURY COLLEGE (PAPERS RELATING TO). [In continuation of E.-7, 1896.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

ANNUAL STATEMENT OP THE CHAIRMAN OP THE BOARD OP GOVERNORS. At the annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College, held on Monday, the 31st May, 1897, the Chairman's statement of the progress made and work done in the several departments during the year was read, as follows: —■ The College. Since the last annual meeting of the Board of Governors, held on the 13th July, 1896, when Mr. H. E. Webb was re-elected Chairman, legislation has taken place by which the constitution of the Board has been very considerably altered, and the mode of election placed on a totally different basis to that previously existing. The Canterbury College and Canterbury Agricultural College Bill has been passed, which provides that nineteen members shall form the governing body, to be selected as follows : (1) A group of three to be appointed by the Governor; (2) a group of three to be elected by the members of the Legislative Council and members of the House of Eepresentatives representing electoral districts within the provincial district; (3) a group of six to be elected by such of the graduates of the New Zealand University as for the time being are on the books of the College ; (4) a group of three to be elected by such persons holding certificates of not lower grade than D certificate, under section 45 of "The Education Act, 1877," as for the time being are resident within the Provincial District of Canterbury; (5) a group of three to be elected by the Committees of School Districts within the Provincial District of Canterbury, elected under " The Education Act, 1877 "; (6) one member to be elected by the Professorial Board of the College. During the first period from 1873 to 1884 members of the Board were appointed for life, and vacancies were filled by the Board itself. During the second period, lasting from 1884 to the present time, vacancies on the Board were filled by the votes of the graduates on the books of this College. A new era is now commencing, and the various classes forming the electoral body, as specified above, will return the governing body of the Canterbury College. The ordinary term of office of the members is three years. The newly-constituted Board for the Canterbury Agricultural College, which is now an entirely separate institution, came into force during the month of January, thus terminating a connection that had existed for more than twenty-three years—since July, 1873. The death, after a lingering illness, of Mr. W. H. Spackman has to be reported. The late member had specially interested himself in the affairs of the Public Library, which owes much to his intelligent zeal. Mr. E. de C. Malet, who has been a member since the Bth June, 1876, and for nine years and a half held the position of Chairman of the Board, tendered his resignation in April. Mr. T. W. Stringer has also resigned his seat on the Board. The Eight Eev. the Bishop of Christchurch and Mr. G. G. Stead have obtained leave of absence to proceed to England. During the years that have elapsed since the establishment of the Board death has occasioned many changes in the governing body. The names of the following members occur to us : Bishop Harper; Eevs. Willock, Harris, Buller, Fraser; Hon. W. Eeeves; Drs. Coward and Turnbull; Messrs. Tancred, Hamilton, Colborne-Veel, Inglis, Potts, Gould, Wilkin, Mellish, Lance, and Eoss. Eesignations also have caused many vacancies. Two members only of the original Board now retain their seats. The only change that has occurred in the teaching staff of the College since last July has been that Mr. J. P. Grossmann, M.A., has been appointed to the position of lecturer on political economy.

I—E. 7.