E.—7

12

pursuance of the provisions of ' The Canterbury Museum and Library Ordinance, 1870,' subject, nevertheless, to the conditions expressed of and concerning the same —that is to say, that a reading-room and circulating library of at least equal dimensions, both as regards space and number of books and periodicals, to those conveyed and assigned shall be constantly maintained in the said buildings, or in any new buildings to be erected upon the said land in the place of the existing buildings, and that such books and periodicals shall from time to time be supplemented and increased so as to satisfy future requirements, and generally the institution maintained in accordance with the usual and recognised standard of a public circulating library and reading-room : Provided always that the Superintendent and his successors, or other the acting trustees of the institution, continue to exercise the discretion enjoyed by the present management of determining upon the books which shall be retained solely for reference; and that the advantages of such reading-room shall be opened to the public free of charge, and that the advantages of the circulating library shall be opened to the public either free of charge, at the discretion of the management, or at charges not greater than the charges following—that is to say, twenty shillings per annum, payable either yearly, half-yearly, or quarterly, in advance." The Superintendent gave the control of the library to the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College in the year 1873. A contract was entered into by the Provincial Government in 1875 for the construction of a new wing to the library. In 1876 the Provincial Council Library, consisting of 1,212 volumes, was transferred to the Public Library. His Excellency the Governor, in whom all public property was vested by the Abolition Act of 1876, conveyed by deed, bearing date, the 25th July, 1878, the Public Library to the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College. Before the control of the Public Library was transferred to the Board of Governors a public subscription was got up for the purchase of books for the institution. The amount collected was £545 195.; Mr. George Gould, £100 ; handed over by Canterbury Collegiate Union, £109 2s. 6d.; subscriptions transferred by owners, £175: total, £930 Is. 6d.

STATEMENT OF THE ACCOUNTS OP THE CANTERBURY COLLEGE FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1896. Statement op Balances at 31st December, 1896. Accounts. Cb. £ s. d. £ s. d. School of Agriculture, Capital Account .. .. .. .. .. 18,586 8 6 Boys' High School, Capital Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,519 5 0 Classical School, Capital Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,110 2 1 Superior Education, Capital Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,709 2 8 College Maintenance Account .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 974 5 0 Girls' High School, Capital Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,769 13 6 Girls' High School, Maintenance Account .. .. .. .. .. 1,154 15 7 Public Library, Circulating, Maintenance Account .. .. .. .. 265 12 9 Museum, Library, and School of Technical Science, Endowment Fund Account .. 678 19 4 Medical School, Reserves Account .. .. ... .. .. .. 2,652 10 8 School of Technical Science, Capital Account .. .. .. .. '.. 19,742 6 4 Astronomical Observatory Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 272 511 Contractors' Deposit Account.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 0 0 55,461 7 4 Db. School of Agriculture, Maintenance Account .. .. .. .. .. 756 7 0 School of Art Account .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 272 15 1 Boys' High School, Buildings Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,531 7 5 Boys' High School, Maintenance Account .. .. .. .. .. 33 6 6 School of Engineering and Technical Science Account .. .. .. .. 288 12 5 Museum Maintenance Account *. .. .. .. .. .. 10 5 0 3,892 13 5 £51,568 13 11 Bank and Investments. Cb. Drawing Account .. .. .. ..' .. .. £23,193 9 8 Less outstanding cheques .. .. .. .. .. 150 7 6 23,043 2 2 Mortgages of freeholds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,650 0 0 Freehold securities .. .-. .. .. •• ■• •• .. 16,975 11 9 Purchase of Girls' High School site (deeds held).. .. .. .. .. 900 0 0 ■ £51,568 13 11 Liabilities. Contractor's deposit .. .. .. .. •. ■ • ■ • • • 26 0 0 Bank of New South Wales .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19,000 0 0 Public Library—Scrip of shareholders .. .. .. .. .. .. 113 10 2 £19,139 10 2