E.—7

23

The desirability and even necessity of the purchase of these properties was evident, and it is highly satisfactory to know that there is no chance of the appearances of the College buildings being spoilt by unsightly erections in the vicinity. The buildings which are now up on the purchased lands cannot remain much longer, nor can the rents that are received from them be regarded as a permanent source. of revenue. On the other hand, I think it will be unfortunate if the purchase of these sections, which involves interest to the amount of over £120 per year, should be permitted to detract from the usefulness to the College proper, by proving an incubus upon the institution. The chief point of satisfaction is that the Board has been able to purchase the fee-simple of the properties without requiring to borrow for the purpose. Provision can now be made for the extension of the College within the boundaries of the block for a great many years to come. Music Lectures. Members will see by the return that the attendance at the music lectures for 1909 has increased from 75 to 90, the increase being almost entirely made by the teachers' certificate classes, C and D, which have risen from 30 to 47. I think the time has come when the Board should consider whether a larger scheme should not be gone into in connection with the musical portion of the College's work. As I have stated on a previous occasion, whilst we are doing much for the arts and crafts in connection with the School of Art, we are doing comparatively little for music, which is an art that touches the masses far more closely than painting and sculpture and other work which is being done so well at the School of Art under tlie control of this Board. I think, therefore, that while the classes are continued as they are at present, dealing merely with the theory of music, and without any practical work attachingto them, we cannot expect tKis portion of our work to be successful. Dr. Bradshaw fully realizes this, and is most anxious that the Board should assist him in making the music portion of our work broader and wider in its scope. I see no reason why the Board should not establish a small school of music, with the view to undertaking practical as well as theoretical work. One of the buildings recently purchased by the Board in Montreal Street would possibly lend itself to the purpose for a beginning. The expense would not need to be large at the start, and I believe the experiment would very soon justify itself. . As members are aware, the Board has now abandoned its connection with the Associated Board of Music which sends examiners from Great Britain, and draws large sums of money from the people of New Zealand for merely examining students in music. If the proposal lam suggesting were given effect to, it might be possible for the College to conduct not only a school of music, but also to grani associateships and give diplomas to those who presented themselves for examination throughout the district over which the Board exercises control, as is done both in the School of Engineering and School of Art. In Dr. Bradshaw the College is fortunate in possessing a gentleman whose position in the musical world would amply justify his appointment to examine for the diplomas which I am suggesting. I believe, in time, these diplomas would carry with them even more weighi than those now granted by the Associated Board; at any rate, there is no reason why New Zealand should depend entirely for its musical tests upon gentlemen who periodically visit the country from Great Britain. The mere, fact of this being the case is an admission of weakness which we should not any longer admit. The proposal to establish a school of music, even in a small way, is one that requires careful examination ; but the success which has attended the School of Art amply justifies the Board in embarking upon the experiment which I now venture to suggest. Up to the present, although the University has set up a degree in music, only six students have taken the degree of Bachelor of Music, three at Canterbury College, two at Auckland, and one at Wellington, and I think the reason is not far to seek—namely, that none of the Universities have thoroughly connected themselves with the culture of the art of music. This is a subject upon which 1 could enlarge with considerable enthusiasm, but it is not necessary that 1 should do so. Later in the year I shall submit detailed proposals of the scheme for establishing a school of music under the auspices of this College, and I have no doubt that this will receive careful consideration at the hands of members of the Board. Boys' High School. The accounts of the Boys' High School continue very buoyant, as is to be expected, considering the splendid endowments of that institution. The reserves last year brought in £3,894, as compared with £3,578 the previous year. The total revenue of the institution last year was £6,429, and, deducting £1 052 for balance, gymnasium, and non-recurrent expenditure, the cost of the institution was £4,377. Of'this sum, £3,880 was absorbed by salaries. The net attendance for 1908 was 213, which represents salary for teaching at the rate of £18 ss. per pupil for the year. If the preparatory class is eliminated, and the salary of the teacher deducted from the total, the position becomes even worse. I feel that 1 should not be doing my duty to the people of Canterbury if 1 did not point out the enormous cost of salaries in this institution as compared with others in the Dominion. The public returns show that in 1907 the cost of teaching 849 pupils at the Auckland Boys' Grammar School was £11 Is. 3d. per head ; 288 pupils at the Wellington Boys' College. £10 His. per head ; and 277 pupils at the Otago Boys' High School, £H> 13s. 6d. per head. So far as the cost is concerned, these figures compare very markedly with the institution controlled by this Board, and I am of opinion that, with a sum of nearly £4,500 per annum to administer, the benefits of secondary education should be more widely diffused than they are at the present time at the Boys' High School. I think it is incumbent upon the Board to discuss with the headmaster how far, and in what ways, it is possible to provide for a greater measure of benefit to the people of Christchurch from the endowments of the school than is now being achieved. One direction in which improvement might be desirable would be by handing over to the school the adjoininu property purchased from the Acland Estate, and upon it erecting a hostel for the ftCCOBJ