CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 21, 11 October 1851, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

', We notice in the " Lyttelton Times*' of Sep- j ' tember 20, the " plan of a College, founded by : the Canterbury Association in the settlement of j Canterbury." The College is founded in strict accordance, it seems, '■ with the principles of the i Church in New Zealand, meaning by that term, j the Church there planted as a branch from the .j Iteformed Church of England, \nd holding "*' communion therewith. It is founded for the i j education of the youth of that settlement in j the first place, but with the view of extending I I its benefits to the whole colony of New Zealand, | and also to the British possessions in Australia j and India. One of the fundamental objects of j its founders is to train up students in the faith I and discipline of the Church, and to qualify a j | body of clergy for the colonial ministry ; and j | also to give to young men a suitable instrnc- j i tion, to fit them for the peculiar occupations of a secular colonial life. Schools for the working classes are to be connected with the Col- ! i lege, and to be extended from time to time as i i means and circumstances may permit. The educational system is to be divided into distinct departments. The lower department is to : be established on the plan of the great elementary grammar schools of England, and will include the Greek, Latin, and the most useful of modern languages, mathematics, history, &c. It will also include such other branches of | knowledge as may be specially suited to the ! 1 colony, and the future career in life of the j students. Music is to form one of the subjects | of instruction. This department to be open to j boys from the age of eight to sixteen ; and ' though intended principally for youths resident within the College, it will be extended as far as possible to non-residents. The upper department of the College is to be adapted for young } men 'farther advanced in age, and of more matured acquirements, and to be as nearly similar as possible to colleges in Oxford or Cambridge. It will include the professorial as well as the tutorial system of instruction. Professorships are to be established as funds permit. Public examinations will be held at fixed periods, and class lists arranged, upon which degrees may be founded. The theological branch of the upper department is to be expressly devoted to the training of a body of clergy for the future service of the colonial Church, and to be confined in general, though not exclusively, to students intended for holy orders. The general branch of the upper department will be framed with the view of qualifying young men for the future occupations of a colonial life, as well as the general branches of literature and science, suitable to a refined state of society. Physical and practical science, such as civil engineering, chemistry, and the like, will necessarily form important branches of' education for such an

object It is the intention to supply as quickly as possible duly qualified teachers from this country (England). In a country dependent for its main source of .vealth on agriculture, it is intended, for the benefit of the students, to connect with the College a farm of moderate extent, the management of which, under proper superintendence, will become a practica school of agriculture, and which is to be confined to young men intended for an agricultura 1 life, or who may make it a voluntary study.