CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2647, 30 January 1874, Page 2

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Governors of the College took place yesterday, at 2.30 p.m. Present— j His Honor Mr Justice Gresson (in the chair), ! the Right Rev the Primate, Revs W. W. Willock, "W. T. Habens, C. Fraser, Messrs J. Gould, W. Kennaway, H. J. Tancred, J. Inglis, Studholme, and 0. C. Bowen. The minuted of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. I The chairman reported that the Literary Institute had been taken over; that the reading-room had been thrown open to the public ; and that the library had been closed for the purpose of taking stock and revising the catalogue. The committee recommended that the subscription to the circulating library be ten shillings per annum, or two shillings and sixpence a quarter ; and that each subscriber should pay a deposit of £1, or produce a guarantee for an amount not exceediug £5, piqued by two householders. Contributions towards the public library had been received to the amount of i>47o 3s, aud lodged in the Bank of New Zealand. The committee propose the following rules for the management of the library :— 1. That the library shall be open for the borrowing and returning of books every day except Sundays, Christmas day, Good Friday, and general holidays, from ten am. to five p.m., and from six p.m. to nine p.m. 2. Each subscriber shall pay in advance a sum of 10s per yenror 2s 6ri per quarter, aud shall also upon entrance pay a deposit of £1 and lodge a guarantee signed by two householders for the payment of any sum not exceeding £5, which by the rules shall become due by the subscriber. 3. That each subscriber may have out of the library one volume at the time, and no more, except that all the volumes of a novel may be borrowed at the same time, and a separate volume of plates may be taken out along with any one volume of the text, but in these exceptional cases the whole must be returned by the expiration of the time allowed for one volume. The other rues simply related to the man« agement of the library. The rules were read seriatim. On the first rule, The Rev Mr Fraser suggested that the library should be open on general holidays, as many persons would like to take advantage of the library on that day,

The rule was after some discussion, carried as above. On the second rule— The Bey Mr Fraser said, he thought they should fix the rate of subscription at one pound per annum and do away with the deposit. He thought the deposit was a vexatious impost. The Rev Mr Habene said, that Mr Reader had told the committee, that with the number of books they now had, they could accommodate double the number of subscribers. The committee had taken Mr Reader's opinion on this part before recommending the reduced rate. The Rev C. Fraser pointed out that the Literary Institute had had considerable difficulty in paying its way, and he thought that they would not be able to buy many books under the reduced rate. The Rev Mr Habens thought, that if they doubled the number of members, they would be fulfilling the purpose of their existence, and the staff as at present, would be able to attend to double the members. The Rev Mr Willock thought that if they had double the number of members they would find that they could not buy new books, and in consequence their members would fall off. Rev Mr Habens pointed out that £150 worth of books were on their way, and they would have £700 to expend on the purchase of books, Mr Kennaway pointed out that £1000 had been taken for expenses over the building vote which would doubtless be expended in books. Mr Fraser pointed out that this sum would be used in paying off the liabilities. Mr Kennaway would be prepared to say whether the present rate of subscription was sufficient if there was any information before the Board as to the amount likely to be apportioned for books for the circulating library. Mr Bowen said that at Boston, where a public library was established, it was quite wonderful how little damage was done. Persons who wanted to take books out had only to enter their name and address, and he was assured that they lost less than circulating libraries. Rev Mr Habens desired to read the following extract from the report of the truetees of the Melbourne public library:—"lt has been proved that the trustees formed a correct estimate of the degree of intelligence, education, and self respect possessed by the general public ; and substantial evidence of the soundness of the principles on which they acted is afforded by the large number of readers in the library annually (exceeding that of the British Museum), by the care taken of the valuable books at their command, and the rare and exceptional instances of the abuse of the privilege of which they are invited to partake by the trifling injury to the valuable property, which during the eleven years of the library does not exceed in money value £20." The Primate was opposed to the deposit as he thought it was very oppressive. Mr Bowen suggested that the intending subscribers might be introduced if required by a Governor or two subscribers. The Rev C. Fraser moved that the clause of the rules relating to the deposit and guarantee, be struck out. This was agreed to, and Mr Bo wen's suggestion was incorporated. The rule then read as follows:—" Each subscriber shall pay in advance 10s per annum, or 2s 6d per quarter, and shall also be introduced by a governor and subscriber." The Rev W. W. Willock would only agree to this as a substitute for the deposit. He should like to see the library thoroughly free ! to the people. The rule was then put and agreed to. The Rev C. Fraser suggested that it would be well to have a subscription of say 25 per cent, increase, by which one subscriber would be enabled to take two volumes out. The Chairman pointed out that this might be done by the subscriber paying a double subscription. The rule passed as above. The remainder of the rules passed without remark. The following new rule was introduced and passed : —" That every person before becoming a subscriber, and before being permitted to use the library, shall sign an undertaking to be bound by and observe the rules of the library." ; The Right Rev the Primate moved—"That the rules for the management of the library as amended be adopted." Mr Kennaway seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Rev W. W. Willock wished to ask what arrangements had been made for the allowing of the general public to take volumes from the library into the reading room. Mr Inglis stated that the committee bad not yet framed any regulation in this respect. Mr Bowen thought that it was necessary that the public should know something about the matter. Mr Kennaway moved—" That the library committee be empowered to order books, expend all monies belonging to the library department, engage the necessary assistance and generally to carry out the arrangements for the working of the library." Mr Inglis said that the committee had no power yet to do anything, but this resolution was merely to give them power to carry out the ordinary work of the library. The committee had done something in the way of selecting works, but would only be too glad to receive suggestions. Mr W. W. Willock thought the expression ?'from time to time" would be too indefinite. He thought it should be put " from time to time, or when required by the Board of Governors." The Rev C. Fraser thought that once a year was sufficient. Mr Bowen thought that the present committee was only temporarily appointed, and that an election of a library committee should take place annually. Mr Studholme suggested that the present library committee should be appointed to act as the committee for the present year ending in July next. Mr Kennaway agreed to alter his resolution as suggested by Mr Studholme, and the motion passed as follows :—''That the present library committee be empowered to order books, expend all moneys belonging to the library department, engage necessary assistance, and generally to carry out the arrangements for the working of the library ; and that the present library committee be appointed to act for the year ending in July next." The resolution as amended was then put and carried. Mr Bowen moved, " That the library committee be empowered to obtain designs for a public library." Rev Mr Fraser seconded the motion. Rev Mr Willock asked if this was intended to be a permanent building, or only a portion of a building 1 Mr Bowen replied that the amount at their disposal was only £5000, which would give them but a readiDg room and library, and not at all such a library as he would like to see here for a public library. The motion was then put and agreed to. The Chairman reported, that the general purposes committee, acting on the instructions contained in the resolution passed at the meeting of the Board held on the 30th of December last, with respect to the appointment of two commissions—the one to select a Professor of classics, history, and English literature ; and the other a Professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, had appointed Lord Lyttelton, Professor Blackie, the Bey B. Forrest, and Professor Sealey, to select a Classical Professor, and Lord Lyttelton, Mr E. C. Bowen, Professor Fuller, and Mr J. M. Wilson, to select a Mathematical Professor. Lord Lyttelton had been asked to act as convener of the Commissioners. Copies of the memoranda as to the two professorships, and also of the letters to Lord Lyttelton and the other Commissioneis, which were forwarded by the last Kan Francisco mail, had been laid on the table. The following memoranda relative to the appointment of professors to the College, were laid on the table :— Memorandum as to Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy for the Canterbury College ;—

A gentleman is required ns Professor ni Mathematics and Natural Philosophy f o » College, established by the Provincial Govern* ment at Chrietchurch, Canterbury, New &*! land. The institution hae been incorporated and is under the management of a Board* Governors. It is intended that the OoliJS. should be affiliated to the New Zealand ff versity. Neither the College nor the UniyeJ* sity ifl connected with any religioue denonrt nation. " The Board have decided to found Pm. fessorsbips of Chemistry, Classics, History and English Literature, and Mathematics aud Natural Philosophy. The gentlemen chosen should be young and one who give, promise of future excellence. It isindisDen sable that he should be a good mathemati*. ciaD, and that he should have taken such degree in mathematical honors as would be a guarantee of hie mathematical knowledge. Hie tastes should run rathe* towards applied than pure mathematics, and he should be able and willing to undertake to organise and superintend an astronomieS observatory ehould he at any time be ire! quired to do so. He ehould be a good teacher and meet not object to teaching elementary mathematics when necessary. The professor will be expected to conduct his course of gtudf during euch terms as may be prescribed hi the Board of Governers. The course of study will be from time to time determined The professor will be paid a salary of £600 per year, to commence from the date of hie embarking, and will be allowed £180 f 0 ! expenses of passage. He will also be entitled to receive fees from students attending hl» classes, such fees to be fixed by the Board The Board reserve to themselves the power of terminating the engagement by twelTQ months' notice. In case the engagement bo so determined within ten years from fint appointment a sum of £300 will be paid, fo the professor. The professor will not be pa, mitted to take private pupils nor to engage in any other professional pursuit. ■ The memorandum relative to the appoint. ' ment of a Professor of Classics, History and English Literature is similar in most respects to the above except in the following para, graphs: — " It is indispensable that be should bo a good classical scholar, that he should have graduated in classical honors, and that the position bo took should be high enough to be a guarantee for his scholarship. "Mere scholarship, however, is by no means sufficient, and it is not in {act deeirable that any one should be chosen whose i tastes run solely in the direction of potto, logical criticism. What is wanted ia a nun who baa studied the classical authors as sources of history and literature, It will be observed that the professorship is of history and English literature as well as classics. The person chosen should give evidence of'a fondness for historical studies, aud be thoroughly acquainted with the English language and literature. Whatever the religious or political opinions of the person chosen may be, care should bo taken that he should be of sufficient discretion to avoid partisanship in teaching history. " The person chosen muit be a good teacher, and be willing to submit to the drudgery of teaching the elements of Latin and Grwi, Some of the students will be more advanced, but many will know very little of any language but their own. The object of the College is to create a demand for culture," which does not exist at present in any perceptible degree, and the first steps must he, laborious." : ' j Rev Mr Habens reported that he had r* ceived a present of books from the' Melbourne Public Library to the trustees of oat library, which he now laid upon the table, He had been requested to apply to the librarian of the Victorian Public Library for' advice on the formation of public librariee, which he bad not only received very fully, but also the works he had laid before the Board of Governors. The principal portagn of these were statistical tables of great valw as regarded Melbourne. On the motion of Mr Boweo, the regietru was requested to write to the trustees aod librarian of the Melbourne Public Library, ; thanking them for the donation of booii aud the advice furnished by them to the trustees of the Canterbury Public Library, Mr Bowen moved " That the general purposes committee be appointed to make ar> : rangements for the delivery of a course of . lectures in classics and mathematics during ' the eneuing Trinity Term." He might ssf i that the Collegiate Union would bo enabled I to carry on their lectures over the Leni i term and to carry them on until the Pro* \ fesßors came out. The Collegiate Union had received a grant from the Government which would enable them to carry on the work for some time. ~ i Mr Kennaway seconded the motion. \ •.' Rev Mr Willock asked where they could deliver their lectures. Mr Kennaway said immediately after tlje meeting of the University Council in April the College would come into possession of the Museum buildings. The motion was agreed to. A letter was read from Dr Powell accept- , ing the office of lecturer on biology, tod stating that he intended delivering lectbfoe during Lent, Trinity, and Michaelmas Term, The report of the Bite committee was read as follows :—" The site committee report that Mr Mountfort has submitted amended plans of the college buildings, which hare been laid, on the table. The committee recommend that the plans be* adopted, ahd that they be empowered to make any alters' tions in the details of the plans that $$! . appear advisable ; also, that the committee be empowered to obtain specifications,; Bid to call for tenders." : ■ • i The Rev Mr Habene moved—« That tha . plans as submitted be adopted, and that the site committee be empowered to make an/ alterations ia the details of the plans, tM may appear desirable; also, to obtain epeci* ficatione and call for tenders." ■ u\ The Kight Rev the Primate secondea tie motion, which was agreed to. The meeting then adjourned.