BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9432, 2 June 1896, Page 3

BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

An ordinary monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College was held at 3 p.m. yesterday, when there were present—Mr H. K. Webb (Chairman), the Bishop of Christchuroh, Revs. Cunon Harper and Gordon Webster, Houa. W. Montgomery, K. C. J. Stevens, and J. T. Peacock, ami Messrs) R. W. Fereday, J. J, Kinsey, J. L. Scott, W. Chrystull, G. G. Stead, F. de C. Malet, ami T. S. Weston. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs J. Audemon, juu., and T. W, Striuger. Mr R. W. Fkrsday moved, according fcj notice—"That it is expedient that lha exact position and lugai responsibilities of the College in regard lo the maintenance of the Public Library should be authoritatively ascertained as soon as may be." He said that the point of his argument was that the College Library aud the Public Library were distinct institutions, the former being vested in the College aud the latter in the Governors of the College, and that the funds of the former could not be legally applied to the Utter. He then went on to give a history of the Public Library, showing that the Trustees of the Chrietchurch Literary Institute iv 1873 conveyed and assigned the land, building, books, and property of the Institute to the Superiutendent of the Province upon trasb for the purpose of a Public Library, uud by him the control of ihe Library was given to the Board of Governors. Mr Fereday held that no funds of the College could bo legally (ipplied to the maintenance of the Library now commouly called the Public Library, which was uot vested in the College but only in the governing Board of the College, aud must be treated as a separate institution. The Hon. E. O. J. Stevess seconded the motion pro jonna, aud asked Mr fereday whether he wished ihe College to abandon the control of the Library, »r whether he merely wished the College to provide for its maintenance out of other funds than those from the Museum, Library and School of Technical Science. Mr Fbrkday considered the College had no right lo expend any of Uβ funds upon the Public Library, and had no control over anything there except some books. The Ron. W. Montgomery pointed out that the matter had been before the Board many years ago, and in 1881 they took the advice of their solicitors, who gave the opinion that the Board was bound to appropiiate soma of the funds from the School of Technical Science and other educational endowinouts to the establishment of a public library, and that it appeared to be obligatory ou their part Ito maintain a public library iv Christchurch. The Board of Governors had full discretionary powers us to the revenue from reserves to be appropriated to the maintenance of the Library. Mr Malet said that nothing had transpired or had been brought up uy Mr Fereday to warrant the Buuid in altering the decision they had come to years ago concerning the maihtenauce of the Publio Library. Mr Stead said , it appeared to him that if the motion were carried they would have to get another legal opinion, and that would entail further expense. There was no doubt that the Publio Library was an immense service to the community. The last auuual appropriation from the Museum, Library aud School of Techuical Science endowment funds for the maintenance of Lho Library was £563, and he thought that this money had been well spent. They had s mething like 2000 subscribers to the Circulating Library, and the "tiuferunue Liorary was a great benefit to the public and the students of the College, aud that £563 was for the maintenance of' the Reference Library as well as the Circulating Library. The Board had takeu all care by obtaining legal advice before pursuing the course they had done, and he therefore saw no reason for passing the motion. The Hon. J. T. Pkacock asked if the site of the Library had been conveyed to J the Board of Governors. ! The Chairman said it had. Mr Fjcreday said it had been conwyed to the Board, but not to the College. It was pointed out that that moaot the same thing. The Hon. J. T. Peacock opposed the motion, as he saw" no necessity for raising any objection to the method that had been adopted. Mr Ferbday replied, and the motion waa put and lost on a division by 11 to 3. Ayes—Hon. JE.. C. J. Stevens ami Aleasra Fereday and Chrystall. Noes—The Bishop, Keys. Canon Harper and. Gordon Webster, Hons. W. Montgomery and J. T. Peacock, and Messrs Weston, Stead, Malet, Scotc, Kinsey, and the Chairman. The Board went into Committee to con* eider the, various reports/ which were adopted, and the Board, on resuming, adjourned. t *