CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9778, 14 July 1897, Page 3

CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

SCHEME FOR REORGANISATION. Mr H. Overton, Chairman cf the Agrt* cultural College Board, at the monthly meeting yesterday gave notice of the following series of resolutions for consideration at the next meeting, with a view to reorganising the management of the institution and the method of training adopted;— " (1) That ia future the Director be termed the Principal. " (2) That in order to enable the Principal to take up more of the scientific instruction, he be relieved of all duties outside the College and College grounds. "(3) That the management of the farm be placed entirely under the farm manager, who shall be responsible for all students under his charge during working hours, and for one hour each evening (Sundays excepted), and also that he be responsible, through the Principal, to the College bookkeeper for all moneys received, as well as a complete record of all results of experiments, and all transactions in connection with the farm.

" (4) That twenty students be admitted every year, at the rate of 30gs each per annum, and that they spend the whole of the first year in the practical work of the farm, assembling each evening (Sundays excepted) for one hour in a suitable room with the farm manager for the purpose of making a full record of the work done and of the receipts and expenditure for that day. These students shall be entitled to a halfholiday every week at the discretion of the manager, but shall not be allowed the same vacations as the inside students.

"(5) At the end of the first year any of the outside students who have proved themselves worthy shall have a first claim to enter the d&llege proper for scientific instruction, as well as instruction in the management of the apiary, fowl yards, orchard, and dairy, in the practical working of which they may be called upon to assist at the discretion of the Principal, the fee being 50gs. *' " (6) Any students not wishing to go through the practical course of work upon the farm (having first passed an entrance examination), will be admitted to the College as inside students, receiving the same instruction as those under clause 5, and at the same fee, viz., 50gs. "(7) Inside students having proved themselves diligent may further continue their studies at the College at a fee of 75gs per annum, which will entitle them to certain privileges (such as attending lectures in Christchurch, &c, &c), in addition to the ordinary course of instruction. The College diploma of membership to be obtained at the end of this course by those students who have satisfactorily passed all the preliminary and final examinations, the diploma being awarded on lines similar to those adopted by the Royal Agricultural College and Farm, Cirencester. i ■ ■

"(8) To provide for the accommodation of the students under clause 4, it is desirable that the partitions between the studies in the north corridor (which are unsuitable for the purposes as a,t present used) be removed, and a common room thereby provided, the same to be fitted up as a comfortable reading-room, and supplied with all the best agricultural papers. This room shall also be available for the evening work under the farm manager as arranged in clause 3.

"(9) The twelve studies in the south corridor, eaoh accommodating two students at present, snail be set apart for inside students. If additional studies be required for second or third year men the Board shall provide them as above, viz., each room to accommodate two students.

" (10) Seeing that under clause 2 it is proposed to relieve the Principal of farm duties, and that under clause 4 the instruction of twenty students is provided for, it is desirable that the present teaching staff be reduced. ~

" (11) That the Lecturer on Chemistry be relieved from all lecture work, and under the Principal take up the work of a general analyst, whose duties shall be—l. To make such analyses >of soils, manures, feeding stuffs, &0., as may be required for the farm. 2. To demonstrate to inside students the work .of practical agricultural chemistry and analysis. 3. To conduct experiments on the farm and in the laboratory on the lines adopted at the experimental stations in the United States and other places. 4. To make agricultural analyses for farmers and others. 6. To report monthly through the Principal of sfli work done.

•5 (12) That the catering for the students and staff be placed under the care of an efficient man, who shall act as manciple of the College. The manciple to have free access to the Principal, and shall-be ready to report, to him any breach of rules or misconduct on the part of the students."