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Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13101, 28 April 1908, Page 8

One oould not but deplore that, with all the money being spent in New Zealand in connection with higher education, the number of men and women who stood head and shoulders above their fellows, as scientists or education ists, was comparatively small. While some illustrious men had gone from tho College, it appeared to him that "the College education did not sufficiently develop tho men. and women who came there. Even with regard to the mother tongue, the number of men who had risen above the

ruck by special ability as authors, writers, "or orators.'• citer a college training, was comparatively small.

ENDOWMENTS

Tho endowments showed a total acreage of 219,181 acres. Tho rental received in 1907 was £14.437, and this had increased as at Ist May, 1908. to £15.128 per year. The capital value, - computed on* a 5 per cent, basis, was £302.510. As to future possibilities, th - lotting values might be expected to steadily increase, if the Dominion maintained its present prosperity, as he expected it would. A policy of sub- i division should be steadily pursued in • order to place as many people as possible upon tho College lands, and to •Kcuro the increased rental which al- ' ways came from close settlement. Fur- ■ ther. they could not say what mineral -, wealth might be found on the Board's mountain lands. It owned the Craigie- < burn, Grassmere, and Lake Coleridge - runs in Sclwyn County, amounting to 99.294 acres, "as well as 511. Possession (Ashburton County), Haldon and Gray's Hills (Mackenzie County) amounting to 93.787 acres, a total of 193,081 acres c! pastoral laud. These runs wero let solely for pastoral purposes, but it would probably be found that valuable mineral deposits existed in the mountains, whioh would provide for tho College vastly increasing rentals over their pastoral value. In this year's balance-shoot the sum of £2 12s was credited as royalty on coal taken from Craigioburn run. In addition to tho scam upon which the royalty was paid there was another large deposit of coal upon the same property. SCHOOL OF MUSIC. Ho still hold the opinion that the Dominion should bo self-reliant in this matter. Music was tho art of tho homo and the masses, and that being the case, a muoh-fclt want was waiting to bo supplied in connection with our national education, lie was therefore of the opinion that some- of the proceeds of the endowment might bo set aside as soon as practicable for tho establishment of a College or School of slusic under this Board. He did not think that the Board would need to have any fear regarding tho working out of this purpose. Ho had no idea of establishing a huge and expensive institution which would overburden the finance and cripple tho position of the Board. Enquiries he had made showed that a staff consisting of principal, and teachers for tho pianoforte, singing, elocution, violin and ensemble playing, organ, and harmony, would provide for all that was wanted in connection with tho establishment. It would not bo necessary to pay hugo salaries. If the scheme were (undertaken, the music lectures that wore now given at the College would be absorbed by the new institution. If it wero necessary to supplement the income with grants, that might be dono by tho changes he had proposed in connection with the allotment of the funds from the Museum, Technical Science, and Library Endowment, PUBLIC LIBRARY. The debit balance on this account was £636, an increased debit of £7. It was desirable that there should bo a cataloguing and reclassification of tho books, and the library could then bo managed on a more modern system than that at present followed. Subscriptions showed a slight increase upon the previous year, and the policy of increasing the subscription was working out satisfactorily. He recapitulated the arguments in favour of the city maiking a grant, and expressed the hope that the time was not far distant when tho Council would give a substantial grant towards tho institution. THE MUSEUM. . . The museum had for many years been starved l , but tlio grant could now b» increased. The salary of the curator was not equal to the responsibility of bid office, and the sum spent in the purchase of specimens was ridiculously small. This amount should! bo increased to £250 per armu.ni at tho„ least. The- buildings were at present insufficient, and tha Government was being approached for assistance. STAFF RE-ORGANISATdON. Tito time had come when, tho Board would have to consider tho question of re-organisation of the office staff. - SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS. (1.) That tho libraries at both the High Schools .and the School of Art bo improved. (2) That in the case of tho High School and other accounts in •febi-t on buildings account, -a, sum be deducted annually from the maintenance account until tho building debt it liquidated. (3) That the vote from the Collego account to the School of Engineering- account bo reduced. (4j That a Chair of Physics be at once established, and that tho CoUogo Committee consider the advisability of raising the Litx'tu-reshiip of Commerce to a Chair. (5) That tihe contribution from tho endowment fund to the School of Engineering bo reduced!. (6) That tiie contribution from the endowment fund to the School of Art bo reduced. (7) 'That sdioktrships bo granted of tho following annual values :—For Boys' High. School pupils £250, Girls' Hijih School £200, Open Scholarships £100, School of Engineering £200, School of Art £50; total £800. |8) That the Government shcnld bo ssteU-to legislate so as to give local -bodiics power to award scholarships tenable at University Colleges or the School cf Engineering. (9) That a College library bo built. (10) That a School of Music bs established when convenient. (11) That tho public library be at once.reclassified. (12) That the grant- to tho museum be increased. (13) Th3t tho office- staff bo re-organised.

In conclusion Mr Rus*>oii moved thiit tho balance-sheet, together with his report., Iyj received and printed.

■Tliis was seconded by Bishop Grimes, who complimented the chairman on the excellent report lie hid prepared. Tiie motion was then carried. The debate was adjourned until next meeting.