VICTORIA COLLEGE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 8

VICTORIA COLLEGE.

BEQUEST FOR OBSERVATORY. LAW FEES REVISE©. The Victoria College; Council mot last evening. Present—Messrs. J. Graham, M.P. (in tho chair), A. R. Meok,'C." Watson,.W. H; Quick, H. I l '. Von Haast, R. M'Callum, A. T. Maginnity, F. P. Wilson, and Dr. C. P. Knight. ' . ' :.■ " Tho financial statement, showed a bank balance of £928 3s. Id. on tho general account, after'moeting salaries 1 and other, expenses. to the amount of .-£727 14s. Id. The laboratory account showed a balanco at 'Tiank of £216 IGs. 3d.

CARTER BEQUEST.

Tho secretary of the Now Zealand Institute forwarded a resolution passed by that body, agreeing to .tho Expenditure of the Carter, bequest in tho purchase and erection of an astronomical .telescope, which' should bo placed under the.control of. the Collego Council on the following conditions:—(l).. That the observatory and other necessary. biiildings_ bo orcctod, out of other funds; (2) tliat'a Professor of Astronomy arid staff .be appointed and maintained by the College out of funds other, than the bequest ; (3) that_ tho : Board be advised that tho expenditure is legal. Tho Chairman said - that the bequest, amounting to about £2-500, was invested by the Public Trustee at 4 per cent. Dr. :Knight suggested that the chairman and treasurer should wait on tho Minister for Education, to seo if. they could obtain . a Government grant, in. view .of the expenditure involved. The Chairman stated.that the Collego had, a Professor of Astronomy now, but it was important to know whether the present staff would bo sufficient for the observatory. Mr. Von Haast moved that, the Institute should bo asked to determine the legality of the bequest, boforo the Council took any action- . - Dr.. Knight seconded tho motion, which was adopted. , .• LAW FEES. '' In regard to Professor Richmond's proposed new scheme of .law fees, whicli has been before tho Council at several successive meetings, Dn Knight explained that for various •< reasons the special committee appointed had found great difficulty in...coming tofje-thor. Finally, Mr. Von Haast arid himself had met and prepared a report," from which at. least two other members of tho conimitteo dissented. . •••'./ i .

Mr. Von Haast thought that .the matter should bo dealt with pr6mpt)y, ; since the terni would soon commenco. He moved,/in accordance' with the report,.that the Council should adopt 'Professor Richmond's 'scheme. If- they wanted to raise fees-to. tlio. level of the'other University Colleges, they.' should consider thorn all together, arid,riot single' out the law fees for special treatment. "•; . , ' ■'* Mr. Meek seconded'the motion. ' .! Dr.. Knight thought that the whole subject of'fees' should be. referred to the, committee for a compreheiisivo report. .

, After further discussion, it was agreed to adopt Professor Richmond's scalo,' and- to consider the question. ,of raisingjor' lowering thoife'es as a,-whole'at,.'the May meeting;of ■the Council, wlien .the. Registrar- . will submit detailed information with regard" to. the present'fees. ' ' ; - The chief alterations in fees .made'on' Professor 'Richmond's recommendation aro'.-as follow :-r-Roman Law, £1 .Is; .instead 0f..£l lis! Cd., International Law. and; Conflict of Laws' (or ■ either of, them) <£1- Is: .^instead; of £1 ,11s. 6d., contracts- '£1 Is. , instead of £1 lis. 6d. . > ' ; ' SCIENCE MATTEjIS, ' Professor Easterfield ''wrote- stating that a lady, who' did ' not v wish her ; . name to bo made public, had sent him'a cheque for £25 to' : be spent "on 'apparatus ..'for .-tho ..chemical or physical department. Ho, suggested.that' 'Mr. F. R. Lankshear, who : last year obtained; tho - senior: scholarship in' 1 chemistry, and- has,; also .held-the- 1 Sir .George Grey, scholarship , in- chemistry arid physical-should be( appointed idemonstrator in' chemistry and physics; -in succession to Mr. Rudmcin. With rogard to the Royal-- Society." publications, offered -to . tho; College .-by Ladv Hector, « ho' stated that they wero the only litoraturo .which an advanced student-in.;physics was really likely to noed, and he urgently suggested that tho Council should reconsider its decision, not to accept tlio' volumes'. Mr. C. E. Adams also , wrote recommending tho' purchase of '.the' b00k5.,, :

, Concerningthe donation, of, £25, ■ it. was stated that tho Chairman'.of the. Coupcil (Mr. Fleming) • had written thanking 'the anonymous' donor':- -The Chairman's' action was' confirmed. : Mr.;' E, ;R..,Lankslicar..wns : given the '-''appointment recommended. It was decided .that ..tho: ; Library; .'Committee should 'rdeonsider Lady Hector's ofifer. ; ''.'' ; IMPROVEMENTS. : The Gardens i Committeei' recommended that tho Council should make such contribution towards .the cost of' l -'completing';-. the fourth tennis - court ■ and' works incidental thereto, -as available funds, will admit-; that planting - work be; done; at a .cost. of '£20 j that - the Council clear .'. the gprse from its reserve ; that .tho architect' bo asked J to. "report on tho 1 advisability l and cc'st. of ■ stcpa loading from. Salamanca!' Road to the niain entrance ,-of- the; College; -that the' Government ' be', asked to hand'' ovor the-. balaiide of. the. v.ote for Victoria College; viz.,' £315 18s. 2d.-i.for expenditure.oiv,fencing-,tho-sito and forming; and metalling approaches, being part, of tho sum <of £S00: allocated fOr ; . tho purpose. ... . ' . i .

The report-was adopted/. As regards' tho ; tennis court and .works, it was agreed that, with the approval of tho Ministers, £100' should.ibp allocated: to- this purpose outi of the sum. of £315 duo from tho Government.

. ..The question of instituting University extension lectures'-, was briefly, referred and held over till, next' meeting .'or fuller considoration.'