ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5846, 12 August 1880, Page 5

ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.

♦ '■ Is the last aession of the Diosesaa Synod a vigorous attempt rvas mide to popularise aud give mare extended usefu'ness to thU as the chief of the endowed educational establishments in c nnection whh the Church of England. The debate was vary animated. The governors of the college are—the Rif;ht Rev. tho Bishop of Auckland, tin Venerable Archdeaeoa Maunsidl, the Venerable Archdeacon Pritt, the Rov. R. Burrows, of the clergy ; ami Col'nel Haultain, Messrs. ii. C. Barst'ow (R.M.), Mr. W. Atkin (Ea?t Tatnaki), of the laity. The allegations made during the discussion were—(l) I hat the education givrn at St. John's College was inadequate to the requirements of young men who were studying for orders ; (2) that the m-tho;l of teaching wa3 primitive and without system; that tha endowment might be utilised by being the foundation of a larger establ'shment nearer to Auckland. It was the chief argument that St. John's Collega *ite was remote, isolated, and undeveloped. The references made to the educational status of the students were vague, but the implication was that there was abundant room for improvement. The Bishop and Colonel Haultain were the leading spokesmen, the former referring to some arraugement subsisting with the Kev. Principal of St. John's College, upon the faith of which he resigned his connection with the Parnell Grammir School for tho management of St. John's College. The latter fell back upon the practical financial aspect of the proposed development of the college. "It is a question of money," said Colonel Haultain, "and if you give us the money or tell us where to get it, we will be glad to do all that you wish." This seemed to settle the matttr for the time. Circumstances, however, have given anether turn to the wheel of progress, for we hear that a new crisis has arisen in the history of the college. The position of affairs is th.it tho students have now left, or been removed from the college with the sanction or by the authority of the Board of Governors, tkat the Rev. R. Kidd, L.L. D., and the Rev. Mr. Mulgan have been appointed their teachers until new arrangements can be made. The Diocesan Synod will meet in October, so that the present position of affairs will be likely to continue until then The change, we believe, was brought about in this way. The Rev. C M. Nelson, as Bishop's Chaplain, examined tho students and, we presume, made his report to the Bishop. The result of the examination was not satisfactory. The Rev. B. T. Dudley also proceeded to the college and examined the students in other branches of study. The result of this examination was also unsatisfactory. It happened that one of the siudonts had applied to one of the governors to employ the emoluments of his scholarship towards his education in another institution. This application appeared to have concentrated the attentiou of the governors on the educational state of the college. It appears that the actiou taken as above referred to, is the result of a division of the Board of Governors, taken immediately after the discussion of all tho questions asd considerations involved. One eection of the Board considered that the arrangement, understanding, or agreement (whichever it may havo been) with Br. Kinder, should bo maintained until its expiry by effluxion of time. The other members considered that the interests of the college and the utilisation of the trust, had a prior claim. The division was four to three, and the consequence of this decision has beou what we have above described.