AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6421, 16 June 1882, Page 6

AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington-, Thursday. Thk House this afternoon went into committee on the Auckland College and Grammar School Bill, which provides that the name of the institution shall be changed, and that it shall hereafter be simply known by the title of the Auckland Grammar School. 1 Mr. Peacock briefly introduced the Bill, when r Mr. Steward asked for some further explanation. Mr. Moss opposed the Bill. He thought it better to retain the name which indicated that the institution was devoted to the higher [education. In England the greatest abuses had arisen. All the great public schools had fallen into the hands of the richer classes, so that the name of Grammar School had become objectionable to colonial ears. • Sir G. O'Rorke said that the Grammar School had been the name of this institution, and college was an assumption. A proposal would be made this session for the establishment of a college in Auckland., and it was not desirable there should be two institutions' having the same name. Mr. Moss referred to soma American reports, and said that they should do all they could to prevent this school from being degraded into au elementary Bchool for those who could afford to send their children to them. Mr. Sheehan said he would vote against the proposal. Mr. Bracken said Southern members could not understand what all this talk was about a name. On the vote being taken, the clause was carried by 33 to 30. Mr. Shekiian said that on the third reading he would move to go into committee to .alter the title. Mr. Moss said members who had Bills to come on were impatient, and were not disposed to give this matter a fair hearing. A question of this kind ought to have been dealt with by the Governors. Sir George Grey' said this was a more serious question than the House was aware of. He thought this' Bill to mean an alteration of' trust. This institution possessed certain lands which would ultimately become of great value. It was proposed now to abandon the main object for which the trusts were given. When the funds became of great value they might be devoted to Grammar Schools. It would be au unwise thing to destroy a college in which a totally different kind of education might be given in other parts of New Zealand. It was unfair to make a change in this side way. *'■_ Mr. Peacock said there was really nothing in this proposal but a change of name. The institution could not carry out college work, and a college was to be established. The institution had never done college work, tbat is preparatory for university degrees. After some further discussion, Mr. Peacock said he had no objection to give way on the point, as there was nothing behind it. Mr. Barron moved, "That the words be inserted which would prevent the Governors from leasing the endowments, so as to get a large sum at once, with a small annual rent." A good deal of discussion took place in reference to the period for which the Governors might lease the property. Mr. Siikehax suggested that progress should be reported, and this was at length done with the Bill in an unfinished state, indeed no progress had beeu made. There seemed to be a disposition on the part of several members, notably, Mr. Moss and Mr. Sheehan, to "sit upon" the Bill., aud the gentleman who had it in charge, and their efforts were seconded by Sir George Grey, Mr. Montgomery, and others.