THE NEW WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4136, 23 June 1874, Page 3

THE NEW WELLINGTON COLLEGE.

The result of the invitation of the College Governors to persons desirous of assisting in devising an appropriate method of commemorating the opening of the now College building, was an attendance largely in excess of the sitting or standing accommodation of the Provincial Library. The College Governors present were His Honor the Superintendent, Messrs. Travers, Brandon, W. W. Johnston, I'earee, and Gisbome. His Honor the Superintendent, who was voted to the chair, explained that the object in calling the meeting together was twofold, firstly, to signalise the completion of the new College building—a building creditable to the Province, and one of which the .Colony might well be proud—and secondly, to devise a means most likely to acquaint the public with its spacious accommodation and the excellence of its general arrangements. As the best method of securing a large assembly within its walls, it had been suggested that a subscription ball should be given. Viewed as a sort of housewarming, a homely and ancient custom still followed up in private circles, this form of demonstration might possibly create kindly recollections of the opening ceremony which would aid in furthering the welfare of the institution in time to come, and possibly also the spirit of approval of what the College Governors had already effected would be so strong in the public mind as to result in a pecuniary balance, which he trusted would be devoted to the creation of a fund to provide a library for the College. Mr. Seed did not desire to take exception to His Honor's l'emarks, but he hoped the meeting woidd not overlook the fact that although persons of matured thought and character might regard a ball as a suitable method of commemorating the opening of the new College, the pupils themselves, he felt convinced, would be far more impressed if the epoch—the change from old to new—were marked in some formal manner more in consonance with the character of the institution the interests of which they were met to discuss. A luncheon at which the boys would be addressed by one or more of those gentlemen who had taken a prominent part in the management of the affairs of the College—of whom His Honor was one—would, he thought, have a far better effect and bo equally profitable. The Row Mr. Morley and the ltov. Mr. West toolc this view, in answer to which his Honor stated that the suggestion made showed the advantage of consultation. Tho promoters of tho idea had not come down with a matured plan, and as there was nothing antagonistic in tho two proposals that there should be a ball and a luncheon at which tho pupils should be addressed, ho saw no reason why they should not both be adopted ; the entertainment for the special behoof of the boys to take place subsequently to the ball. Mr. Dransfield then moved, That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the opening of the new building for the Wellington College should bo celebrated by a public subscription ball ; and that any surplus remaining after the expenses of the ball have been defrayed, should be appropriated to aid the

creation of a fund for a library for the College. The resolution having been carried unanimously, Mr. Dransfield also moved, That the following gentlemen be appointed a committee to act in conjunction with the Governors in cai-rying out the foregoing resolution :—The Hon. R. Hart, the Hon. John Johnston, Mr. Krull, Mr. Tolhurst, Mr. W. Turnbull, Mr. Seed, Mr. Dransfield, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Tuckey, Mr. Buckley, Mr. Hunter, and Mr. J. H. Wallace, with power to add to their number. The motion was adopted. Some further matters of detail having been discussed, Mi-. W. Gisborne proposed the following resolution, which was agreed to :—That, the committee be requested to take steps, by means of public subscriptions, for having some inaugural ceremony subsequent to the date of the ball, in which the pupils can participate. This being the whole of the business, the meeting broke up.