VICTORIA COLLEGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4311, 21 March 1901, Page 7

VICTORIA COLLEGE

MR CHARLES PHARAZYN’S OFFER. DISCUSSION BY THE COLLEGE COUNCIL. At the meeting of the Victoria College Council last night, a discussion took place in regard to the offer of a donation towards the college! made by Mr Charles Pharazyn. The Secretary (Mr C. P. Powles) said that in a covering letter Mr Pharazyn mentioned that he was leaving on his return to London on the 30th instant. The Chairman (Sir Robert Stout) said ho had not seen the! letters, but ho understood that Mr Pharazyn made a generous offer to give £2OOO to the college if the college buildings were erected on Keflburno Park.

, Bishop Wallis : A letter has gone to tho City Council, too, has it not? Mr W. A. Evans : A letter was received by the City Council from Mr Pharazyn, increasing his offer from £IOOO to £2OOO, and saying that a friend cf his was prepared to give another £IOOO, and that ho did not think there would bo very much difficulty in raising a sum, of £lO,000 in donations. The letter has been referred to tho Reserves Committee of the City Council for report. Mr C. Wilson pointed out that five members of tho College Council wore 1 absent from that night’s meeting. Jt was a question whether it would not be wiser to postpone consideration of the matter. Thd Chairman: Mr Pharazyn seems to want an answer before the 30th inst. Mr J. R. Blair; "We can say that if wo decide to build on the reserve we will take tho £2OOO. The Chairman: There are two points about the matter. In tho first place we have no control over the reserve, and secondly it is a recreation reserve. Of course my opinion is that unless an equivalent area can be got, it is most dangerous to interfere with any reserve. I thinkjill the towns have too few reserves. Tho want of them will he felt in an increasing measure as the towns grow, especially in the case of Wellington. It selcms to me that we cannot deal with this matter without consultation with two bodies—the Government and the City Council. We must find out what the Government is prepared to do, because I think we must look to it as the proper body to find 1 a site' for us. Secondly, we must consult the City Council, as it is the body which has control of tho reserve. As Mr Wilson has said, five members of the Council are absent to-night. I ! think, however, we could pass a motion to say that we gratefully accept Mr Pharazyn’s offer, if the matter of site is arranged. Mr Blair: A motion that we accept the offer if wo are able to fulfil the conditions will, cover the whole ground. The Chairman : Mr Pharazyn suggests that if Kelburne Park is not available, a site higher up may be got. Mr Blair: He means at the Botanical Reserve.

The Chairman: So it does not_ make it absolutely necessary to have it at Kelburne Park. Mr Blair; Thd motion that I have suggested would not commit us to anything. Bishop Wallis: • I move, “That the hearty thanks of this council be given to Mr Pharazyn for his generous offer.” Mr Evans made a similar motion, with tho addition of a proposition that a committee be set up to consider whether the council cou,ld accept the proposed gift on the conditions named.

Mr C. Watson, seconded Bishop Wallis’s motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman : The next thing is whether you will set up a committee, as Mr Evans suggests, or whether you will refer the matter to the Government and the City Council, and ask them for their views on it. Mr Evans said he thought it would be a good thing if a committee made all necessary investigations, including inquiries as to whether the conditions attached to the offer could he fulfilled, and then reported to the council at its next meeting. Personally, he did not sed that the council could very well decline the offer at once. Members: No. Mr Evans : By setting up a committee we should be showing the public that we wore alivo to the situation, and were making inquiries in order to see whether wo could avail ourselves of the offer. The Chairman: If necessary, a. special meeting of the council could bo called, if Mr Pharazyn wants to have the thing dealt with definitely before he leaves for England. Ido not want to express any opinion about a site, at all. I think, however, it is better that a committee should be set up. That will not commit this council to anything, in the absence of so many members. Mr A. W. Hogg: Where is this site ? The Chairman: Where the Kclbnrne tramway is going up. Mr Hogg: Is it a good one ? A member: A fine site. Mr Hogg declined to go on the committee, for the reason that so far as he could see the proposal oould hardly be entertained'at the moment. A site was suggested which the College Council had no claim to whatever. He did not like to say or do anything to discourage spontaneous liberality of this kind, but they ought to be sure that any of the land would be at their disposal. Mr Wilson said the committee would gain information on that very point. Mr Hogg: It is putting the cart before the horse. Bishop Wallis asked to be kept off the committee, as he would be leaving for the country in three days. The Chairman: Something may be done in that time. Dr Knight; Will the committee interview the Government ? The Chairman replied that it might do so. Mr Watson said! the committee might also see whether there was a suitable site higher up j or even on the private land. The council had no right to put itself in the position of not accepting the offer.. A motion was carried, “That a committee bo appointed to consider the offer made by Mr Pharazyn.” The committee appointed consisted of Sir Robert ‘Stout, Bishop Wallis, Hr Findlay, Messrs Blair and Evans. Mr Evans remarked that he was on the Reserves Committee of the City CouncilMr Blair: You will be able to give us all the more information then. (Laughter.)