VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4441, 22 August 1901, Page 6

VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

At last night’s meeting of the Victor!* College Council there woro present : Sir Robert Stout (chairman). Dr Findlay, Messrs C. Watson, T. 11- Fleming. G.’ Talbot, J. R. Blair, C. Wilson and W. A. Evans. A discussion ensued apropos of a letter received from the Department of Education, dated 16th July, stating that tho Government was not prepared to take any action at present with regard to a site for Victoria College. Sir Robert Stout expressed the opinion that the Government had made up its mind that it would not have the college located in Wellington at all. That was how it seemed to him. Mr Wilson objected to the postulate of Sir Robert Stout. Mr W. A. Evans suggested that the matter be agitated during the present session 0 f Parliament, lie moved that tho Government be asked for a sum of £IO,OOO for land and buildings. He did not think that sum would be in any way excessive. Sir Wilson seconded the motion pro forma, with the object of speaking on it. Tho Council, he said, had only approached the Government on the basis of an offer by Mr Pharazyn. Now they had a definite plan to go on. He objected to the College Council being misled in the matter. In regard to the proposition the City Council had shown an extraordinary lethargy. It was, rightly or wrongly, slated that tho City Council had its idea firmly fixed on Mount Cook. The College Council having affirmed the desirableness of acquiring a site at Kelburne Park, it should now endeavour to carry that out. It was absolutely criminal, because they had not got Mount Cook, to allow things to drift as they were doing, and unless action were taken soon he would feel inclined to resign his position in the council by way of protest. The vote asked for by Mr Evans was too. large altogether ; but a representation should be made to Parliament, and a Bill promoted to give effect to tho counoil’s desire. Mr Blair explained that Mr Evans’s motion was one traversing the action of tho City Council. It should not be proceeded with, ho thought. Eventually Mr Evans withdrew his motion, but he protested against any suggestion that the City Council was apathetic. Tho question had been referred to a committee. Sir Robert Stout characterised the letter of the Government as a most extraordinary one. Mr Wilson said the letter referred to the offer 0 f Mr Pharazyn—not to tho Kelburne site. Sir Robert Stout complained that thero was only the one letter to hand from the Government. The matter was finally loft over for the committee to deal with. It was reported that geological specimens from railway cuttings at Springfield would ho carried by tho Railway Department, provided tho latter be not put to any expense. Freight and other charges must be defrayed by the college authorities. It was resolved that the suggestion of Mr M. Richmond ho adopted ns a motto for tho council’s seal: “ Sapientia auro magis desiderandi” ("Wisdom*is more to b e desired than riches.”) The seal is to he a crown in a laurel wreath. A vote of £IOO is tp bo placed at tho use of the professorial board for the purchase of hooks. It was reported to tho council by a committee that surveying lectures could bo given without much extra expenditure, except that to give proper accommodation might require an increased outlay. The question was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs Blair, Graham, W. A. Evans and Dr Findlay. . It was reported that there was t 0 the credit of the council on fixed deposit £4500 on general account and £2OOO dn laboratory account. After paying accounts there remains a balance of £1299 0s lid to open general acoount and £56 16s lOd to the laboratory account. It was decided to submit to Parliament the following proposals:— _ Re amendments of the Victoria College Act, 1897.—Clause 15, section 1— To strike out the word " chairmanat tho end of the clause, and insert the word “president” in lieu thereof. Clause 15, section 2—To strike out the words “ each suoh ” in the first line, and insert tho words “the first” in lieu thereof. Clause 16—To strike out the word “ chairman’s,” and insert tho word “president’s” in lieu thereof. Clause 17— To strike out the words "at least once a month ” in the first line, _ Clause 18— To strike out tho word “ chairman ” in the first line, and insert the word “ president ” in lieu thereof. Clause 19— To strike out the word "chairman” wherever it occurs in connection with the council, and insert the word “president” in lieu thereof. Clause 20-To strike out the proviso at tho end of tho clause. Clause 28 —To strike out all tho words after tho word “ro election ” in tho second line.

As t 0 the Queen’s Scholarships.—That the Government be requested to relieve the council of all responsibility in connection with them by excising clause S 6 from tho Victoria College Act on the following among other grounds - (a) That a University college should not have the control of scholarships tenable at a secondary school ; (b) that tho annual grant of £4OOO is not sufficient to provide the funds necessary to meet tho requirements of such scholarships. But if clause 36 bo deemed essential, that scholarships be divided into two series—(l) The first series to be tenable at a secondary school; (2) the second series to Ire tenable at the Victoria College. First Series. —(a) That the scholarships be open to boys and girls not over fourteen years of age resident in the Middle District; (b) that tho tenure of tho scholarship shall he four years at least, conditional upon, the holders passing » test examination at the end of the second year; (c) that.the scholarships bo localised, so as to, r-., ge the interest of the districts with the college; (d) tho scholarships to be awarded on one and the same examination. The Second Series.--Second series to he tenable at the Victoria College, and should bo fewer than the first series—(af That not less than one-half of the original number of each year he offered for competition among the holders of tho first series; (b) that the scholarships be awarded on the results of the University junior scholarship examination, such examination to bo passed with credit; (c) that the tenure of the second series he three years. That the poverty- clause in subsection 6a 0 f section 36 be excised; that tho first series of scholarships he put under the control of the Education Department, and that the funds necessary to provide for these be supplied by Parliament ; that scholarships of the second series he under the control of the Victoria College Council, and that a sum equal to the charges of the scholarships he added annually to the college grant.