UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 11

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

I A meeting of the Univeraity Council, held on the 4th inst., was attended by Messrs B. B. C*rgill (vice-chancellor) J. Allen, M.H ft , D. R. .White, the Rev. A Cameron, the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Dr SUand, Professor -Sale, Dr Hocken, and Dr Burns. Me G G. Russell wrote apologising for his absence. financb committee's report. The Finance Committee reported that they had passed accounts for payment amount ; ng to £711 13s 6d. The bank book showed a credit balance of £1863 17s 2d. Requisitions from Dr Shand for chemicals, Ac, and froui' Dr Bamett to the amount of £7 and 12s respectively were recommended for sanction. A latter from Dr Parker and -Dr Scott re microscopes was considered, and the council were recommended to order 12 new microscopes, and to raise the fea payable for the use of microscopes to 10 i. The registrar was instructed to make certain inquiries about a letter on the subject of the lease of the Museum reserve, and to bring the letter and the result of his inquiries before the council. — Tha report was adopted with the oxcoption of the clause referriog o the foe payable for the use of microscopes, consideration of which was allowed to et&nd over in the meantime.

The Colonial Secretary wrote enclosing a bill of lading for a case containing tho reports of the voyage of HMS. Challenger, which had been presented by tho Imperial Government to the Ot»go Univer-ity. — The donation was received with thinks, and it was resolved to acknowledge the receipt of the publication and to offyr the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury the mo it respectful thanks of the council for so magnificent and" valuable a gift.

A copy of a draft claim on the Goverampnt fin- laud taken for railway purposes on the Barewood run was approved.

A letter was received f^rom the Royal Society with reference to thtf scheme of a complete citalogae for scientific literature. The society had requested th« 6 itish Government to call an international conference to discuss the matter, and the British G >vernment had consented to. do so. Since the Government of New Zealand had not yet responded to the invitation, or bad at least not yet nominated delegates to the proposed conference, the society again called the attention of the council to this most important matter, and suggested that ifc should use its influence to urge the Government of New Zealand to accept the invitation.— lt was decided to recommend the Government to appoint a delegate, and to suggest the name op Mr H. B. Wheatley, secretary aud librarian.of the Society of Arts. A letter from the Students' Association embodying suggestions with regard to the management of- the students' room at the university was referred to the Home Committee.

The Secretary reported that the money collected for the Dr Maogregor prize fund had now reached £100 4-s Id, being a sufficiently large amount to admit of a "prize being given. — As the interest on the amount would be somewhat email, it was decided to allow the fund to accumulate.

OTA6JO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE. A meeting of the Executive of the Otago Central Railway League was held at Barr, Leary, and Cos. office, Chambar of Commerce, on th« 4th inst., and attended by Messrs W. Barron (cb.»iim«i), C S. Reeves, J. Jolly Jan., J. Carroll, A. Bathgate, and A. C. Btrouach, Messrs W. Earnshaw, W. Hufcoßison, and D> Pinkerbon, M.H.R's.^were also present. The Chairman stated that Mr P. B. Sargood was to hive been in attendance, but was unable to be there. This was to be regretted, as Mr Sargood had recently returned from Central Otago. He was surprised to fiud what a fine country the line was goiDg to open up, and would have informed the meeting what he thought of the country.

Mr John Roberts wrote stating tbab if the committee would not expect any work trom him for iome considerable time he would gladly agree to their proposition that he should withdraw hii resignation. — The letter was received, and ib was resolved to reply, expressing a hope that Mr Roberta's health would soon be re-established. Mr James Hesson, of Bald Hill Flat, wrote forwarding a copy of the Dun-tan Times oontaining a report of the correspondence on his application for an ocoupation license in Central Otago ; and asking the assistance of the league in trying to get legislation to assist bona Jlde miners in proouring small areas of land on the gridfields to make homes for their families.— lt was resolved to reply that while individual j members of the executive sympathised with the writer's object, they resetted that the matter was beyond the province of the league, which was established solely for the purpose of urging on the construction of the railway. They would, however, recommend him to communicate with the Minister for Liuds and the member for the district. The Chairman said that since la»t meeting of the executive the MiniVer for Public Works had found time to go to Invercargill to the Trades and Labour Conference, and yet he could not; find time to properly inspect the Otago Central railway. It was to be regretted that the Minister chould not find time to give attention to a most important part of his duty. Seeing that he was new to the country, and ako new to the department it was his duty to learn everything he possibly could aboub the line. He (the chairman) felt sbrongly bhab if the Minister had been as much in earnenfc in prosecuting and arranging for the prosecution of the line as he was to consult; his friends in the south he might have found a great deal more time than hs did in looking over the railway. '

Mr Carroix : Was he asked by the league P Mr Chairman : No ; he was not asked by the league. He went up of his own motion. That is an aggravation ot the offence. Mr Bbkves said if Mr Ussher went with the Minister he would see the country. Mr Bathgate observed that be would only see the " gar len wall." Mr Stronach moved— "That the exeoutive of the league expresses regret that the Minister for Public Works wh*n in Dimediu last month oould not find time to make a thorough inspection of the Ofctigo Ceut-al railway, and of the route it is to follow and the Und« to be affected by its construction, and expresses a hope that he may yet fiod time befo^ the next soision of Parliameut to examine more thoroughly what is undoubtedly a most impirtant colonial work." Mr Jolly seconded tha motion. He thought the ohairmm's remarks were perfectly justifiable. It seemed monstrous tn»t & Minister should travel all the way from Wellington to Invecoargill to attend the Trades imd Labour Conference and. neglect an important part of his duty, as he evidently had done in not more thoroughly inspecting the Ofcago Ctntral railway. Too much stress oould nob be laid upon the action of a Minister doing that, as it enly furnished further evidence of the apathy of the Government towards the line. Mr Jolly also referred to the fact of Ml- Lirnaoh apeahing disparagingly of the league ab hi* recent meeting at Lawrence, and said ib was a deplorable thing that members should be found speaking aa he had done. He thought Mr Larnach had nothing to be proud about in expressing himself a3 he did. It was little wonder, when members of Parliament spoke like that, that the Government should rake little interest in the line and ignore tha efforts of the league to push ib f erward. . Mr Pikkertoit did not think ib would have made any difference if the Minister had gone over the" whole Hue. The Qov«rnment knew all about the railway. The Chairman said Sir Harry Atkinson stated that h« naver knew the importance of that work until he passed over it, and when he spent 10 days in thoroughly examining it his mind was entirely changed, aud he said he had been altogether misled by the officer! of his department. Mr Hutchison ; What came of it ? Tne Chairman : The Government prosecuted the line more vigorously after his inspection than betfore. « Mr Hutchison : Not more vigorously than the present Government are doing. The motion ou bsing pub was carried.