UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 58

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

The monthly m-eeting of the University Council, helel on Monday afternoon st the University, was attended by Dr Shand (in the chair), Professor Sale, Mr D. Stewart, Mr T. K. Sidey, M.H.R., Mr D. R. White, Dr Burns, and the Rev. A. Cameron.

The Rev. W. Hewitson was granted two months' leave of absence.

Tho Finance Committee reported the council's credit at the bank on March 28 to be £1615 8s Id; that accounts for February and March amounting to £1722 12s 3d had been passed for payment ; that sections 7, 8, 10, and 13 had been taken up at £12 p"r annum, section 6 at £13 per annum, anel sections 14- and 15 at £26 (for the two) per annum ; that the first moiety of the oidinary grant to the Mining School (£250) had been received. — The report was adopted.

The Registrar reported that there were four candidates for the MacGregor prize.

Intimation was received from the City Council that the request to supply the Univoisity with electric light would be considered as soon as power was available.

It was resolved that Mr W. M. Mitchell, of Burwood, be appointed the council's ranger to collect timber royalties.

Ths Registrar reported that Mr Sidey' s term as member of the council expited in May, and that he was authorised to take steps to hold an election in respect to the vacancy.

LF.CTUEESHIP 0^ EDUCATION*,

The "Rev. A. Cameron moved — " That the registrar write to the Minister of Education asking for information regarding tho propcspcl grant of £100 for the ■establishment of a lectureship on education in the University.'' The mover saiel that tho senate ha el agreed that education should be a degree subject. The Government proposed to gn o tinivcrt-ity council, a grant of £100 if tlicy appointed the principals of normal schools as lecturers on education, and steps should now be taken to se-o when that grant would be available.

Mi >Sul~y seconded the motion, which was C.il-l! '.

veteui:;atit school,

Thf Re\ . A. Cameron moved—' 1 That a committee be appointed to collect information as to the cost of establishing and carrying on a veterinary school in connection w it'll the University, and to report to i.ext meeting of the- council if possible." The Government, he said, w?s understood to bo prepared to gne assistance in the matted 1 , tho Premier the other day having stated hi, willingness to do so. When a committee had hotn appointed and information gathered the Gctrnment could be approached.

The motion was carried, the committee to bo corapo-.nl of the Finance Committeeand Mr White.

BVILDIXG EXTENSION,

The Chairman explained that at its last meeting the council had appointed a committee to form =omo estimate of the expense of erecting new buildingi- in connection with a chair of physiology. The committee- had tonfenod with Dr Scott, who had kindly prepared plans of the accommodation that would be rcquiicd. Two cases were con<.:ekred — an extension of the main ouilding mid an extension of the back building, the pie->ent Medical Sehotl, and an approximate cost had ben arrived at. ft the front 'i- main building wc-io extended the cast of the additions would !>•:• about £3800; while tije co -i of extending the back building would be about £4400. The extension of the main bailding, ho\ve\cr, would involve their taking in the students' room iiu wrt of the new accommodation, go that anoih-cr student' room would ha\e to be built, which would make the diffeience between the two estimates not very considerable. TII2 figures wer-e, of course, merely approximate.

i)r Hcott, who was in attondanoe, laid; before the council and explained some plans of proposed extension. The cheapest of tho p'anc, he said, that would give tho required accommodation would make the proposed extension to the main buildingon iho present fn cts court, which would nob be wholly covta-ed by ir. It would ba a ijft r . f a' arrangement tlian the present if a student >' room were built somewhere outside.

Dr Sliand said he was not in favour of tho extension b&ing made to the main building, for the reason that in the future, with, tho advent of free secondary education, probably a vary large extension of their buildings would be needed. With an increased number of students most of tho clansrooms would bo found hopelessly small, and therefore in the future a very considerable extension of the main building must be contemplated. He thought the extension had better be to ths back building.

It was ultimately resolved that the Building Committee (Dr Shand, Professor Sale, and Mr White, to which were added the names of Messrs Sidey and Stewart) should! confer wibh Mr J. L. Salmond, architect, as to the proposed extensions aud report to next meeting.

A volo of thankt> to the Education Board for the uce of its board room for meetings in the past concluded the meeting.