CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1998, 31 July 1874, Page 3

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

A meeting of the Board of Governors was held at the rooma of the Philosophical Institute yesterday afternoon. Present : — Mr J. S. Williams (chairman), the Right Rev the Primate of New Zealand, the Rovds W. W. Willock, 0. Fraser, J. Buller, " and W. J. Habens, Dr Turnbull, Messrs J. Inglis, H. J. Tancred, and 0. 0. Bowen. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that tho following letter had been received from the Secretary for Public Worka — "Tho Chairman of the College Board of Governors. Sir, — I am directed by His Honor the Superintendent to inform the Board of Governors that the Provincial Government ia prepared to hand over to them the material belonging to the Maori house, and to place at their disposal the sum of £500 voted by the Provincial Council at its late session, provided that the Board is willing to undertake the erection of the building. The Government, however, in making this proposal, wish it to be clearly understood that no expenditure in addition to the abovo Bum which haa been voted expressly for the Maori House can bo sanctioned under any circumstances. The vote of £500 must bo taken to cover all expenses of any kind, including architect's commission, which were not provided for by tho voto of 'the Provincial Coimo i \ (tho session beforo last. I have, Sec, Thomas W. Maude, Secretary for Publio Works." Tho Museum committeo had. considered the matter, and passed a resolution to tho effect that tho Board of Governors bo recommended to accept the offer contained in the letter. Tho same committee had also resolved that the authority of the Board of Governors should be sought for obtaining plans for the additions to the Museum. The Board would remember that a sum of £14,000, was voted during last session of the Council for these additions, and the committee deemed it advisable that action should be taken without delay. The Chairman, in reply to Mr Fraser, said that the grant of £500 was to cover all expenses of completing the Maori House, and the Director of the Museum had recommended that the offer should be accepted. The Rev J. Buller moved— " That the Board aro willing to undertake the completion of the Maori House, on the Government providing £500 for that purpose" | The motion was aoconded and* agreed to. Consideration of the recommendation from the Muaeum committee, with respect to obtaining plana for the additions to tho Museum was postponed until after the election of new committees. Tho Chairman Baid the next business was the appointmont of now committees. Tho old committees wore not appointed for any specified timo, but thoy had been a year in office, and that was tho length of time generally adopted. It would be advisable to pass a resolution, discharging the committees, and as some of the committees had reports to bring forward during that mooting, the resolution should be worded bo aa to take offoct on the termination of the meeting. Mr Tancred moved—" That tho Site, Library, General Purposes, and Museum committees bo discharged on tho termination of this meeting." The motion waß seconded, and unanimously agreed to. The Ohairman pointed out that no numbor hod yet been fixed as the quorum for any committee, and he thought thiß should bo done now. Mr C. 0. Bowen moved—" That tho Board of Governors procoed to the appointmont of three committees to bo called respectively. 1. The College and General Purposes committee. 2. The Library committeo. 3. The Museum committeo. Each committeo to consist of the ohairmnn and eight other members, three to be a quorum." The Roy J. Buller seconded the motion. The motion was put and agreed tp. The Board then proceeded to the eleotion

of committees by ballot with the following result, : — Collego and General Purposes committee — Tho Primate, W. Rolleston, H. J. Tancred, Roy W. J. Habens, C. C. Bowen, A. 0. Knight, W. Montgomery, and itcv C Fraser. Museum committee — W. Rolleston, G. Gould, H. R. Webb, T. H, Potts, Envs, Mr Justice Greaaon, C. C. Bowen, and tho Rev W. W. Willock. Library committeo — IT. J. Tancred, Rev W. J. Habens, C. C. Bowen, Bey J. £ulh>i-, Dr Turnbull, W. Montgomery, G. Gould, and J. ''lnglis. On tho motion of Dr Turnbull, it was resolved, that the committees Bhould hold office until the close of the quarterly meeting, July, 1875, and that each committee should have power to fill up vacancies. ;; The question of authorising the Museum committee to have plans prepared for the additiona to tho Museum was next considered. The Rev W. J. Habens moved—" That the Museum committee be authorised to arrange for the preparation of plana for . the additions to the Museum." The Rev J. Buller seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Chairman said a meeting of the Board, convenoned last week, to consider a telegram from Lord Lyttelton, with respect to the Profeßaor of Mathematics, had lapsed from want of a quorum, and the matter referred to in the letter, being rather urgent, the General Purposes committee had taken upon themselves to decide what course to adopt. The result had already appeared in print. The General Purposes committee had also considered the question of providing a room for Professor Bickerton, which waa a somewhat difficult matter. Of course, the popular lectures could be delivered in the Oddfellows' Hall, and the committee had therefore engaged that building for every Thursday during the six weeks commencing from the 13th of August. The aubject of the first lecture would bo " Matter and Energy," and the price of admisaion to the lectures had been fixed at 2s 6d, in order that all classes might have the opportunity of attending. He believed Mr Bickerton would endeavour to give a popular account of the present stato of experimental science. He intended to illustrato his lectures very fully with experiments, and hoped to make them interesting alike te tho3e possessing some knowledge of tbe subject dealt with and to the public in general. They would, in fact, be of suoh a nature that persons of ordinary education could understand them. It would be remembered that at the last meeting of tho Board a discussion arose on the subject of the designs for the Public Library. A question was raised by Dr Turnbull with respect to tho committee accepting Mr Armson's design after the appointed timo, and he (Mr Williams), as chairman of tho Library committee, offered an explanation of the circumstances connected with it, which the Board accepted as satisfactory. Since then, two letters, bearing upon the subject, had been received — one being from Mr S. 0. Farr, and tho other from Mr Alex. Lean, president of the Canterbury Association of Architects. The Library committee had considered theße letters and had ro-oonsidered their former decision, but, after careful deliberation, they were satisfied that no injustice had been done to anyone. They thought their former action in the matter-wa»_perf ectly_iusilfiable and wero prepared to further justify such action to the Board if called upon to do so. He was very sorry if the Library committee differed from the Association of Architects, but no injury had been done to any one. Mr Farr's letter, ho might Bay, was couched in exceedingly objectionable terms, for the committee were distinctly charged in it with having hoodwinked the Board. The committee decided therefore that beyond laying the letter upon the table no further notice ought to be taken of it. He would now aßk the secretary to read Mr Lean's letter. Mr Malet read Mr Lean's letter, as follows : — " To the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Canterbury College. — Sir, —At a meeting of the Canterbury Association of Architects, the following resolution was carried unanimously—' That the Canterbury Association flf Architects, without expressing censure on the committee, or the architect, whose design for the Publio Library waß accepted, protest against the recent deuision of tho committee on the competitive designs, on the ground of its boing irregular, and contrary to the conditions furnished to the competitors in receiving a design after the date fixed. The Association furthor desired me to forward the same to the Board of Governors. — I havo, &c, Alex. Lean, President of the Canterbury Association of Architects." The Chairman aaid he might remark that the opinion he had expressed with respect to the acceptance of Mr Armson's design was not merely his own, but was the unanimous opinion of tho committee. • It was resolved, on the motion of Dr Turnbull, that Mr Lean's letter be received, and entered upon tho minutes. The Board then adjourned.