EDUCATION: THE CANTERBURY COLLEGE (PAPERS RELATING TO). [In Continuation of E.-7, 1882.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1883 Session I, E-07

E.-7

1883. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: THE CANTERBURY COLLEGE (PAPERS RELATING TO). [In Continuation of E.-7, 1882.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Statement of Chairman of the Boabd of Goveenoes. At the annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College, held on the 10th July, 1883, the Chairman's statement of the progress made and the work done in the several departments during the year was read, as follows :— At this the tenth annual meeting of the Board, I submit the following statement, showing the progress made during the past twelve months of the various institutions under the management of the Board. Canterbury College. The number of matriculated students attending the classes during the past year was fifty-seven, being an increase of eleven over those attending the previgus year. The total number of students matriculated and non-matriculated attending lectures during the year was 157, being an increase of forty-nine on those attending the previous year. The number of students attending each lecture during the last term was as follows :— Classics. —Pass Latin (translation), 23; pass Latin (composition), 28; Greek (translation), 4; Greek (composition), 4; honours, Latin (translation), 6; honours, Latin (composition), 6. English Literature. —Composition lecture, 85; art of Shakespeare, 87 ; language of Shakespeare, 40; Elizabethan era, 39; philological lecture, 22; criticism lecture, 24; Roman history, 31. Mathematics. —Mathematics (lower), 21 ; mechanics and hydrostatics, 17 ; mathematics (advanced), 2. Chemistry and Physics. —Junior chemistry, 6; senior chemistry, 1; honours, chemistry, 1; junior physics, 18; senior physics, 16; honours, physics, 6; elementary science, 4; laboratory practice, 12. Geology. —Junior geology, 2 ; senior geology, 3; teachers, geology (junior), 11; teachers, geology (senior), 4. Biology. —First year botany, 8; second year botany, 6; first year zoology, 1; second year zoology, 1; pass biology, 7 ; honours, biology, 6; laboratory practice (botany), 11; laboratory practice •(zoology), 2; laboratory practice (honours), 1; senior French, 11; jurisprudence, 11. Examination for B.A. Degree. —Eight students from the College (L. Cohen, J. Grant, Miss J* Grossman, J. Grossman, S. Hamilton, E. P. Irvine, H. Purchas, and H. Watson) entered at the last examination for the final section of B.A. degree. All were successful, and have, therefore; had the B.A. degree conferred upon them. Ten who were attending lectures at Canterbury College (Hi Cross, G. Culverhouse, W. Evans, E. Laing, A. Mayne, J. Newell, Miss A. Pike, W. Eobinson, Miss E. Searle, and W. Taylor) entered for the first section of the B.A. degree, and passed. All the senior scholarships, five in number, which were offered by the University at last examination for the highest excellence in either the first section of the B.A. examination or for the second section, were awarded to students of this College (W. Evans, Miss E. Searle, H. Cross, E. Laing, and H. Purchas)i The Boiuen Prize. —The Bowen prize, offered to undergraduates of the University of New Zealand for the best essay on some subject connected with English history, was this year awarded to a student of this College, Miss E. Searle, who was mentioned last year as proxime accessit to J. Grossman for the same prize. College Exhibitions. —The College Exhibitions, given for excellence in honours work at the College annual examination, were awarded as follows: For Latin, to J. Grossman and H. Watson, equal; for English, to Miss Searle; for mathematics, to W. Evans; for experimental science, to W. Evans and J. Newell; for natural science, to E. Laing; for history, political economy, and French, to L. Cohen.. The graduates of the University of New Zealand who have been educated at the College now number twenfy-seven, thirteen of whom have attained the degree of M.A. and fourteen the degree pf-8.A.; two of these have also attained the degree of LL.B. Of the Masters of Arts, one gained double first-class honours, ten first-class honours, and two third-class honours. Of the thirty-nine senior and third-year scholarships awarded by the University of New Zealand during the last five years, the period during which the present scholarship regulations have been in force, twenty-five have been awarded to students of Canterbury College. E. 7—l.

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Lectures on Jurisprudence. —The Board having ascertained that a number of students wished to qualify themselves to enter the legal profession, and the funds at the disposal of the Board being insufficient for the remuneration of a lecturer on jurisprudence, a conference was held with the Canterbury Law Society, the result of which was that the society agreed to contribute one-half of the amount of the salary to a duly qualified lecturer. In consequence of this liberality on the part of the society, this Board was enabled to secure the services of Mr. William Izard, 8.A., who gave two lectures each week during last term to a class of eleven students. Lecturer on Chemistry. —The Board, at the request of the Committee of the School of Agriculture and with the approval of the College Committee, appointed Mr. Gray, who satisfactorily performed his duties for nine years as assistant to Professor Bickerton, to the office of Lecturer on Chemistry at the school. An advanced student has been appointed as assistant to Professor Bickerton. The College Hall. —The College Hall, which was in course of erection at the time of the last annual meeting, was first used on the 29th August, 1882, on which occasion the Chancellor of the New Zealand University conferred degrees on the students of Canterbury College who had successfully passed their final examination. The College examinations were held in the hall in November, and those for the University in December. The annual meeting for reading the reports of the examiners of the Girls' High School, and for distributing the prizes to the deserving pupils, was also held in the hall. The use of the hall has been temporarily granted to the students in which to study when not attending lectures. Three sections, each one-quarter of an acre, adjoining the School of Art in Hereford Street, were purchased in July last for the sum of £2,500. The purchase of this land was of importance, in order to secure the right-of-way to the College and for extension of buildings which will, no doubt, be erected at some future date. Museum. During the past year satisfactory progress has been made in all the departments of the Museum. Owing to the International Exhibition held last year in Christchurch, a good opportunity was presented for securing many valuable additions to the collections. Numerous donations from foreign and New Zealand exhibitors were received. Subscriptions to the amount of £513 17s. 6d. were contributed by the public for the purchase of pictures and technological objects of interest and instruction. The Gallery of Art may now be considered to have been fairly started, and it is gratifying to be able to add that further presentations have been made by many, who have thus shown a praiseworthy interest in this institution. Numerous and valuable specimens from New Zealand and other parts of the world have been added to the natural history collections. The number of persons who visited the Museum during the past twelve months, as shown by the automatic instrument, was 84,231, of whom 53,385 persons attended on week-days and 30,846 on Sundays, which clearly proves that this institution is greatly appreciated by the public, both for educational purposes and for intellectual pleasure. The report of the Director, Dr. Julius yon Haast, C.M.G., F.E.S., contains full particulars of the progress and present state of the collections in the Museum, to which report I beg to draw the attention of the Board. It is a matter of regret that the revenue derived from the endowment for the support of the institutions indicated in the Canterbury Museum and Library Ordinance is not sufficient to allow of a larger annual appropriation for the Museum. In order to maintain it in a state of thorough efficiency, and to increase the collections so that the future of this most valuable institution might be commensurate with the successful efforts of the past, an addition of at least £500 per annum would be required. I shall recur to this subject again when speaking of the Library and School of Art, both of which institutions receive aid from the endowment. School of Abt. During the past year considerable additions, rendered necessary by the increase in the number of students, have been made to the fittings in this school. The cost was considerable, but could not be avoided. The average number of students who attended morning classes last year was 44, and at evening classes 57 ; the number of morning students this term is at present 50. In the evening there are 60 already on the roll. The maximum number is not reached till the middle of the term. Of the students attending the evening class, 15 are being taught building construction, 12 machine construction, 5 lithography, 1 drawing in wood, 3 elementary drawing, and the remainder general art work. In addition to the number mentioned who attended morning and evening classes, 63 boys from the Boys' High School and 67 pupils from the Girls' High School received instruction in the School of Art. An arrangement was made with the Board of Education by which, for the consideration of £300 per annum, instruction has been given to the students of the Normal School and teachers in the schools under that Board. The number of students who received instruction under this arrangement was, last year, 196. The highest number of students and pupils on the roll last year was 441. Boys' High School. This school has shown a steady increase of numbers each term, and may now be considered well established in the favourable estimation of parents and guardians. The number of boys at present is 140. The attendance at the school during the three terms of the past year has been as follows : Third term, 1882, 125 ; first term, 1883, 139 ; second term, 1883, 140. In November last the Inspector-General visited the school and reported that " the organization and the tone of the school are excellent, and good* progress is being made. The staff is in every respect adequate to the requirements of the. school." The annual examinations were conducted by Professor Bickerton, Professor Brown,"Professor Cook, and Professor Haslam, of this College. Their reports were laid belore the Board and afterwards read at the annual gathering, when prizes were distributed to pupils who had distinguished themselves. These reports of the professors spoke very highly of the zeal of the masters and the good work done at the school, pointing out also the weak

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parts, and making valuable suggestions. The publicity given to the reports of impartial examiners must exercise a beneficial influence on the future of the school. Some changes have been made in the staff, necessitated by three of the assistant-masters having been appointed to more lucrative offices in other public schools, and by the resignation of one assistant-master through ill health. The vacancies have all been filled by thoroughly well-qualified masters. The teaching staff of the school consists at present of headmaster, T. Miller, M.A.; second master, G. Hogben, M.A. assistant-masters, B. Lawrence, 8.A.; 3J. Eergusson, T. Arnold, 8.A.; and H. Cross; part time master, H. Watson, 8.A.; modern languages, E. de Montalk, B. es L.; singing-master, W. H. Sims; drill-instructor, Staff-Serjeant-Major Morgan. In the month of January last the headmaster sent in his resignation, to take effect on the 31st March, 1884, at the end of the term for which he was appointed. A Commission has been appointed to elect a duly-qualified successor in England, and Mr. Kennaway has been requested to take the necessary steps to insure the arrival in Christchurch of the gentleman who may be selected before the end of March next. Giels' High School. During the past year changes have taken place in the staff of the school owing to the resignation of Mrs. Ingle, the lady-principal, who has gone to England, and Miss Edger, Miss L. Edger, and Miss Hamilton, consequent on their receiving the following appointments—viz., Miss Edger to be lady-principal at the Girls' High School, Nelson, taking with her her sister as assistant-mistress, and Miss Hamilton to be lady-principal at the Girls' High School, Wellington. This necessitated the following new appointments, and the school commenced this year with Miss H. Connon, M.A., as lady-principal, with Misses Grossman, 8.A., Pike, and Cambridge, as assistant-teachers, and Miss Thompson, teacher of needlework. The school was inspected by the Inspector-General, who stated, "I inspected this school on the 4th November, and beg to report briefly that I find it to be one of the best schools I know." It was examined by Professors Bickerton, Brown, Cook, and Haslam, who reported very favourably on the examination, and on the good discipline and tone of the school. The examination in needlework was conducted by three ladies, who state that "the character of the work was so good that they found it difficult to award the prizes." These reports were read out at the annual meeting, when prizes of books were distributed to deserving pupils. The number of pupils for each term last year was : Third term, 1882, 77 ; first term, 1883, 75 ; second term, 1883, 75; number of pupils attending this term, 75. In December last two Junior University Scholarships were gained by Elizabeth Milsom and Ellen Pitcaithly, pupils of this school, and a scholarship (Class C), given by the Board of Education, was gained by Janet Prosser. Considerable alterations at the instance of the lady-principal have been made. • Latin is now an optional subject. There is now no extra charge for drawing. Special attention is given to physical training by means of drill and calisthenics at the Normal School. Instruction in drawing was given to the pupils in the School of Art last term, but the lady-principal found that the time lost going to and coming from the School of Art affected the teaching in the High School, and in wet weather the health of the girls might suffer, therefore it was decided that instruction in drawing should be given in the school by a teacher specially appointed for that purpose. The lady-principal is very anxious that cookery should be taught at the school, but unfortunately the funds at the disposal of the Board have not been hitherto sufficient to provide apparatus and pay a duly qualified teacher. The endowment from reserves for the maintenance of this school is not sufficient owing to the quality of the land being inferior and the annual rental consequently inconsiderable. At the request of the Board £200 has this year been placed on the General Government estimates, which will be about sufficient to pay engagements already entered into. Public Libbaby. The number of books at present in the circulating library is 8,942 ; in the reference library, 6,577 ; the number of subscribers, 576. A monthly parcel of books of the value of £15 has been ordered from Messrs. Sampson, Low, and Co., of London, and letters have been sent asking them to "exercise the greatest care in selecting and sending books that are well spoken of and popular. Owing to the expense incurred in making additions to the caretaker's house so that it might be habitable, and also to the withdrawal of the General Government subsidy in 1881, liabilities for books ordered had to be mci by an overdraft from the bank on general account. The account of the Library is at the present time overdrawn to the extent of £873. The Coinmitte have given earnest and anxious attention to this matter without being able to see a way by which this debt can be decreased except by larger contributions from some source at present unavailable. I venture to point out one way which, I think, is the only practical solution of the difficulty. The endowment for the maintenance of the Museum, Library, and School of Technical Science consists of 105,207 acres of pastoral land, and the interest of the net proceeds on 11,027 acres which have been sold. At present the reserve is let to pastoral tenants for £1,451 13s. 7d. per annum. By "The" Eeserves Sales and Leasing Act, 1876," this land may be purchased in the same way as the waste lands of the Crown at £2 per acre, but unfortunately the land is not of such quality as people will purchase at that price. By the Act of 1877 the land might be sold on deferred payments at an upset price of £1 per acre; but, if the Board decided that the land should be sold on those conditions, the half-yearly payments would have to be considered as capital, and invested in securities. The Board would, therefore, only have the interest from such investments, which for many years to come would be less than the amount now received annually as rent. This method of sale on deferred payments was not contemplated when the reserve was made. It is evident that if the annual receipts from deferred payments were capitalized the amount at the end of fifteen years (the term during which the payments would be made) would be a much larger sum than the capital value of the land at'present. If an alteration of the law were effected by which, say, two-thirds of the amount to be received from the annual deferred payments should be considered capital, and invested as such, and the remaining third be considered as interest, and used for maintenance, the amount at the disposal of the Board for the support of the institutions depending for their existence.

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on the endowments would probably be double what it is at present; and, if this were the case, the Museum, School of Art, and Library could each be maintained in a state of efficiency. School op Ageicultuee. Satisfactory progress has been made in this institution during the past year. The total number of students receiving instruction was 50. The number in residence last term was 32. Of these, 10 came from the District of Auckland, 4 from Nelson, 4 from Hawke's Bay, 3 from Otago, 2 from Southland, and 9 from Canterbury. The Board pays the passage to and fro once yearly for each student. At the last annual examination, held in December, three students—namely, W. V. Brown, H. A. Knight, and J. T. Partridge, passed their final examination, and have been granted certificates under the seal of the Board. Certificates of honour have been granted to the students who obtained the first place in each subject at the examination. Their names are :C. L. Cross, L. A. Cuff, H. Ellis, D. Murray, J. Partridge, E. H. Eogers, E. Whitcombe, and W. B. White. At the end of last year it was thought desirable by the Board to have a report made on the school by two practical farmers, and Messrs. J. W. Overtoil and J. Eennie undertook the duty. Extracts from their reports will show that the scholars are doing good work. "Our time was spent principally with those of the third year, whom we found to have a sound general knowledge of the various rotations of crops most suitable for different soils without exhausting the land." "We examined them in the management of stock, and find that they understand the breeding, feeding, raising," &c, &c. "We thoroughly approve of the method of teaching them the practical use of machinery and implements." Acting upon the suggestions contained in their report, the Board requested Messrs Overtoil and Eennie to inspect the farm three times a year—namely, at seed-time, shearing, and harvest, and to furnish a yearly report. As these gentlemen have agreed to perform this important service, the Board will, no doubt, in due time receive a valuable report, which can be made public for the information of those interested in the school and in agricultural pursuits. In accordance with an order of the House of Eepresentatives, dated the Ist June, 1882, a return was made showing receipts and expenditure of the farm since the reserves were vested in the Board of Governors, the number of students in each year, and the results obtained from the different agricultural experiments made at the farm., &c, &c. This return was laid before Parliament and ordered to be printed. [See Paper E.—7a, 1882.] In March His Excellency the Governor visited the school, and appeared to be well satisfied with the arrangements. Mr. Bowron, an expert in dairy matters and a gentleman well and favourably known to agriculturists, at the request of the Board, gave his valuable services in selecting a skilled practical dairyman. Since his arrival at the farm in November last, 3f tons of cheese have been'made, and readily sold at a good price. Want of sufficient room for cheese-drying necessitated the erection of a new store, which has bees completed at a cost of £136 10s. It was deemed expedient to make additions to the cottage on the land purchased last year, so that suitable accommodation might be provided for the Lecturer on Chemistry. This addition will cost £351 Bs. and will be finished in. July. Some changes have been made in the teaching staff, to take effect from the commencement of the second term. Mr. Kirk having resigned, Dr. Yon Lendenfeld has been temporarily appointed as Lecturer on Natural Science. Mr. Gray, who came out to the College as assistant to Professor Bickerton in 1874, has been appointed Lecturer on Chemistry, in place of Mr. Barkas. Accounts. The accounts of the Board for the financial year ending the 31st December, 1882, have been audited and certified as being correct by Mr. Ollivier, who was appointed by Government for that purpose. Absteact of Accounts of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, for the Year ending 31st December, 1882.

Receipts. £ s. d. ■ To Girls' High School — Grants .. .. .. .. 300 0 0 Pees . . .. .. 1,089 7 6 Interest, loan .. .. .. 130 0 0 College— Pees, rents .. .. .. 880 2 0 Text-books .. .. .. 87 310 ■ Boys' High School, fees .. .. 1,438 10 0 Public library maintenance .. .. 522 5 4 Laboratory .. .. .. .. 43 12 7 School of Agriculture— Fees .. .. .. .. 1,197 3 4 Sale of stock produco .. .. 1,303 7 9 Interest from loans .. .. 3,495 911 Rents— Classical Schools .. .. .. 2,324 311 Superior education .. .. 1,863 19 7 Boys' High School.. .. .. 1,710 0 9 Girls' High School.. .. .. 219 18 4 Technical Science .. .. .. 1,450 13 3 School of Agriculture .. .. 974 6 8 Land sales .. ... .. .. 3,851 1 9 Bepayment of loans .. .. .. 19,350 0 0 Loans .. .. .. 12,500 0 0 Interest, Technical Science ..^ .. 1,470 14 8 Interest, superior education .. .. 180 0 0 School of Art, fees. ... .. .. 288 14 2 £56,736 15 i

Expenditure. £ s. d. By Balance brought forward .. .. 462 9 5 CollegeMaintenance .. .. .. 5,216 19 2 Buildings .. .. .. .. 4,341 10 0 Fees to professors .. .. .. 741 6 0 Text-books .. .. .. 77 3 9 Library .. .. .. .. 90 10 6 Public Library— Maintenance .. .. .. 1,140 6 5 Beference .. .. .. 55 7 4 Museum— Maintenance .. .. .. 1,4-33 7 0 Buildings.. .. .. .. 328 4 9 Laboratory .. .. .. .. 115 10 8 Girls' High School, maintenance .. 1,585 12 11 Boys' High School, maintenance .. 3,290 5 2 School of Agriculture— Buildings, permanent improvements, and plantations .. .. .. 4,321 0 4 Live stock .. .. .. 234 13 G Implements .. .. .. 03 4 2 Maintenance .. .. .. 0,150 10 0 School of Art .. .. .. 1,172 7 4 School of Mines .. .. .. 107 0 1 Land purchase .. .. .. 2,250 0 0 Loans .. .. .. .. 15,150 0 0 Refunds account, land sales, &c, .. 2,806 811 Deposits of contractors .. .. 349 0 0 Interest .. .. .. .. 1,859 0 4 Balance at bankers .. .. .. 3,081 18 1 £56,736 15 4

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I have audited this account, and have compared the items with the several vouchers, and find it correct. The balance at the bank is accurately stated. J. Ollivier, 12th March, 1883. Provincial District Auditor.

Annual Eeport of the Director of the Canterbury Museum. I have the honour to submit to you, in accordance with your instructions, my thirteenth annual report on the progress and present state of the Canterbury Museum. Throughout the past financial year the Museum has been open to the public every week-day, except Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the Ist September to the 30th April; on Sundays, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. From the Ist May to the 31st August from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on every weekday except Monday ; on Sundays from 2 p.m. till 4.30 p.m. On Mondays the Museum is not opened till noon. Except the first week in the months of August, December, and April, when it is closed for cleaning purposes, the Museum, according to a former resolution of the Board of Governors, has only been closed on Good Friday and on Foster and Christmas Days. In my last annual report, when the instrument for the registration of visitors had only been in use for a few weeks, I could only give an approximate account. The annexed statement (Appendix I.) of the visitors to the musuem during the past financial year will show clearly that this institution continues to be a favourite resort of the public, and that its importance as an educational establishment of no mean value, both to young and old, continues to be every year more and more recognized. This being the first year in which a reliable account of the number of visitors has been obtained by the automatic process, I wish to point out that the total number of visitors during the year has reached 84,231, a number which, when compared with that of other colonial museums in New Zealand and Australia, may be considered remarkably large, the mean numbers on week-days being 182 and on Sundays 643 visitors. The largest attendance, 3,077, in the first week of November of last year was during the Agricultural Show week, when there is always a large influx of visitors from all parts of Canterbury, as well as from New Zealand generally. The highest monthly attendance, 8,992, was in January last, when there are :\l .rays a large number of holiday-makers and travellers in Christchurch. The number of visitors on public holidays has considerably diminished as compared with former years, when as many as 1,500 visitors were counted to enter the doors. This smaller attendance is doubtless owing to the fact that since the opening of the Museum on Sundays many persons, who were formerly unable to visit it during the week, can now come on Sunday afternoons instead of only on public holidays. With a few exceptions the conduct of the visitors has been remarkably satisfactory, and very little damage has been done to the exhibits. Although we had to deplore a few wanton acts of vandalism, I have no doubt that the more the education of the people improves the more our visitors will respect the objects exhibited for their benefit, and, moreover, will help the assistants to preserve the specimens from injury. The Canterbury Museum having now obtained such large dimensions, it will perhaps be more convenient, in reporting upon its contents and administration, to divide this report into four principal parts, treating separately of the Natural History; the Antiquity and Ethnological; the Technological Collections, including the School of Mines series; and, lastly, the Art Collections. Natural History Museum. —During the past twelve months valuable additions have been made to the collection, and a number of specimens have been sent away as exchanges. A few specimens were obtained by purchase of which two skeletons of the diminutive sperm whale Kogia (Euphysetes) breviceps, and four skins of Otaria jubata, the Southern sea»lion, are the most important. Amongst the numerous contributions the most valuable donations have been received from the following gentlemen: Mr. W. N. T. Thacker, Okain's Bay, skin of a large feral boar; Mr. J. D. Enys, F.G.S., various specimens of zoology, botany, and palEeontology; Mr. Charles Traill, Stewart Island, specimens of timber; Professor F. W. Hutton, collection of New Zealand land shells; Mr. C. Napier Bell, M.1.C.E., collection of sponges from Torres Strait; Mr. F. H. Meinertzhagen, Waimarama, New Zealand fishes and reptiles in spirits of wine; Mr. Joseph Day, Sumner, New Zealand marine vertebrates and invertebrates in spirits of wine; Mr. Thomas H. Potts, F.L.S., Ohinetahi, various specimens of New Zealand vertebrates and invertebrates; Mr. Charles Chilton, New Zealand Crustacea; Mr. E. W. Fereday, New Zealand Lepidoptera; Dr. E. yon Lendenfeld, Australian sponges; Dr. W. L. Buller, F.E.S., specimen and egg of Apteryx viantelli. Work done. —Owing to the fact that a considerable portion of the taxidermist's time has been taken up with the arrangement of the Technological Museum and the preparation of stands and smaller show-cases, not possessing any funds for obtaining extra assistance, he could not devote all his time to the biological portion of the Museum. Notwithstanding this, some valuable additions to the public collections have been mounted; amongst them a group of four sea-lions from the Auckland Islands, a large feral boar from Banks Peninsula, and some smaller mammals. Besides five additions to the New Zealand birds, a small number of foreign birds were mounted, including a fine male South American ostrich. A number of New Zealand and foreign fishes were also added to the public collections, both mounted and in spirits of wine. Amongst the former, in a separate case, the fine specimen of (Regalecus pacificus), the large ribbon-fish, 12 feet 5 inches long, stranded on the New Brighton Beach, and an albacore. Some specimens of New Zealand fishes, prepared by Profes^ir Parker's glycerine jelly process, have also been received from the Dunedin Museum, and placed in the show-cases. . A number of skeletons have also been added, including the skeleton of the fine sire " Traducer," of the European Bison (Bonassus Bison), of the Manatee (Manatus americanus) of South America, and of the Dugong (HaKcore cetacea) of- Queensland, and a number of smaller ones. A large number of marine invertebrates, in spirits of wine, about five hundred, were placed in small glass

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jars for exhibition, and I am only sorry that the want of means has prevented me from being able to prepare in the same manner the large series we still possess stowed away in the store-room, and when once accessible to the student of biology, will be very valuable to him. A series of foreign sponges were mounted on stands, ready to be placed in the show-cases. Mr. Charles Chilton not only added a considerable number of New Zealand Crustacea —many of them his own types—to the public collection, but has also taken the trouble to arrange the whole series systematically in a case provided for the purpose. Professor F. W. Hutton has done the same with the New Zealand land shells, adding, at the same time, his new types to the fine series already in the possession of the Museum. Mr. R. W. Eereday has also continued during this year to arrange the New Zealand Lepidoptera, towards which he has contributed a further considerable number. Dr. E. yon Lendonfeld, who has lately come to reside amongst us, has undertaken to identify and name the sponges in the Museum. Those from Torres Straits and Mauritius are ready for exhibition, while those of New Zealand are now being taken in hand. To all these gentlemen my warmest thanks are due for their valuable assistance. Shoiv-Cases. —Besides a number of show-cases presented or bought for the Technological Museum, a show-case has been provided for the New Zealand Crustaceans in the New Zealand Hall, as well as some smaller cases above the desk-cases in the gallery of the same Hall, for the New Zealand fishes, reptiles, and spiders. Some few cases formerly used for the Technological collections, being no longer required for that purpose, have been utilized for antiquities and ethnological objects. I may here be allowed to urge upon your earnest consideration, that under the present advanced state of the Museum more funds are urgently required for assistance, for additional show-cases, glass jars and spirits of wine, the store-room being blocked up with casks, cases, and tanks full of valuable specimens from all parts of the world, but, owing to the want of means, now hidden away from their intended use. Palaontology. —Some fine series of fossils from Solenhofen, Bavaria, and from the coal fields of Central Europe were received from Professor Yon Hochstetter, also a number of skeletons of pliocene fossils, mammals, from Italy. A number of casts of unique and rare vertebrates and invertebrates were presented by Dr. A. Krantz in Bonn. The following valuable donations from New Zealand are deserving of being here specially alluded to : Mr. Henry Wharton, Highfields, bones of extinct birds, principally Aptornis defossor, from the limestone caves near his residence ; Mr. William "White, Waikari, a number of fossil whalebones; the Hon. William Eobinson, M.L.C., Cheviot, portions of the skeletons of saurians obtained at Cheviot; Mr. Heinrich Yon Haast, large collection of fossils from the Broken Eiver basin; Mr. W. Kitson, New Zealand fossils. Library. —Only a small amount could be devoted to-the purchase of books, but a number of works and parts of works have been received as donations and been added to the Library, the total consisting of seventeen works, thirty-seven parts of works, and fifty-nine official publications, pamphlets, &c. A considerable number of works of reference is urgently required, and it is to be hoped that next year the amount to be devoted to Museum purposes will be large enough that at least some of the most important of these works can be obtained. Ethnological and Antiquity Museum. —Owing to the International Exhibition being held in Christchureh, the Maoris of Canterbury and Westland brought together a considerable number of objects illustrating their former and present modes of life. Through the kind assistance of the Eev. Te Mutu, a large proportion of these specimens was presented to the Museum. An ancient taiaha, carved out of whalebone, was obtained by purchase, as well as a large and finely-wrought greenstone tiki, to which an interesting history is attached. Another specimen of somewhat historical interest was lately received through Colonel Eeader from the Hon. John Bryce, Native Minister, being an ancient flint fowling-piece, presented last year by the Maori King, in the Waikato, to the Native Minister. Through the instrumentality of Professor Yon Hochstetter, a fine and wellpreserved Horus Ganopus, in alabaster, lately discovered with many other valuable objects near Thebes, in Egypt, was obtained by purchase. Our European prehistoric collections were enriched ■with numerous stone implements from Denmark and North Germany, and with pottery from Germany, whilst the ethnological series were augmented by a number of fine and characteristic specimens from South America and Central Africa. Commander B. Watson, R.N., Messrs. Alexander Singleton, of Japan, E. W. Tippets, James Bowman, Dr. Charles W Thitcombe, Mrs. De Troy, and others have also contributed valuable specimens. Technological Museum. —ln my report of last year I made you acquainted with the fact that I addressed myself to the inhabitants of Canterbury in order to obtain funds for purchasing suitable specimens at our International Exhibition, both for the Technological Museum and the Art Gallery. At the time I wrote the sum of £502 10s. had already been subscribed, which subsequently was raised to £513 17s. 6d. by some further contributions. As a number of the subscribers wished to retain in Christchureh the beautiful picture, " Leda and the Swan," by A. Jourdan, a further attempt was made to raise this amount, Mr. John Ollivier and Professor A. W. Bickerton most kindly exerting themselves to raise further funds. I offered to devote Mr. George Gould's subscription of £100 towards the purchase of this picture, and that gentleman most generously consented to double that subscription, whilst a further sum of about £130 was raised from other subscribers for this special purpose, the amount of about £50, still wanted for the full payment of the picture, being defrayed in the meantime by that generous patron of our public institutions. Of the total amount raised the sum of about £300 was devoted to further purchases for the Technological Museum, consisting of models, china, glass, bronzes, show-cases^ and many other suitable objects too numerous to mention. Owing to the readiness of many of the exhibitors, in compliance to my applications, the Technological Museum received a number of most valuable donations from the International Exhibition. In the first instance, I have to offer my warmest thanks to Messrs. Savage and Dilworth, the English agents of a large number of Home manufacturers, who effectually aided me in my applications to their clients by strongly advocating my wishes. Also the promoters of the exhibition, Messrs. Joubert

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and Twopenny, assisted me to the best of their ability in my endeavours to obtain suitable exhibits. That these donations to the Technological Museum were both of great value and of a varied character the following list, in which I have separated the foreign donors from those of New Zealand, will best demonstrate.* It is evident that the contents of the Technological Museum begin to assume large proportions and to be of considerable interest to the public. There is scarcely a day when the collections are not resorted to by engineers, mechanics, miners, agriculturists, or visitors wishing to obtain information on one or the other branch of technological science ; but this very fact proves every day more clearly that a great deal is still wanting to make this collection what it ought to be—to fill up a great want in our educational system. Owing to the want of funds it is impossible to purchase further models, or specimens illustrating the use of raw materials, or suggesting new industries for the colony; and I might, therefore, be allowed to suggest that steps might be taken to obtain, if possible, a grant of money from the Parliament of the colony for the purpose of extending this valuable and important portion of the Canterbury Museum, and which is more a colonial than a local concern. School of Mines. —Although no regular lectures on mining have been delivered, both Professor Bickortou and myself in our lectures at Canterbury College have continued to give to those of our students taking interest in mining matters all that information required by them for the purpose. Besides this I have very often been requested to assist miners and mining speculators by giving them advice as to the working of particular mines or opening up new ventures, or reporting on minerals or ores submitted to me. To the fine series of metallurgical specimens, exhibited in the Technological Hall, some valuable diamonds from South Africa, both washed from the alluvium, and still enclosed in the rock forming the matrix, have been obtained by purchase, whilst a very full series of all the rocks occurring in the remarkable diamond mines of South Africa have also been received and are now on exhibition in the same room. A number of the so-called diamonds from Auckland and the Ashburton District were also received at the Museum, but I am very sorry to say that careful examination invariably proved them to belong to other mineral species. Besides the diamonds purchased some other rare and valuable ores were obtained. Professor Yon Hochstetter contributed some further series of ores, &c, to complete our fine collection from the celebrated Austrian State mines. A collection of ores and mineral was made by the director in the West Coast Sounds and on Stewart Island, and by Mr. Heinrich yon Haast in the neighbourhood of Lake Brunner, Westland. We are also indebted to Professor G. Ulrich, F.G.S., the director of the School of Mines in Dunedin, for some rare ores and minerals, both of New Zealand and foreign origin. Art Gallery. —lt is a matter of sincere congratulation, that the formation of the much-desired Art Gallery has at last become an accomplished fact. In a former portion of this report I stated already that the fine picture of A. Jourdan, " Leda and the Swan," had been purchased by subscription. Three other oil paintings were purchased at the same time with moneys subscribed for the purpose —"Evening," by Bruck Lagos; "Winter in Holland," by Vester; and a Swiss landscape, by Eunnasseg. Mr. George Gould, with his usual liberality, placed the necessary funds at my disposal to buy some suitable works of art at our last local Art Exhibition, when I selected two oil paintings, "On the Look-out," by Cousins; "Still Life," by Elliott; and a terra-cotta statuette, " Maori Warrior," by A. Beere ; and lately the same patron of the Museum has bought and presented a high relief in terra cotta by the same artist, representing England protecting New Zealand. A life-size bust of Ferdinand yon Hochstetter was also obtained and placed in the Technological Hall. The Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, which had deposited a very fine series of the Arundel Society publications at the Museum, consisting of eighty-two chromolithographs framed, four unframed, and twelve lithographs unframed, has during the last year generously presented the same to the Museum. Mr. E. E. N. Twopenny has presented a water-colour painting of considerable merit, representing the old church St. Maria in Toscanella, by M. E. Wrateslaw in Borne. Conclusio?i. —The staff of the Museum, owing to want of funds, is quite inadequate to the work which ought to be done, and further assistance is urgently needed to keep the public collections to that standard which the rapid progress of science in all its branches demands. A public institution aiming to offer information in almost every branch of human knowledge and art, ought certainly to be supported efficiently in order to make it as useful and interesting to the public as possible. I have, &c, Julius yon Haast, The Chairman of the Board of Governors, Canterbury College. Director.

APPENDIX I. Statement of the Number of Visitors during the Year 1882-83. Monthly attendance, 1882—July, 7,885 ; August, 4,630 ; September, 7,629; October, 8,404 j November, 7,878; December, 7,799. 1883—January, 8,992 ; February, 6,144; March, 6,105 ; April, 4,016 , May, 8,862 ; June, 5,887 : Total, 84,231. Attendance on week days, 53,385; attendance on Sundays, 30,846; mean of months, 7,019; mean of weeks, 1,719; mean of Sundays, 643; mean of week days, 182; lowest week day, 4th November, 1882,35 (pouring wet day); highest Sunday, 29th October, 1882,1,180; lowest Sunday, 29th April, 1883, 110; highest .weekly attendance, first week in November, 1882, 3,077 (show week); lowest weekly attendance, third week in April, 1883, 901; highest month, January, 1883, 8,992 ; lowest month,- April, 1883, 4,016. * The list is not printed.

By Authority: Gkobgb Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.