EDUCATION: THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. [In continuation of E.-8., Sess II., 1897.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1898 Session I, E-10

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1898. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. [In continuation of E.-8., Sess II., 1897.]

Presented in pursuance of Section 25 of " The Auckland University College Act, 1882."

The Chairman, University College, Auckland, to the Hon. the Minister of Education. Sib, — University College, Auckland, 31st March, 1898. In pursuance of section 25 of "The Auckland University College Act, 1882," the Council has the honour of making the following report :— 1. The number of persons who have attended lectures in this College in the year 1897 was 205: Graduates, 7 (males, 6 ; females, 1) ; undergraduates, 61 (males, 48 ; females, 13) ; nonmatriculated, 137 (males, 73; females, 64). There were also nineteen students examined who were exempted from attendance at lectures, but of these six did attend lectures more or less, so that the total number of students was 218. The following table shows the number of students who have attended the College during the last twelve years, and it will be observed that during that period the attendance has been doubled. During the last three years the increase has been very marked, which is a proof that the benefits of the institution are coming to be more generally recognised : —

Total Number of Students attending Lectures at Auckland University College from 1886 to 1897.

2. Council. —During the year, by the death of Mr. Boardman, the Mayor of Auckland, a vacancy was created in the Council. Mr. Dignan being elected his successor as Mayor, became ex officio a member of the Council. Mr. James Muir ceased to be Chairman of the Board of Education on the 13th April, 1897, and was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Luke, who in consequence became ex officio a member of the Council. The Eev. William James Williams was reappointed a member of the Council by the Government on the 15th June, 1897. The Hon. Joseph Augustus Tole, 8.A., LL.B., was re-elected by the members of the General Assembly, and Mr. Frederich Ehrenfried Baume, LL.B., was re-elected by the graduates.

Year. Graduates. Undergraduates. Non-matriculated. Total. .886 ... .887 ... .888 ... .889 ... 890 ... 891 ... 892 ... .893 ... .894 ... 895 ... 896 ... 897 ... 5 6 3 6 4 4 7 6 5 7 6 7 27 44 48 48 46 51 57 48 §1 50 68 til 69 57 109 59 97 101 80 73 87 152 153 137 101 107 160 113 147 156 144 127 143 209 227 205

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3. Professors and Lecturers. —No change has taken place in the staff of professors and lecturers. The salary of the Professor of English (Mr. Bgerton) was increased £50 per annum, from the Ist January, 1897. 4. Endowments. —These consist of the following lands : —■ (1.) 10,000 acres in the Parish of Taupiri. Of these, 7,516 acres have been offered for lease in five small grazing runs, but none have been disposed of. A very large proportion of these lands is not worth the cost of keeping down briers; it is only the swamps and small portions between the hills which are of any value. 46 acres 32 poles have been leased to the Taupiri Eeserve Colliery Company from the 21st January, 1895, to the 21st October, 1899, at a rental at the rate of £100 per annum. The remainder of the reserve has been cut up into twenty-four lots, of about 100 acres each. Of these, twenty-two have been disposed of for the most part at 6d. per acre, but where held by perpetual lease the rent is only 4'Bd. per acre. These sections yielded a rental during this year of £46 16s. 2d. (2.) 10,000 acres in the Parish of Karamu and County of Baglan. These have been subdivided into nine small grazing runs, which have been offered for selection at 6d. per acre, but only two have been taken up. These yield a rental of £39 18s. 6d. (3.) 10,000 acres in the Parish of Waimana and County of Whakatane. These lands have all been let at 3d. per acre, and yield a revenue of £124 per annum. 17a Waimana. —By "The Auckland University Land Exchange Act, 1892," 50 acres (17a Waimana) were conveyed to the College in error, as it has since been found they belong to Mr. E. King, of Opotiki. The matter has been reported to the Government with a view to having it rectified in such manner as shall be agreed upon. (4.) 354 acres in the Parish of Ararimu and County of Waitemata. These allotments have not hitherto been a source of revenue, but it is proposed to offer them for selection at an early date. The total amount of revenue received in 1897, from the 30,000 acres which form the land endowments of the University College, was £156 12s. 6d., and the expenditure in connection with these endowments for the same period was £31 6s. 3d., leaving a net revenue of £125 6s. 3d. It seems but right to note these facts, as it may be generally supposed that an endowment of 30,000 acres would be a great help to the University College, whereas it is of scarcely any value : the fact being that the endowment consisted for the most part of the most worthless land in the Province, and which, at the time it was made an endowment, was unsaleable. The result is that the College is nearly altogether dependent upon the annual grant of £4,000, and there is no prospect of any increase of revenue unless Parliament should see fit to increase the grant. Under the Act establishing the College all fees go to the Professors, so there is nothing to come from an increase in the number of students. At present one Professor has to hold the professorship of both Chemistry and Physics, and another holds the professorship of both Biology and Geology. In Dunedin the Chairs of Chemistry and Physics are separate, whilst Canterbury College has seven Professors and four lecturers to carry on University teaching, as compared with five Professors and two lecturers at Auckland. It will easily be seen, therefore, how great a disadvantage this College labours under from the smallness of its staff. 5. Physical Laboratory. —Prior to the commencement of the session a new room 35 ft. long and 28 ft. broad was added to the chemical laboratory, at a cost of £328 4s. 6d. This room, which contains special arrangements for the carrying out of physical experiments, has made it possible to give systematic and useful practical instruction in electricity, heat, and allied subjects, which had previously, owing to want of room, been dealt with only with great trouble and inconvenience. 6. Biological Laboratory. —A large addition has been made to the apparatus of this laboratory at a cost of £173 17s. Bd. 7. Technical Education. —lt has always been the endeavour of the Professors to render the College as useful as possible to those who require a knowledge of science for manufacturing or technical pursuits, and in the laboratories especially help has been given to many students in this way. It is a source of regret that the lectures formerly given on agricultural science have ceased to be delivered owing to the lack of interest in the subject. The subject, it is true, is generally taught in the Board schools, but cannot be dealt with efficiently unless the teachers thoroughly understand and are competent to illustrate it. The resources of University Colleges are not at present fully utilised in this direction. 8. Special Lectures. —A special course of ten lectures was given by the Professor of Geology on mining geology. These were intended to meet the requirements of all persons interested in goldmining. These lectures were attended by nineteen students, and were -much appreciated. Professor Thomas also delivered in the large lecture-hall of the College, to the members of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association, a lecture on "The Parasitic Diseases of Animals." There was a full attendance of members, and the lecture is to be published by the Association. 9. The accounts are made up, and will be sent forward so soon as they have been certified by the Audit Inspector. I am, &c, G. Maueioe O'Bokke, Chairman.

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Statement of Eeceipts and Expenditube of the Auckland University College for the Year ending 31st December, 1897. I. —General Account. Eeceipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ a. d. To Balance, 31st December, 1896 .. 1,527 3 8 By Salaries .. .. .. .. 3,544 10 0 Statutory grant .. .. .. 4,000 0 0 Office expenses .. .. .. 13 10 0 Taupiri rent .. .. .. 91 13 4 Stationery .. .. .. .. 53 19 6 Endowments .. .. .. 156 12 6 Advertising.. .. .. .. 39 5 0 Examination fees .. .. .. 50 18 6 Printing .. .. .. .. 49 4 6 Calendars sold .. .. .. 2 7 3 Cleaning, lighting, and warming .. 46 18 0 Miscellaneous receipts .. .. 212 3 Fidelity-bond, Registrar .. .. 3 0 0 Interest on fixed deposits .. .. 62 10 0 Legal expenses .. .. .. 19 8 Insurance .. .. .. .. 33 1.4 10 Furniture and fittings .. .. 69 9 9 Repairs .. .. .. .. 65 1 9 Water rates .. .. .. 15 9 0 Lecture requisites .. .. .. 245 17 7 Library .. .. .. .. 68 10 0 Premiums .. .. .. .. 19 4 8 Examination expenses .. .. 32 15 0 Glasgow medal expenses .. .. 115 0 School of music .. .. .. 4 9 6 Endowment expenses, Waikato .. 14 811 Raglan .. 14 8 4 Waitemata .. 2 9 0 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 10 0 Interest on overdraft .. .. 9 13 10 Additions .. .. .. .. 328 4 6 Balance, 31st December, 1897 — Fixed deposit, Bank of New Zealand 1,200 0 0 Current account .. .. .. 15 9 0 £5,893 17 6 £5,893 17 6 II. —Sepabate Accounts. I. — Sinclair-Gillies Trust Account. £ s. d. I £ s. d. To Balance, Ist January, 1897 .. .. 215 1 0 By Property expenses— Rent .. .. .. .. .. 106 13 4 Rates .. .. .. .. 7 3 9 Interest from Bank .. .. .. 3 10 0 Insurance .. .. .. .. 7 18 9 Sheds sold .. .. .. 10 0 0 Repairs .. .. .. .. 6 0 0 Legal .. .. .. .. 2 2 0 Scholarships .. .. .. .. 100 0 0 Balance, 31st December, 1897— Post-Office Savings-bank .. .. 100 0 0 Auckland Savings-bank .. .. 105 19 0 Bank of New Zealand .. .. 6 0 10 £335 4 4 £335 4 4 lI. — J. L. Sinclair Trust Account. £ s. d. £ s. d To Sale of books .. .. .. 16 7 0 By Balance, 31st December, 1897— Interest from Bank .. .. .. 0 5 7 Auckland Savings Bank .. .. 16 12 7 £16 12 7 £16 12 7 D. W. Eunciman, Eegistrar. Examined and found correct — J. K. Waebubton, Controller and Auditor-General. Approximate Cost of Paper —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,575 copies), £1 16s.

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