3

H.—l

keep up a supply of scientific and literary serials. The chemical laboratory is already too small, owing to the unexpected demand for instruction in chemistry which has arisen; and additional accommodation will shortly have to be provided. The physical laboratory is large and commodious, but is unprovided with apparatus, and as yet there is no provision for instruction in experimental physics. The arrangements for the study of practical anatomy, in connection Avith the Medical School, are extensive and complete. The Museum, which is chiefly devoted to natural history, stands at a short distance from the University, and is under the management of the University Council. The Professor of Natural Science is also Curator of the Museum. The building contains a biological laboratory, and a lecture room for the classes in natural science. The Museum has a library of its own, containing over 1,300 volumes of works on natural history. The number of students last session (as stated in our interim report) was 111,: of whom 44 were matriculated students of the University of New Zealand. They were of both sexes, and their average age was above twenty-one years. The average payment in fees is about 10 guineas a year from each student in full attendance, the charge for each complete course of lectures in a single subject being 3 guineas, and each student paying 1 guinea per annum for college expenses in addition to his class fees. The total income of the Otago University for purposes of University education : in the year 1878 was £4,616. This sum includes £600 received from the Educa-] tion Fund of the Presbyterian Synod, as the salary of the Professor of Mental Science, and £500 received from the Government as a subsidy in aid of the School of Mines. Canterbury College was founded in 1873 by a Provincial Ordinance, which < appointed the first governors (twenty-three in number) by name, and gave to the' Board of Governors so constituted the power of filling up vacancies; with the pro- c vision, however, that the graduates of the University of New Zealand on the books l of .the College should, so soon as they numbered thirty, be intrusted with power to „ fill up vacancies occurring in the Board of Governors. A Professorial Council, j with powers of advice, has been instituted, as in the case of the University of Otago. The staff of professors is as follows: Professor of Classics; Professor of English Language, Literature, and History; Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy; Professor of Chemistry and Physics; Professor of Geology and Pala3ontology ; Professor of Biology. There are also lecturers in French, and in German; and a Director of the School of Agriculture. Incorporated with the College, and under the control of the governors, is a museum of remarkable extent and value. The Director of the Museum is the Professor of Geology and Palaeontology. The arrangement by which the museums, both at Christchurch and Dunedin, are intrusted to the care of the college authorities is dictated by sound wisdom. The educational effect of such institutions can scarcely be overrated. They convey to the minds even of children knowledge of a kind which books cannot impart, and they are indispensable to the advanced student in all departments of natural science. The College buildings and site have cost nearly £17,000, and are in every way adapted to the purposes for which they were designed. The chemical and physical laboratories are sufficient for the wants of University students. The apparatus has cost about £1,500, and the lecture theatre is very complete. There is also a good biological laboratory. Last session the students numbered fiftyseven, of whom twenty-three were matriculated students of the University. Ladies are admitted to all the classes. So far as we can ascertain, the average age of the students is not much below twenty-one years. The average cost to each student does not differ greatly from that which has been stated in the case of the Otago University. The income of the College in 1878 for purposes of University education was i £3,792, exclusive of a balance in hand (£834 14s. 6d.), and a Government subsidy * of £1,578, which, however, was a special grant for that year only. The governors of the College have the charge also of the public library, containing more than 10,000 volumes. The part of it which is used as a reference

int. Rep., p. viii.

int. Rep., Appx., p- 23i

Canterbury solle| e' _ M . of Proffp. 81™' pp- 9 > 26 > Appx. to Journals *| °f K^Sess. i.,

int. Hep., Appx., p-27>