E.—7

18

authorised the payment out of capital of overdrafts incurred for buildings and of the balance of the Supreme Court award to the Canterbury Agricultural College, legalised the payment of actual travellingexpenses to members of the Board, and made provision for the appointment of a Deputy Chairman of the Board and of a College Rector. The passing of that portion of the Bill referring to financial matters has removed the grounds for the exception taken for some years by the Auditor-General to the annual statement of accounts, and the balance-sheet for the year 1908 has been returned audited without any indorsement by the Auditor-General. Professor Haslam.— Professor Haslam returned to (liristcliurch in February last, after his twelve months' leave of absence owing to ill health, and resumed the duties attached to his chair at the commencement of the current session, his health being considerably improved by his holiday. During his visit to England Professor Haslam succeeded in persuading the authorities of Trinity College, Cambridge, to grant a scholarship to students of this College. The hearty thanks of the Board were conveyed to Professor Haslam for this distinguished service to Canterbury College. Mr. L. G. H. Greenwood, M.A., who acted as locum tenens for Professor Haslam during the latter's absence from the Dominion on leave, returned to England in November last, having carried out the duties attached to the chair of classics with full satisfaction to the Board. Professor of Mathematics.— ln order to fill the vacancy on the professorial staff caused by the resignation of Professor Cook, applications were invited in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand for a Professor of Mathematics, the selection of the candidates from Home being left in the hands of the High Commissioner foi New Zealand, who was assisted by Dr. H. F. Baker, for recommendation to the Board. The final choice fell on Mr. J. P. Gabbatt, M.A. Cambridge. Professor Gabbatt arrived here on the 27th January, and at once took up his duties. Director of School of Art.— The Director of the School of Art has been granted leave of absence for eight months, to enable him to visit the principal art schoo's in the United Kingdom and Europe, in the interest of the School of Art, Satisfactory arrangements have been made for carrying on the work of the school during the Director's absence. Mr. Herdman Smith left for England at the end of February. Authority has been given him to purchase a quantity of apparatus and books for the use of the school, while a sum of £50 has been voted for the purchase of specimens of the best students' work from the various art schools visited. Reduction of Library Subscription*. With a view to bringing the privileges of the public library within the reach of all classes of the public, the Board reduced the subscription to the circulating department of the library from the commencement of the present year to ss. per annum, 3s. 6d. per half year, and 2s. per quarter. The result has been a great increase in the number of subscribers, there being no less than, 1,824 on the 31st March, as against 1,415 on the same date last year, a strong proof that the action of the Board in reducing the subscription is highly appreciated by the citizens. New Chemical Laboratory. —During the past year a commencement has been made with the erection of the new chemical laboratory. Tenders were invited in December, and the tender of Messrs. Greig and Sons, amounting to £8,168, was accepted. Operations were commenced at the beginning of he year, and satisfactory progress has been made with the bu lding. The sum of £4,000 has been yo ed by the Government towards the cost of the building and equipment, of which £1,000 is to be available during the current financial year. The foundation-stone will shortly be laid by the Chairman of the Board, and it is confidently expected that the laboratory will be ready for the reception of students at the opening of the session of 1910. Empire Celebration. —The second annual celebration by the combined institutions under the control of the Board of Governors was held in the College Hall, on the Prince of Wales's Birthday, 3rd June. The gathering was a very representative one, and completely filled the hall. The Chairman of the Board presided, and patriotic addresses were delivered by the Chairman ; Mr. J. C. Adams, Chairman of the College Committee; Dr. Chilton, representing the Professorial Board; Mr. T. W. Rowe, representing the Graduates' Association ; and Mr. F. B. Redgrave, on behalf of the Students' Association. The function was a distinct success, and, at the conclusion of the addresses, a very fine tableau by pupils of the School of Art, emblematic of the unity of the Empire, was unveiled in the gallery. Receipts and Expenditure. The summary of receipts for the year shows a gross total of £50,389. Deducting the credit balance of £15,297, with which the year began, we have a total of gross receipts for the year of £35,092. If we deduct from the £35 092 gross receipts the three sums of £4,567 accrued rents of the Coldstream Reserve, £601 subscriptions for the Boys' High School gymnasium, and £201 subscriptions for the whale-skeleton, the net receipts of the Board's accounts stand at £29,723 for the year, a sum slightly less than the net revenue for the previous year. The gross expenditure is given as £39,751. From this sum I deduct the following extraordinary items :— £ Purchase of sections in College block .. .. . . .. . . 3,450 Okarito whale-skeleton .. . . .. • • • • • • 400 Fixed deposits .. .. .. • • • • • • • ■ 5,142 £8,992