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overshadow every movement within the College. A large number of those who only a short time ago were students with us and had only recently graduated, or who as yet had not completed their University course, have volunteered for active service, and there remain with us, I hope, only those whose youth or disabilities prevent them from joining the Forces. Home have laid down their lives, an"d others have returned invalided, and all have proved themselves worthy of the land that gave them birth. In connection with the enlistment of so many graduates and undergraduates I think it is right to say that the disbanding of the Canterbury College O.T.C. was a mistaken policy on the part of the Defence authorities. The value of such organizations has been proved at Home during the present crisis, and had the four University colleges still had their O.T.C.s it would have been much easier to have trained officers for the reinforcements than Inis been the case up to now, and I sincerely hope that we shall again have an O.T.C. in connection with each University College. The casualties among those gone from New Zealand have been, as we all know, severe, and, of course, there have been many among the relatives of those directly connected with the institutions under the control of the Board. It was therefore decided that the children of lathers who had fallen or been totally disabled, and also the brothers and sisters of those young men who had been the main support of a widowed mother, and had been killed at the front, should receive a small bursary either at school or at College, provided that the funds of the respective institutions were available for the purpose. It was necessary to make such a proviso, because the duration and severity of the war made it unoertain how many would desire to avail themselves of the concession. At the same time it seemed just that, while a Board such as this was debarred from voting any of its funds for patriotic purposes, some provision should be made for the dependants of those who had given their lives for the Empire. The new College library has now been open for some little time, and the students are already feeling the value of such a building. Though at present the number of books is not very much greater than formerly, the ease of access to the shelves and the provision made for quiet study within the library help in no small measure the reading of the. students, while the two rooms, small though they are, set aside for research students will prove very valuable adjuncts to the College. The want of funds prevented the original scheme, that oi' having a basement as a storeroom for the less-used volumes, from being carried out, but already there are indications that the extension will, be necessary in a very short time. The erection of buildings to complete the two quadrangles has been commenced, one building, the students' common room and lavatory block, being completed during the long vacation, and this, with the handsome frontage of the library, shows how the general appearance of the College will be improved when all the buildings have been erected. The administrative block will soon be ready for occupation, and the increased accommodation for the office staff will enable the work of administration to be carried on under more comfortable conditions. This building, placed as it is at the corner ol' the block, which is owned, with the exception of one small section, by the Board of Governors, will point at no great distance of time to the building of residential quarters for students. For the present, however, we must remain satisfied with the advance already made. It is a. matter of congratulation that the leases of the pastoral runs that were put up to auction a short time ago were let al an improved rental, and I purpose to suggest to the Board that a, certain portion of the increased revenue shall be earmarked for the purpose' of enabling the Board to reduce more quickly tin' liabilities incurred by the building scheme. If such a step he taken then any further extension that may become urgent will be brought measurably nearer. By extension 1 do not mean that of building, but of educational facilities. This year, as last, no nomination was made for admission to Holloway College, but the Governors of that College, in response to my request, have agreed to extend the period which they originally proposed, and it is to he hoped that no difficulty will be experienced at the conclusion of the war in sending some of our female students home to complete their studies. In December the Hon. Sir Charles Bowen, K.C.M.G., resigned the position he had long held as the representative of the Board of Governors on the Senate of the University of New Zealand. The Board had been extremely fortunate in having as its representative on that body one who had taken so great an interest in all matters oonnected with education, and was able from his ripe experience to guide the deliberations of the Senate. 1 was elected to fill the vacancy, and though I cannot expect to do as great work as my predecessor, I must thank the Board for the honour conferred on me in electing mc as its representative. The results of the University examinations are as gratifying this year as-last, and give continued evidence of the soundness of the education given in the various departments of the College. Among the candidates for the M.A. degree there are six first-class honours, five secondclass honours, two third-class honours, and three, by the regulations not qualified to sit for honours, were successful in obtaining their M.A. degree. Three of the students who sat for their B.A. degree have obtained Senior Scholarships. Ten students obtained the B.A. degree. In addition four obtained the degree of B.E. and one that of B.Com. In the reports of the Home examiners reference is made to the quality of the work submitted by the students who sat either for Honours or Senior Scholarships, which prove that the papers are of an order of merit equal to that of the Honours' work in the older universities. " 's work was excellent. He obtained first-class marks on all three papers." "Thoroughly sound work has been done, and the Colleges have go id reason to be satisfied with their English departments." " The thesis is very good, and abounds in facts which arc useful contributions

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