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colony, sale, and transfer of property) merged in the inhabitants generally. The boundaries of the settlement, whether considered geographically or morally, became indistinct, and finally, the political relations imposed upon the colony, by the Act of 1852, introduced fresh divisions, and in one sense swamped the old settlements, or at all events their original limits and distinctive peculiarities, by annexing to each of them a large extent of territory, of which, however, from the force of circumstances, they were destined to be (for a time, at all events) the central and directing spirit.

It was upon a review of the circumstances above adverted to, that the General Assembly, when legislating upon the subject in 1854, extended the right of voting for Trustees to every inhabitant of the province having a certain qualification. It was not because this was felt to be just, that it was done. For it must have been most obvious to every one that what was accomplished by such an arrangement, was neither more nor less than this, that funds which had been specially subscribed by the purchasers of 200,000 acres, were to be divided and distributed over a territory of fourteen millions of acres, without any stipulation for contribution in any way, either by the purchasers of this vast territory, or the inhabitants generally. The fact is, that the General Assembly found it impossible to define the limits of the Nelson settlement. They saw that with regard to certain of the objects, steam communication for instance, it was impossible, or rather, it would have been suicidal if possible, to have confined its operations within certain limits; and with regard to other objects, as for instance, the establishment of a college, they concluded that the accomplishment of this would take place before the inhabitants of the Nelson settlement had become lost sight of in those of the Nelson Province, and before therefore such an injustice should be done as that which the Act seemed in theory, at all events, to accomplish.

But this, in so far as the College is concerned, has not yet taken place. The causes which have contributed to the delay have been partly explained. And owing to these causes the Trustees, towards the close of their term of office, saw themselves on the point of yielding their places to successors elected under the operation of influences becoming day by day, of necessity, less favourable to the original settlers, and with an avowed hostility on the part of various sections of the electors towards the fulfilment of the original scheme. In their last year\'s Report, the Trustees stated that they held themselves "morally, if not legally, bound to carry out the clear intentions and obligations of the Trust." To that avowal they still adhere, further adding, that, in their opinion, the inhabitants of those portions of the Nelson Province which were included in the Nelson settlement have a prior claim to the benefits of the Trust Funds, and should be considered in the first instance, in any arrangements that are made. This, however, is not secured prospectively, at all events, by the Nelson Trust Funds Act. On the contrary, should these funds, or any portion of them, remain unexpended for a length of time, it is very possible that the majority of electors may be persons resident in a distant part of the province; and in that case it is to be presumed that the appropriation would follow the majority. In these days of discoveries of gold, populations arise with great rapidity. A discovery of a productive gold-field on the west coast of the province, for instance, would soon attract a large population. The majority of the electors under the Trust Funds Act might be persons resident there; the proceeds of the funds might be applied chiefly for the benefit of that locality. And supposing such an event to arise, and the proper steps not to have been already taken for locating the Nelson College in Nelson, there would be nothing to prevent a set of Trustees elected by such a constituency from locating it at the mouth of the Buller or the Grey. This is the first danger which the Trustees have seen to impend over the establishment of the Nelson College in its originally destined locality and form; and against this danger the Trustees have felt it their duty to provide by steps which they will presently explain.

The second objection to which the Trustees referred at the outset of their report was one founded upon the triennial election of the Trust Board. All experience has shown, as indeed a little reflection might easily convince any one, that constantly recurring changes in the directing body of any educational institution are incompatible with its successful working; because the constant change of system likely to result from such a state of things would be calculated to deter men of high standing from taking engagements in it as teachers, and at the same time would have the effect of lowering it in the estimation and confidence of the public. If, therefore, the view be correct, which some persons, upon an insufficient consideration of the circumstances of the case, have hastily adopted, namely, that the Trustees of the Nelson Trust Funds were to be for ever the administrative or directing body of the Nelson College, it is clear that the College would in that respect be unfortunately constituted. But the Trustees do not hold this to be a correct view of the case, nor do they consider it to express any relation either necessary or desirable in which they stand towards the Nelson College. It can hardly be argued that the