HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

LAST SCENE ENACTED. RECEPTION AT UNIVERSITY. A cmc reception to mark the removal of the Auckland University College from the old New Zealand Parliament Buildings in Eden and Parliament Streets was held by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, in the college buildings yesterday afternoon. The College Council, which has been in occupation of one portion of the building since 1883, and of the main port-ion since 1890, has now been compelled to remove on account of the demolition of the building, rendered necessary by the construction of the new eastern traffic outlet. A large number of citizens accepted the invitation to be present. The Mayo? was accompanied by the Mayoress. Those who occupied seats on the platform were : Mr. T. W. Leys, chairman of the College ' Corafcil; Professor A. P. W. Thomas, Professor H. W. Segar, members of the council; the Rev. A. B. Chappell, registrar; and the town clerk, Mr. H. W. Wilson. Among those present were: Sir Frederick Lang, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Mr. C. J. Parr and Mr. ] A. Harris, M.P.'s; Dr. H. W. C^ry,! Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland;' Mr. A. A. Winslow, American Consul- I General; the Hon. G. Fowlds; Canon ' C. M. Nelson, for many years registrar of the University College; Mr. J. W. Tibbs, 1 headmaster of the Auckland Grammar I School; and Dr. C. E. Maguire, medical superintendent of the Auckland Hospital Centre of Great Influence. i The Mayor said the University College I buildings probably were the most historic ' 1 and the most unique in the .Dominion. i From a national and a local point of view very great influence bid been ' exerted within their walls. He recalled tb.e early days when the buildings were i used as Parliament House, and said that in connection with the national political j ' and the provincial political life of the country, men of high type did a wonder- I ful work for the young colony. Mr. ] Gunson said that in view of the import- i ant part the' buildings bad played in the j history of this country, it would be appro- I priate, after their demolition, to mark the site on which they formerly stood by an obelisk or other suitable memorial, and he would recommend the City Council to do this. The memorial would then indicate, not only to the citizens of to-day, but to the citizens of the future, the place where great momentous questions affecting New Zealand were decided. (Applause.) The work of the University College had expanded very considerably. Apart altogether from the necessity of being compelled to remove, the fact that the college was ready and waiting for such a step was indicative of the progress of Auckland. Greater interest must be taken in the problem of utilising to the best possible advantage university training as a means towards the'solution of the problems that must be faced after the war. (Applause.). Ideals for the Future. Mr. T. W. Leys, chairman of the College Council, said it would not be possible to give a satisfactory idea of the magnificent work which had been accomplished within the' present buildings, either as a Parliament House or a University College. He recalled the long list of public men who were responsible for the early progress made is New Zealand, especially those who had sat in the very room in which the present assembly was gathered when it was used as the House of Representatives. The feature of thoseearly times was the remarkable amount of talent among those men. Referring to the University College, which had succeeded the Provincial Parliament in the occupancy of the buildings, Mr. Leys said the far-sighted and broad-minded ideas of i Sir William Jervois, who opened the I University College, and of Sir G. Maurice O'Rorke, the founder, had been realised in the past 34 years, and they represented the ideas which j should still be pursued. The uniI versity should be an institution where rich and poor could obtain the same treatment. [ Now that the progress of Auckland had deprived the college of even the inadequate home in which it had achieved a distinguished career, he trusted that the citizens will vigorously support the college i authorities in securing an early fulfilment of the promises of buildings worthy of the institution. Handicaps to Progress. Professor A. P. W. Thomas said he was one of the pioneers of the professorial staff of the University College. He looked forward to the time when an altogether new university building would be secured. The greatest nations in the world were those which depended on their educational resources, and in developing those as applied to New Zealand, the Auckland University College had played a most important part. Professor Seagar, the professorial staffs representative on the council, spoke of the disadvantages under which the staff and students had suffered on account of the age and extreme unsuitability of the buildings. He considered that the chief drawback to the greater success of the college was the impression gained by the public from the appearance of the building. Greater progress would be made when the staff and students were better housed. Despite the disadvantages mentioned, the University College had had an inspiring record of academic triumphs. The Auckland University College had turned out more Rhodes scholars than any other university college in New Zealand. After the war be hoped the people of Auckland would combine and remove the blot on the escutcheon of Auckland by erecting a new college. After singing a verse of the National Anthem, those present were supplied with light refreshments before dispersing. An informal social gathering of past and present students will be held in the college this evening.