OPENING ON MONDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 49, 27 February 1926, Page 10

OPENING ON MONDAY.

NEW UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

THE TRANSITION COMPLETED.

SPLENDID WORK OF STAFF.

Except for a few negligable items the final arrangements for opening the new University College- building on Monday morning, "were completed to-day. It has been a particularly busy week for the college staff and authorities; and the lar<*e a number of new students who have made inquiries at the registrar's office, indicates that the enrolment will be unusually heavy on opening day. To cope with the rush and to relieve the pressure at the college office, the Students' Association has established an information bureau in the entrance hall. The executive of the students has been active throughout the vacation in making preparations for a successful beginning in the new building; and has given all possible assistance to the college in the difficult period of transition. The college office was moved from the old Symonds Street building on December IS, and the general shift began on January 18. This involved moving the -whole of the college library—some sixteen thousand volumes —and also the professors' private libraries and furniture. The work has been carried out entirely by the staff, under the control of Mr. R. Skyrme, and has been completed in a most expeditious manner. Splendid Library Room. A pleasing feature that will prove a great boon to all students in the new college building is the provision made for library study. The tables are of a convenient size, and number over thirty on the ground floor. This is in marked contrast with the limited accommodation provided by the five tables in the old library. It has been realised that there is a great need for the extension of the library; and the seriousness of the position was referred to in the report of the University Commission. The commissioners pointed out that all college libraries in the Dominion were quite inadequate for good standard University -work. In the library of the new arts building there is room for at least twice as many volumes as are shelved at the present time. There are sixty rooms in the college, and some of the lecture rooms are capable of holding 150 students, while the lecture hall will have accommodation for five hundred. The need of a hall ■was one of the many drawbacks to university life in the city, and, together -with the excellent clubhouse at the rear of the building, it should serve to fill an important niche in the college social life. On the three floors of the college there are thirty lecture rooms. Considering that the old building had only seven, the provision for lecturing is Been to be on a most extensive scale. No accommodation is reserved for agricultural education, and no degree course in this study will be conducted in the city, owing to the fact that the question of location of the agricultural school is still under the consideration of the Cabinet. Professor William Kiddett, the newly-appointed professor of agriculture, has been very busy gaining a knowledge of the country and farming conditions generally in this and other provinces. There is a large scope for his work among the farmers' organisations, and the professor has been given a warm welcome. The External Features. During this week a marked improvement has been made at the Princes Street entrance to the new building by the laying (".own of a new type of footpath, with concrete slabs, which are ready-made for placing in position. These will be laid along the full length of the frontage, and certainly enhance its appearance. The concrete pavement, thus formed will have a width of twelve feet, and the space between it and the ■water-table will be set down in grass. This, together with the tree 3 and the sloping lawns near the street edge, should give an excellent effect. The laying out of the grounds is proceeding rapidly, and they will be in quite good order for the opening, although the roads will not be finished for several days.