DAWN OF NEW ERA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 60, 12 March 1926, Page 8

DAWN OF NEW ERA.

FOR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. i A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. I ENTHUSIASM AT OPENING. ] I FULLNESS OF COLLEGIATE LIFE, j I UNDOUBTEDLY A UNIVERSITY. Following upon 43 years of poverty and obscurity, the Auckland University College has suddenly been elevated to a ' fullness of collegiate life that was impressively emphasised this afternoon at the official opening ceremony performed by his Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergussou). His Excellency commemorated it by unveiling a mural stone at the entrance to the college. Educational notabilities and, members of Parliament were present on the dais. From the enthusiasm shown at today's ceremony it was npparent that I the college had already endeared itself! to the hearts of the people; and that, ati the very beginning of this splendid new j era in our university life, the unpleas- j ant analogy of the "wedding-cake" was happily a thing of the past. So com-1 plete had been the change in Auckland's attitude towards its University College that, to-day, the architect was able to enjoy a laugh at the early criticisms. Auckland had not a college of the old type. The trick of the Anglo-Saxon mind, of invariably associating an edu- . cational building with the collegiate Gothic type, received a sudden rebuft' in the new building. At first it was natural, that, people could not accept

anything so unorthodox; but it was recognised so definitely to-day that the new building , in Princes Street was the ■home of future graduates that a stranger to the city could pick it out -as- the onlypJace in- all-Auckland with an undoubted collegiate appearance. On a Historic Site. With a spacioua quadrangle facing south to Symonds Street, the new building occupies a site of 4} acres that runs the full width between Princes and Symonds Streets. It has really two frontages as well, and presents the same view from either side, except that the quadrangle entrance is on the floor below Princes Street. The site is a historic one in the city. The 3i acres, adjacent to the Government House grounds once formed a paddock in which the governors of the colonial days kept their horses, before the advent of motor cars. Later the Grammar School boys used the paddock as a playground when the Grammar School was in Symonds Street. Fifty years aero it was commonly regarded as one of the recreation grounds of Auckland. For years past the site has had no definite use. It was opened to the public to-day for the first time; and a surprising transformation was revealed. The grounds had been levelled and divided by wide entrance roads. Close to the southern entrance of the college a high terrace was formed, and further away, a smaller one. All the main part of the grounds had been levelled and set down in grass. Alongside the grassed area is the clubhouse, a two-storey annexp. connected with the college by -wide, tiled cloisters. The quadrangle has three spacious stairways leading to the upper floors: and the whole of the interiors of the building are in a pleasing cream finish, relieved, in the assembly hall, by multicoloured windows, of lieautifiil dpsign, and harmonious electric light shades. The Building and its Completion. Above, all stands the tower, and this Is unquestionably the outstanding architectural feature. Tt is made for distant effect. The building, as a whole, has been designed and erected with due regard to the needs of a university college, and the elevation is a logical expression of the architect's plan. In carrying out the work, Mr. E. A. Lippincott. architect nf the building, has had the full co-operation of the contractors, the Fletcher Construction Company. The building is complete except for the clock, which is in course of erection, and the mosaic, which has not yet come to , hand. This has been ordered from the only British firm that could fill the order, and was originally promised for January, 1925. It is believed that it was shipped in England on the Sth of this month.

Curtaining the windows and the stage in the hall also remains to bo clone, and as the materials for this work will cost £1000 it will be a large task. Erecting the building has meant many personal sacrifices to the architect, who came' from Melbourne to begin the work over two years ago. He anouncee that he intends to remain in Auckland and sever his connection with the Melbourne office. Our University History. "The presence of your Excellencies, and of this great gathering of the citi-1 zens of Auckland, 'emphasises the fact j that the official opening of this beautiful! building for University purposes is an ' important event in the liisto'-y of our city,' said the Hon. George Fowlds, chairman of the University Co'-lece Council, m ■welcoming the Governor-General. "Wa SV°?i Pelled to admit tha * the people years, and I am convinced that the nro ymo n of this fine commodious SdldU^ '

in which to carry on the work will complete the process and that henceforth Auckland will take its rightful place in the leadership of the Dominion in higher education, as she does in so many other respects. Bearing in mind the striking predominance of Scotsmen amongst the early settlers of Otago, it is not eurprising that the first move for the establishment of University education in New Zealand came from that province. In 1867, Mr. F. C. Simmons, then rector of the Otago Boys'.. High School, had proposed that scholarships should be granted to New Zealand pupils to enable them to attend Universities in Great Britain. This suggestion lead to the appointment of a committee of both houses of the General .Assembly to determine whether or not the time waa opportune for the establishment of a University in the colony.' This committee considered that the population of the country at that timo did not justify

such a step, but that the'inst'.tution of a University should be undertaken as scnii as practicable. The investigations and reports of the committee excited keen interest in Otajro and in 1869 was passed a Provincial Ordinance which incorporated the University of Otago: Almost immediately afterwards the University of New Zealand was established by an -Act of the General Assembly. In 1874 an agreement was arrived at whereby the University of Otago undertook- to hold in obeyance its degree grantin-; power and to waive its claim to a Roya! Charter; the University of Xew Zealand on its part agreed to become a purely examining and degree granting body." "The University of New Zealand was the first academic body to admit women to the full privileges of higher education and the first woman graduate made her appearance in 1877," continued Mr. Fowlda. "It was not till 1883 that Auckland was successful in securing her College. The claims of Wellington materialised in 1897. Growth of the College. "The Auckland- College opened in 1883 with a staff of four professors; we have now "15 professors and 25 lecturers. The four original Professors were: Professor Thomas, Natural ■ Science;' Professor Tucker, Classics and English; Professor Walker, Mathematics i Professor Brown, Chemistry and Physics.. Of .these two, .Professors.Tlibmasiani.Tuck.er, are still enjoying a well-earned retirement. I,am very sorry that Professor Thomas is not with us on the platform. He was to have spoken to you, but this morning we received a message that his doctor had prohibited' him from attending. I jam sure we -all hope he will soon be J quite well again. 'Professor Thomas ; played a worthy part in the development lof the College, and our thanks are due to him for a lifetime spent in the interests of education. ' We regret exceedingly that our old friend Dr. Leys was not spared to see tie /consummation of his great efforts to secure this, fine building for the College.. Of the original members of the staff at the opening of the College Mr. A. H. Bowell, Senior Lecturer in the Chemistry Department, is the only one still actively employed 7 with" us. The growth of the student roll can be seen from the following figures: JBB3, 80 students; 1925, 1182 students. In this regard Auckland has more than held its own with the rest of the Dominion—in 1908 the Auckland College roll was the smallest of the four Colleges—in 1923 Auckland topped the list of student rolls for the whole' Dominion, this notwithstanding the fact that we are at a great disadvantage in respect of special schools, which .in some of the other Colleges bring a large proportion of their total number of students from other parts of the Dominion. It is noteworthy that the lecture fees .charged by the College to-day are the same per lecture hour as were charged in 1883. It has been a very difficult matter to finance the College and at the samn time keep the fees down to such an extraordinarily low level. Mr. Fowlds reviewed the events of the period form 1878 to 1917. which had a bearing on the selection of the present site. In 1908 the council purchased what is known as the Choral Hall site, and arrangements were made ■ for housing there the school of mines and the school of law.. During 1917 a more important change had to be effected in college accommodation. In order to provide a route for a needed eastern outlet for the city traffic, the Auckland City Council took the college property, with others, and in 1917 the work of making the new road, surveyed right through the college buildings, was so far advanced as to necessitate the ' authorities making entirely fresh arrangements for housing the college. The time- was altogether inopportune, owing tar the financial restrictions imposed by the war. However, at this critical juncture the old Grammar School building.in Symonds Street became vacant, and the generosity of the Grammar School Board placed it at

I tJie disposal ot the university College at a peppercorn rent. Even this arrangei incut could not meet the requirements of ! all the college activities, and the Choral I Hall site had -to,, -he used as well. On the latter, a-two-storey brick building, ' was erected to accommodate the sciences of physics/; chemistry, " biology .and geology. Tue year 1019 witnessed the most momentous event in the history of the college, th 6 securing of a permanent site. By the passing-of the Auckland University College. Site ; Act, 1919, the reserve ' known" ; as' the Metropolitan GrouiidTvas set aside for college purposes. The area is approximately four acres. This ground adjtfins that on which the science building stands, and for the first time in the history of the college its activities had .the: pr&spect of accommodation on one jsite. A substantial errant of £100,Q00. wnis promised by the Government. Durjrig 1921, an architectural competition of designs for the arts building to be erected on this'site reached its final stage, and .the judges award, sustained by the College Council; placed first Messrs. Lippincoot and Billson, of Melbourne*

Buildings Cost £150,000. "The total cost of the buildings opened to-day, including furniture and equipment, would be about £150,000," said Mr. Fowlds. "The Government had given approximately £120,000 of . that amount. From local institutions ~and citizens contributions totalling approximately £18,000 had been received/The contributions were:—Mrs. Wilson £500, late Dr. T. W. Leys £1000, Students' Association £1300, Sir Henry Bfett £1000, Auckland Savings Bank £10,000, Mr. D. M. Dingwell £100, Sir Arthur Myers £1000, Auckland Rotary Club £10, Messrs. Smith and Caugbey £500. Auckland City Council £2000, Messrs. Wilson and Horton £250, St. Mary's High School £5 5/, N.Z. Dental Association £1-0 10/. Court of Convocation £106 15/, :staff £121 2/. This means that we are still some thousands of pounds short, and we have a large programme of necessary buildings and extensions to face in the near future," said Mr. Fowlds. Auckland had yefc a great amount of leeway to iriake up in regard to financial-contri-butions to its University College: In conclusion, Mr. Fowlds * eulogised the work of- the architects, ami paid 'the Fletcher Construction Company had carried out the work in a manuer" creditable to themselves and so satisfactory ..to the council that it was hoped the contract had been a "profitable one to them. A Reproach Removed. "At long last, the reproach which has been resting upon Auckland that there was no place in which to house the University has been lifted," said Sir James Parr. Miireter of Education. '"I rejoice that during my term of office this splendid pile has been raised in our midst to the noble purpose of h'gher education. When as Mayor of Auckland in 1914, the City Council suggested the Anzac Avenue scheme, which epmpelled the. demolition of the old University building in F.den Street. T felt that ft could not 1 c long ere a more fitting a'rode must be found for the Uirverslty. I always felt that we should have something of which we might be" proud. Some indications as to my feelings may; be gauced from the fact that when a man in Queen Street some ten years ago

SIR JAMES PAKR. asked mc: "Where is your University building?' I could not answer him, although, Mr. Fowlds, I was then a member of your distingishad councils (Laughter.) But to-day; Mr. President,"with this lordly tower piled high against;, Jhc Auckland eky-line, no • one dare ask: 'Where is your Uni\-ersity building?? "By the way," continued the Minister, speaking facetiously, 'T understand there has been some controversy regarding this tower. (Laughter.) B*it, to my mind, when the clock faces are completed, when the lawns are frrcon and fresh an 1 eui table trees have been planted so aa to'make a complete setting, this building will be a noble edifice indeed." A Valuable Commission. The most momentous event in the history of the University was the setting up of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into University Education last year, said the Minister. The commission had advised the Government on the pressing problems of the day. At the time, he had been criticised as Minister for instigating tliis commission, which had cost about £1800, but to-day it was his opinion that no money had been spent more wisely. (Applause.) The Governmen had had the expert advice of• two such eminent men as Sir Harry Reichel (chairman) nnd Dr. Frank Tait, Director of Education for the State of Victoria. Sir James looked upon the recommendations of the commission as a finger post to the road which New Zealand's University education should take. The report of the commission had, as it were, blazed the trail, and great services had been rendered, which would be appreciated in the coming years. The commission's recommendations had already borne fruit, in regard to the selection of a site for an Agricultural College. This college would be a central institution, serving the whole of the North Island, an dthe University Colleges of Auckland and Wellington would pool their hinds to make it the greatest in the country. Legal education, secondary instruction, the problems of technical education, and the advancement of Uhiversitv education would give the educationalists of New .Zealand any amount of work for years to come. "I phouk! like to stay and see things tbroiip-h. but that cannot be," said Sir James, Parr in conclusion. "That ie a work whicli must be left to others, and it is now my pleasure to congratulate Auckland on the possession of such a splendid building." Congratulations From the Senate. Professor J. Rankine Brown, YireChancellor of the University of New Zealand, after apologising for the absence of the Chancellor (Professor McMillan Brown), offered his congratulations, in the name of the University Senate, to the Auckland University College upon at last acquiring a building worthy of the purposes of the institution. ■ .

The history of the university colleares in New Zealand, he said, presented a close analogy to what we were told by anthropologists of the progress of primitive man. Anthropologists told'us that the first thing that man set about to secure was food, "then protection from his enemies, mainly wild beasts, n.nd then a house to dwell in. In Xew Zealand the first thing to provide had been.the food for the mind, by the- appointment of professors and lecturers, and, 'only after the lapse' of considerable' time, had adequate ' provision lieen ' made. for the housing of the teachers . a«d students. There could be no-doubt as to the importance of providing learning with n suitable habitation. Education, from the schoolboy to the university srraduate, was a very much.wider thin? than the mere acquisition of knowledge and .the passing of examinations. - Education must appeal to the vrhole of human nature, and there was no doubt that environment played a most important part In tb* general culture of

humanity. Mean and sordid dwellingplaces were apt to make people mean and sordid as well. !*'"•■ "A person who liyes_ in beautiful surroundings," concluded the professor, ''is bound' l to> have his' mind influenced", by them. The Greeks had a. proverbial saying: 'You are a"ipn~of SpartA. Live worthy of. your mother.';. Therefore,:, it is the duty of the present and future students of the' "Auckland, University College to live worthy ,oi\ the.-beautiful buildings which have at last been provided by the generosity of the Government for the' pr'os'ecu'tioh >of their studies.": , . > . Professor H. W. Segar, chairman -of the Professorial Board, welcomed the Governor-General, and thanked him ,on behalf of ihe council" for his attendance.' Extension of University Work. Prefacing his remarks by, the statement that universities, in * every substantial were to-day looming largo among the "important, institu-

tions, the professor said work of the university was increasing f&s more rapidly than the population, it served, because, to the greater number of the people, it had to convey a wider expanse of knowledge, and at the same time it had to solve, or assist in solving, a continually increasing -number of problems. "Hence, particularly among the Americans," he observed, "we find that many wealthy individuals Tiave concluded that they cannot iiße their wealth in any better way than by giving it to the universities. It is acertaihty that no university lias ever been spoiled by this process, but, by becoming wealthy, has become at least proportionately more distinguished for its efficiency, and achievement." Continuing, he declared that in the building whose opening waa celebrated to-day would be trained and inspired many minds that would guide the destinies of the country, would solve its urgent problems, and perform its intellectual work. Already there wae a spirit abroad among the staff that aimed at getting things done. "It ' is, safe to predict."' Profeisor Separ said, "that, as far as the fctaff can influence events, progress is likely to be far more rapid in the future than in the past. It will, I believe, soon be found that the college has, at practically one leap";-.reached a position in. the-., community that it has not hitherto had. The student body -will" not escape a similar influence. The spirit pervading them can hardly have been so fine in texture as in the case of those endowed with more fortunate conditions."' Welcoming his Excellency,- Professor Segar referred to the pleasure it had given the college to have Sir Charles Fergueson perform the ceremony. "Some of us, at least, know that you have shown a keen interest in the university," he said. "We hope that today's- proceedings wiil increase that interest, and that it may be still further intensified from another source." The Other Source. The other source, explained the professor, was that the university seemed destined never to get far away from Government House. Several buildings, or groups of buildings, deserted by their former inhabitants, had been occupied in succession—not from choice, but from necessity—before the building of the new edifice. The sites, in all cases, could be visited in a few minutes from the spot of to-day's ceremony, and a circle of radius some two or three hundred yards round Government House would contain them all. "We hope, then, that your interest in. us will contnin no slight admixture of neighbourly friendship," observed Professor Rcgar, amid laughter. . . Concluding, the professor recalled the early connection of his Excellency and Lady Alice with New Zealand, and said that no name could appear on the commemorative stone that was so calculated to give pleasure, not only to those who might read it to-day, but to the thousands of students who would pass through the college. Architect Presents the Key. In presenting his Excellency with a gold key with -which to open the great door the architect; Mr. Roy A. Lippincott, speaking on behalf of himself and partner (Mr. Billson) said: "We greatly ap- , predate the honour which you do us to-day; in coming to open this building. During more than five years we have given our best in the effort to provide a fitting home— one ihat shall be more than a more shelter —for Auckland's University College. In this work we should have ybeen helpless without the w.hole-heat-tcd support accorded us at all times by the president. Hon. fJeorge Fov/Ids. and the entire Umvpraitv Collp.s-e Council, and tlie skill and unswerving faithfu'ness ■of the Fletcher Construction Company, tiic builders. It is our hop-- . That, with this aid, we may have 'added something to the ciivinninrnt of the college life that will worthily foster and express -the essential spirit of this great educational institution. It is with pleasure that I present, on behalf of my partner , (Mr. Billson) and myself, the key of the buildings, as a token of our appreciation, and a memento of this occasion." (Applause.) His "Expfllency thp Governor-General acknowledged til? presentation, and. in the course of a happy speech, congratu-lated-Auckland cir the* possession' - of; such-a magnificent, educational institution.. WJien his Excellency turned the key in the lock and threw /open the main-doors it was a moment of much enthusiasm marked by an outburst of applause appreciative of the significance of the occasion. • - . ~ . ..;.. .■ . His Excellency was escorted through! the main buildings to the students , block at ths rear v where he was'met bj anassembly, of_students*.. v-/ This evening a reception wili,bfe heldin the college hall, followed by dahctng. The tall tower will be illuminated throughout the evening; special flood lights having been arranged to make a* spectacular dieplay.