UNIVERSITY AND CITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 171, 22 July 1930, Page 6

UNIVERSITY AND CITY.

Once upon a time a newly-arrived member of the Auckland University College staff wandered round the city for quite a time in a cab looking for the College, but now every driver so engaged would knoAV where to go. It is indeed a change from the old obscurity of Eden Street to the prominence of to-day. The valuable review of ten years' progress which the President of the Council, Sir George Fowlds, delivered yesterday re-emphasises the fact that it was not until the Arts Building (the much criticised architecture of which, by the way, has been praised by competent judges from the Old Country) was erected on the Princes-Symonds Streets site, that the College began to attract the public attention that was its due.' Progress has been made in several academic directions. ' Old faculties have developed, and new ones added. The Engineering School has received part of the recognition that is its due, and the Architecture School not only has made Auckland the Dominion centre of study in this art, but promises to raise the whole national standard of architecture both in professional achievement and in public appreciation. The lectures on municipal government are a new proof that the College is linked up with the practical life of the community. Sir George Fowlds, who has directed College affairs so successfully for ten years, is planning far ahead. The utilisation of ; the old Grammar School site for University and for civic needs, is being pressed forward, and Sir George foresees the establishment at Orakei of the nucleus of a residential university. It may be many years before this Orakei vision becomes fact; in the meantime the lack of residential accommodation of the kind that has been developed recently with such success in Christchurch, is a serious defect in our College system. Lastly, we may underline Sir George Fowlds' remarks about private benefactions. The new building has 'Stimulated interest in the College, but Dunedin continues to set this larger community an example.