PRESENTATION OF PORTRAIT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21315, 7 November 1934, Page 16

PRESENTATION OF PORTRAIT

MEMORIAL TO PROFESSOR CANTERBURY COLLEGE CEREMONY A portrait of Professor Robert Julian Scott, the first professor of the Canterbury College School of Engineering, was presented to the Canterbury University College Council yesterday morning in the Students' Union building. A committee of old students of the school who had studied under Professor Scott had arranged for the painting and presentation of the portrait, which was the work of Mr A. F. Nicoll. It will be hung in the School of Engineering, and bears the inscription: "Robert Julian Scott, 1861-1930. Head of the School of Engineering, 1890-1923. Work of Professor Scott The presentation was made by Mr F. T. M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer of the Public Works Department, who represented the memorial committee. He referred to the service which had been held in the Wellingtpn Pro-Cathedral on the occasion of Professor Scott's death four years ago. It had been felt then that there should be a tangible and lasting memorial which could be associated with the work of Professor Scott, and a meeting had been held to arrange for the realisation ;of this. aim.

It was Professor Scott's energy and enthusiasm which alone had made the School of Engineering possible, said Mr Kissel. Coming from England as a locomotive engineer and designer, he had undertaken work with the New Zealand Railways Department • until his appointment as part-time lecturer in engineering at Canterbury College in 1888. In 1894 he was appointed a professor. "It is a tribute to Professor Scott's success as a teacher," said Mr Kissel, "that the engineering courses which he instituted remain practically unaltered to-day. Their value has been recognised by the Institutes of Mechanical, Civil, and Electrical Engineering, and Professor Scott himself was elected to membership of each of these bodies." Old students in all parts of the world had been circularised to raise funds for the memorial. Tl\e present hard times had. made the response to the appeal less than had been wished, and suggestions to endow scholarships or institute memorial lectures had to be abandoned. Nevertheless, the portrait, which was the work of New Zealand's foremost artist in this branch of painting, would always remind students that there had been such a man as Professor R. J. Scott, and that the engineering school had grown through his enthusiasm and perseverance. A Great Personality On behalf of the college councsil, Mr C. T. Aschman received the portrait. He paid a further tribute to Mr Nicoll's work, and spoke of the grateful memory which students held for Professor Scott. Great credit was due to the vision of the men of exceptional ability who had been connected with education in Canterbury in the early days. It was natural to feel an interest in beginnings, and in the personality of Professor Scott the engineering school had been fortunate. He had had a dominating personality and clear ideas of what he wanted. These qualities had enabled him to secure Government assistance in furthering the interests of the school. ' Mr Aschman referred to the presence of Mr A. Morrison, Professor Scott's first assistant. In conclusion, he said that the school was Professor Scott's real memorial, but that it was right and proper that the portrait should be hung where students could see it as a reminder of a teacher who had always kept in closest touch with those who studied under him. Growth of the School Professor P. H. Powell, dean of the faculty of engineering, said that the portrait would inform present-day students, to whom Professor Scott's name was scarcely known, that the growth of the school was due to the energy of one man. The present function was not one of sorrow but of satisfaction. In 1885 there were a few courses in building construction, drawing, and mechanical engineering. From that time there had been gradual growth. Professor Scott had shown great wisdom in his choice of apparatus. for after 30 years machines he had chosen were still in use.

Electrical, steam, and hydraulic laboratories had been added, part of the old Boys' High School had been taken over, and the new building erected which joined this to the main department. This last addition in 1924 had shown the Government's recognition of Canterbury College as the home of a national school of engineering. and it marked the culmination of Professor Scott's work. Considerable expenditure was now needed to bring the plant, which was last valued at £17,600, up to date. But even as it was the equipment compared favourably with that of schools of engineering in England. In 1890 there were 40 students in the school; since 1888 up to' the present there had been 3208. There had been 256 degrees and 80 associateships gained. "I have spoken of the school of engineering," concluded Professor Powell, "but to speak of it is to speak of Professor Scott." Mr T. R. Burt, one of the oldest graduates of the school, spoke of its history. He mentioned that, in 1887 the Marquis of Normanby had said that education in the Dominion should be scientific and technical rather than classical. It was due to Professor Scott's memory to keep such an important technical institution well equipped. Among those present were:—The Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. M.L.C., Dr. J. Hight, Professors S. Steele, C. C. Farr, J. E. L. Cull, Messrs A. F. Nicoll. A. E. Davenport, A. Morrison, R. G. MacGibbon. A. R. Galbraith, D. M. Middleton, T. Pollart, J. G. Lancaster, C. Williams. H. E. Hitchcock. R. A. Campbell, R. Hepburn. A. R. Currie, R. Wallwork. G. G. Calvert, F. Hill. J. E. Purchase. P. G. Bamford, W. L. Newnham, G. Lawn. A. Burns, W. F. Robinson, G. T. Booth, A. C. Mitchell, and L. Bowen. Apologies for absence were received from Archbishop Julius. Messrs G. P. Anderson, O. Hope, H. Toogood, J. D. Twentyman, and D. Bauchop.