Oldest Buildings At Lincoln College Named “Ivey Hall”

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27401, 14 July 1954, Page 14

Oldest Buildings At Lincoln College Named “Ivey Hall”

The original brick buildings of Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln —the first agricultural college in the Southern Hemisphere—have been Hamed Ivey Hall after the first director. The board of governors made this decision yesterday. Mr Ivey went to Lincoln in 1878 as first manager of the Lincoln School of Agriculture, and soon developed lively activity in teaching and experimenting. Previously he had been scientific superintendent and director of experimental farms in Victoria. He thus became the pioneer of agricultural education in New Zealand. Before he died in 1892—in the act of catching the coach for six months’ leave of absence —he had opened representations for a Fertilisers Act, conducted manurial trials, fed wheat to stock, and begun the cross-breeding of sheep. Invited to give his views, after a request a month ago for more consideration, Mr C. Hilgendorf said he had been hesitant about naming anything that “did not name itself.” Apart from the conventional meanings, he found that “hall” usually denoted a residential university hostel. The nearest to the true meaning in Canterbury was Heldn Connon Hall. Knox College, Dunedin, might appropriately be called “Knox Hall,” as it was not a divided establishment.

Mr Ivey had not had the close association in planning buildings evident in the case of Professor E. R. Hudson, after whom the new hostel was named, nor was he the outstanding director of the college, Mr Hilgendorf said. Personally he thought the common usage of “the old building” had happy associations. The chairman (Mr W. H. Gillespie, M.P.) said that he, too, was unaware that Mr Ivey had done much for Lincoln College until evidence was

produced by the Department of Agriculture. He was now convinced that Mr Ivey had made a remarkable contribution, especially when one considered the tools of trade available and the pioneering nature of the undertaking. The Director (Dr. M. M. Burns) said that Mr Ivey was generally credited with the introduction of superphosphate to New Zealand farming, the innovation of now-accepted methods of feeding, and the initial use of the Southdown in fat lamb production. Any student of the college had learned just how much was owed to him apart from the foundation of the college. Dr Burns said he had an open mind on the designation of the old buildings, but he thought they should now be named for reference and direction. A suggestion that “Lincoln Hall” should be used, drew from Mr S. J. Irwin the comment: “You have one already down in the township.” Mr Irwin said the hostel had been named after a recent Director, and by not supporting the present proposal the board would be ignoring the extraordinary efforts of the first director. In pronunciation if not in spelling, “Ivey Hall,” mellow tradition. ' “I wonder if the public will think we lack imagination when there is a radio serial called ‘Halls of Ivy/” said Mr A. J. Smith. “I think we can rely on the press to explain our intentions,” said Mr Gillespie. “Anyway the serial has finished,” said Mr W. G. Hadley, amid laughter. When other boand members indicated their support for “Ivey Hall,” Mr Hilgendorf said he thought this an excellent choice if the board approved on the form of name he had previously questioned.