University May Have Patents Trust Scheme

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 27

University May Have Patents Trust Scheme

The University of Canterbury will investigate the creation of a patents trust by which royalties from any discoveries by the university will be invested in its research activities. The suggestion has been made by Dr. T. Hagyard, reader in chemical engineering, who, with senior students, has discovered a way of making electro-carbon from West Coast coals.

The Vice-Chancellor (Dr. L. L. Pownall) told the University Council that Ur. Hagyard’s group had not yet taken out a patent because it wished the university to benefit. It had found that by reheating a certain kind of coke in a certain way, electro-carbons of economic value could be produced. Dr. Pownall said Comalco would use £lm worth of electro-carbon when its aluminium industry was started, so the possibilities were obvious. The executive was asked to) consider forming a patents I trust. Lecturer Resigns.—Mr S. H. Neff, a lecturer in physics, has resigned from the end of the year to return to the United States. He said that he and his wife wished to be near their families. Ornamental Entrance.—A proposal that specimens of polished New Zealand granites, serpentines, and other rocks be embedded in the entrance wall of the new geology department at Ham. made by Professor R. S. Allan, has been accepted by the council. It will cost about £lOO. The council table was decorated with many attractive specimens of pink, green, black, and other samples. Property Taken.—The University Grants Committee advised that a property on the eastern end of the Clyde road) frontage to the new university site had now been aciouired under the Public i Works Act. Dr. Pownall !said that, apart from squarling off the site, this could be the entrance to an arterial road bordering the

upper Avon river from which visitors could view the new campus at w T eek-ends.

Converted. Quarters.—The University Grants Committee has. provided £8620 to convert the former industrial Development department buildings and a house at 34 Gloucester street for teaching purposes, plus another £l5OO for furnishing. Another house at 14 Gloucester street has been purchased. This will enable all extra staff to be accommodated and permit some regrouping. Tender Accepted.—A tender of £12,279 from the Fletcher Construction Company has been accepted for the extension of the mechanical engineering department. Steel has been ordered for stage 111 of the Engineering School extensions. Overton Bequest.—The bequest of Ethel Rose Overton for scholarships in the School of Fine Arts is valued at £11.682. Gifts Received.—The Tai Tapu Dairy Company has given a moisture meter worth about £lOO to the chemical engineering department, and N. H. Finney, Ltd., has given cutting rubies worth about £5O. An anonymous donor has given £2OO to the university without tags. The Christchurch Lions Club will provide about 50 trees to be received from overseas in exchange for native plants. Scholarship Extended.— Fletcher Holdings, Ltd., has extended the award of postgraduate scholarships for another five years' Aranui Board.—Miss R. F. C. Tyndall has been appointed to the Aranui High School board in succession to Mr G. A. Shouksmith.

Degrees Conferred.—The degree of doctor of philosophy in physics was conferred on Colin Stewart Lindsay Keay. and the degree of master of engineering with distinction (civil) on John Philip Blakeley.

USE the Advertisements In "The Press” to plan your buying. They will save you many houra ol Shopping Time.