BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 556, 10 July 1909, Page 5

BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY.

OPENED BY THE KING. (By Tolcffrnph.-Fross Association,—Oopyrlcbt.) : London,- July 8. To-day—Mr. Chamberlain'b . birthday—his .Majesty'.tiho.King oppnod; the new University 'buildings.- at Birmingham. ~ : . JHEsUNIVEB&ixTIMO.VJ.MENT.:. ■ | BUILDINGS 1 AND iEQUIPMENT TO COST f ' _ ' lIALF- \-MILLION, | The inception of the'schemo for-a. university for' Birmingham Entirely due'to 'Mr.' " Jdsepli''Chambcrlniri.. .Tlib ii6w .university' is' the developmenf'bf 1 tile college founded .by ■Sir. Josiijv Ma£on :in- 1375, arid openqd. by him iii-1880. -It *vas incorporated" in 1837; and Mr,' Joseph Chamberlain became president. Sir J osiali Mason's.- gift/' together with- the • endowment which' he. provided, represented .'£200,000, and Mr.\' ; Chamberlain;.issued ani appeal:.for further funds, : with a. ..vievMo- an application for. a university'nharter; The,appeal was liberally responded ..to,", and produced l upwards ;of ..£■<oo,ooo, ' - ,

Site and Structuro. : • ' ; . 1 Tho- difficulty, yHli, j.to .a' site- at onco. ■'sufficiently extensive-,and'.accessible, was/over-; come by' the presentation', 'by Lord Calthorpe of 27V acres of.lniid'at Bouvnbrook." The Council then commissioned Sir Aston" and Mr. Injres .Bell .to-prepare, designs, and in 1901 the buildings I were, begun., They consist of a great hall ana,blocks for, mechanical.engineering,. cml engineering; and" j mining- , and raetallrajy; , Lord- 'Calthorpo ! subsequently added to lis former gift an' additional sito. of nearly twenty acres, to bo used by the students as' recreationjjrotinds. Tho family of the late Mr. Charles Harding have' erected a library, and east and west of-this building blooks hnvo sincfl been -added' to ncconrmodato the ■physics and; chemistry, departments. ; - .. ; ,V A Landmark. In addition, a tower.has been crected which rifioS: to a height of 825 feet,, and forms a landmark for. many .miles; round. In'the tower aro being placed a clock and bells, the gift of the contractor of tho main •,-building, Mr. Thomas Howbotham.; ' >■; "Other important gifts Lncltido an organ<in the great hall, a furthor gift -by the Harding family, and ;a' .stained-glass \vin4ow , rit south end of the great hall, presented by Sir 'John Holder, Bart. '• ''••Mr,'-;wiIli8m ; . f CMbury has bomo the cost of laying oilt-tho recreation fields, and has also'; added a;,bowling' green' and. pavilion. . - • v . The total cost of tho site and'buildings will exceed .£IOO,OOO, $nd tha, ecientifio and other equipment , will cost ah • additional £100,000. Tho Council recently appealed for a further sum of .8250,000 in order that the capital account "maybe put into a healthy condition and \provision made for ;new : developments. Towards . this about £75,000 had 'beea -promised when the mail left, and it was hoped'to be able to announce on the opening day that the university has no outstanding liability.