Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1904 AN APPEAL FOR VICTORIA COLLEGE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 47, 24 August 1904, Page 4

Ev ening Post. WEDN ESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1904 AN APPEAL FOR VICTORIA COLLEGE.

•' Tho Victoria College Council is to bo congratulated on taking a forward step in the direction of supplementing the Government grant towards the erection ot the College buildings. As will be seen in another column of this issue, a- circular hue been prepared drawing attention to the position and needs of the College, to which wo would invite the special atten tion of our readers. It is' a clear and concise statement of tho many difficulties under which the work of the College has been hitherto carried on, and of the urgent need there is for more funds in order that tho objects for which the College exiMs may bo more adequately realised. It is gratifying to Hnd that, in spito of til? want of proper accommodation, the number of students attending its clashes is not bolund that of tho sister institutions of the colony. This is a suro indication that it meets a substantial need, and that when proper provision has been uhi do for the suttjihlo accommodation of students, tho number will be still more rapidly increased. The site selected for the College is an admirable" one, situated in one of the most prominent places in the city, and tho design adopted for the building is in every way excellent. To carry oi.t tho design in full will require an expenditure of £50,0(30, an amount which the Government could not see its way clear to fuce, and with some reason, as tho educational needs o* tho colony are coming to-be every year more exacting. The Council therefore has let a contract for tho erection of a portion of the building at a cost of £25,371, towards which the Government has guaranteed the sum of £25,000. This will ''leave a deficiency on the lota} cost of the present poition of tho building, including architects' commission, salary for clerk ol works, and furnishing, of £4000. Such, then, is the present position of the College. It will be evident that even with the present portion completed the College cannot be said to posficsw the equipment necessary to enable it to qualify us a third-rate modern university. How can natural science, for example, bo effectively taught apart from a lmiMumi? And in this portion of the building the museum is omit ted. The same question inav be put with greater emphasis with regard to every department of the College work, especially in their most advanced stage*. The omission of the library is bound to act detrimentally, especially upon thoso who are reading fur their honours. It is necessary to accentuate this last point, inasmuch as the timid of modern education is in the direction of cultivating the power of originality in the students. They nro no longer regarded us educated unless they go direct to the things thomselves for thoir knowledge, and by careful observation discover Tor themselves the Suets underlying their particular study. This hnbit of personal examination, under the guidance of experts, requires iov its format-

ion tho necessary material to be placed nl the di&posal of lhe t students. It is this first haud knowledge that lies at the root of tho immense strides that have been taken during recent years, not only in Science, but in the Arts as well. A modern university is not a degrpe-prepining machine, but, in the words of one of the founders of the University of Sydney, it exists "to enlighten the mind, leiine the understanding, uud to elevate mankind." It is the centre of tiuu cnlline, and to be worthy of buch high distinction it is necessary thut it should have at ittr command all the means of culture. And 6urely we cannot alford to be behind in this department of our educationtil system. To bo content with anything short of the best equipment for our young people would bo to move ourselves unworthy of the splendid tiaditions of our race, and ready to occupy a miboidinate position among our sister colonies. In these colonies, notably Canada and New South Wale«, the claims of University education havo been most liberally lecoguised. The President of the Monlical University is reported to have said that all he is required to do is to let the public know the need's of tho University, and tho funds are immediately forthcoming to meet them. A mere glance through the calendar of the Sydney University is sufficient to convince one of the place which the University held in tho hearts of many of the lead* ing citizens of Now South Wales. Hie Victoria College is the university centie of a largo district, with a popu lation larger than any university district in the colony. It is a matter of accident that the College buildings are being erected in Wellington. The College, as hucli, concerns the districts of Taranaki, Ifa-wkes Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland quite as much as it concerns Wellington. This needs to bo accentuated, inasmuch as the tendency to provincialism is not quite dead, and may act in a way inimical to the best interests of the College and of the diatriots alike. It is established for the purpose of affording opportunities for higher learning to all young people capable of embracing them throughout these districts. The success of tho College means th© success, and the fniluro of the Collego will bo the fuilure, of these districts. We think that the Government has dealt liberally with the College ; it now remains to be seen what value the men und women of the Middle District attach to the action of the Government on tho one band,, and to the opportunities which the College offers to them on Iho other. This occasion will supply an unmistakable test of tho type of citizenship which prevails in the Middle District. Wo confidently look to Wellington to lead the van in this cause, and we feel sure that if Wellington does its duty the other district's will follow. Let tho Council of the Victoria College initiate and carry on a thorough canvass of the city, and see whether tho deficiency of £4000 cannot bo wiped out by next Saturday. Wo will pladly co-operate by opening a list in this office ; donations cither to tho building fund, or for the equipment of any part of the college, will bo announced in our columns from time to time. The movemont has our heartiest sympathy, and wo shall do all we can to help it forward.