PROFESSOR SHAND.

Evening Star, Issue 15187, 19 May 1913, Page 2

PROFESSOR SHAND.

VALUABLE SERVICES PLACED ON RECORD. At a meeting of the Professorial Board of the University of Otago, held on Saturday (Dr Malcolm in the chair), the following resolution was unanimously adopted on the motion of Dr Gilray, seconded by Dr Benham: — “ We, the members of the Professorial Board of tTe University of Utago, liave learned with great sorrow tuat our colleague Dr Enaud has tendered his resignation of the Chair of .Natural J/hnosophy to the University Council, •and we greatly regret that tailing eyesight has compelled him to take this step. The occasion seems appropriate for placing on record some of tlie many valuable services that Dr Shand has rendered to ivuucatiou. xjx na.s educated at the Elgin Academy and at the University of Aberdeen, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1804. Tor nine years Ue acted as mathematical master at the Ayr Academy, one of the oldest and most ruinous oi cscottisu secondary schools. {subsequently he Tiled for three years the important position of mathematical master at the Edinburgh Academy. Dr bhand was appointed to the Chair of Matiicmaucs and Natural Philosophy at the Otago University in l&iU, and in July, rcur, he entered on his duties as one of the three original professors in the University (which had been founded in 1869). in 1886, when the Chair of Natural Philosophy was separated from the Chair of iViathematics, and was endowed by the Presbyterian bynod of Otago and southland, Dr bhand 'elected to take the Chair of Natural Philosophy— a professorship on which his untiring eneigy, his great abilities as a teacher, and his accurate aud profound scieutiuc attainments have conferred great lusue. When, in 1892, by a resolution of the university Council, tiie chairmanship ot the Professorial Board was made a triennial oince, Dr bhand was elected tne last chairman under tne new arrangement; and he discharged the uaeioUß duties of the chuiijuauslup with marked efficiency, and to the feet satisfaction of the students, his colleagues, and me Unimibiiy uoiaicu. in ioyo Dr bhand was elected one ol the representatives of the Professorial Board on the University Council; and uns oince ho still holds, to the great advantage of the boaid aud ot the council. In addition to his eminent services to the University of Utago, Br bhand has been tlie moat acme member or our board in other educational work. Tie has been a memUer oi tne .aenate of New Zealand University since 1877 a body ot which he is now the honored lather, _ and to which he has rendered many distinguished services. He served as a member of the Otago Education Board from December, lbi'6, till February, 1886; and he Tiled the oliice of chairman of the board from April, 1882, till April, 1885. He was a member of the Otago High bchools’ Board from January 11, 1.878 (the Trst meetiug of the board), tiil_ January, 1890. He was appointed again in May, 1893, and served till January, 1904. In 1877 Dr Shand was appointed a member of the Royal Commission to inquire into the operations of the University of New Zealand and the relations of the University to the secondary schools of the colony, and was influential in preparing the elaborate report of the Commission, which was issued in 1879. Dr Shand is a member of the New Zealand Institute; he_ is also a member of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the Physical Society. In 1889 Dr Shand’s Alma Mater, the University of Aberdeen, conferred on him the wellmerited honorary degree of LL.D., in recognition of his distinguished services to Education. Dr Shand, who now occupies the honorable position of father of the Professorial Board, has, by his sagacity in counsel, his high aims as an educationist, and his untiring zeal in the interests of the University, rendered to our board priceless services, which can never be forgotten by any of us, but which are far too numerous to mention. These services, so invaluable in themselves, have been greatly enhanced by Dr Shand’s unfailing courtesy to all ins colleagues. It is impossible to doubt that, if Dr Shand had chosen to employ his exceptional talents for business and finance in some department of commercial life, be would have amassed a large fortune. Bnhappily for those among whom his Id ts? been cast, he has cherished th.m ghout a long and honorable career the much nobler ambition of serving God by devoting himself to tlie education of the young; and for the results of this decision we and many others owe him a deep debt of gratitude. We rejoice that we are to have the benefit of Dr Shand’s services and wise counsels during the remainder of the present session. In conclusion, we wish to assure _ Dr Shand that ho will carry with him into his retirement, which we hope will be long and happy, not only tlie respect, but the affection and veneration of every member of the Professorial Board. We shall part from him with great regret, which will be peculiarly poignant in the case of the older members of the board, with whom Dr Shand has worked in perfect harmony for many years.” Tlie ch airman was requested to enter the resolution in tlm minutes of the meeting and to forward a copy to Dr Shand.