UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

Evening Star, Issue 18999, 22 July 1925, Page 9

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO

MEETING DF COUNCIL The Chancellor (Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P.), the Vice-Chancellor (Mr W. J. Morrell), Sir Lindo Ferguson, Messrs L. Doans Bitchio, 0. (ii 1 ray, J. Wallace, J. Donnie, J. C. Thomson, M.P., ■I. A. Moore, J. W. Scurr, J. C. Stephens, Professor Bonham, Dr Fitzgerald, and Dr TV. Marshall Macdonald attended yesterday's monthly meeting of the University Council. - FINANCE. The Finance and Dome Science Committees recommended the council to approve generally of a request from the president of the home science alumnal that Studholmo House be conducted as a boarding-house during the Exhibition period. The Finance Committee reported that Mr Johnson’s resignation as fulltime tutor had been accepted, and that be be paid for each lecture delivered for the remainder of the current year, with a further lump sum for organising work done and to be done. Bepoits adopted. WOKKS. The Works Committee reported thus: —■ The architect regarded the test of the arts and physics heating as satisfactory. 'The architect also reported that the Medical and Dental School buildings wore progressing satisfactorily. This was noted, and it was resolved that tho council bo recommended to have the specifications completed and tenders called for the remainder of the Medical School building. The architect stated that the repairs to the museum roof were completed, and that the space behind tho retaining wall on the Leith bank had been filled in. Messrs Scurr and Douglas reported regarding the drainage of the Dental School, foundation, and in accordance with their recommendation it was resolved that tho matter be hold over in tho meantime, and that tho flooring of tho room on the ground floor be. not completed till tho conditions as affecting drainage could bo more carefully observed. Tho committee considered a letter from tho Amenities Society, asking the council to improve the fence in front of Studholmo House. This was agreed to. . . . . A letter having been received Iroin Dr Pickcrill concerning the condition of the tank in the roof of the old Dental School, it was resolved that the matter bo left over till the vacation, and tho tank then repaired, ft was further resolved that it was necessary to install a tank in the new school.

Tlio attention of the committee was drawn to the condition of the loiice on the Castle street frontage, and it was resolved that a letter be written to the Gitv Corporation asking that the condition of the fence be improved; that a suggestion be made to the corporation, if it is proposed to remove the iron fence from the Queen’s Gardens. that this bo re-erected on _ the Castle street frontage of the University. ik'porfc adopted. ETHNOGRAPHIC COMMITTEE. The committee reported thus: _ _ The honorary secretary had visited Timaru and valued the collection of Maori material offered for sale, and discussed terms with the owner. Jt was decided that the owner be offered £IOO down, and the balance (£100) on March 31 next. The committee docs not recommend the expenditure of money on the purchase of cases for the display of private collections of Maori material at the Exhibition. The following members are eligible for reappointment to the committee :~ Hr Rcnham, Mr IV. Eels, Mr H. D. Skinner, Mr W. Thomson, and Mr E. Waite. ' Report adopted. The live retiring members were re-elected. The, Chancellor was elected to the place.of the late Hr Andrew Cameron. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS RESEARCH It was stated bv Sir Lindo Tcrgnson that Mr Renfrew "White had been consulted by the Minister of Public Health regarding the institution ot a research on rheumatoid arthritis, etc., for which a grant of £(100 is to be made. The council was asked to appoint a research fellow lo carry out the research under Dr Herons’* supervision. Sir Lindo Ferguson said that this was a matter of urgency. There was a suitable man, and they wished him appointed. In the meantime the research was at a standstill on the bacteriological side. .It was not a matter ot i their own seeking in the first place. They knew nothing ot the matter until the grant was made. Mr Stephens asked if all the correspondence would bo produced. Sir Lindo said ho had no objection. The matter was referred to the Finance and Medical Committees, with power to act. “ FRIENDS OF THE MUSEUM.” Dr Bonham wrote concerning an idea for the formation of an association to i lie called “The Friends ol the I Museum ” on lines similar to associations in connection with the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge and the American Museum ot Natural History in New York and elsewhere. The idea was to get together a number ol people who would show their interest in the development of the museum by paying a small annual of, say, half a guinea, the fund so formed to bo used for some definite purpose, such as paying the cost of {lie grants paid by the University. For instance, it was wished to provide (a) casts of classical statuary, etc.,_ to he used in connection with the University instruction in Creek and Roman, history and art: (b) natural history (groups of birds, game, etc.) ; and (c) Asiatic objects. It was intended that a committee of influential men should be formed to institute a campaign. The writer asked permission to establish an association of the Friends of the Museum. The matter was approved and the permission asked for granted. GENERAL. Professor Strong’s request for a dishwasher to cost about £IOO was agreed to. . A request by the Dean of the Com- | merce Faculty to increase the re- ' numeration of Mr A. Thomas to £4O and style him assistant was left to the , Finance Committee to act. The Chairman of the Professorial 1 Board recommended that the diploma in home science be awarded to Misses Graham, Henderson, Irvine, Leach. Milne, Monro, Thomson, and Wrigley, and the diploma of A.O.S.M. in mining to W. IT. Penseler and M. D. Calder. ;—Agreed to. I The Secretary of the Tutorial Classes Committee, W."E.A., recommended that Dr Holloway be appointed tutor in biological problems at £2 10s per lec- ; tore. —Agreed to. j The Dean of the Medical Faculty recommended the award ol prizes as loli lows Marjorie M'Callum medal, L. C. ! M‘Nickle; Graduates’ Association medal for senior clin. medicine, L. C. M'Nickle; Graduates’ Association medal for senior clin. surgery, Miss A. C. 1 Rose.—Agreed to. I The Dean of the Medical Faculty j also re&nnmeiided the appointment of i the following demonstrators for the winter term Practical pharmacy, T. |.H. Eraser at £10; pathology and bacteriology, R. E. Bevan Brown and T. G. Do Clive Lowe at £5 for each subject.—AgrcedAo. Dr M'Killop forwarded his resignation from the post of lecturer on men-

tal diseases, and the council appointed Dr Buchanan jn his place. The report of the professor of surgery on the .surgical organisation of .the Dunedin Hospital was referred to the Finance and Medical Committees, with power to act. Dr Pickcrill wrote recommending the appointment of Mr C. B. Barrowclongli to give two lectures to final year dental students.—Agreed to; the fee for the two lectures to be £5. The examiners for the Percy Smith prize were reappointed. The council appointed committees for the year—the personnel the same as last year, with the exception that Mr Giiray is added to the Finance and Medical Committees. The Library Committee is to be henceforward known as the Library and Museum Committee. HA NDSOME DON ATI 0 NS.

Tho manager of the Invercargill Savings Bank wrote stating that the trustees proposed to donate £I,OOO for tho establishment of a scholarship for girls attending the Southland and Gore High Schools.—Accepted with thanks. The manager of tho Dunedin Savings Bank wrote stating that the trustees had decided to donate £750 for tho now Dental School.—The council resolved to accept the donation, and to express its grateful thanks for the timely gift. The Chairman added that it was understood that the gift would bo earmarked for equipment in tho school. Tlie trustees in tho estate of Lissic Bathhone wrote asking if tho council would accept the sum of £3.000 for the purpose of scholarships.—The matter was referred to tho Finance Committee, with power to act, tho opinion of the arts and science faculty of the Professorial Board to he obtained. CHANCELLOR’S REPORT. The following is tho report to the Governor-General prepared by the Chancellor in accordance with the provisions of tlie University of Otago Ordinance:— During the year the council sustained tho loss by death of a valued member, Mr Walter Eudey, who for twelve years had faithfully represented tho primary school teachers of Otago and Southland. Mr Eudey had intended to retire on June 30 last, but ho died a few days before that date. To fill the vacancy thus created Mr J. A. Moore, M.A., principal of the Training College, was elected by the teachers. During the past year the council has lost the services of two professors, viz. —Professor Barnett and Professor Woodthorpe. Dr Barnett has been head of the department of surgery for tho past thirty years, and had performed his duties with marked ability and success. lam glad to say, however, tiiat liis connection with the University is not entirely severed, for ho has been appointed professor emeritus, and wo hope that this connection may long exist. With Professor Woodihorpc the council parted with deep regret. Ho was richly endowed with qualities both of mind and heart, and was consequently not only respected, but beloved. The council trusts he will find happiness in his retirement. To filljthe vacancies caused by these resignations tlie counci lias appointed as professor of surgerv Mr F. G. Bell, M.D., Edin., L.R.0.P." Loud., F.R.C.S. Eng.; and as professor of economics Mr A. G. B. Fisher, B.A Melb., Ph.D. (Itcon.), Loud. Though it will ho observed that both these gentlemen obtained their university education abroad, it is interesting to note that they are both Now Zealanders by birth. Two other appointments were made during the year. Miss Lillian Boynton Storms, M.Sc., Ph.D., Colombia, has been appointed lecturer in dietetics in tho home science department, and Miss Gladys M'Gill, ITS., Columbia, as lecturer in clothing and textiles in the same department. 1 think it can now he fairly claimed that tho homo science department gives students a practical, as well as a good theoretical, knowledge of the subjects taught.

. 1 make grateful recognition of various valuable gifts which the University received during tlie past year. First of all, I must refer to the great generosity of Dr Barnett, who gave tho council a sum of £B,OOO for the endowment of the chair ol surgery. This gift was all the more welcome from tlie fact that Dr Barnett stated it was given as a mark of Ins appreciation of ilic community service rendered by the University, and of his personal gratitude for honcfiti received. Among other valuable gifts was that of Mr Willi Fels, who presented to the museum his magnificent collection of Oriental weapons and armor. The new Medical and Denial Schools are now in course of construction, and when they are completed they will undoubtedly enable the work of these departments to bo carried on much more efficiently than is tho case at present. It n*ust he stated, however, that tho annual upkeep of these two departments will bo very much increased after their transfer to their now quarters, aiil the council will find it necessary to approach the Government for increased annual grants.

The University activities are already very considerable, but every year seems to mark some increase. During the past year, at the request of the health and the nursing profession, the council instituted a course, in nursing. Tho students will spend two years in the home .science department, will then take two years’ practical work in a, hospital, and will then take a final year either in public health nursing or in teaching and administrati in in school,, of nursing. Diplomas will be awarded by the University to successful students. For many years tho students’ games have been much restricted by tho lack of suitable playing areas. lam glad to report, however, that there is now every prospect of acquiring about eight acres of Logan Bark as a University plaving field, while the students’ clubs will have tlie right to play on adjoining areas. This now arrangement will prove of inestimable benefit to tlie University outdoor sports. I append hereto statistics concerning the number of students in attendance during the-year:—

■—Men — NonFaculty. Grads, grads. Metric. Tl. Arts ... 12 141 12 165 Science ... ... 10 22 6 38 Mining ... ... 4 16 5 25 Law ... 2 60 7 69 Agriculture ... — 4 .— 4 Medicine ... 6 256 — 2G2 Dentistry ... <— '99 — 99 Commerce ... 2 38 58 98 Totils ... 36 636 Bb 560 —Women.— Arts ... 13 121 17 151 Science ... ... — 6 1 7 Mining ... ... — — — — Law ... — 1 •—■ 1 Agriculture ... — — — 1 — Home Science 2 39 5 46 Mediciii'-. 2 39 5 46 Dentistry ... — 13 — 13 Commerce ... — 2 6 8 Totals ... 15 243 33 291 The grand toal fo • both sexes is 1,051.