AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 3

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

NEW BUILDING OPENED f [Pkr United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, March 12. Following upon forty-three years of poverty and obscurity, the Auckland University College has suddenly been elevated to the fullness of collegiate life. That was impressively emphasised this afternoon at the official opening ceremony, which was performed by the Governor-General (.Sir Charles Fergusson), and His Excellency commemorated it by unveiling a. memorial stone at the entrance to the college. Educational notabilities and members of. Parliament were present on the dais. From tho enthusiasm shown) it was apparent that the college had already endeared ilrcli to the hearts of the people. With a spacious quadrangle facing south to Symonds street, the new building occupies a safe, i-l four .ind a-half acres that runs the fu'l width lie tween Princes and Symonds ffireets. ft has really two frontages, and .) reseats the. same view' from either side, < x.'ept Hat the quadrangle entrance is (n ti e floor below Princes street. The silo is an historic one in (ho city. The three and thrcc-quavler acres adjacent io tlie grounds of Government House once formed a paddock in which the Governors of colonial days kept their horses before the advent of motor cars. Later the Grammar School hoys used the paddock as a playground when tho school was in Symonds street. Fifty years ago it was commonly regarded as one of the recreation grounds of Auckland. The Hop. George Fowlds, chairman of the University College Council, welcomed tho Governor-General, and traced the Juslory of the. college. “Tho total cost of tho buildings opened to-day, including furniture and equipment, will bo about £150,000," said Mr Fowlds. “The Government has given approximately £120,000, and from local institutions and citizens contributions approximating £IB,OOO has been received. Other speakers wore Sir James Parr, Professor Rankine Brown (Vice-Chancellor of tho University), and Professor Segar (chairman of the Professorial Board). The Governor-General congratulated tho College Council on tho fact that the dream that had been dreamed so long had at kst come true. “I can assure (he. architect,” he said, “(hat when we have inspected tho interior of the hall, (he library, the lecture rooms, and last, but not least, (ho clubhouse, we shall feel he has deserved all the gratitude we can possibly give him. I mention the club-house especially, because it. is not through lectures so much as through opportunities of meeting outside tho lecture, rooms that, tho tone of a university is acquired. May I suggest that, while it is to the universities that we look fo provide all that is necessary for learning, one of tho greatest functions of a university is latum out men and women who, by (ramin? and character, can influence their generation and maintain tho traditions of the State." He then declared the building open, using a gold key presented by the architects.