SMALL BEGINNING

Evening Star, Issue 20310, 19 October 1929, Page 2

SMALL BEGINNING

BISHOP HEIIIJ'I AS PIONEER

t Written by-C.'R. Aelex, for the 1 Evening Star.’] '

"In one of hia books of travel Antony Trollope writes of a visit to Christchurch , New Zealand, and the pathetic spectacle of the foundations for tho cathedral’’ awaiting’ that superstructure which, it seemed at the time, _ v as likely never, to rise. Time has vindicated those who foresaw otherwise. The Dunedin Anglican Cathedral, as it stands on.the site of old St. Pauls, is. a far more remarkable materialisation, ftixico it is the spires of Jvnox and First Church that naturally dominate a city so named. One is reminded of this testimony to'the faith and zeal of the late Dr Nevill by the news that Bishopsgrove, tho beautiful residence he built in the Leith Valley, is probably marked down for sale. Bishopsgrove, as- all pedestrians know in these parts, stands as the pivotal point of the fairest walk in Dunedin—to wit, tho Pino Hill grind. It i seems a pity that when opportunity presents itself Bishopsgrove 1 should not be • acquired by the Anglican communion for educational or philanthropic purposes. _ It’ is one oL lour structures, with which ■ name is associated,,..the others being. Columba College, in the Highgate, known’ to Old residents as Bishopscourt; the Cathedral, and Selwyn College, about which a certain amou'nt lias: been written of Tate.if .Thekcyiiical aphorism that fools build houses for other folk to dwell in does’not apply to Selwyn College. Dr Nevill had.not in mind an exclusive theological seminary when the original plan of Selwyn was mooted. As his successor pointed out at tho laying of the foundation stone of tho new-Selwyn- last April, it -was always--the* bishop’s idea to repeat in miniature the history of Oxford and Cambridge when the fall of Constantinople expedited the spread of the New Learning. and those two towns were flooded .with eager, youth in quest. fqr.whMjt bad to give them. In the case of New Zealand it is not The fall of Constantinople, but the growth of a,free, coin-, pulsory, and secular system of education that .has .‘filled the fo.ur towns with students. - , - Many readers will remember an mleresting essay by Robert Louis Ste-: venson, in which - he compares the lot of the Scottish .and: English, student., It is odd that in Duneciin it is . the Presbyterians who havo led • the way in establishing the English communal university system. For many years Selwyn'’College has accommodated students other than theological, but . the attempts that have been made to house them worthily have been spasmodic. When the new building is completed another , step will have been taken in the direction of establishing the north end of the town'as a definitely academic, quarter. Selwyn College in the future will command the loyalty''of her sons. There ia-the larger loyalty .demanded by* the- '’Varsity itself: — - V From ‘.quiet’..tomes .arid.jsiaall. bdgin- - ning,- ' / 1 .... 1, Outv.to the undiscovered ends’,'.., There’s 'nothing worth the wear-) of winning, - ■But laughter and the love of- friends, writes‘Hilaire'Bellnc. . The,.average student ‘ will reject this '‘statement in its entirety. He . will find.joany...things worth the winning, but it is certain that he will miss much if he passes by 3his'unique opportunity of’.making friendships, which may stand him through life. One therefore, looks upon ’ the ‘extension 'of 'fidwya:..College..-asl a

movement towards the fulfilment of Dr Nevill’s ideal. There are several excellent biographies of the man in whoso name the place is built. He is one of the mostL picturesque figures in the early history ' of New Zealand. .His influence on Maori and pakeha alike was profound. Perhaps it is further north that one comes upon his legend more persistently. He is -said to have called out “ Floreat Etona ” to those who had come to bid him farewell as his ship set out for the Antipodes, and it is interesting to read how he inculcated the English public school spirit into the race to which ho had come to minister One may observe his influence to-day in such a place as To Aute College There are others whose names will_ be associated with Sclwyn College as time goes on, notably the late Dean Fit chett,. who was neighbour and friend to the college for so many years. He was one of those who assisted at the small- beginning, and tho undiscovered ends must have been the object of his thought to the close of his long life.