OFFER OF £5000

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 29 March 1938, Page 4

OFFER OF £SOOO

RUTHERFORD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

GOVERNMENT GRANT OF SAME AMOUNT ASKED FOR

lßy Telegraph-Prp«* Ansociallnnt

CHRISTCHURCH. 28th March

An offer of £SOOO toward the establishment ol' a research scholarship in memory of the contributions to science of Lord Rutherford, has been received from Mr Arthur Sims by Canterbury University College. The offer is made on condition that the Government of New Zealand is prepared to make a similar contribution to the scholaiship fund.

Mr Sims is a graduate of Canterbury College. It is proposed that the scholarship be known at the “Lord Rutherford Memorial Research Scholarship,” that it shall have an annual value of about £4OO. and that it shall be tenable for three years. It is to be awarded for outstanding merit and promise in physics, chemistry or mathematics, and is to be open not only to Can-

terbury University College graduates, but to graduates of the University of New Zealand generally, or of any other university who may be resident in New Zealand. The scholarship is intended to give the scholar an opportunity of further study, training and experience in research at some approved institution, either in the British Empire or elsewhere. The money subscribed is to

form a trust fund administered by the University ot New Zealand. “Every member of this council will be deeply grateful to Mr Sims,” said Mr C. T. Aschman, when announcing the gift at a meeting of the Canterbury University College Council to-day. “The gift means that there is every possibility of establishing a scholarship distinctive of New Zealand, and worthy of its purpose which is to commemorate the name of Lord Rutherford. and which will give an opportunity for some of the intellectual strength of New Zealand to benefit not only themselves but their country." MATTER DISCUSSED WITH MINISTER Mr Aschman said that representatives of the college council had discussed the matter with the Minister of Education. Hon. P. Fraser, and although he could naturally give no definite promise, he was so taken with the idea of the scholarship as a fitting memorial to Lord Rutherford, and so sympathetic that the council was very hopelul that the suggested gift from the Government would be forthcoming. Mr Fraser had said that the proposal would have his very strong support. He had suggested that it would be best if the trust fund to be set up were administered by the University of New Zealand. Even if the amount were brought up to £IO.OOO said Mr Aschman, that sum would not produce the £4OO a year aimed at. for at current rates of interest it would yield only £350. The council was hopeful that the money would be brought up to the sum necessary to provide the £4OO a year proposed. “This will be the finest scholarship in New Zealand, and it will not be one to be awarded lightly.” said Mr Aschman. "It will be given only to a man of really distinctive ability in the special subjects stipulated. If no suitable person is offering when it falls vacant, the revenues will be held until such a men is available. If funds accumulate an additional scholarship may be given from time to time." “WORTHIEST MEMORIAL” "The generosity of Mr Sims, whom some may remember as a graduate of j Canterbury University College, in es- j tablishing this scholarship calls for our I fullest thanks." said Dr. J. Hight. rec-1 tor of the college. "The gift is notable not only for his benevolence but for his judgment in selecting the worthiest J memorial that could be devised to perpetuate the memory of Lord Ruther- ! lord. It may be far more permanent 1 than others which have been suggested. It is designed to help those students of i distinctive ability who find themselves, i as Lord Rutherford did after graduation. lacking the necessary funds to go abroad. It was only by a fortunate chance alter Lord Rutherford’s gradu-1 ation that the 1851 Exhibition Scholar- 1 ship became vacant through the inab/lity of the scholar selected to go abroad and he was selected to fill his! place. One of the conditions of the ; scholarship is. appropriately, that it | shall be awarded for excellence in the , fields in which Lord Rutherford made i his achievement—in physics, chemistry o** mathematics. I hope the people of New Zealand, through the Government, will join with Mr Sims and the Uni- : versily in establishing this scholarship which ir. the opinion of all of us. is 1 the most fitting memorial to Lord Rutherford ” < i

He moved that the College Council express its thanks to Mr Sims for his very generous offer of £SOOO toward a Lord Rutherford Memorial Research Scholarship. Dr. G M L. Lester, who seconded the motion, said that it would be a great pity if the provision ol a memorial to Lord Rutherford were left to

the munificence of one person. He hoped that a scheme would also be devised in which the college would take an important share.

Dr. Hight's motion was earned and a sub-committee was empowered to approach the University of New Zealand and ask it to take the matter up with the Government

CASEMENT AICKIN BURSARY

AUCKLAND 2*tli March

The first award of the Casement Aickin Memorial Bursary, founded last year, was made by the Auckland University College Council to Mr G. J, Taine. Remuera, at present a medical student at Otago University

Mr Taine was placed first of lour applicants by the Faculty of Science with the endorsement of the professorial board, and the proposed award was approved as required under the rules by the president of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association. Dr. Frank Macky.

The bursary has been endowed with a fund of £SOO subscribed by the public as a memorial to Mr Casement Aickin. a well-known Auckland surgeon, whose death occurred in 1936.