NEW ZEALAND DINNER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21377, 29 December 1932, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND DINNER

UNIVERSITY GRADUATES GATHERING IN LONDON SPEECH BY LORD RUTHERFORD [from our own correspondent] LONDON. Nov. 22. Nearly 100 graduates of the University of New Zealand—men and women—attended a dinner held on November 19, under the presidency of Lord Rutherford of Nelson, It was, as he said,, a unique occasion, and it passed off very successfully, A good many quondam-New Zealanders, who havfc been professionally engaged in England for a number of years, welcomed the opportunity for friendly reunion, and the opportunity, too, of meeting some of the younger men and women who are working for their degrees here. Dr. A. J. Harrop, representative in England of the University of New Zealand, said he had- received a message of felicitation from the chancellor of the university in connection with the occasion, with a special personal message to Lord Rutherford regarding his mother, who had attained her ninetieth birthday. It expressed the wish that he should "continue to enjoy cosmic investigation; as long as his mother."

The remark about Mrs. Rutherford was particularly appreciated by Lord Rutherford. " My father, at the age of 90, was in a much better physical state than I am at ray relatively, juvenile year," ho added. To the chancellor in New Zealand the following reply was approved and sent: " Graduates in Britain send filial greetings to the chancellor of the university, with their best wishes for the continued and increasing success of their Alma Mater." Tribute to the Pioneers / Colonel Bernard Myers proposed the toast of the New Zealand University, paying tribute to some of the pioneers who had done much in connection with its foundation, including Sir Edward Stafford, Sir John Logan Campbell, Hon. William Rolleston, Mr. H. L, Tancred, and Professor A. W. Bickerton. In 1930 there were 4130 students actually in attendance at the university colleges. The Rhodes scholars had attained the highest honours, i and they had also attained a fine record j in games. The speaker, in conversation with Dr. Cyril Norwood, headmaster of Harrow, recently asked: " What do you think is the finest character-making game that you know?" "Rugby is the finest character-making game in the world," was the immediate reply. distinguished students of the university Colonel Myers mentioned their chairman, Sir William Marris, Sir Apirana Ngala, Mr. ; Downie Stewart, Dr. L. J. Cororje and Dr. A. J. Harrop. _ ' In conversation not long ago the late Lord Plumer, said Colonel Myers, related an interesting incident. He said he was dining with the General Officer Com- - manding the Guards. The latter asked Lord Plumer: "What do you consider, was the greatest division during-the war?" Lord Plumer: "I suppose the Guards Division." "What about the Jsew Zealand Division ?" was the response of the Guards was a tremendously high tribute and one of which the New Zealand division would, feel rightly .... proud. Some Early Professors Lord Rutherford, said he considered it a great honour that he had been-asked to preside on this uniqtie occasion in the history of the university of New Zealand. It had been brought home to him. that he was getting somewhat aged,-as it was" more than forty years since' he entered Canterbury College as a student from rv elson College. He had the most vivid remembrance of the five years" of his stay at Canterbury College, and since reaching the age of wisdom he had, had the opportunity of meeting many men and seeing many universities. ' The professors with whom he came mostin contact in New Zealand, said Lord Rutherford, were: Professors Cook, Bickerton and Macmillan-Brown. Professor - Cook was always very anxious to develop whatever mathematical talent there was among his scholars. For a time he (the speaker) had the misfortune tp run parallel with one who was very 'quick over the top," William Marris. The two competed for three years for the mathematical scholarship. The first year they tied j the second year Marris showed he was superior; but the third, year he himself gained the award. Sir William Marris had had a remarkable career in India and now was head of Armstrong College, Newcastle. " Professor Bickerton's Theory One of the characteristics of Professor Bickerton, who had had a very untfsual career, was his keen 'ambition to push his students on. His first gave . the speaker a real interest in science. Later on, the professor became possessed by his theory of cosmic impact, enthusiasm for which probably interfered a good deal with his work. But he (Lord Rutherford) believed that in the days to come part of Professor Bickerton's theory would be accepted. He,included the names of Professors Scott and Dendy in his tribute. The courses which the professors in New Zealand gave were admirable considering the conditions that the country had to face. They were all in their way men of remarkable ability. He thought their influence was very marked in the foundation of the university development of the college at Canterbury. . ' Lord Rutherford said that his wife, who was also a former student of Canterbury College, retained a keen interest in her university. They had since visited the colleges of the university of New Zealand several times, and, while he felt that the institution was healthy, he thought everyone who passed through it would wish that it could be even better than it was.