SIR DONALD CURRIE'S MUNIFICENCE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1679, 4 May 1904, Page 19

SIR DONALD CURRIE'S MUNIFICENCE

(From Our OAvn Correspondent.) LONDON, March 18. The terms of the magnificent gift of £100,003 which Sir Donald Currie has just made to the cause of university education in London may require a word or tAA'O of explanation. The donation is principally for the purpose of completing the incorporation of University College in Gower street with London University —a policy on Avhieh these two bodies have agreed, and for the fulfilment of Avhieh they are now promoting a Bill in Parliament. Incorporation is necessary in order to make the University of London a real teaching institution as Avell as an examining body, and the College offered last, year to place all its property under the control of the. University. This step, it Avas pointed out, would raise the University from its position as;-a mere agent between competing colleges and secure to in its rightful place as a teaching uniA'ersity. The scheme Avas hampered, however, by the lack of funds. About £l4-2,000 was raised, including £30,000 from the Drapers Company—enough to pay off. the debts of the College and to purchase the necessary site for the neAV hoys’ school and the erection of the buildings; but funds Avere still required to provide the School of Advanced Aledical Studies. Sir Donald Currie has noAV made good the deficiency by presenting the £BO,OOO required, and adding another £20.000 to supply a nurses? home and quarters for .the medical students connected with the University College Hospital. His daughter's have also generously given £2500 to provide a librarv. piano, and other comforts for the nurses. Sir Donald’s splendid gift, as the Chancellor and President of 'the University point out, is doubly Avelcome by reason of its timely nature. It removes the last barrier in the Avay of incorporation of the two institutions, and besides materially benefiting the medical resources of the college, hastens the dav when, to quote Lord Rosebery and Lord Reay, “London may be made tlie seat of a university worthy of tlie metropolis of tlie Empire.