AUCKLAND COLLEGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12394, 13 March 1926, Page 5

AUCKLAND COLLEGE

COST OF EDUCATION GOVERNOR UNVEILS MURAL STONE pride of Queen city Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 12. Following upon 43 years of poverty and obscurity Auckland 1 University College haa suddenly been elevated to the fulness of collegiate life that was impressively emphasised this afternoon at Hie official opening oeromony performed bv the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson). His Excellency commemorated it by nnvoiling the mural stone at the entrance to tho college.. Educational notabilities and members of Parliament were present on a.dais. From the enthusiasm shown at to<day’e ceremony it, was apparent that the college had already endeared itself to the hearts of the people. With the spacious quadrangle facing south to Symonds street, the new building occupies a site of 4J acres, that runs full width between Princes and Symonds streets. It has really two frontages as well, and presents the' name view from either side, except that the quadrangle entrance is on the floor below Princess street. It is a historic one in the city. The 3} acres adjacent to Government House grounds once formed a paddock in which the Governors of the colonial days kept their horses be- ( fore the advent of motor-cars. Later, the Grammar School hoys used the paddock as a playground. . When the Grammar School was in Symonds street fifty years go it was commonly regarded as one of the recreation grounds of Auokland. The Hon. George Fowlds, chairman of the University College Council, welcomed the Governor-General, and,traced the history of the college. "The. ■ total post of the buildings opened today, including furniture and equipment. would he about £150.000.” said Mr Fowlds. "The Government . had given approximately £120,000. From local institutions and citizens contributions totalling approximately £78,000 had been received.”

Other speakers were Sir James Parr, Professor Rankine Brown, Vice-Chan-cellor of the University, and Professor Segar. chairman of the Professorial Board.

The Governor-General congratulated the College .Council cm the feet that a dream that had been dreamed so long* had at last come true. “I can assure fhe architect,” he said, s‘that when we have inspected the interior. ‘ the hall, library,, lecture rooms, and last, hut not least, the clubhouse, we shall feel he has deserved all the gratitude we can possibly give him. I mention clubhouse especially because 5 t is not through lectures so much as through opportunities of meeting outside the lecture rooms- that tho toco of ufli versity is acquired. Mar J suggest that while it is to 1 the universities that we look to provide all that is necessary -for learning, one of the greatest functions of the nniversitv is to produce men and women who by training and character can influence their generation and maintain the traditions of the State.”

He then declared tho building open, using a gold key presented by the architects.