A UNIVERSITY DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25802, 24 March 1945, Page 6

A UNIVERSITY DAY

COMMEMORATIVE PROPOSAL

AJVAKENING PUBLIC INTEREST

A suggestion that each year the anniversary of the opening of the University of Otago be celebrated throughout the province by the holding of a “University Day” on July 5, the date of the opening of the Univers.ty m 1871, was made by the Mayor (Mr D C Cameron), when speaking at the function held by the Otago Early Settlers’ Association yesterday in commemoration of the anniversary of the founding of the province. “The city does not realise fully tha value of the University in the community,” said the Mayor, “ and a University Day would give citizeris the opportunity of showing in a practical manner their interest in and support of a very valuable civic institution.” Mr Cameron added that the University wa= founded on June 3, 1869. That was the day on which the Provincial Council passed the University of Otago Ordinance. the charter of which still formed the foundation upon which the University was in the main governed. The University was formally opened for classes on July 5,187 T, the Mayor continued. This was a day of rejoicing throughout the province. A public holiday was declared and crowds thronged the streets to attend the opening ceremony. Mr James Macandrew, the Superintendent of the province, said it was the most important event in the history of the province of Otago, if not of the colony, and predicted a great future for the University in the following words:— I confess that my own aspirations lead me to anticipate for the University of Otago, a much greater than even a New Zealand fame. If it be that the influence of climate has much to do with the development of mental and physical vigour, then I think that, all other things being equal, the Univer- • sity which you are this day inaugurating is not unlikely to be the principal seat of learnihg in the southern hemisphere—at all events, there can be no harm in aiming thus high. This day might well be celebrated as University .Day throughout Otago.

The Mayor said that there had been many signs lately of a reawakening of interest in University affairs, and he believed this could be turned to good purpose by the public celebration each year of a University Day. The programme might include a street, day, affording the public an opportunity of subscribing to a fund for the provision , of University hostels. . The students of the University would be asked fqr their full co-operation, and the University itself should be open to the general public for the day Proceedings might conclude with a meeting of citizens in the evening, when addresses,.could be given by representatives of the University—both staff and , students —inconjunction with public men.