EX OTAGO STUDENTS' REUNION AT WAIHI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 28

EX OTAGO STUDENTS' REUNION AT WAIHI.

Esprit de cctpb seems to be a leading characteristic of Otago University studema. When two or three of them meet they fraternise They invariably tnqke an opportunity to do honour to their Alma Mater. Them are a number of ex-Ottgo University student* at W«ihi, and on the 30th nit a number ol them met at dinner, the occasion being the second annual reunion. The report below is abridged from the Waihi Telegraph: — The second annual reunion of the Waihi portion of the ex-atudeute of the Ot*ga School of Mines took place at Meyer's Hotel, the function taking the Ehap* of a dinner. The present occasion was marked by ibe presence of Dr Black. Professor of Chemistry at the Otago University, who is held in very high esteem by every mining and ex-mining Btudent of the University. Dr Black presided, and, despite his 70 odd years, ma and of the most jovial and hearty of the 35 guests present. Apologies were received from Messrs W. H. Herrie», M.P., F. SUtham. D« Ramie. Stoiie, E. G. Bank*, H. D. MacDonald, G. S -(Shell, O. Biehop, Kitching, and Dr Withers. After the toast of " The King " had been honoured, the Chairman galled upon Dr Buck to propose "The Alma Mater." Dr Buck having done so in felicitous terms, Dr Black replied. In doing so ne ga.v« an interesting albeit technical discourse- <nx smelting. He concluded by saying that 39 years ago a young man from Glasgow came to New Zealand with the cyanide process in his pocket, but he (the speaker) would h*v« nothing to do with it, and advised him to go away Home again. Theoretically, he though ß that cyanide was right but toe practical purposes lie did not for a xncmcnß at that time think that cyanide would. Ao at all. He bad since found that ha was all wrong and the young man was right.— (Laughter.) He concluded hia remarks by expressing his great pleasure in- being amongst his old students, and complttnantecl them on their big mnikr. H« felt that &«r« was not a town, in the Dominion that could bring such «, gathering of ex-srludents together. He truated that ib» funotion would be an annual on«, and that he would have the privilege of being with them again. B he was anywhere within two or thor«e nundredf miles of Waihi at the time their next reunion was held, and they would let him know, he would come again. Mr W. Gibson. A.0.8.M.. in proposing "ha toast of " Metallurgy," pointed out that ifl was simply due to advances in the sciences of metallurgy that the gathering owed its presence that evening. Th* mining work of the original company wms very satisfactory, but until new methods came along the ore won wouli} not be Seated profitably. The metallurgist now wa« required to have m good knowledge of chemistry, and gradually he would not be required to possess thati knowledge of mining machinery that was afi the present expected of him. Tiure would be- created othar positions for man expert in the use, construction, and running of machinery. The metallurgist, too, tended) to specialise nowaday* hi th» treatment of one or two mottl* when thete latter war* usually in conjunction, and avoided the study of* others except in 10 far as they interfered with tha treatment of tha special are in which he was interested. Mr P. C. Brown, superint&najsnt of tho' Waihi Grand Junction Gold Company, raw speeded. Speaking of the great advance made in mining appliances and mining int all its branches, he said the Americans generally got ahead of New Zealand. Mm« ing wag daily becoming a greater science, and the saving by up-to-date methods enabled low grade ore to be treated profitably, whereas a few years ago profitable treatment of such ores was out of tit* qu««tion. 'In regard to the smelting process, as outlined by Dr Black, he said that he could not speak with the same confidence on tha process as the doctor had. When he was in America the smelters were not altogether ■ success, and he thought much experiment! would be needed before the process was ft success in New Zealand. Other toasts were proposed and replied to by Messrs W. Baker, 8.8 c.. Mr J. B. Evans, Ht Shand W. M'Donald, Mr W. J. Gray. During the evening the following gentlemen contributed to the programme : — Messra E E. Williams. W. M'Kinnon, G. A. tJlnoh, L. Is. Jolly, H. Mitchell, W. Gibson, J. NY Quick, and G. L. Herons.