AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue XV, 13 October 1894, Page 340

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY.

THE COLLEGE BY THE SEA.

A SHORT STUDY BY A SOMETIME STUDENT-IN TWO PARTS.

[CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.] HAVING glanced for a moment at the exterior of the College from Parliament street, having briefly considered the constitution of the University and paid our respects to the eminently respectable College Council, we may now turn our attention to the more interesting subject of the interior of the College, its pro-

fessors, its students, its graduates and its day to day life. Let us enter by the, by no means imposing, doorway. The entrance hall is plain and unadorned to an extent which may arouse the adverse criticism of the unthinking, but which is, we understand, alluded to with a proper pride by the authorities as a severe and scholastic symplicity of style in keeping with the rest of the building. A tasteful row of

hit pegs adorn the wall on the left, while that on our right hand is beautified by a notice board conceived, thought out and manufactured in a style to harmonise with other mural decorations. The first doorway on the left leads to the College library. Thanks to the late Professor Pond, this is now in a fairly efficient condition, though of course a

few bequests or donations like that of the late Professor of Classics and English would be of immense benefit. Sometime graduates of the University would do well to recollect this when they are getting on in the world. A donation of even £5 to the library would buy many useful books now wanting, and would be an admirable form of showing in a practical and concrete form that the College by the Sea holds an affectionate place in their memories. Any student of the College is at liberty to use the library,

and may borrow two books for home reading. The rules provide that no book shall be kept longer than a week, bnt this is a rule more honoured in the breach than in the observance. It would, we think, be a very prudent step if the authorities looked after the library rather more carefully than is the case at present. There is, of course, no danger of students taking out books and intentionally

forgetting to return them, but we fail to see what is to prevent a stranger entering the library and appropriating such of the valuable volumes as his knowledge of the book market might lead him to deem desirable. There is no caretaker, and no real check on the issue or return of books. Had the Council seen fit to appoint a graduate to the post

of registrar the duties of that office and librarian might have been combined, for the presence of a young man would not have been obnoxious to the students, who ’tween lectures often use the library as a club room for topical conversation. But the presence of an elderly clergyman—whose sympathies can scarcely be in accord with the students would be a * bore.’ Mr Runciman will, no doubt, discharge his official duties well, but we are sorry the Council did not see their way to appoint a graduate and a younger man, who might and who would have popularised the University. As an overseer at examinations, in which capacity all students remember him, Mr Runciman fills the bill to perfection ; but we had hoped for a new registrar who would command the sympathies of the students. Mr Runciman can, in the nature of things, scarcely do so. Official he is, official he has been, and official he will, we fear, remain. The classic and English portions of the library are, of course, the best, the shelves in the other sections being, as

yet, somewhat sparely filled. At the far end of the library is the cloak-room for lady students. The lecture-room on the left hand side of the entrance hall is devoted to geology and biology. Our artist appears to have taken his sketch just at the commencement of one of Professor Thomas’ lectures. The audience is as yet remarkable for its sparseness. The portrait of the sweet girl graduate may or may not be recognised. The rest of

the students are manifestly shamefully late. But such is all too often the wicked way of students. Opposite the Biology Lecture Hall is the laboratory, which is really well fitted, and whence an occasional pungent chemical odour arises to greet the olfactory organs of those who may be loitering in the im-

mediate vicinity. From the windows of the laboratory one looks out npon the * quad,’ which an indulgent public must not expect us to describe. Ours is but a humble and unfacile pen, and shrinks from attempting a task which might well discourage the foremost descriptive writers of the day. None bnt itself can be its parallel. Its beauties are not of the order that can be done full justness to in journalistic prose. They must be seen to be appreciated. To be serious: the windows of the laboratory look out on to a sort of asphalted back yard of mean appearance, which has, with the sardonic humonr of the supercilious student, been called the quad. Below the laboratory and across the yard are the Registrar’s rooms, the Council Chamber* and the messenger’s residence, none of which merit description. Below these again is the handsomest, or to speak correctly, the most sightly, of all the College buildings. Here is the domain of Professor Brown, and it is from its balcony that a view is obtained which, as we said last week, completely atones for all architectural shortcomings. It is but a moment ago we said in jest that one part of the College—the quad, to wit—would tax the powers of the most expert descriptive writer. It is necessary to repeat the remark in sober seriousness in looking at the view from the balcony of Professor Brown’s rooms. Almost at the foot of the slope on which the College stands ripple the waters of the harbour, smiling in the sunshine, and gay with the white sails of yachts or fishing boats. Green grows the grass on North Shore, or perhaps ’tis * distance lends enchantment to the view,’ for assuredly the marine suburb forms an exquisitely enchanting picture with its verdant hills, its shining white houses, and its dark fir trees on Mount Victoria. Keeping watch in the middle distance stands Rangitoto, like some old soldier whose fighting days are over, but who still stands sentinel over us. Beyond are Motutapu, and to the right Moti-ihi and Waiheke. We can also plainly see the lighthouse rock of Tiri-tiri. The Little Barrier shows light but clear against the horizon, while almost mingling with the clouds we can (if the day be fine) just distinguish the pale blue cloud on the water that is Great Barrier Island, 60 miles away. We should like to have given a picture of this view, but drawings and photos have appeared so often in the Graphic that this is neither necessary noradvisable. Besides, no picture in mere black and white could possibly do justice to a view the beauties of which so much depend on the richness and variety of colour. Turning our backs regretfully on the view, let us retrace our steps to the first building of the College upstairs. Above the library are the classical and mathematical lecture rooms, and on the left is the English lecture hall. Up here, too, are the private rooms of Professors Egerton, Seagar, and Tubbs. Little more can be said concerning the College. Let us now turn our attention to the professors. THE PROFESSORS. It is not easy to even think of the Professors of the Auckland University without immediately conjuring up a picture of Professor Brown, chairman of the Professorial Board, and probably the most popular University Professor in the colonies. If Otago and Canterbury can boast men who are his equals in lecturing New Zealand is very specially favoured. Speaking in a blunt, somewhat bluff fashion, Professor Brown has a perfect genius for explanation. He will drive the truth easily into the densest brains, and the most difficult matters appear clear and simple when you have listened to one of his lucid and simply expressed explanations. He will draw you parallels between his subject—perhaps a most abstruse one —and some common object or occurrence of every day life in a manner that is enchanting to the student, who has hitherto always imagined himself a fool of uncommon calibre, but who is now comforted by understanding easily what was heretofore impenetrable darkness and confusion. His experimental work in class is as excellent as is his supervision of laboratory labours. He is also possessed of a fund of dry humour, and when he does make a joke in lecture (and be often does) it is his own, and fresh. He talks to his students rather than lectures, speaking from a few headings only, and disdaining notes. And that, as he would say in concluding a lecture on himself, is the story of Professor Brown. Professor Thomas, who came out in the same year as Professor Brown, is also extremely popular with the students. A quiet and very reserved man, Professor Thomas has accomplished a vast amount of good outside the walls of the University as well as within them. He lectures well, though his manner is hesitating. He has, perhaps, more method than Professor Brown, and reads his lectures. His illustrative drawings on the board deserve a special mention here, being of quite unusual excellence. Professors can seldom draw.

Professor Tubbs, the classical lecturer, is a fine lecturer, and his manner, which was at first somewhat repellent, is mellowing. Perhaps Professor Tubbs had suffered in Melbourne, but heevidently imagined whenhecamethateveryone wanted to take liberties with him. At the soiree at which the students welcomed the new professors, Professor Tubbs, very much on his dignity, snubbed the students in a manner which was neither politic nor just. He has since, however, recognised that New Zealand students are for the most part

gentlemen, and expect to be treated as gentlemen, not as Melbourne schoolboy larrikins. The Professor has a brisk, incisive mode of lecturing, and enters into his subject with great detail, presupposing no previous knowledge of the subject. He is at present great on the morals of the Romans, and loves to compare them with those of France in the present day. Professor Chas. Egerton, the English lecturer, is already a great favourite with bis students. He is an admirable lecturer, and in his literature lectures gives one the impression of scholarship and deep reading. He is possessed of a very keen sense of the humorous, and contrives to bring out the characteristics of any author he is discussing with considerable clearness. His manner is genial, and he has a habit of getting students to speak and think for themselves that is rather rare in an English lecturer. Concerning Professor Seger, there is little to say save that he has the respect of all who have met him or attended his lectures. He is painstaking to a degree, and has the useful faculty of conveying knowledge. He is popular with his classes, and promises to be a great success. Herr Carl Schmitt, who lectures on music, is too wellknown to need much of our space. He is an entertaining lecturer, and ably fills the recently established chair of music. As most people know he is the conductor of the Choral Society, a position he has filled honourably for many years. The next college institution to consider is the graduates’ association. The graduates of the University College, who now number

over seventy, and whose numbers are yearly increasing, have their privileges and rights prescribed by the College Act, by which they are constituted part of the College itself. Besides the graduates from the College there are graduates from other universities whose names have been placed upon the books of the University. These ad eundein graduates possess all the privileges to which the others are entitled. The interests and powers of both are identical since the authorities recognise them all as graduates. The power of the graduates is by no means a negative quantity. On the College Council they have three representatives elected by themselves, whilst as members of the University of New Zealand they are entitled to assist in the election of Fellows to the University Senate. The graduates have at last awakened to the fact that they possess a power for good in the College, and their newly-formed Association promises to do good work in the future in protecting their interests. Besides keeping all members posted up in matters affecting their welfare—a thing which the scattered condition of the graduates had rendered impossible in the past—it is the duty of the Secretary to advise every member of any matter which concerns the graduates, whether that matter be connected with the College or with the University. With the University the Association has a recognized status, and its sympathy with similar bodies in the South guarantees that the Senate will not neglect Auckland graduates in the future. On the principle that simplicity in order prevents con fusion, the Association wisely limits its officers to three—a President, a Vice-president, and a Secretary. Mr F. E.

Baume, LL B. is the first President of the Association. He has ably defended the interests of graduates on all occasions. He enjoys their tallest confidence, and was elected by them unopposed to a seat upon the College Council during the present year. As President of the Students’ Association, and of the graduate body, he as a Governor will not let their interests be neglected. The Vice president, Mr George Lippiatt, M. A., deserves the credit of being the first to bring in a practical scheme for the formation of the Graduates’ Association. He was the first President of the Students’ Association, and on all occasions has done his utmost on behalf of both students and graduates. Mr John Boyle, M.A., the secretary, like the other officers is a graduate of the College, and has worked hard for the success of his association. As a student and as a graduate he joined with enthusiasm in anything likely to advance the well-being of the College. The officers are elected annually, and before the present officers retire there is every prospect of the graduates of the College being more in touch with College matters, of their taking more interest and fuller advantage of their powers and privileges, and of their giving their heartiest co operation in the good and useful work of the University College Graduates’ Association. students’ association. This Association was formed in June, 1891, and is by far the most important of the College institutions. Its rules set out that the objects of the Association are * to represent and act for the students in all matters affecting their welfare, to promote social intercourse among the members, and their mutual assistance and improvement.' In the attainment of these objects the Association has been eminently successful. Many little matters tending to improve the conditions of student life have been compassed through its agency. By its efforts, too, was obtained the use of rooms in the College for M. de Montalk to deliver French lectures in —a not unimportant point when it is considered that the Council has now appointed that gentleman as lecturer in French. Then, too, acting on the representation of the Association, the supervisor of the degree pass examinations obtained far more commodious and convenient rooms for holding the said examinations in. Several times the alteration of lecture hours to more convenient times for students has been effected by the representations of the Association to the Professorial Board. The Association has conducted many social gatherings to

celebrate College functions, and to welcome to the College the various new professors who have come at different times. All the other college student institutions are under the control of the Association, being in most cases managed by subcommittees appointed by the Association. Tbe chief of these are the Football Club, tbe Dramatic Club, and the Debating Society. The first President of the Association was Mr Geo. Lippiatt, M A., now science master at tbe Auckland College and

Grammar School. Mr Lippiatt held office from June, 1891, to the end of theyear!B92, when he was succeeded by Mr E. K. Mulgan, who at the beginning of this year was in turn succeeded by Mr F. E Blame, LL. B. There was a great deal of work done by the Association in Mr Mulgan’s year of office.

and consequently there was a considerable call made upon Mr Mulgan’s time. To this cal), however, Mr Mulgan most generously responded. This year (1894) will be memorable for many years to come in Association annals owing to the fact that it was the year in which the unfortunate dispute between the College Council and Professor Aldis took place.

At the beginning of the matter the students warmly championed the professor’s cause, and got up a largely signed petition to the Council praying that body to retain the professor’s services. Though some members of tbe Council thought it was presumptuous on the part of the students to interfere in the matter at all, still the petition was received and acknowledged by that body, and thereby an official recognition of the status of the Association was obtained. Mr E H. Barber was the first secretary of the

Association, and he held office till tbe end of 1892, when he was succeeded by the present secretary, Mr P. F. Battley. As will be seen by the photograph of the Executive above, there are lady members of the Association. It matters not whether the student be male or female, if matriculated, he or she may, on payment of a nominal fee, join the Association. In this point the Association differs from the parent Association—the Otago University Students’ Association—in which the ladies have all along had to be represented by male students elected by them. This matter has this year been remedied, and in future lady students of tbe Otago University may join the Association. Miss Morrison, M. A., now a vice president of the Association, has been a member of the Executive ever since the inception of the Association, as has also been Mr T. U. Wells, B. A. For some years there was a very prosperous Football Club in connection with the College, but when the Auckland Rugby Union instituted the district scheme the 'Varsity Club had to go, with the other clubs of the old regime into oblivion. Till this year ’Varsity football was a thing of the past in Auckland, but under the auspices of the Association the Club has been revived, and has during the past season played matches with the country clubs. Efforts are being made to induce the Auckland Rugby Union to constitute the ’Varsity a district, and so entitle ’Varsity footballers to play as a team. The Dramatic Club is the youngest of the College institutions, being just about two months old. The club is busy rehearsing ‘ The Rivals ’ (R. B. Sheridan) at present, and purposes making its first public appearance about December next.

Many persons were doubtless surprised not to find the photo of Mr Baume amongst his colleagues of the Council last week. But this gentleman occupies so many positions that were not mentioned last week and that are this, that we held the photo'> ver. Mr F. E Baume, LLB., is a gentleman whose name is rapidly becoming as well Known in Auckland generally as it is in the University College, and that is saying a good deal. He is an old Dunedin High School boy, who in 1883 returned to Dunedin and studied law, and while there passed the first section of the LL.B, degree at the Otago Univer sity, gaining special class distinction in bis year for Mental Science and Political Economy. In 1887 he came to Auckland and started to practise his profession, and at the same time entered the Auckland University College, where he soon passed the final sections of his degree, to graduate LL B From the time Mr Baume first entered the college, he has been more or less intimately connected with student lite there, and to day occupies the high position of being Graduates’ Member on the College Council, and President of both the Graduates’ and the Students’ Associations.

By some strange oversight we had almost forgotten to mention one of the College institutions—M. de Montalk, who is lecturer on the French and German language and literature. He is so old an identity, and is so well-known, not only in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, but, in fact, all over New Zealand, that he scarcely needs to be further described. He is extremely popular, and most deservedly so. M. de Montalk is a gentleman whom everyone respects, and a great number have a genuine affection for. And now there remains little to add to this brief and necessarily very imperfect sketch of Auckland University and some of its institutions. If we have indulged in some rather cheap sarcasm at the plainness and humbleness of the buildings and appointments, it has been with no ill natured intent. This is not a time to ask for or to expect grants of money for any save purely utilitarian purposes. Some day when the Ministers or the Opposition have made this colony the rich and prosperous

place it should be, Auckland may demand and receive a Government grant sufficient to erect a University College worthy of the North Island, worthy of the beautiful city, and inspiring to the young men and young women whom it will send out into the world. For there can be no possible doubt that noble architecture will and does produce noble aspirations, and noble aspirations, even if they do not always produce noble Jives, at least tend that way. But whatever be the future of the buildings of Auckland University there is one thing that is far more Important, ‘ the teaching,’ and thia is about as strong and about as near perfect as ean be obtained anywhere in

the world. Those who attend the University College have the advantage of learning from men, each one of whom has distinguished himself highly in the branches of knowledge he professes to impart, and each one of them possesses the art of communicating thought in an exceptional degree. The Editor has to thank Sir M. O’Rorke, the Professors, and the other gentlemen who assisted in bringing out this article. Special thanks are due to Mr Hanna, who with his accustomed courtesy, placed his studio and his abilities at our disposal. The photos illustrating the article are with one exception his.