THE UNIVERSITIES NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume V, Issue 2, 1 November 1901, Page 134

THE UNIVERSITIES NEW ZEALAND.

(AuciCfancl Uriwer&\ty (Boffege,

By H. J. D. Mahon, B.A.

j||jj^?||^HEN" one speaks of an Old World Jl|®p|| University, he immediately 11'Am/J conjures up before his mind's nbMiNH eve c P lc^ ure °f a majestic pile of buildings with quaint, picturesque Gothic windows, ivy-covei'ed walls and spacious quadrangles, hallowed by the glorious traditions of centuries. He looks upon it with something of that reverential awe with which we regard noble institutions that are the gradual evolution of time, and are associated with much that is great and glorious in the past history of a country. The haudsome buildings of the Otago University and of Canterbury College are in keeping with the dignity and importance of their work, and give the residents something — if only a floating flavour — of the Old World conception of a University College. So far, however, is the average Auoklander from calling up such a picture at the mention of the Auoklimd University College that to him it is merely a name — a shadowy something he has read of in the newspaper, and not a substantial reality. The reason is not far to seek. The Auckland

University College is located in a remote corner of the city, out of the beaten track of the citizens ; it is a plain, low wooden building, or, to be more accurate, group of buildings, with no pi'etensions to architectural beauty ; in fact, as far as outward appearances go, it might easily be mistaken for a barracks or a boot factory. Yet this building has a histoi'y such as the Southern Colleges cannot boast of. It is clearly identified with the establishment of our New Zealand Parliamentary Government. It was here in 1854, when New Zealand was first granted responsible government, that our legislature first met, and after passing its first Act — the Act authorising the sale of spirituous liquors within its precincts — proceeded to the consideration o£ the minor matters that the assumption of responsible government involved. It was not till some years after its establishment that the Auckland University secured this permanent abode. In the first years of its life it wandered about from the District Court in High Street, where lectures on Law were first delivered, to one room in

th^e Museum, which the Council of that institution considerately placed " during certain hours of the week at the disposal of

the Professor of Classics and English," and thence to one lecture room in Eden Street — the nucleus of the present building — which was shared by the Professors of Chemistry, of Natural Science, and of Mathematics. «' By permission of the Government, and with the sanction of the Naval authorities," the Mathematical and Languages departments subsequently migrated to Admiralty House, in which one lecture room was secured. It was not till 1890, when the premises of the Land aud Survey Department were removed, and the section of land in Eden and Parliament Streets, on which the present buildings ai*e situated, was transferred to the College Council, that the Auckland University College found a refuge from its wanderings in a settled abode. Though the exterior of the building is so unprepossessing, yet an unbiassed observer, who has visited Otago Univei'sity and Canterbury College, will readily admit that its lecture and cprnmon rooms are better furnished and

more cheerful than, and its science laboratories immeasurably superior to, those of the Southern institutions.

In 1899 Sir G. M. O'Rorke prevailed upon the Government to make a grant of £1,000 to enable the Council to enlarge the building so as to meet the requirements of the ever-increasing number of students. A new wing was added, and the present buildings are likely to satisfy the needs of the College for some time to come. The establishment of the Auckland University College was subsequent to those i^ofOtagoand Canterbury. The Scotchman, .imbued as he is with a love of learning and the capacity to make a good bargain, showed commendable foresight in securing for his province valuable educational endowments* as did the cultured University and public school men who were the ruling spirits of the Canterbury Pilgrims. But there was not the same organised interest taken in the future of the district by the more heterogeneous class that first settled in Auckland ; hence the province is to-day prdfetically devoid of educational endowments

The fact, however, that a University Col lege was established in Auckl and seventeen years befoi'e Wellington secured a similiar institution, is due to the unremitting zeal and advocacy of Sir Gr. Maurice O'Rorke, M.A., LL.D., the eloquent Speaker of the House of Representatives, who has been Chairman of the Auckland University Council since its inception, and who will ever be gratefully remembered as the father of secondary and higher education in Auckland. In 1879 a Royal Commission on University Education, of which Sir Maurice was Chairman, recommended " that two Colleges, with an income of £4,000 each, ought to be established at Wellington and Auckland, and that suitable buildings, at a cost of £12,500 each, should be erected in each city." Thanks to Sir Maurice, the Auckland University College Act was passed in 1882, establishing the College and endowing it with a statutory grant of £4,000 per annum ; the second recomnien-

dation of the Commission was not given effect to, and the College was in consequei cc considerably hampered at the outset of its

career, and dooraod to undergo the weary peregrinations that I have above detailed.

The College was opened in 1883, in which year it was affiliated to tho Now Zealand University, with the following 1 professorial staff: — Chemistry and Physics, Professor J. D. Brown, E.Sc. (Lond.), Hon. M.A. (Oxford), F.C.S. ; Natural Science, Professor A. W. P. Thomas, M.A, F.L.S. ; Classics and English, Professor T. (1. Tucker, 8.A.. Fellow of St. John's, Cambridge; Mathematics, Professor G. A. Walker, M.A.) Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge 1 Second Wrangler, 1879. Professor Walker was destined not to deliver a lecture. Three weeks before the College opened he was drowned while boating in the Auckland Harbour, and thus cut off at the early aufo of twenty- four from what promised to be a useful and brilliant career. Professor W. Steadiuan Aldis, M.A. (Cantab.), Senior Wrangler and First Smith's Prizeman of 18(31, was appointed to

succeed him. The Professor was induced by the superiority of New Zealand's climate to relinquish the lucrative position of

Principal of the Durham College of Physical Science in order to take up this position. Mr. Aldis, the most lucid of teachers, to the regret of all, students and graduates, ceased to be Professor in 1894. He was succeeded by Professor H. W. Segar, M.A., Second Wrangler, 1890, and Smith's Prizeman, 1892, who at present holds the chair of Mathematics. Professor Tucker resigned the chair of Classics and English in 1885 to take up the position of Professor of Comparative Philology at the University of Melbourne, where he has gained a high reputation for his scholarship, and unusual populai'ity for the way he has identified himself with the life and literature of his adopted country. Professor Tucker was succeeded by Professor H. M. Posnett, M.A., LL.D., a gentleman of untiring energy, and of exceptional culture and scholarship, who lectured with great success on the following subjects: — Classics, English, [Modern Langnnges, Political

Science and Mental Science. Professor Posnett resigned in 1891, and was succeeded by Professor C. A. M. Pond, M.A., who

died in 1893. The Council then decided to separate the chairs of Classics and English. Professor H. A. Talbot-Tubbs, M.A., was appointed to the chair of Classics, and Professor C. W. Egerton to that of English. Mr. J. E. W. P. de Montalk, B. es L., recently deceased, was subsequently appointed Lecturer on Modern Languages. Since the departure of Professor Posnett Political Science and Mental Science have practically ceased to be taught at the Auckland College, and the Council is at present unable, owing to the want of funds, to institute regular lectures in these important subjects. Lectures have been delivered on Music for some years. Dr. W. E. Thomas, Mus. Doc. (Oxon.), is the present director of the School of Music. These lectures are popular and largely attended. A writer in a recent number of the Collegian, however, characterises the Auckland School of Music as a huge mistake ! He maintains " that the

Auckland College discourages students from passing a legitimate course of study'for Mus. Bac, not directly, perhaps, but by

substituting an allurement in the shape of its local diploma, A.S.M." The Library is a feature of the Auckland

University College, and is much appreciated by the students. Here they can study undisturbed, and avail themselves of its many works of reference. The late Prof. Pond bequeathed to it 1000 volumes of valuable works on English and the Classics* and the stock is being constantly added to by the Council. A glance at the list of the Auckland graduates " with honours " reveals the fact that it is in Science, Chemistry and Geology that this College has won its highest honours. The Auckland students have of late years regularly annexed the senior scholarships in Chemistry and Geology. The Exhibition 1851 Scholarship, which is awarded for original science research, has been offered five times, and thrice won by graduates of the Auckland College. The first Exhibition Scholarship was awarded in 1892 to Mr. D. H. Jackson, M.A., who at present holds an important position at the

British University. Mr. J. S. MncLauriu, D.Sc, the present Government Analyst, was awarded the next scholarship in 1894, hut

being unable to proceed to England to fulfil the conditions of the scholarship, was compelled to relinquish it. Mr. Jackson and Dr. MacLaurin won their scholarships for chemical researches. Last year Mr. J. M. MacLaren, M.A., was awarded a third Exhibition Scholarship for his research on the geology of the Coromaudel gold fields. These facts seem to show that in the higher branches of Science Auckland can more than hold its own with the Southern colleges The fact that the more brilliant students hare preferred the Honours' course in Science to that in Classics is easily accounted for. The inducements to take up a Science course are great. The Gillies and Sinclair Scholarships, tenable at the Auckland University College, are offered to secondary school pupils for proficiency in Science and Mathematics, and are at present worth £70 per annum. The Exhibition Scholarship, which is the goal

of the Science student's ambition, is worth £150 per annum, and enables the holder to proceed to England, or to the Continent to perfect his studies. There are no corresponding prizes to allure the student to the study of Classics and English. Of recent years there has been an outcry throughout the country for technical education, but about the true nature of technical education there are many false notions abroad which it may not be out of place to correct here. The average elector

seems to think that, if technical schcols are established where the rising generations can be instructed to wield dexterously a hammer or a saw, th^e country is bound to achieve industrial greatness. The example of Germany is often quoted in support of this v contention. It is not, however, to the^establishment of schools to give uneducated apprentices the instruction that ban be just as well acquired from a skilled artizan that Germany's industrial supremacy && due. Jfa is due ! io. the .fact ..that she has encouraged students of proved ability and

scholarship to specialize in the highest branches of Science, and to devote their abilities to scientific research. The result has been the discoveiy of new scientific processes, and the of these discoveries to the arts and industries has rendered production more efficient, and led to Germany's industrial supremacy.

High work of such a character is being done at the Auckland University College, and the success achieved in the past with the limited means at its disposal is the best

augury of the good it is likely to do in the futui'e, when we trust the College will be more liberally endowed, and its students able to work under more favourable conditions. The majority of those who have specialized in Chemistry and Geology graduated with first-class honours. Several of the researches dealt with the treatment of our auriferous ores, and were considered of sufficient merit to be published by the New Zealand Government and the Chemical Society of England. The number of students at the Auckland

University College has increased threefold since the opening in 1883, but the revenue has remained the same. The number of

Chairman Auckland University College Council,

students attending lectures was seventy-four in 1883, and two hundred and thirty-nine in 1899. This year the number of students is oue hundred and niuety-nine. The College has an endowment of 30,000 acres in the Taupiri district, but the land is of such an inferior quality that it yields a revenue of only £200. Thus the Auckland University College Council has to maintain the institution on an income of little over £4,000 per annum — a sum which is scarcely sufficient to meet the inevitable demands made upon it, and which does not enable the Council to extend the good work the College is doing.

Of the two lmndred students but a small proportion devote their time exclusively to University work. Most are engaged during the day in the serious business of gaining a livelihood, and are free to attend lectures in

the evening only, when, to suit their convenience, most of the leotures are delivered. The number of exclusive students has increased, however, duricg the last few years. Until recently there has been only an occasional Honours student in Classics and English ; the number of such students is now on the increase, and we may safely predict that in future Aucklanders will get their share of scholarships and honours in these subjects. Space will not allow me to discuss at any length the various societies connected with the Auckland University College. Tho Students' Association, of course, takes precedence of the others. This society has great influence on the College life. It not only manages the College social functions, but has frequently made representations to, and been approached by, the Council on matters relating to tho welfare of tho College and its students. Until recently there were two dialectic societies at the College — the

Debating Society, for which all members are eligible, and the Girlw' Korero Club, from which, as its name implies, the male was

ruthlessly excluded. The Korero Club had a prosperous career for some years. Some time ago its fair orators defeated the male representatives of the Debating Society in tlie only tournament debate held between the rival societies. This year, however, for some inexplicable reason, the Korero Club disbanded, and was succeeded by the Ladies' Common Room Club which meets, I understand, daily, and debates matters more informally under the stimulating influence of afternoon tea. There are two College Athletic Clubs— the Football Club and the Girls' Hockey Club. The Auckland Rugby Union has persistently refused to recognise the University as a district, hence the College ruggers have to be contented with suuh matches as can be arranged with clubs outside the Union. The Girls' Hockey Club is a flourising institution, and has suffered only one defeat this season^, and that by a narrow margin. The Christian Union is

enthusiastically directed by the divinity students at the College. The Students' Association" publishes quarterly a brightly-

edited magazine, The Collegian, which gives an account of the doings of the various societies, and contains well-written articles on matters of University interest.

The Students' Association holds an annual

conversazione at the time of the capping ceremony. A clever and witty musical farce is written for the occasion by the students, and presented before a crowded audience of the general public, who brave all the rigours of the weather rather than miss this merum sal of refined fooling. A noticeable feature in the College life is the harmony that prevails between professors and students. No matter what the function — a conversazione, a dance, or a graduation banquet — the professors invariably co-operate to promote its success. At the annual conversazione the Professors of Chemistry and Natural Science have not only regularly thrown open their laboratories to the public, but have also entertained them with lantern, lectures, or with an exhibition and explanation

of science apparatus

From the foregoing sketch of its history

it will be seen that the Auckland University College has had to struggle, siuce its foundation, with adverse circumstances. It was some years before the College Avas located in a permanent building, and now the Council has to make provision for about the same number of students as Canterbury College with about one-fifth of the revenue of that institution. Despite these drawbacks, it has made its influence felt in the community, and only awaits an increased Government grant or bequests from some wealthy citizens to extend its good work. Professor Tubbs said in a recent speech that the University should be the heart of the nation, and when we consider that thus early in its life, three of the one hundred

and fourteen graduate* of the Auckland College hold University professorships or lectureships, twenty, masterships in secondary, and twenty-five, important positions in primary schools, that twelve have been ordained for the Church, that ten have qualified for the legal, and live for the medical profession, we must admit that the Auckland University College is sending its vitalizing streams of knowledge into many varied channels of human activity, and that it is doing more than any other agency to raise the status and increase the ellicionoy of those professions which, above all others, direct the thought and mould the character of the people. A great work, truly, and one worthy of most noble effort.