UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 479, 12 April 1909, Page 6

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

A CIVIC WELCOME. The university students, who are holding their annual tournament in Wellington, wore accorded a civic reception in the Town Hall Concert Chamber at 9.15 on Saturday morning. Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., presided as senior councillor, in the absenco of the Mayor, who is out of town. Councillor Fisher, M.P., Councillor M'Laren, M.P., Mr. J. W. Joynt (registrar of tho University) and several university professors were seated on tho platform. Tho students, of hoth sexes, filled about half the available seating accommodation upstairs and down. The speeches wero frequently interrupted by the intorjcctions, concerted cries, and cf<fusivo applauso which are an accepted convention of student gatherings. Mr. Luko welcomed the visitors, apologised for the., bad weather, and expressed tho hope that they would enjoy their sojourn in tho capital city. Tho Mayor (Mr. Hislopj, for whoso absenco ho apologised, would havo reminded them, as an old Otago boy, had he been present, that it was in Otago that university life in New Zoahnd had its birth. Tho Provincial Ordinance establishing tho Otago University was passed in 1869, and it was in 1370 that the General Assembly passed tho Act which brought the University of New Zealand into being, but it was. not until 1874 that tho Otago University became affiliated with tho largo and moro representative institution. The lirst charter of the Now Zealand University enabled it to grant degrees in art, music, and science, equal in value to tho degrees conferred by tho universities of tho Old Country. The charter of 1904 considerably extended tho degree-conferring powers of the university, engineering and agriculture being included, and it was interesting to note that the late Primo Minister, the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon, was responsible for the university being enabled to extend its scope so as to include naval architecture. After this there followed naturally, under Mr. Seddon's successor, tho olier of a battleship to the Imperial Government. (Applause.) Referring to Victoria College, Mr. Luke said the Act. which brought it into being had been fully justified by the splendid work it had done. (Applauso.) Sir Bobert Stout, the Chancellor of the University, and one of the finest men we had ever had in the Dominion—(applause)—had suggested that tho work of tho university should be specialised in the different centres, giving medioino to Dunedin, engineering to Christchurch,' law to Wellington—though surely wo had plenty of law hero already—and mining to Auckland. Without judging whether this would be the best possible arrangement, Mr. Luko thought some such division of functions would bo required. (Applause.) Professor Kirk, chairman of tho Professorial Board of Victoria College, said ho had noticed that the visitors on Friday wero enjoying tho Wellington weather, and ho hoped they would still enjoy it. Some of tho trophies would certainly be lcopt in Wellington, and if they had to speed departing victors at tho close, then tho victors would certainly bo good men. (Applause.) Mr. T. It. Fleming, chairman of Victoria College, also welcomed tho visitors on behalf of the college. Professor Gabbatt, of Canterbury College, expressed the thanks of the visitors for the hearty welcome accorded to them.Mr. George' Dixon thanked Mr. Luko and tho civic authorities on behalf of the students, and led the Victoria College students in cheers for Mr. Luke and tho visitors. Mr._ Luko, oii behalf of tho civic authorities, invited the students to make free uso of the Town Hall premises during tho day, as tho weather appeared likely to prevent outdoor sports. , After furtbor cheering tho gathering dispersed. Tho rain continued throughout Saturday, and tho university tennis tournament was thercforo postponed. Tho city organist (Mr. Maughan Barnctt) kindly gave a recital on tho Town Hall organ for tho students in tho morning, and an entertainment, improvised by tho students themselves, took place at Victoria College in tho afternoon. CHRISTIAN UNIONS. Yesterday at 10 a.m.. a meeting of some seventy students, representative of the Christian Unions in tho University Colleges, was held in St. John's Hall, Willis Street. A short scrvico was conducted, and representative speakers gavo information regarding tho work and aims of-the Christian Unions in their colleges. At 11 a.m.' the Rev. Dr. Gibb conducted a special scrvico for students in St. John's Church. About ninety students wero present. Dr. Gibb took as his text Colossians 1: 27, and mado a powerful appeal for tho concccrated lives of young men and women. TO-DAY'S EVENTS. Tho girls' tennis matchos, which were postponed on Saturday, on account of rain, will be commenced to-day at 8.45 a.m. on tho Wol'ington Tennis Club's courts, in Palmer Street. Most of tho men's tennis events Mill take placo to-morrow. Tho athletic contests will bo held to-day at tho Basin Reserve, commencing at 11 a.m. A picnic will bo held at Day's Bay this evening.