A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 514, 22 May 1909, Page 3

A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE

SPEECH B"? THE GOVERNOR.

Speaking at the ceremony of laying tho foundation stone of the Patteson Memorial] Wing of St. John's College, 1 Auckland, on Thursday, his Excellency wio Governor said; "I am, confident tiiat, if thosp who believe in .the combination- of the old phrase, 'a scholar and'a gentleman,' come forward arid generously support the building fund; we .'shall soon have hore a residential college connected with Auckland College which will go far to ■ advance in honour and usefulness higher oducation in this Dominion. (Applause.) Auckland College is increasing in numbers and usefulness, and so soon as the serious drawback from which it is at. present stiifpring, ,duo to wretched housing, can be removed, it will advance more rapidly still. It is. full time, then, that there should arise some residential establishment in connection with it, where the students:(like those at Home) can have the enormous advantages of an atmosphere of religion and scholarly and cultivated surroundings. No man, whatever his religions belief, or even, want of belief, ;is .any the worso for such an' atmosphere, whilst to 99 out of every 100 it is a. moral and material asset secured to them for the rest of their life. (Applause.) The Christian Church in New Zealand is,at tho beginning of what I beliove will prove a great sphere of usefulness for itself, fdr higher education,' and;for the State. I douKfc if:it ia generally, .realised how much has already been accomplished. In WelUngton,'Anglicans and Presbyterians have combined to r.iiso arid manage ,a residential, house for female students at-, tending Victoria College. So great a suooess has' boon this venture that. already the accommodation is to be doubled. A simOai house for Victoria College male'students has been, just erected _by tfhe Anglican Church. In Dunodin a. splendid residential collogo in connection with Otago University is (thanks to individual munificence) abotrt to be built by the Presbyterian Chnrch, and now Auckland vhas its opportunity,-and I trust it will avail itself of it in a really geriorous way. (Hear, hear.) We-know that in: older lands, these houses of learning owe half of their' success to tho ancient traditions and high ideals which have grown up with them, until they have/become an actual: part! of themselves. Surely, if there is one such place in this growing country where noble ideals form a part of its life,-it,is:at St. John's College, ; where every surrounding reminds the student of'Selwyn, the broad-minded Christian, the true' patriot, the . oonrteous: gentleman, and tho brave man." (Applause.)