VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1417, 18 April 1912, Page 4

VICTORIA COLLEGE COUNCIL.

♦ INCREASE OF STUDENTS. Tho Victoria College, Council wet last night Present: Mr. C. Wilson (chair* man), Sir Robert Stout, Br. C. P. Knight, Messrs. AV. Ferguson, J. G. W. Aitken, 11. D. Bell, K.C., K. M'Nab, IL 11. Osier, It. M'Caiiuui, M.P., CI. Watson, and A. R. Meek. Professor Laby reported that tho number of students taking pliyeics now was 28, and the average attendance had increased by 40 per cent, lis cotnimred with last year. As a result ho found the theoretical and practical teaching, Uio preparation of lecture experiments, and the administrative work of the laboratory and college too heavy, entailing as it did attendance at the collego of some nine or ten hours a day, and ho was unablo to givo adequate attention to (ho practical instruction of the students, especially the honour students. He recommended that Mr. Hurbidge bo appointed an honorary demonstrator in physics. Mr. Btirbidgo was awarded last year,' though he had not yet taken up a Government Research Scholarship, and tho University had specially recommended him for a second 1851 scholarship, in recognition of his investigation of. tho Gamma Rays. Ho was only 21 years of nge, and showed great promiso as a research student. Mr.-Alex-, ander, who had obtained first and 'second honours, was engaged on nn investißolion of tho powers of gases to conduct heat, a somewhat neglected field for accurate experiment, in which tho Professor hoped, valuable results would bo obtained. Donations in tho past to the amount of .£2lO had rendered the work possible. The council, in adopting the report, appointed Sir. Burbidgo honorary demon* strator, as suggested. In regard to further suggestions by Professor Laby, it was resolved to hnvo gas and water laid on to the machinery room. The chairman was authorised to confer with Professor Laby and Mr. D. Robertson, Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, on tho matter of instruction in telegraphy and telephony. The council also decided to express to Professor Laby its satisfaction with tho increase of students in physics.

Payments amounting to .£903 were authorised to be mado, and it was reported that tho bank balance stood at .£llßl, and that J31875 was due from tho Government. Tho Professorial Board reported that the extension of work in many departments of the college had emphasised tho necessity of carrying out as soon as possible the policy outlined in tho memorandum submitted by the council in regard to the financial and other requirement of the college. A committee, consisting of tile chairman, Messrs. Hell and Watson, was appointed to reviso the memorandum, and have it printed, and put it before the Government.

Leave of absence for twelve months wa» granled to Mr. Broolc, tho caretaker, to enable him to visit England. Professor Garrow reported » considerable increase in .the number of students in' tho Law Department. Tho council resolved to felicitate him on tho growth of the classes. Tho chairman mentioned that the number of students in the was now 520, the highest since the establishment of the college. Tho previous highest va* 474.