LIGHTS ON COLLEGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 8

LIGHTS ON COLLEGES.

ENGLAND & HERE.

MINISTER & K.C. ENTERTAINED,

GRADUATES' DINNER. Between thirty and forty graduates, and others, including ladies, were present at a dinner held in Godber's Rooms, Lambton Quay, 011 Saturday night, in honour of tho Hon. James Allen, M.P., and Mr. J. W. Salmond, K.C., both of whom have returned recently from' trips abroad. The gathering, which was under .the auspices of tho Victoria College Graduates' Association, was presided over by Mr. S. Eichelbaum. During the evening songs were contributed by Professor Pickon, tho Rev. A. W. H. Compton, and Mr. F. P. Wilson.

Mr. Eichelbaum proposed tho toast of "Our Guests," and in doing so referred to the fact that both the Hon. Jas. Allen and Mr/ Salmond had recently been to England in the discharge of onerous duties, and both had brought their missions to a satisfactory conclusion. Though Mr. Allen wont home principally as Minister for Finance, he doubtless "took notice of education matters, and New Zealand would feel the benefit of his observations. Mr. Alton—Universities Home and Hero. The Hon. Jas. Allen thanked the Graduates' Association for the opportunity tlius afforded , him of coming more in touch with them than would ordinarily have been the caso. Referring to the presence of the ladies • at tho gathering, he commented on the number of ladies who now_ belonged to the graduates' class. This naturally led to interesting comparisons with tlio women of other countries, and incidentally Mr. Allen paid a tribute to tlio educational work of Mme._ Montessori and also to tho spirit of investigation which animated tho American women of tile present day. Some might say that Englishmen were going down tho scale, but lie had found, and was convinced, that this was not the case—ho had, in fact, conic back from his travels with the vory highest respect for them. Lord Milner, Lord Roberts, and Mr. Asquith were somo of the very finest of types. In the English universitios ho had noticed great alterations* and, as far as the undergraduates were concerned, their life was much more earnest, and much more real than it used to be. Observations at his old school, and at other places had proved very interesting, and ho had como back with the idea that there wero somo things lacking in the universities here that could not very well bo helped. One contrast was tho difference in tho social life more in the sense that tho universities here had not the boarding establishments -that they had in the Old World. Living in these old colleges was, to lus mind, the heart and soul of the universities. To make up for what lacking in this ,respect in tho Dominion, they would havo to do what they could to encourage~"tho spoTts and social institutions' connected with their . colleges. Knox Collcgo, in Dunedin, was now trying to do something to encourage this social life among the undergraduates, and those from here who cared to visit tint institution would receive a welcome, and would no doubt find much to interest them. In conclusion. he expressed the hone tb.it this education in our midst would have its effort on the political, social, and industrial 'life of the Dominion. \

"0!il I Am Rowing." Mr. Salmond said that it was very pleasant to be reminded of his early connection with Victoria College some seven-years ago. Sinco then he bad been engaged with various governments in speeding up the millennium, inaugurating the golden age, and regenerating mankind. Referring to his visit to the universities in tlio Old Country, Mr. Salmond remarked that there was no denying the charm of the attractiveness of these places, but, as places of higher learning, ho confessed to feeling a little disappointed with them. Ho could not avoid feeling that Oxford and Cambridge would be the better for a little welding up. At tho present time lie considered there was too much sport and too much middle-ago lethargy. In this connection he related having asked one man, "What are you doing in Cambridge?" and tlio reply was, "Oh, lam rowing."