THE "OLD CLAY PATCH"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 196, 14 May 1920, Page 8

THE "OLD CLAY PATCH"

LUSTY MANHOOD ATTAINED VICTORIA COLLEGE CELEBRATION The "Old Clay Patch," as Victoria., 'University College ia known to nil old graduntes, was tho scene of a gathering . of the faculty and past and present students of the institution yesterday morning. Mr. C. Watson, chairman of the Collego Council, presided, and among those present was Professor 1 Newton, who holds fHe.first Chair of Imperial History in the British Empire. The chairman, in opening, said there were two Rood reasons for the present colorations. The first was that this year the'college attained its majorityits twenty-first year-and the second was that those of the students who went on active service and survived the.war were now all back in New Zealand. He referred to the very happy relationships that' had always existed between the students and their professors-. A heartv college greeting was then, at the call of the chairmnn, extended to the returned soldier graduates. War's Terrible Toll. Continuing, the chairmnn said that the fact that the "Old Clay Patch" graduates were no shirkers was home out by the terrible casualties thev had sustained in the Great War. Taking matriculated students nlone-the figures for those who had matriculated were not available—it would be found that 22 per cent, of them had ' ariven their lives for their country. This was an 'appalling pnerifice, and the enormous percentage killed had never,before been equalled in any war, Only five per cent.' .of the fallen had died from sickness. Their noble sacrifice would be a standing inspiration to students, and their memory would live for ever. There was ample evidence to show that the college had now attained a lusty manhood. (Annlause.) Professor J. R-ankine Brown, in the course of a lengthy address, referred to the necessity for university reform to the.end that the activities of the college be carried on throughout the day as well as at night. Such an innovation could not be embarked upon until the university was eouipped with a duplicate staff, the wune as was done in the case of the London and Sydney uni- , versifies. In the case of the Universities mentioned, arrangements were made so" that (lav students could take their degree at the end of three years, and night students, at .the end of about siv, vears. The professor paid o tribute to the esprit' de corps, which had' always marked the work of Victoria College. High Hopes Realised, Mr. De la Mere, who,,the chairman pointed out, "bore honourable scars" of the Great Wnr/responded on behalf of- the graduates. ' In a felicitous speech he said that the hich hopes which the foundation students held out for the university jiri'd nearly all been realised. The hich ideals and generous purpose which actuated the universitv were attributed bv Mr. De la Mere to tho high con-, ception of duty of which the professors were early possessed. In this [connection he could scarcely /recall without emotion the names of the late Professor M'Laurin' and the late Professor Richmond. , ■