UNIVERSITY IN THE PACIFIC

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8341, 30 January 1913, Page 11

UNIVERSITY IN THE PACIFIC

TO BE ESTABLISHED AT NOUMEA,

By tho last French mail from New Caledonia octmes news of a proposal to establish a '-technical College and School of Applied Science at Noumea (says the Sydney “Telegraph")- For a long time past, the need of an establishment where students would be able to undergo courses in mining engineering, assaying, and metallurgy has been greatly in evidence. It is felt locally that, considering the importance of the island as a mining centre, it is considerably backward from an educa'-ioua standpoint, and, therefore, tho proposal ia meeting with very warm support from all sections of the European population.

The of the school will embrace not only mining science, but also electrical engineering, the manufacture of soap and scent, tanning, and the extraction of minerals. There will be a depaitment of agriculture, in which all tho subjects relative to that science will bo treated. Admission to the college is to be limited to students of Xty-ench parentage, over sixteen # years of age, but - power is to be given to the directorate to grant permission to attend the lectures to anyone who does not possess these qualifications. An entrance examination, consisting of French composition, mathematics, physics, and chemistry, must be passed before students will be entered on tho books of the school.

The school will extend over a period of two years, each 3 ear containing four terms' A certain amount of practical work, performed on the mines, is necessary before a certificate will be granted to students of mining engineering, and in most of the othe rsubjeots -this provision is also made. One result of the recent visitation of plague at Noumsa is that in the curriculum of the school will be'included a dop.irtmer.t of micro-biology. In this department it is proposed to grant facilities for the study of epidemic anti endemic diseases.

Provision is to be made on the estimates -of tire Administrative ,Council for T9W for the setting aside of a sum of money which it is believed, will be sufficient to start the college with.