ALLIED COLONIAL UNIVERSITIES CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 162, 13 July 1903, Page 3

ALLIED COLONIAL UNIVERSITIES CONFERENCE.

Per Press Association. London, July 6. The Conference cf the allied Colonial Universities was held in the rooms of the Boyal Sjciety, All the British and most of the Colonial Universities were represented. Professors Gurney, Scott, and Trelfall represented Sydney, Professors Lamb and Beare, and the Bev. Dr Paten, Adelaide, acd Dr Bainford New Zealand. Professor James Bryce presided, and in his opening address said it was desirable that all Britirh Universities should increase tbeir efficiency by combination and specialisation. One function of the Imperial Council would be to help Colonial Universities to raise their standard of teaching and research, and secare more complete equipment. It was desirable to improve the interchange of students, thus helping to create a common public opinion among the British people. The Bev. Pressor Chase, viceChanoallor of Cambridge University, moved, and Professor Peterson, vicejChanoellor of the McGill University, Montreal, seconded a resolution that it was desirable to establish such relation's between the principal Universities of the Empire as will secure epechl op local advantages for study, particularly post graduate research for students throughout the Empire. Lord Kelvin, President of the Boyal Society of Edinburgh, said it was necessary to make British Universities attractive to colonial students in order to combat the rivalry of German and French Universities.

Sir Henry Roscoe, vice-Chancellor of the University of London, Sir O iver i. Lodge, Principal cf the Birmingham University, and Sir A. W. Ruckar, Principal oi the University of Londop, supported the resolution. Professor Gurney heartily supported the movement.

Professor Warren, President of Saint Mary Magdalene College, Oxford, moved for the appointment of a Council consisting in part of representatives of the British and Colonial U diversities to promote the objects desired, and that a committee consisting of Lords Kelvin and Strathcona, Professors Bryce, Haldane, Warren, Chase, Professor Sir Wm. Hoggins (th« famous astronomer), Sir Micbael Foster (Profetsor of Physiology, Cambridge, and secretary of the Royal Society), Professor Mahaffy, Hutton, W. P. Beeves, and Bir Gilbert Parker, be entrusted to arrange the constitution of the Council. Professor Threlfall seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

DELEGATES BANQUETTED. SHBOH BT MB. BiLFOUK. Received 12,5 45 p.m Lohdo.v, July 1L At a banquet at the Hotel Cecil in connection with the Universities Conference there was a brilliant assemblage, 450 guests being pre-ent, including scholars, scientists, clergy, and Agents-General. Mr Bilfour, in propping the toast of "The Oversea University," siid the movement was intended to develops a great alliance of the greatest educational Instrument of the Em pure. The Mother! ind had great to be proud of her oversea Universities, and ought to rej ->ica that her younger children were adopting her educational ideals. He hoped the great development in paet-graduite research would result in the gatherings providing the seed for greater things, and furthering sound learning and sound patriotism. The toast was coupled with the name of Professor of Sydney, who ■aid that only ignorance could separate the Motherland and the colonies. Ignorance had caused the separation of America from Britain, and also the Broth African war. The master of Tricity College said the movement was the fir<st stone in academic ftderatioo, and he hoped the colonials would attend the older Universities in ever-increasing numbers. Professor Mahaffy declared that if mother conference was held two yean hence Dublin would gladly welcome the delegates.