THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 141, 26 May 1883, Page 147

THE AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

The opening of the Auckland University College, on Monday night, was highly successful, both as respects the audience it attracted and the speeches it drew forth. The address of his Ixcellency, which gave an exceedingly interesting account of the origin and progress of Uuiversiiy institutions, had evidently been prepared with care, and we were pleased to sco him resolutely adhere to his manuscript, and read it, as ho did, in a very effective style. The speech of the Chairman of the College Council, Sir G-eorge Maurice O ! Rorke, was in that gentleman's best style, though a little too much occupied with a historic lamentation over the loss alleged to have been sustained in the North Island from incomplete University arrangements. The truth is that had the Provincial Governments in the North been as wise as those in the South in setting apart* really profitable and immediately available endowments, a fully equipped college might have been established in Auckland or Wellington as early as in Otago or Wellington. This being so, it is scarcely becoming to mourn too pronouncedly over onr own local shortcomings. However, with this one defect, Sir Maurice's speech was one of the most telling we heard from him, Like that of tho Governor, it had been prepared beforehand, and though recited from brief notes, was a very substantial rendering of the original draft which has since appeared. Sir Maurice has evidently a splendid memory, and could, if he pleased, practice to. any imaginable extent what professors call " cram." The remarks made by the several professors were such as we were led to expect — impromptu, unpretending, and highly suggestive. These gentlemen acted with much judiciousness in refraining from any loud or lengthy declarations about their work or intentions, and in simply indicating the practical importance of their respective subjects with that quiet unobtru3ivenoss which always distinguishes the scholar and man of science. This feature in the demeanour augurs well for their future success.