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People and the Times

The Opening of the New Biology Block marked the completion of a building programme at Victoria College extending over several years. The new building relieves Professor Kirk, his assistants and students from the uncomfortably cramped conditions under which they had been working for some time. The removal of the Biology Department to its new quarters has provided the College with extra lecture rooms, and several lecturers with new rooms. The Carnegie Presentation Gramophone, the library of records and the Catalogue are now permanently housed in a special room.

A new appointment to the College Staff in 1940 was that of Professor R. O. McGechan, who now occupies the Chair of Roman Law previously held by the late Professor Adamson. Professor McGechan is a graduate of Sydney University, where he was lecturing at the time of his appointment. He took a keen interest in the literary productions of the University, and was also one of the editors of the "Australian Digest."

Dr L. R. Richardson succeeds as lecturer in Zoology to Mr C. Palmer, who has taken up a post in the Meteorological Department. Dr Richardson holds his M.SC. and PH.D. degrees from the University of McGill, Canada.

A graduate of Victoria College, Mr I. D. Campbell, LL.M., has been appointed Lecturer in English and N.Z. Law. Mr Campbell carried out a lecture course for the W.E.A. in 1936 and 1937. At the time of his appointment he was General Secretary of the N.Z. Police Association and editor of the N.Z. Police Journal.

Dr Averil M. Lysaght, who graduated M.Sc. at this College and PH.D. at London University, has been appointed Demonstrator in Zoology.

R. R. Cunninghame, M.A., Post Graduate Scholar in Arts, 1939, is taking Modern Greats at Merton College, Oxford.

Our congratulations are offered to the two members of the Victoria College Debating Team, Messrs P. J. Sheehan and H. G. Bowyer, who succeeded in winning the Joynt Scroll Debating Contest held in Wellington this year. Mr Sheehan was judged the best speaker of the contest.

Any plans for commencing the new Students' Association Building in the near future had to be shelved on the outbreak of war. It was decided to repair and renovate the old gymnasium, in order to make it habitable for a few more years. The College Council has granted a subsidy to the Students' Association for this work, and extensive alterations are being carried out at the present time.

Reference has been made elsewhere in this issue to the death of Professor Mackenzie, foundation professor of English at Victoria College. Many hundreds of his books have been donated to the College and now form an English Class Reading Library (housed in the old Council Room in the main building.

On active service with the Second N.Z.E.F. is Dr T. D. M. Stout, Chairman of the Victoria College Council.

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Two members of the College Staff and graduates of the College on active service are R. C. Bradshaw and H. R. C. Wild, part time lecturers in Accountancy.

From the ever-growing list of students on active service we select the following well known names:—D. M. Hatherley (overseas), R. S. V. Simpson and J. B. Aimers (at Fort Dorset), R. W. Edgley (in the Army). In the Air Force are N. A. Morrison, J. B. Bullock, and R. S. C. Agar.

Students would wish to offer their condolences to the parents of Mr A. Hull, who was recently killed while training for overseas service in the R.A.F. Mr Hull was a graduate in Science.