Chemical Society

From the minute-book of the "Wellington Chemical Society": "A well attended meeting of professional chemists, chemical students, and of persons interested in chemistry was held at Victoria College on Wednesday, 23rd of March, 1921, for the purpose of considering the formation of a chemical society. Professor Robertson in the chair. Professor Robertson opened the meeting by giving a short address on the aims and objects of a chemical society, and outlined the history of the original V.U.C. Chemical Society. Mr. Coghill then read his proposals relative to the formation of a chemical society."

A chemical society was formed at this meeting as a section of the Wellington Chemical Society and to include the early V.U.C. Chemical Society. Professor P. W. Robertson was elected chairman. Mr. D. Coghill to be Hon. Secretary. The names of the other members of the Committee are: Messrs. B. C. Aston, A. Munro, N. McClelland, W. Mummery, W. Donovan, and H. Rands. A meeting was held on Monday, May 2nd., at the V.U.C. Chemical Laboratory, Professor Robertson giving an address on "Some Recent Advances in Organic Analysis."

The inauguration of a Chemical Society, and its desire to hear papers read by students, comes at an opportune time. The steadily increasing activity and efficiency of our chemical department during recent years is well known to all who have the (mis)fortune to be incarcerated within its laboratories. Research work has gone ahead in leaps and bounds, stimulated as it is by the existing conditions of enthusiastic supervision and lavish laboratory equipment, the opportunities offered to students wishing to undertake original work could hardly be surpassed. Small wonder then that the Chemical Society should wish to hear something of the work accomplished (as yet unpublished) by our "seekers of chemical learning." In passing. it is pleasing to note that the older methods of teaching chemistry have at last been thrown on the scrap heap. At one time students had their chemistry "thrust down their throats with a glass rod," so to speak-now, nothing is thrust down them at all.