E.—7

3. VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. Visitor. —The Hon. the Minister of Education. Members of Council. Chairman.—R. McCallum. Vice-Chairman.—P. Levi, M.A. Appointed by Governor-General in Council—A. R. Atkinson, B.A. ; I). M. Stout, M.D. Elected by Court of Convocation —C. Watson, B.A. ; P. Levi, M.A. ; A. Fair, LL.B. ; S. Eichelbaum, M.A., LL.B. Elected by teachers in primary schools —H. A. Parkinson, M.A. ; F. H. Bakewell, M.A. Elected by members of Education Boards —P. J. H. White ; R. McCallum. Appointed by Wellington City Council—M. F. Luckie. Elected by teachers in secondary schools and technical high schools —J. H. Howell, 8.A., B.Sc. Elected by governing bodies of secondary schools—T. Forsyth. Elected by the Professorial Board—F. P. Wilson, M.A., F.E.S. ; T. A. Hunter, M.A., M.Sc. Staff. Professors. —Classics —-J. Rankine Brown, M.A. English—H. Mackenzie, M.A. Modern Languages—E. J. BoydWilson, M.A. Philosophy—T. A. Hunter, M.A., M.Sc. History—F. P. Wilson, M.A., F.E.S. (Chairman). Economics —B. E. Murphy, M.A., LL.B., B.Com. Education —J. S. Tennant, M.A., B.Sc. (Dean of Arts Faculty). Mathematics —D. M. Y. Sommervilie, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S.E., F.N.Z.I. Biology—H. B. Kirk, M.A., F.N.Z.I. Physics—D. C. H. Florance, M.A., M.Sc. Chemistry—P. W. Robertson, M.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Dean of Science Faculty). Geology— C. A. Cotton, D.Sc., A.0.5.M., F.G.S. Law—-J. Adamson, M.A., LL.B. (Dean of the Faculty of Law). J. M. E. Garrow, 8.A., LL.B. Agriculture—G. S. Peren, B.Sc. Registrar.—G. G. W. Robison, M.A. Librarian.—B. H. Ward, B.A. — REPORT (ABRIDGED). Pursuant to section 44 of the Victoria College Act, 1905, the Council presents the following report for the year 1925 : — The number of students attending lectures in 1925 was 806, practically the same number as for the previous year. Day Teaching in Science.—As indicated in last year's report, the question of day teaching in Science has been kept in view, with the result that in 1926 lectures and experimental work in Pure Science will be taken between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It is hoped that in the course of a year or two it will be found possible to begin a similar change in Arts. Sir Ernest Rutherford's Visit. —During the year the College was visited by Sir Ernest Rutherford, 0.M., P.R.S., Cavendish Professor of Physics, Cambridge. He gave an informal talk to students at the College, outlining the history of the Cavendish Laboratory, also giving an account of the most important investigations which were being carried out by the workers in his laboratory, and indicating future developments in physical science. This talk was most stimulating and instructive. We were most fortunate in having the opportunity of hearing the most distinguished physicist in the British Empire. Under the auspices of the College he delivered a public lecture at the Town Hall, on " Atoms and their Structure," before a very large audience. The most novel feature of this lecture was a film illustrating the " Brownian movement." An evening reception for Sir Ernest and Lady Rutherford was held in the College library, and was attended by Their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Alice Fergusson, together with an assembly of representative citizens. Short addresses were given by His Excellency and by Sir Ernest Rutherford. Dr. Lotsy's Lectures.- By arrangement Dr. Lotsy, of Haarlem University, gave a course of three lectures at the College in April, 1925. The lectures dealt with the view which Dr. Lotsy's name is especially associated, the view that evolution has proceeded in virtue of variation produced by hybridization, not by environmental conditions. The titles of the lectures were as follows : (1) A Review of the Attempts to Explain Evolution ; (2) Modern Attempts to explain the Existence of Variability; (3) The Role of Hybridization in Evolution. These lectures have been published by Canterbury College. The attendance at all the lectures was decidedly good, and the audiences were very attentive. Very considerable interest was aroused among students, and the way to researches of considerable importance has become clear as a result of Dr. Lotsy's visit. University Commission. —For the past fifteen years both the Council and the Professorial Board of this University College have been urging that a Commission should inquire into University institutions and methods in New Zealand. During 1925 a Commission (Sir H. R. Reichel and Mr. F. Tate) visited all University centres in this country, hearing evidence and examining witnesses. The result of the inquiry was a report that completely justified the attitude of this College towards University reform. It is expected that this year there will be brought into Parliament a University Bill to give effect to the decisions of the Commission. Agriculture. —Courses in Agriculture as a subject for the degrees of 8.A., B.Sc., and B.Agr. were offered for the first time since the establishment of the College. Professor Peren, who was appointed to the Buchanan Chair of Agriculture, was assisted in this work by Messrs. R. Waters, Plant Pathologist; D. Miller, Entomologist; and G. H. Cunningham, Mycologist, of the Biological

3—E. 7.

17