Bigger than Christchurch one

A meeting of directors of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Company was held yesterday. Mr Anscombe submitted a plan of the concert hall, showing seating accommodation for about 3600, and suggested that a tearoom should be provided on the first floor. After consideration it was resolved that the plan be approved of and Mr Anscombe’s suggestion regarding the provision of a tearoom be recommended for the directors’ consideration. Mr Anscombe submitted a plan of the art gallery, which had been approved by the Fine Arts Committee. After consideration it was resolved that the plan be approved, the centre of the building to be of brick and the remainder of asbestos. It was decided that the architect be instructed to prepare plans and specifications and submit estimates of a concert hall to seat 2000 people. lt was pointed out by Mr Halsted that the concert hall at the Christchurch Exhibition of 1906-7 was capable of seating 1450 people.

Stout support for federal uni

Recently Sir Robert Stout, who is Chancellor of the New Zealand University, was asked by the Victoria College for his opinion about the proposal to abolish the University and create each of its colleges a university in itself. He has replied: "I am opposed to the abolition of the New Zealand University. That would be, in my opinion, a wrong thing to do. There was an attempt made some years ago to abolish the University of Wales, and a Royal Commission was appointed to consider the whole question of university education in the principality. The commission upheld the existing federal system, and did not propose the creation of the several colleges in Wales into universities. Whoever heard it suggested that the colleges of Oxford or Cambridge should he created into separate universities? There were two separate colleges in Aberdeen, and everyone acquainted with university education in that northern city will tell us that it would be midsummer madness to create these two colleges, now happily united, into separate universities, further, would it be considered wise to create the many colleges associated with the London University into a separate university institution? What the world needs is union and co-operation, not separation. New Zealand needs to have institutions that may help to keep us together, and not those that will sever us."

Those Ravensbourne sycamores

The fine avenue of trees on the main road of Ravensbourne, which are greatly admired by visitors to the district, are composed principally of sycamore and oak, while there is also to be found quite a number of larch. 

About 40 years ago a public meeting was held, presided over by the Mayor (Mr McNeil). 

Sir Robert Stout, who owned the principal part of the township of Maia, had walked down from the city that evening, and mentioned that it would help to make Ravensbourne if the people would only take up the idea of planting trees at the roadside.

Afterwards Arbour Day came along and the school children, with the help of the railway people, finished the job. 

To-day there are close on 1000 beautiful trees growing right along the roadside for a distance exceeding one mile in front of the residential area. — ODT, 11.7.1924

Compiled by Peter Dowden