Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

1 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

ROYAL VISIT TO CARDIFF.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

ROYAL VISIT TO CARDIFF. LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW COLLEGE. Wednesday and Thursday in last week were gala days in Cardiff. His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales visited the town for the purpose of laying in Cathays Park the foundation stone of the new University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire. Hitherto the work of the college has been carried on in the old infirmary, with additional temporary structures placed upon the garden, and the utilisation of other buildings elsewhere. The total cost of the new college will be about £300,000; but only a part of the full design is as yet to be carried out, and for this (with maintenance) a sum of 06,000 is needed, towards which Z93,000 is in hand. The buildings commenced by Wednesday's ceremony are the arts and administrative blocks; the library (gift of the Drapers' Company) the Viriamu Jones Laboratory; and the Public Health Department. His Royal Highness reached Cardiff at a quarter past two, being received at the station by the Corporation and College representatives, who were accompanied by a numerous company of Peers, Members of Parliament, and leading citizens of the town and district. For hours before the arrival of the Royal Chancellor, the scene on the college site in the Cathays Park was one of great gaiety and animation. The concourse of people was immense, and it whiled away the time by singing popular songs and cheering new arrivals. Promptly to time, at 3.50, the Prince and his party arrived. The Royal Chancellor in his robes, followed by Master Morgan, his train- bearer, was immediately recognised, and a hearty cheer was raised. As His Royal Highness mounted the platform, the band struck up the National Anthem, the whole audience meanwhile standing uncovered, and presently breaking out again with a tumultuous cheer of welcome, the Prince affably bowing and smiling in response. His Royal Highness and his party having been seated, Mr. David Evans, Mus. Bac., of the University College, stepped to the front and conducted both band and audience in a rendering of Brinley Richards' swinging welcome-song— God Bless the Prince of Wales." During the singing His Royal Highness recognised Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain in the audience, and smilingly bowed to both. THE PRESIDENT'S WELCOME. The singing over, the President, Sir Alfred Thomas, taking his place on the Royal dais, delivered an address of welcome in loud, clear tones, which could be heard in every corner of the stage. Sir Alfred said,- May it please your Royal Highness It is with loyal gratitude that we welcome your Royal Highness on this day. From the detailed statement which your Royal Highness has already received, you will have heard of the growth and the progress of our College. Only one thing it has hitherto lacked, and that is a building equal to and worthy of the work. It is to lay the first stone of such a building that your Royal Highness is here to-day. The Government in 1882 invited proposals from public bodies for the location of the University College of South Wales and Mon- mouthshire. In their memorial, the Corpora- tion of Cardiff promised that in the event of Cardiff being selected they would make adequate provisions for the College How they recog- nised their obligations is manifest by the noble site upon which we now stand. Your Royal Highness, by your presence here to-day, places the seal uf your approval on the manner in which the Corporation has redeemed the pledge which I then, as Mayor, made in their name. We have had the good fortune to secure the services of an architect whose plans and designs have won the enthusiastic approval of educational experts. By the contributions of the people of South Wales and the splendid munificence of the Worshipful Drapers' Company, we are now in a position to build and maintain the arts, the administrative, and the research depart- ments of the College. Our treasurer, to whom and to whose family we are so deeply indebted, trusts that this ceremony will prove such a stimulus to the patriotism of our people that the work now begun by your Royal Highness will not cease until the whole scheme is com- pleted. There were established in the days of the early British Church many seats of learn- ing, and we may claim that we are standing on "classic ground," for amongst the most famous of those seats were Llantwit Major and Llancar- fan, in each of which more than 2,000 scholars received instruction. Such was their renown that they attracted students both from Ireland and the Continent. These, however, were monastic seats of learning. To-day, we are witnessing a unique event in the educational record of our country. Your Royal Highness is about to lay in your own Principality the foundation stone of a National University College, pI imarily and exclusively devoted to learning. One cloud darkens the horizon of our thoughts, when Wi remember those absent friends of the College who had fondly looked forward to this historic occasion. We mi-s the former presidents-Lord Aberdare, the Marquis of Bute-and Dean Vaughan, as well as our late Principal, Viriamu Jones. It is a source of much consolation to us, bereft of the services of that great Welshman, that his successor should have taken up his work with such self-sacrificing devotion and indomitable perseverance. The only past-president living to-day, Lord Tredegar, we are proud to see amongst us. To the list of illustrious names associated with the College we to-day add that of the Heir Apparent of the realm, and we feel assured that in the ages to come our successors will feel as proud as we do that the "memorial stone" was laid by Tywysog Gwlad y Bryniau." We pray that the building we are about to erect may be a blessing to the sons and daughters of Cambria, and that within its walls there may be prepared and equipped to fight the battle of life many who will shed lustre and reflect honour upon the dear land of their birth. I have now the honour of requesting your Royal Highness to lay the foundation stone of the new College buildings. THE PRINCE'S REPLY. The Prince, who on rising was received with hearty cheers, said Mr. President, I thank you for the kind words of welcome contained in the address to which I have listened with much interest. As Chan- cellor of the University of Wales I am delighted to take part in this important ceremony, and to lay the foundation-stone of the first block of what it is hoped will some day grow into a building beautiful and dignified in design, complete and practical in its equipment. I congratulate you, and all here present to- day, on the proud fact that it is the liberality of the people of South Wales and Monmouthshire that makes it now possible to carry out a portion of the great scheme for the establishment in Cardiff of buildings worthy of their University College, and worthy of the conception of its founders. I further note with great satisfaction that one of the largest of the London City companies has shown a practical sympathy in this great under- taking, and that the library buildings—one of the most important features in any college- will be the gift of the Worshipful Company of Drapers. It is interesting to learn that we are gathered together here, on ground where in days gone by stood monastic centres of learning, renowned both at home and abroad. Cardiff, by her large-minded generosity and enterprise has re-established the work of education in her midst. But the new teaching and training differ in character from that which in the past rendered her colleges famous. For the Welsh people have determined that their University education shall be compatible with the modern wants of a new world. The promoters and its authorities have recog- nised that the University should not exist merely for the purpose of the literary or the academic life, but should place itself in touch with, and try to serve, every form of intellectual activity. And to-day, Cardiff is a constituent of the University. For under the charter the Town Council appoints two members of the University Court, and by a standing order of the Town Council the Mayor is, ex-officio, one of these members. So our University is by constitution interwoven more closely, perhaps, than any other with the national life of the country. And this is no mere sentiment on the part of the people of Cardiff. For they have not only given this site for the college, but also presented to the University itself another site in this park, and ^~6,ooo for the erection of its Registry. I share the regret expresssed that some of the truest and most helpful of the friends of the college are no longer with us; but in you, Mr. President, in your principal, and in the other authorities of the college, we have that con- fidence which enables us to face the future with faith and courage. I earnestly trust that God's blessing may rest upon the work which we to-day inaugurate, and upon those whose education will in days to come be carried on within the walls of this University College. The interesting ceremony of laying the stone followed. The stone, a cube of vast propor- tions, was suspended from a cable over a similar stone, containing a cavity in which were placed the day's copies of the South Wales Daily News, the Western Mail, and the Times. Inscribed on the stone was the following in Latin Hunc lapidem < ieorgius Serenimus, Cam- briae Princeps. Universitatis Cambrensis ivre optimo CanceIlarius aedibus Collegii incobandis posvit A.D. III. Kal Jun. anno. salutis MCMV; ;i adferunt. Alvredus Thomas eques Collegit praeses Godofredus Carolus Dominus de Tredegar, ex praesidibus emeritis, solus supersles Robertus Georgius Dominus de Windsor praefestus operi faciundo Ernestus Howard Griffiths, Principalis. Guilielmus Douglas Caroe Architectus." The architect (Mr. W. D. Caroe), who was presented by Sir Alfred Thomas, handed to his Royal Highness a beautifully designed silver trowel, with which he spread the mortar under the stone. The stone having after some diffl, culty been lowered to its place, the architect presented the mallet with which the Prince gave a few slight taps on the stone, and with a louo voice declared it to be well and truly laid amid the rousing plaudits of the assembly. The band then played the tune of the- Ic old Hundredth," and the audience, ail upstanding* at a signal from Mr. D. Evans, sang with impressive effect Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Rev. John Morgan Jones, in Welsh, then led the people in saying the Lord's Prayer, and then the Bishop of Llandaff, also in Welsh, pronounced the Benediction. ri Later in the day, a University congregate met in the Park Hall. Sir Isambard Owen, Senior Deputy-Chancellor, extended to the Prirce of Wales, as Chancellor,