Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

10 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

University College, Aberystwyth.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

University College, Aberystwyth. Half-yearly Meeting at Barmouth. THE DAVID DAVIES LABORATORIES. PURCHASE OF THE BUARTH HILL Welsh Museum and Library j Grant. '-7" The half-yearly meeting of the Court of Governors of the University College of Wales was held on Friday last at the Corsy- gedol Hotel, Barmouth. Sir John Williams was voted to the chair, and there were also present Principal Roberts, Mr. Edward Griffith, Dolgelley; Mr. J. C. Harford. Lam- peter; Mrs. T. E. Ellis, Miss Trubshaw, Mr. W. H. Colby, Mr. Evan Evans, Mr. O. M. Williams, Dr. J. A. Morris, Rev. T. A. Penry. Mr. John Evans, Professor J. J. Sudborough, Mr. W. J. Johnson, Professor E. Anwyl, Mr. D. Samuel, Mr. D. C. Rob- erts. Mr. J. D. Perrott, and Archdeacon Williams, Aberystwyth; Miss Diana Tho- mas Dolgellev; Mr. D. C. Edwards, Pen- sam Mr. John Davies, Dyffryn; Mr. Charles E. Howell. Welshpool; Mr. William Roberts, Bryncrug; Mr. L. J. Roberts, H.M.I.S., Rhyl; Mr. Edward Davies Dol- caradog; Mr. Hugh Lewis, Newtown; Miss E. Armstrong. London; Mr. 0. M. Edwards, Oxford; Dr. EmryB Jones, Manchester; and Mr. Mortimer Green (registrar.) Apologies for Absence. The Registrar reported having received letters from several members of the Court who were unable to be present, including the Rev. Elfed Lewis, Mr. Vincent Evans, Mr. D. Lloyd Lewis, Sir Lewis Morris (vice- president). Mr. Humphreys-Owen (junior vice-president), Sir James Hills-Johnes. Sir James Szlumper, Dr. A. Garrod Thomas, Mrs. Edward Davies, Colonel Mannering, Mr. Charles Lloyd (Waunifor), Rev. W. Matthews (Aberystwyth), and Professor J. Young Evans. Principal's Statement. Principal Roberts prefaced his statement to the Court by an expression of his pleasure, as a Merionethshire man, at having Sir John Williams in the chair. This was the first College meeting he had attended held that side of the river Dovey, and he was sure all Welshmen rejoiced that he had come to re- side permanently amongst them in Wales. (Applause.) Principal Roberts, in the course of a state- ment to the Court said the first matter to which he desired to call attention was the decision of the Council to acquire a large piece of land called the Buarth Hill, distant ten minutes' walk from the present College buildings, primarily for the site of the Edward Davies' memorial laboratories. The land is eleven acres in extent, and would thiis provide for other extensions of the Col- lege. The price they had agreed to pay for it was £2,500, a sum for which they could hardly have hoped to secure so excellent a site but for the goodwill of the present owner, Mr. Colby, who was one of the most faithful and active members of the Council, and the Court felt they owed him much gratitude for the way in which he had dealt with them in the matter. He was glad to say the decision of the Council had been un- animous. With this land and the Grogythan site, already acquired for the purposes of the College by the generosity of their President, they were in the gratifying position of hav- ing enough ground for the necessary exten- sions of the College both present and pro- spective. The general laying out of this ^property to the best advantage was under the consideration of the Council, who had called to their aid the most competent ex- pert advice. Two other matters to which he wished to refer arose in consequence of the action of the Court itself at its recent meet- ings. In the March meeting of last year at Brecon, the Court discussed the uqestion of the proposed museum grants to Wales, and adopted resolutions urging the claim of the College Welsh Library to a grant from these national funds when allocated. The Court directed that these resolutions should be submitted to the representatives of Wales in Parliament. This having been done, he was invited to attend a conference called by the Welsh members of Parliament in the House of Commons. This conference decided by a small majority to frame a scheme on the lines of concentrating the grants in one centre, with powers of lending or distribut- ing specimens capable of duplication to mus- eums in certain other centres in Wales—thus excluding the claim of the Welsh Library from consideration. At a meeting convened by the National Eisteddfod Association at Llanelly the question was discussed by a large gathering at two lengthy sittings, in which the need of fuller consideration of the question in its various aspects was empha- sized, with the result that a resolution was adopted by general consent asking the pepre- sentatives of Wales in Parliament to sum. mon another conference for the further consideration of the matter. Since that time representatives of the College Welsh Library Committee had presented themselves as deputations urging the claims of the Library to recognition from this prospective fund on six out of the seven County Councils re- presented on the Court of Governors of the College. The deputations were furnished with a statement setting forth the results of the labours of the committee in the de- velopment of the Library on national lines up to the present time, and signed by seventy members of the committee, including the majority of those who were competent to speak with authority on questions of Welsh Literature History, and Bibliography. These six County Councils had adopted reso- lutions strongly supporting the claim of the Library to the recognition asked for, and he had little doubt that the County Council of Merioneth would follow their example when the deputation had laid their case before them as they shortly hoped to do. This was the present position of this most vital and important matter so far as concerned the action initiated by this Court in reference to it. He ventured to repeat what he had already submitted at every opportunity that had presented itself, that a solution of this question which set aside the just claims that they had put forward would entirely fail to meet the needs of the case and the wishes of a very large section of the people of the Prin- cipality. At its last meetng in October the Court requested the Council to consider the question of appeal to the Treasury for an increase in the College grant 111 view of the crying need of such increase shown by the reports presented to them, and suggested a joint appeal by the three University Co leges. The Council considered the matter thus referred to them at their London meet- ings in February, at which they had the ad- vantage of the presence of members of Par- liament and others competent to advise on the question. In the meantime, the sug- gestion had been favourably referred to at the Court of Governors of the sister College at Bangor and by the press, which had shown the fullest sympathy with the proposed joint application and had collected information and evoked representative opinion of the utmost value. In the discussion at the February Council he mentioned that a small private deputa- tion to the Chancellor of the Exchequer was under consideration then between represen- tatives of the three Colleges to take place probablv within a few days of the Council meeting. This private deputation was accordingly held. The result of tha tation was known to them, ajid, they wou d -have observed that the Chancellor, though he declined to make an increased grant for Wales in the present year, was not without expectation of a renewed application, and that he put certain enquiries to them, the answers to which it Avonhl he their duty to give when the proper tune for that renewed application was judged by them to have ar- rived. They had also learned the objec- tions with which their claims were likely to "be met. Forewarned they would be fore- armed. He had no hesitation in saying that they would bp able to establish their claim to the satisfaction of the Government of the country. In the recent deputation much evidence of the kind was already available, but it renuirerl to be driven home, and to be supplemented by fresh evidence. What argument, for example, wrs more incontro- vertible th> I he record tiim mfi^ence which had giver: thi* College its new chemical laboratoiv or than their President's contri- bution of C7:j() per aTll,llIl1 towards the better remuneration of the staff, and that in spite of this aid and with every possible economy they were still struggling with substantial adverse bn!aneoK in the accounts of the Col- lege one yenr. after another. The Council would not fail to play its part in such an appeal, which he trusted would be presented bv lar;revt and most representative as- semblage of the supporters of higher educa- tion of the Principality which had ever gone on a similar errand. In the meantime, it was abundantly clear that every aid extended by private liberality or by the local authorit- ies to these Colleges on behalf of the objects of their immediate appeal would immensely increase their prospect of speedy success in their application lor aid from the Imperial Treasury. (Applause). The Chairman said they had listened to an extremely interesting statement from the Principal. The present was an extremely important time lor the College. The pro- spect of having a national museum and library in Wales was one that had been be- tore them for some time, and was one that might bo decided upon within a very short time. It was uncertain when the matter would be settled, but he thought they should w on do everything in their power to get a portion of the grant allocated to the National Lib- rary at Aberystwyth. (Hear, hear). He did not think there could be a doubt for one moment that whatever institution would have the name national. that at Aberystwyth would be the one in reality. (Applause). The noble and magnificent gift which Mr. David Davies had given to the College was one that ought to incite them to do every- thing they possibly could, not only to put their hands in their own pockets, but to try to get others to put their hands in their pockets, and turn streams of gold to Aber- ystwyth. (Applause.) The College was rapidly increasing. Thirty years ago they only had about 0 students, and now they numbered 500. They would soon require an extension of the Welsh Library and ad- ditions to the present College buildings would necessarily have to be made. They should look forward to that time, and do all they could by contributing, or getting con- tributions to help to secure further help from the Government. (Hear, Lear.) f Mr. Charles E. Howell, Welshpool, moved the following That this Court approves the action of the Covuicil in pur- chasing the Buarth site, on which to erect the proposed Edward Davies' memorial laboratory and other extensions of the College." Mr. Howell said he had great pleasure in moving the resolution in order that the extremely noble and generous gift of the Llandinam family might be carried out. He described Mr. David Davies as a worthy successor of his father and grand- father. The sites committee had, he thought, taken great pains to obtain the best- and most favourable site, and he thought it was free from the objections that might nave teen attributed to the other suggested sites. Mr. O. M. Edwards seconded, and the proposition was unanimously carried. Dr. Emrys Jones, Manchester, moved a resolution expressing the gratification of the Court to the affiliated County Councils for their promise of support in the matter of securing a portion of the library and museum grant for the Welsh Library at Aberystwyth. The mover sai dhe always felt the success of an institution like the Aberystwyth College must be estimated by the amount of interest taken in it by the body of the people, or the representatives of the people, like the County Councils. Nothing gave him reater plea- sure, or made him expect greater things from Aberystwyth than to know that it re- tained its vigour, and that it was increasing its vigour by keeping in touch with the mass and the bulk of the people. Cardiganshire was a wonderful county. (Hear, hear, and laughter). He was thankful that through circumstances over which he had no control that he belonged to that county. (Renewed laughter). In passing, he might say that he hoped their worthy Principal would not allow the work of the College to undername his health; that he would take it a little easier, and allow others to do a little more work, so that they might see him back in his old form. (Hear. hear.) There was noth- ing wrong with him, except that he required to take things a little easier. His muscle and nerves and different anatomical parts were alright. He was giving him this ad- vice gratis. (Laughter.) He would express a wish that the Principal would gratify them by doing a little less work. It was not often that they asked those whom they paid to do less work, but they did so conscient- iously in this case. (Applause). Mr. Hugh Lewis, Newtown, said, as a member of the Montgomeryshire County Council which passed an enthusiastic vote in favour of a grant being riade to the Welsh Library, he had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. He felt sure they would in their part of the world very cordi- ally support the proposal that Aberystwyth be made the site for a national museum. The proposition was carried unanimously. Principal Roberts suggested that a re- solution be passed requesting the College Council to continue its negotiations with the view eventually to a joint representa- tive deputation on the part of the University Colleges of Wales being again made for an increase in the Treasury grant. The resolution was moved by the Chair- man, seconded by the Rev. T. E. Williams, Newtown, and carried. Exchange of Land. Archdeacon Williams, Aberystwyth, mov- ed that the agreement for the exchange with the Corporation of Aberystwyth of portions of land on the sea front of the College, in connection with the construction of the new Promenade, be confirmed. The mover said he felt sure the exchange would be to the ad- vantage of both parties. The Registrar remarked that the Corpor- ation had agreed to insert in the agreement a clause that nothing should be done on that part of the Promenade detrimental to the College. Mr. C. E. Howell said he hoped those members of the Court who happened to be members of the Corporation would take good care that the Corporation carried out that undertaking. In reply to Mr. Hugh Lewis, the Regis- trar explained that the exchange was made in order that the Corporation might con- struct the Promenade in a straight line. The resolution was carried. Proposed Fisheries Station. Mr. C. E. Howell asked if anything was being done with the space between the Col- lege and the Castle, in furthering the pro- posal for a fisheries investigation station. The Principal replied that the Corporation of Aberystwyth had taken an interest from the beginning in the proposal to construct a marine biological station. That was a pro- ject the College also had at heart, and they were taking steps as far as possible to carry it through. He had no doubt it would take them some time to succeed in the matter. There was no department of science which, owing to the position of Aberystwyth in the centre of Cardigan Bay, was a more natural one in connection with their College, -and they could understand that it was 0 a very gieat gain to them in such a matter to have the support of the Corporation of Aberyst- wyth. They were a rich body. (Cries of Oh" from the Aberystwyth members, and laughter.) Their riches, continued the Prin- cipal, might be a little encumbered at the present time, but there was no question as to the fact that few Corporations had more resources at their command than the Corpor- ation of Aberystwyth. There were also other sources from which they might obtain help. Mr. C. E. Howell: In the construction of an aquariuni ? Principal Roberts: It means biological laboratories for marine research, and an aquarium in connection with that. The walls of the aquarium have been constructed in readiness for any developments which may come in due course. Thanks to the Chairman. Mr. O. M. Edwards proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman. He need not refer in any assembly of Welshmen tft Sir John Williams' interest in Welsh education and literature. He (the speaker) and a great number of others were in a position to state that with regard to these two exceedingly important elements in Welsh life it would be quite impossible to find a more generous a more kindly, or more efficient interest than the one shown by their worthy chairman, and he hoped he would enjoy a very long life to preside over them and come amongst them. (Applause). Mr. L. J. Roberts seconded, and the pro- position was carried. The Chairman, in acknowledging, said it had been a great pleasure to himi to bet prekfcnt that day, and to take part in the business of the Council and Governors of the College. He looked forward to the time when this College would be even more representative than it was now of the Welsh nation, because it was here, rather than elsewhere, they must centre their affections and their future as far as Welsh education and the Welsh national spirit was concerned. (Applause). The Principal said they were indebted to the Rev. Gwynoro Davies, of Barmouth, an old student of the College, who had been very helpftit, in making the arrangements for that day's meeting. He (the Principal) felt glad that the Court had come to Bar- mouth on that occasion. He thought their Chairman would find an interest, not only in the magnificence of the scenery of this county, which was unsurpassed, iiit ir tcrest in turning into the very neatly designed building, the Barmouth Library, which was .c to be the home of a valuable present of books made to Barmouth by Miss Frances Power Cobbe. They rejoiced in everything that made for the prosperity of the higher life in every community. The Principal's Return. Mr. C. E. Howell proposed that the con- gratulations of the Court be extended to Principal Roberts upon his return after his recent indisposition. The proposition was seconded, and carried with acclamation. COUNCIL MEETING. At a meeting of the Council, which pre- ceded the meeting of the Court of Govern- ors, the Sites Committee presented their report as to th* best method of utilising the Buarth and Grogythan sites. Thel report was received, and the committee was asked to take steps towards the appointment of an architect to design plans for the Edward Davies' memorial laboratory. The Agricultural Committee reported that an exhibit had been prepared to be sent to the Agricultural Exhibition, which is to be held in July next in connection with the show of the Royal Agricultural Society. WELSH LIBRARY COMMITTEE. A meeting of this committee was held on Thursday aftefnoon. Sir John Williams, Bart., presiding, the other members present being Principal Roberts, Professor E. Anwyl, Dr. J. Gwenogvryn Evans (Oxford), Revs. D. H. Davies, vicar of Cenarth, Geo. Eyre Evans, and Mr. C. M. Williams, and the Registrar of the College. The report of the librarian Mr. J. Glyn Davies was read in his absence by Mr. Eyre Evans. Gifts were announced from a few friends of a set of Yr Ymofynydd from its start in 1847, on condition that the 43 volumes should be bound; from Miss Mallt Williams; Alfred Nutt; J. Blackwell, New York City; J. H. Davies, Cwrt Mawr; J. D. Perrott; Dr. Henry Owen; Rev. R. J. Jones, Aberdare; Professor Edwards, Lecturer Wm. Edwards, and others. All the books down to 1800 have now been catalogued, and some 4,300 others partially so. On the motion of Dr. Gwen- ogvryn Evans, Sir John Williams and Mr. J. H. Davies were appointed a sub-committee to deal with the production of the catalogue, disposal of duplicates, binding and the as- certaining of particulars as to the working of a dusting machine, which if found desirable the Council be asked to purchase. On the motion of the Principal, it was decided that proceeds obtained from sale of duplicates be applied to necessary binding. Matters per- taining to the site of the building for the Welsh Library were then dealt with, in view of the approaching meeting of the Court of Governors and Council.

Welsh Revolt against the .Education…

CARDIGAN.

ST. DOGMELLS

LLANYBYTHER.

TREGARON.

BETTWS IFAN.

!t ABEKAYKON.

MAC YNLLETE.

ABJERDOVE