Med school project launched

The ceremony of the laying of the foundation stones of the new Otago Medical School in King street took place yesterday afternoon. The buildings, with which substantial progress already been made, were beflagged for the occasion, and in view of the threat of rain a large platform had been covered with canvas. Members of the University Council and of the teaching staff accompanied in procession to the platform by Sir James Parr, Minister of Education. A large number of students took up their stand close by in King street, and occasionally enlivened the proceedings with comments and untimely applause. Sir James Parr, on rising to lay the first foundation stone, was greeted with some cries of "Sit down" and cheers from the students. He thanked the chancellor, and the students particularly, for the very cordial reception of the Minister of Education that afternoon. (Laughter.) As a memento of the occasion Sir James was presented with a suitably inscribed greenstone and gold trowel from the contractor, Mr McLellan. Sir James then placed one of the two foundation stones in position and said "Ladies and gentlemen, as Minister of Education, I declare this stone well and truly laid." (Cheers.) Sir Lindo Ferguson then proceeded to lay the other foundation stone. The proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem, and the students joined in a stirring haka.

One of the most up-to-date

The building is of brick and Oamaru stone, the dimensions being 230 feet x 100ft — three storeys and basement on the street frontage and four storeys and basement over a section in the rear. The King street frontage is of striking appearance, and is designed in Renaissance style. The new building will accommodate the anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology etc. The special features in the anatomy department are the dissecting room, measuring 69ft x 49ft, museum 105ft x 51ft, and two lecture rooms, tho larger of which is 49ft x 35ft, the seats being arranged in amphitheatre type. The new histology department has a very modern classroom measuring 45ft x 40ft, with the necessary preparation room and laboratories all having direct communication. Physiology has a very fine lecture room measuring 37ft x 36ft, being on the amphitheatre principle; adjoining are preparation, diagram, and apparatus room. The larger of the chemistry rooms in this department measures 61ft x 49ft, and is to be fitted up on the most approved lines. The numerous laboratories, research, and experimental rooms are spacious, well lighted and airy. The main room in the pharmacology department measures 52ft x 21ft, and has operating and preparation rooms adjoining. Throughout the building are spacious rooms for professors, students, cloak rooms and laboratories. Large common rooms for both men and women students, the former measures 50ft x 23ft 6in, the latter 31ft x 25ft 6in. The main staircase is of concrete, and occupies a very central position just beyond the spacious entrance hall. This new structure, when completed, will be one of the most up-to-date medical schools of the present day. — ODT, 19.6.1925

Compiled by Peter Dowden