It should be recognised as a primal necessity of university education that students should be able to pursue their studies with a certain degree of comfort.
Unfortunately, that measure of comfort falls considerably below a desirable standard at Otago University.
At present the University building, for all its imposing appearance, is little more than a collection of class-rooms, and these too small for requirements, while the accommodation provided for students outside the class-room is of a deplorably inadequate and meagre character.
It is recognised as high time that the personal needs of the students were reasonably provided for, and that the University cannot fulfil its functions properly as long as it disregards everything calculated to foster the social aspect of academic life.
In order that the comfort and convenience of students may be ensured and that their university career may not be entirely lacking in proper atmosphere and environment, the erection of a suitable building has been long recognised as a necessity, and the growth of the institution has made further postponement of such a step very undesirable.
Such a building, to be in keeping with the institution of which it would be a part, must necessarily cost a considerable sum.
The energy, however, with which the project which is expected to end in its materialisation has been taken up promises uncommonly well, and it only remains for the community to back up by a demonstration of practical interest the efforts of those who are giving their time and labour to this excellent cause.
We cordially commend the University bazaar to the patronage and generosity of the public, which, we hope, will realise that the achievement in this connection of the measure of financial success that is hoped for will represent a most important step towards the realisation of the undertaking it is designed to advance.
• The plate-laying on the Riversdale-Switzers railway is now completed to within three-quarters of a mile of Waikaia township, and the ballasting gang is hard on the heels of the rail-layers.
It is anticipated that the line will be practically complete by September 15. - ODT, 12.8.1909.
