92 



NATURE 



[July 20, ign 



tinued thi old college. The new building, in which the 



arts depi its are located, thus forms the first step in a 



largi 1 si heme, for the completion of which further funds 

 will have to be raised. It lias been built at a cost of 

 130,000/., and was opened by the King nearly, if not quite, 

 I debt. 



1'he largest individual contribution has been the Aula 

 magna, given l>\ Sir John Prichard Jones, whose name ii 

 bears, built at a cost of 15,000/. The library, given b\ the 

 Drapers' Company at a similar cost, is an excellently 

 equipped building, which, though so new, reminds one of 

 the college libraries at Cambridge. In addition to this gift, 

 the Drapers' Company has further maintained for many 

 years .1 department of electrical engineering in conjunction 

 with the department of physics. But in passing between 

 these buildings we notice a stained glass window bearing 



ih- inscripti " Presented bj the Postmaster and Stan" of 



thi Bangoi Post Office." Vs another example of the varied 

 character of the contributors, we note the recent donation 

 of 100/. to the building fund by a member of the teaching 

 staff of the Girls' County School. The site of the college, 

 valued at 15,0002., was given by the " Mayor, Aldermen, 

 anil Citizens of Bangor," and this gift was followed b} 1 

 further contribution of several thousands to the building 

 fund from the -ami' source. 



A spei ial feature >>( the new college i- the open 1 loisters 



FlG. ..-Front vie v of the new hu 1,1 ngs of the University College of North Wales, Ran 

 the museum (lower tloor) and library (unp.-r no ,r). Right of the tower 

 opening on terrace, lecture room (lir.t and second lloors) and Professors' r 



lecture rooms, as shown in our second illustra- 

 tion, thus ensuring efficient ventilation. 



The opening ceremony was performed in the i" 

 a large anil representative gathering. We had Mr. Balfour 

 and Mr. Lloyd George, not only sitting together on the 

 same side "I the bouse, but sharing a programme; Lord 

 Hugh Ceil, the master of the Diapers' Company, and 

 other distinguished guests. At the preliminary banquet, Mr. 

 Balfour, in his speech, expressed the opinion that those 

 who have planned and carried out this work have pro- 

 ceeded on right lite-. They have not been modest in their 

 ambitions, and they have been right. The building was 

 planned on a scale that is not only adequate, but has the 

 germs of development, which will render it adequate to 

 future strains. Much of lie' advantage of a university 

 education lies in the memories "I those who have enjoyed 

 it. When great architecture is linked with beautiful sur- 

 roundings, subtle impressions an- formed which move men 

 uiUi] their dying day. It is well worth while to have great 

 •.deals as in the work. This breadth of view as to the ideals 

 ition and culture is animating all lb,'-- vim preside 

 over and control the courses of study, and Mr. Balfour 



VO. 2177, VOL. 87] 



advised them to be as magnificent in their ideas as the 

 Architect has been in the edifice. There are those who 

 attach supreme value to the training of the youth and the 

 utilisation of opportunities otherwise unused, "I talents that 

 would otherwise fall out. We should not narrow our id. al- 

 to training intelligent youths to pass difficult examinations. 

 Apart from examinations, youths educate each other often 

 most effectually, and each one who looks back on what 

 he gained at the university finds that it does not always 

 consist only in the advantage derived from lectures. There 

 is another function that evi ry university should aim at. In 

 dealing with knowledge, art, and literature they should 

 be 1 he custodians of all that is highest, and not the less 

 so because we ao living in a democratic age. Wales and 

 its colleges feel this ideal a- much as any community. 

 Walls has had its share ol those divisions of opinion that 

 are the effects and causes ol national vigour, but in univer- 

 sity education Wales is a land ol broiler-. All classes are 

 animated by the same ideals, and make the same sac rifit - - 

 in the great cause. But this brotherhood goes far beyond 

 the limits of nationality. This placi is not merelj a Welsh 

 seat of learning, for learning knows no limitations; it will 

 take its place in the wider brotherhood which extends 

 throughout the civilised world. There are many occasions 

 on which national differences may arise, but the function 

 of a university is to make the countrj a community of 

 nations, one army 

 conquering the same 

 enemy, one band of 

 workers united in a 

 common cause. 



The National 

 Library of Wales, the 

 foundation stones of 

 which were laid at 

 Vbei ) -in uh the fol- 

 lowing day, owes its 

 origin to the -ante 

 movement. It was 

 founded by Royal 

 Charter in March, 

 1007. and its objects 

 embrace " the collec- 

 tion, preservation, and 

 maintenance of - very 

 form of literary and 

 artistic production, 

 whether printed or 

 manuscript, relating 

 to Wales and to the 

 Celtic peoples and 

 languages, as well as 

 all literary works, 

 whether connected or 

 not with Welsh sub- 

 jects, composed, writ- 

 ten, or printed in 

 whatsoever language, 

 on whatsoever subject, and wheresoever published, 

 which may help to attain the purposes for which 

 the University of Wales, the university colleges, and 

 other educational institutions were created and fou ded, 

 especially tin- furtherance of higher education and of 



literary and scientifit research." The Foundatii i 



this library i- larger) the result of the efforts <>l sir John 

 Williams, Bart., who for more than thirty years has been 

 purchasing books, which he has presented to the library. 

 These have been temporarily housed in the Aberystwyth 

 Assembly Rooms. 



The site "I thi permanent buildings, situated on a hill 

 overlooking the town, has been presented by Lord Rendle. 

 The Exchequei grants which the librarj ha- received up to 

 the present have been proportionally far below those made 

 to similar institutions in Scotland and Ireland. The new 

 library will, it is hoped, receive some ol thi privileges 

 enjoyed by the libraries of Oxford and Cambridge with 

 regard to thi acquisition of copyright books. It is, how- 

 ever, clearly under; I that a condition ol such a conces- 

 sion is the maintenano ol the international ■ ' tractei of the 

 lil'ttr,, and ol the provisi intemplated in the charte* 



: left of I 



(in the attics). 



(ground floor); 



