University and Educational Intelligence

Abstract

BIRMINGHAM.—The first list of donations in response to the appeal of the University for 500,000l. has been published, showing gifts or promises to the amount of more than 250,000l. Nearly half of this amount, however, is given to the Petroleum Mining Endowment Fund, and, whilst making the University unique as a centre of instruction and research in this particular branch of engineering, it will not be directly available for relieving the general indebtedness. The largest single gift is an anonymous one of 50,000l. for the general fund. A sum of 5000l is earmarked for a chair of Italian, and an equal amount is given by the James Watt Memorial Fund for a James Watt research chair in engineering. The Birmingham Small Arms Co. gives 6500l, and the Daimler Co. 3500l A gratifying feature of the list is the number of names of old students who have contributed. The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has given 3200l, and the Worcestershire Education Committee has made an additional grant of 200l per annum. It is announced that a second list will be issued shortly, and it is to be hoped that more of the large firms in the city and neighbourhood will appear therein.