University of the Witwatersrand Library

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LAST Christmas Eve, a fire took place in the main block of the University of the Witwatersrand. As a result, very considerable damage was done: the main Library was completely destroyed, as were also the priceless Gubbins collection and the Law Library, which are, naturally, irreplaceable. Through the co-operation of the British Association and of other bodies, many replacements of lost and damaged books have been made, but in order to broaden the basis of the appeal, a meeting was held on May 9, in the council room of the Royal Empire Society, presided over by the Earl of Athlone, himself an honorary graduate of the University, the degree of LL.D. having being conferred upon him when he was the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, during the visit of the British Association to Johannesburg in 1929. In the course of his introductory remarks, Lord Athlone traced the development of university education in South Africa, and pointed out that the University of the Witwatersrand only received its charter of incorporation ten years ago. In 1925, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales formally opened the new buildings, which occupy a magnificent site on the outskirts of the city. General Smuts was the first honorary graduate. The progress made has been remarkable, and there are now about two thousand students taking the regular courses. It was therefore a tragedy that the ‘soul’ of the University had been destroyed through the fire.