926
26.
EARLY YEARS OF QUEEN'S COLLEGE
Reference has already been made to the founding of Queen's College (see 1-9-33), when a brief history of this school was given. Originally the Government Central School founded in 1861 when three Government schools were amalgamated it was re-named the Victoria College at the close of the Eighties when new premises were built; but a few years afterwards the name was changed to Queen's College. The college magazine, the Yellow Dragon, some time ago queried the reason for that change, and in its current issue publishes letters received from Dr. G. H. Bateson Wright and Mr. A.J. May, both former masters, who are living in retirement at Bournemouth.
Dr. Wright was Headmaster, Queen's College, 1881-1909. Mr. May was Second Master, Queen's College, 1888-1906; had formerly been associated with St. Paul's College.
Dr. Wright, it is now shown, was responsible for the change of name. He writes:
"You ask if I can tell you how the name of the college came to be changed from Victoria to Queen's.
"Without any previous introduction I saw in the Gazette that the new building just opened by Sir George Bowen was called Victoria College. I immediately wrote to the Government that, as the name of the Colony was Victoria, and there was already a Victoria School by Mr. Braidwood, the choice of the name was hardly distinctive enough. Therefore in imitation of Queen's College, Barbados, and in reference to Her Majesty the Queen during whose reign the establishment had flourished from 1860 to 1890, I submitted that Queen's College would be a more appropriate appellation. My suggestion was approved.
These further notes from Dr. Wright are also of interest:
"The change from Cambridge Locals to Oxford came about as follows: Mr. Bateman, Headmaster of St. Paul's College School introduced the former, and I sent boys in. Finding however that information of changes in Plays and Books arrived too late in the Colony to allow our candidates sufficient time for preparation, I wrote to the Cambridge Syndicate to allow us advance information, which they refused. An application to Oxford was graciously considered and approved. The whole colony was benefited and the change was effected. Some people may have thought that as an Oxonian myself I desired the alteration but it never entered my mind.
"I was much interested in the history of the Morrison Scholarships. I suggested the institution of the Junior Morrison Scholarship and my colleagues, the Head of the L.M.S. and the Minister of Union Chapel concurring, it was put into execution.
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Page 86
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926
26.
EARLY YEARS OF QUEEN'S COLLEGE
-
Reference has already been made to the founding of Queen's College (see 1-9-33), when a brief history of this school was given. Originally the Government Central School founded in 1861 when three Government schools were amalgama teď it was re-named the Victoria College at the close of the Eighties when new premises were built; but a few years afterwards the name was changed to Queen's College. The college magazine, the Yellow Dragon, some time ago queried the reason for that change, and in its current issue publishes letters received from Dr. G. H. Bateson Wright and Mr. A.J. May, both former masters, who are living in retirement at Bournemouth.
and
Dr. Wright was Headmaster, Queen's College, 1881-1909. Mr. May was Second Master, Queen's College, 1888-1906; had formerly been associated with St. Paul's College.
Dr. Wright, it is now shown, was responsible for the change of name. He writes:
"You ask if I can tell you how the name of the college came to be changed from Victoria to Queen's.
"Without any previous introduction I saw in the Gazette that the new building just opened by Sir George Bowen was called Victoria College. I immediately wrote to the Government that, as the name of the Colony was Victoria, and there was already a Victoria School by Mr. Braidwood, the choice of the name was hardly dis tinctive enough. Therefore
in imitation of Queen's College, Barbados, and in reference to Her Majesty the Queen during whose reign the establishment had flourished from 1860 to 1890, I submitted that Queen's College would be a more appropriate appellation. My suggestion was approved.
These further notes from Dr. Wright are also of interest:
"The change from Cambridge Locals to Oxford came about as follows: Mr. Bateman, Headmaster of St. Paul's College School introduced the former, and I sent boys in. Find ing however that information of changes in Plays and Books arrived too late in the Colony to allow our candidates sufficient time for preparation, I wrote to the Cambridge Syndicate to allow us advance information, which they refused, An application to Oxford was graciously considered and approved. The whole colony was benefited and the change was effected. Some people may have thought that as an Oxonien myself 1 desired the alteration but it never entered my mind.
"I was much interested in the history of the Morrison Scholarships. I suggested the institution of the Junior Morrison Scholarship and my colleagues, the Head of the L.M.S. and the Minister of Union Chapel concurring, it was put into execution.
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