RHODES NEWSLETTER Vol. II July, 1971 No. I OLD RHODIAN UNION RHODES UNIVERSITY Left: A scale model o f one of the three new residences soon to be erected at Rhodes. This interesting design provides for “clusters” of rooms at different levels on sloping ground. IMPORTANT RESEARCH PROJECT A radio telescope at present being built in the Physics Depart­ ment of Rhodes University will be the first in the southern hemi­ sphere to explore very high fre­ quency radio waves from space. The sources of this radiation, which appear to be associated with clouds of gas found in space between the stars, were first observed in 1969. Since then the skies above the northern hemi­ sphere have been extensively ex­ plored to map these sources of radiation. Rhodes will now under­ take the same task in the sourthern hemisphere. A substantial grant has been Below: The Minister o f National Education, the Hon. J. P. van derreceived for this work. The radio RHODES TO Spuy, with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. J. M. Hyslop, during thetelescope will consist of reflectors Minister's visit to Rhodes in February this year, when he announced to collect the signals, an electronic THE RESCUE that a special grant would be made to the University to assist in itsconverter and a 50-channel receiver. development. ProfessorE. E. Baart (Physics) A wattle-based tanning process will spend the next twelve months invented at Rhodes University has in Britain at the Mullard Radio saved the day for the tanning Astronomical Observatory which is industry in the United States and attached to Cambridge University. Canada. The operation of these He has been awarded a grant for tanneries was in jeopardy because this purpose by the Council for of growing concern over the Scientific and Industrial Research. pollution of long stretches of Also associated with this work America’s main rivers and water­ in the Physics Department is ways by the effluents from tanning Dr. G. de Jager who has studied processes. similar phenomena while in The inventor of the process, England, using the radio telescope Dr. S. G. Shuttle-worth, Head of the at Jodrell Bank. He will continue Leather Industries Research Insti­ with the construction of the tute at Rhodes University recently telescope while Professor Baart is made a five week tour of the overseas. United States and Canada. He For many years now, the demonstrated to tanneries how the University has maintained a re­ use of wattle reduces the waste search station at Craig Doone, liquids which cannot be purified near Grahamstown, which observes after the leather has been tanned. the low frequency radio waves The American tanneries were de­ emitted by the planet Jupiter. The lighted with the new process, which Physics Department has also also reduces the duration of the carried out ionospheric investi­ tanning process from six months to gations through members of the one week. Department stationed in Antarctica. CHAIRMAN VICE-CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL OF S.A.B.C. The Chairman of the University Prof. Brian Bradshaw, Professor Council, the Hon. Mr. Justice J. D. of Fine Art at Rhodes University, Cloete (1937) and Mrs. Cloete(nee has been appointed Vice-Chairman Valerie Harries, 1942) are spending of the South African Broadcasting a holiday in Europe. After ex­ Corporation. He has been a tensive travelling on the Continent, member of the Corporation’s Board they are in England to spend some of Directors for five years. Born time with their elder son, Tom in England, he has been on the (1969) who is studying law at staff of Rhodes University for ten Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. years. Their younger son, David, who is a student at Rhodes, is flying to Professor Bradshaw, accom­ Britain to join the family on a panied by Mrs. Bradshaw and their month’s tour of the British Isles. sons, will spend the next few months in Europe where he will spend some time exploring pre­ historic caves in France and will Above: Prof. K. Kühn (Germany), Prof. J. R. Nunn (Rhodes), also study certain early celtic Prof. E. T. Verdier (France) and Prof. K. W. Bagnall (Britain), monuments in Britanny. He will PROFESSOR during a recess in the Conference o f the South African Chemical go to Italy to explore tombs and Institute. Prof. Verdier is an Old Rhodian who served for some timethe acropoli and then to Greece to on the staff of the University and became the founder and first Editorsee the oracular caves and to o f the Rhodes Newsletter. Denmark and Sweden to study rock engravings. At the same time, he will make an investigation of broadcasting and television systems. CONVENTION OF S.A. CHEMICAL INSTITUTE ECONOMIC RESEARCH Rhodes University was the venue Manchester, Prof. K. Kiihn of the this year for the national convention Max Planck Institute for Protein Prof. Marcus Arkin, Professor of the South African Chemical and Leather Research in Munich, of Economics and Dean of the Institute. Over two hundred Prof. E. T. Verdier of Montpellier Faculty of Social Science at chemists from all parts of South in France, and Dr. J. L. de Vries, Rhodes University will be in Africa and Rhodesia, as well as a member of an international London for the next few months chemists from several other coun­ company in Holland. Prof. Verdier to carry out research on a senior tries, gathered at the University in is an Old Rhodian (1935) who also bursary awarded to him by the the first week of February. The lectured at Rhodes for some time. Human Sciences Research Council. convention was opened by the He will be accompanied by Mrs. Chairman of the University During the convention, the Arkin, who lectures in Economic Council, the Hon. Mr. Justice J. D. Chemistry Department also staged History and who shares his interest Cloete. an exhibition on the theme of in the early economic history of Dr. Johan Smuts has been “Computers in Chemical Instru­ South Africa. In particular, they appointed head of the Department Among the overseas speakers will be interested in records of of Afrikaans/Nederlands at Rhodes were Prof. K. W. Bagnall from mentation”. the English East India Company’s University in succession to Pro­ Agency at the Cape. They will fessor R. K. J. E. Antonissen, who visit several other countries en this year became vice-principal of route to London. the University. NEW PUBLICATIONS BY Dr. Smuts has been on the staff of the University for more than twelve years. He was appointed RHODES UNIVERSITY senior lecturer to the department in 1958 and he became a Reader THE CHOIR last year. Rhodes University is arranging Shaw, edited by Prof. W. D. Born in the Western Cape, and for the publication of a series of Hammond-Tooke who will be Rhodes University Chamber educated at the University of Cape diaries, reminiscences, letters and remembered by many Old Rhodians Choir staged a series of perfor­ Town, he gained a Bachelor’s journals dating from the early as Professor of Social Anthropology mances in Cape Town in the last degree in 1939 and Master’s degree period of the 1820 Settlers in South at Rhodes University. week of May as part of the with first class honours the follow­ Africa. The project was conceived Republic Festival programme. The ing year. by the Departments of History and Another contribution to the concerts were given in the Hofmeyr English in 1967, and a number of series which should appear at an Four years later he obtained his Hall which was filled for every authors have been asked to edit early date contains the remini­ performance. Doctorate. After six months’ publications to be published as part scences of Thomas Stubbs and lecturing at the University of Cape of “The Graham’s Town Series”. deals with the frontier wars of the The Choir received high praise Town, he turned his attention to The first to appear will be the 19th century. This volume is being from knowledgeable music lovers translating. Dr. Smuts spent ten journal of John Ayliff edited by edited by Prof. Winifred Maxwell, and also impressed with their years with the public service as Dr. P. B. Hinchliff. (A former Professor of History at Rhodes. striking appearance and deport­ translator before becoming assis­ professor of Ecclesiastical History ment. tant chief translator in the House at Rhodes, he is now Secretary to Other authors in this series of Assembly for six years. He was the Ecumenical Council of the including Dr. E. E. A. Gledhill, The University’s coelacanth was then appointed to the editorial Anglican Church). the Rev. M. Nuttall, Dr. C. A. also taken to Cape Town for the board of the Groot Afrikaans Giffard, Mr. J. M. Berning, Dr. occasion and was on exhibition at Woordeboek, a post he held until The second publication in the J. A. Benyon, and Miss M. the South African Museum for two his appointment at Rhodes. series will be the journal of William McDowall. weeks. 2 OLD RHODIAN RE-UNION FUNCTIONS The Newsletter has been requested to announce the following functions to be held in September and October this year. Invitations to these and several other re-union parties will be sent out later. (See notice RE-UNION below!) JOHANNESBURG: 10th September (Old Edwardian Club) Since the announcement that an Old Rhodian Re-union will be held CAPE TOWN: 17th September (W.P. Cricket Club) at the University in September this year to mark the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the Old Rhodian Union, nearly 200 Old Students have DURBAN: 15th September sent in registration forms.