The chairman of the board of governors, the Hon. E. C. J. Stevens speaking at the luncheon

Weekly Press caption: "In proposing the toast of "Mr Lowrie," Mr Stevens said:-- As regards the College, the farm and all the surroundings, the Board were thoroughly satisfied in every respect, and they hoped that the public had been also satisfied. (Applause.) They had a full number of students, and they were going to have the College full again after the vacation. .... He (the Chairman) remembered the time when there was not a single Canterbury student at the College; if farmers had known as much then as they did now about the College he thought that even in the bad times, there would have been students of Canterbury origin at this institution. Everything had gone well during the past year and promised well for the future. They were on the eve of losing that invaluable officer, the Director. He believed Mr Lowrie regretted this as much as did the Board--and that was saying a great deal. (Applause.) When he introduced the newly appointed Director to a gathering of farmers at the College he had stated that Mr Lowrie was the ablest exponent of agricultural education in Australia. Now, after the lapse of seven years, did they say that he had exaggerated? (Cries of ""No"" and applause.) The Board who had worked with Mr Lowrie for the period mentioned knew that he (the Chairman) had not exaggerated. Whatever might be said to the contrary, during the seven years Mr Lowrie had been at the College there had not been one single shadow of disagreement between him and the Board on any conceivable subject. (Applause.) The hour of parting was no time for the exchange of empty compliments, and, therefore, everything he was saying was said in the utmost and absolute sincerity. Mr Stevens then drew a comparison between the state of the College when Mr Lowrie took charge and its present condition, and said that now there was nothing but a general chorus of approval with regard to the improvements effected by Mr Lowrie, who had shown unwearying industry, great intelligence, large experience, and unvarying devotion with the affairs of the College.""