CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17700, 28 February 1923, Page 12

CANTERBURY COLLEGE.

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.

MEETING OF GRADUATES. A isrge and representative meeting of graduates of Canterbnry College was held at the College last night In consider arrangements for the forthcoming Jubilee of the College. Sixty-two graduates were present. Dr. C. Chilton, Rector of the College, stater! that he was extremely gratified at the very large attendance. He nominated Mr 0. D. Hardie as chairman of the meeting. Mr Hardie took the chair and called for nominations for the position of secretary. Mr ft. If. Livingstone was appointed secretary. The Programme Outlined.

Dr.. Chiito.i a brief outline of the activities proposed in connexion with the Jubilee, which would celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Provincial Ordinance establishing the College. A committee had l<een set up to consider the celebrations, and a good many meetings had been held. The following steps had been taken. (1). Invitations had been sent to the Universities of the British Empire, and to some, American and Continental Universities. A number of answers had been received, and in many cases delegates had been appointed to attend the celebrations. (2). A register of graduate? and short history of the College was being compiled by Dr. J. Hight and Miss A. . Candy. This was a, very necessary step (<?), The speaker had sent a short circular to tho graduates of the College. He felt that an essential feature of the Jubilee should bo the reunion of old graduates. Special letters had been sent to a certain number of very distinguishes? graduates. (i). A programme had been drawn no for May 13th, 14th. ar.d loth. These dates came just after the conclusion of the first term of the College. On Sunday, May 13th, the proceedings would be onened by a religions rervice. This _ would take place in the Cathedral, if the necessary permission con'd be obtained. On the Monday there would be the official reception to the representatires of other Universities. In the afternoon it was hoped that the new wing of the Engineering School would he officiiHy opened, anc? the Col. le<re btrildingg would be available for in-" speetfcm. This would giye the'jrradnates one opportunity of meeting old friends. In tl» evening there would be tha formal reception by tne chairman of the Board of Gov«eniorß. On the Tneaday morning, there wonld probably be arranged one or two addresses on edticational matters by distinguished visitors. The Student*' Association was arranging: a programme for the afternoon, and in the evening there would be a formal dinner. It was feared that the programme would be somewhat crowded, and that two or three ftinctions might have to be held simultaneously. Dr. Chilton stated that he was personally very'anxiocs thf»t the grednntes should meet together freely. He felt that there sh/>nld he a greater connexion between the early history of the College and the rereirt history, Gradnatcs, he thought, did not take as mnch active 'interest in tTie College as they might. Mr A. G. Thnmjwon, conductor of tne Canterbnry College Orchestral Socfetr, Yind iragg«st<>d the formation of a Choral Society which would be able to tske some Retire part in the celebraticms. Tbis spumed to be >n excellent idea. Dr. Chilton conclnded by announcing that Professor Macmillan Brown vn\n anxious that all the grada*Un ehtffM *i<nt him n* hi? heme on the CWshmers Sills nt some convenient time during the celebrations. (Applause.) Bond Suggestions. Mr 0. T, J, Alpers said that he thoTight it would be a good idea to publish in oonnexion witn, the Jubilee a little anthology of Diploma Day songs. Many good songs had Been '- written since the first one—Long Livo Canterbury College—had been compos- . Ed, thirty-eight yean ago. There might alto be included a few of the really briHiaht thing* written for "Olla Podrida" since it was instituted in 1886, - when the speaker was secretary of the Dialectic Society. A compilation of the product* of the wit and imagination of the student* would be a pleasant me- ! ateoto of the jubilee, and would probably pay for itedf, in spite of the high price of paper. . The anthology would ~fona a record of the flippancy of the College, just as the official history 'would set down the facie. Continuing, Mr Alpers add that he thought there should heat the College an exhibition < of photographs. There would he ludJc- , tout scenes of the men of forty years ago in Diploma Day festivities, and groups of the little dramatic produc.tioas of the naat. Some of the photographs would he very weird, and nil .would he interesting. In order to give &i% graduates a chance of meeting each Mother, the Saturday night might be de- ' -voted to/a reunion in groups, lists of rihe graduates coming could be prepared '. and thev could be grouped Ist decades. The speaker thought that ' the opening function of the Medical Conference might well be taken as an example of the jubilee celebrations. The reunion of old graduates would, he .. thought, he the most enjoyable part of the; Jubilee, The old conversazione had gone eat of fashion, and had been replaced by the jazz, but the "conversazione" in tie original significance siul retained a charm.

Coaunlttees dominated. ' - The following committee was nomifiited.to investigate the question of publishing an anthology:—-Miss Wilton, Mean* H. F. von Haast, J. H. E. Schroder, T. W. Cane, T. W. Rowe and 0, T. J, Alpers, with power to add to their number.. It was eventually decided to appoint a General Committee to deal with suggestions made at the meeting, and to report" to another meeting, to oe held next Tuesday night. The committee appointed waa as follows: —Miss Herriott, Mis* Gibson, Mrs Clark, Professor Speight, Professor Steele, Dr. Eight, Dr. Chilton, Messrs O, T. J. Alners, A. G. Hender?ton, A. E. Flower, H. P. Kidson, J. H. W Schroder, T. W. Cane, W. R. Las:oelles, and A. S. Taylor A General IMflcnsslon. Dr. Chilton emphasised the need for co-operation among the graduates. He thought the suggestions made already were excellent. Mr A. S. Taylor expressed the opinion that a rousing welcome should be given- to the visiting graduates and a strong reception committee should be formed. Suitable headquarters should be secured so that graduates might have some place at which to meet, and there should be some distinguishing badge by which those of different fißSJetations might recognise each other. *ner# should also be an official proiJCTMWwe of the celebrations. suggested that graduates academic dress during the *'* o«nbam said that the 1 °f a more or k*» informal 'mßß&T l '* on Saturday fMnSJP**"? appealed to him. g&EksSe*. *9*L question. Dr. Cliilton «oard of Governor* was

authorised to spend £SOO on the Jubilee celebrations. Most of this would be req :;red for the preparation of the register of graduate?, and history of the College. , Dr. J. Right said t-jiat he tnought that £IOO would be available for genera! Dtirposes. Mr"H. P. Kidson. as president or tiio Students' Association, outlined the part which the students desired to play ra the eele'iy-ation.?. It was proposed ;o hoid the anriuVii procession on the i -Saturday morning and to stage the j 1023 revae or. the .Satarday, Monday i and Tuesday evening. Oa tfee Tuesday ! '.v-iK,.g clu iJi-i.n;a would probf sbiy a Greek play. On Tuesday i afternoon is s'as proposed to hold a ' tennis tournament at which matches ; would be arranged between graduates ; and students.

_ Mr L. V.'. Gee said that if possible the rsvur- '.redd be on the Friday. .Saturday, and Monday nights. -Mr \V. D. Andrew.? :-nggested as a recommendation to the committee that graduates- of Otago. Victoria College, and_ Auckland, who were resident in Chri.stchu.-ch should b,- : invited to take part in ths celebrations.

Dr\D. K. Hansen suggested that the School Conferences n?nally hold in Wei-

ll r. it on. in May should he held in Christchurch this year in order to enable graduates of Canterb-nry College to attend the jubilee reiebmfons. It was stated that there was hnrdiv su..jc.r ; r.t time in which to conclude such sn arrangement.

Mr J. H. £. Schroder said that it mignt he- possible on the evening of the . Drama S-v-iety's pmdnction to stage one of tne old plars. produced at tne Colipge r/icTi the original cast of c.naracters. Mr_ Alpers .said that he had been training with that idea in mind. Jubilee STemorial. Mr_T. W. Eowe said that he thought that in the Jubilee Year those who had benefited by their association with Canterbury College should devise soma form of Jubilee Memorial. Dr. Hight said that he felt that the graduates of the College should claim as a right to play a moat prominent and conspicuous part in the inbiiee celebrations. The corporate body of graduates was the University visible. The influence of the teachers of the University could be exerted only through the graduates. There had been in the past a tendency to neglect the graduate body. He felt that they should presa their claims upon the Board of Governors, and he was sure that these claim.? would be recognised. Those present represented only seven or eight per cent, of the graduates of the College, The more enterprising had left Christchureh. (Laughter.) Close co-operation was necessary in any memorial scheme, and in all matters connected with the celebrations. (Applause.)

Mr W. B. Lascelles stated that the establishment of a University Clnb had been mentioned as a suitable Jubilee Memorial.

Further consideration of the questions raised was left to the general committee, which is to report to the meeting next Tuesday evening.