DIPLOMA DAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 543, 25 June 1909, Page 6

DIPLOMA DAY.

CONFERRING OF DEGREES. NOISY UNDERGRADUATES. PROFESSOR PICKEN ON UNIVERSITY IDEALS. Degree day comes but onoo a year, and on degreo day Jack is better than his professor. It is tho only day when ho enjoys suporior- ' ity, and usually he makes tho most of it. "This ie not yonr inaftomatics obse" called out on irresponsililo, undergraduate when Professor Pioken strove to raise his voico against a babel of interjectione yesterday. "I recognise that fact," rejoined tho professor grimly, and in the exclamation and reply aro .summed up tho wholo ethics of degree day. Bui for too toloranco which is shown to -students on this occasion certain , understood returns are ordinarily oxpectcd. If thoy aro 'to override authority they should do so with address, and not rudoly; if thoy must tako upon thomeelvos to order off tile solid fare, jEhoy shouM at least provide good "light refreshment,', in its place But the speeches •which Victoria College students.refused to hear yesterday woro not so dull as their remarks, which wero noisier ' than usual, brat wero never witty; whistling, obvious interjections, ' and the screeching of weird instruments nstrrped tho placo of humour. It would hare boon a courtesy to concede to tho venerbMo .Vice-Chanccllor of tho University immunity from interruptions, but tho few words which Mr. Bowon uttered wero drowned in a ■ sea, of noise. Tho Registrar, Mr. J. W. Jpynt, hardly attempted to make hie voice beard against tho din, and the popn-' larifcy - of Professor Picken was of ■' no avail to him. A banner was displayed, which stated: "Speakers allowed eight minutes; three minutes after bell rings," but no speaker received a fair hearing for two minutes, except .two reprosenta--tivee of the student body, whoso words seemed to be given an importance by their follows, which thoy wero far 'from attaching to those of older spoakors. Needs of the university was tho subject of tho first student spcakor's remarks, T>nt he did not alludo' to what appeared jnst then to be the ono outstanding need—that of a chair of humour, which might at least teach students to discern what is not humorous. The Municipal Concort Hall was crowded with undergraduates and their rrjends. The vice-chancellor (the Hon. C. C. Bowen) presented tho diplomas, assisted by Mr. J. W. Joynt, registrar, and Professor Kirk. Thoro wero also'present on tho platform Mr. G. Hogben, Inspector-General of Schools, mem- ■ bors of. the Senate, local mombors of Parliament, and representatives of various educational institutions.' 'Apologios were received from several mombor3 of the Ministry and others. Tho girl' students had seats in ■front, and presented bouquets to tho gradu- , ates. As the latter camo forward to receive their degrees, an arch of swords was formed above them by three .undergraduates, and tho ceremony of conferring knighthood and other tricks wero performed. " . HON. C. C. BOW EN'S REMARKS.

The Hon. 0. 0. Bowen's speech. was; of ,tho shortest. Hβ said he thought that every- . one must be impressed witli tho fact thai ' tbo centenaryj of Darwin's birth was then - being observed, 'and that it was just 50 years since the "Origin of Species" was published. Ho remembered well when it came out; ho was paying a visit to Harvard University, in America, 'at the time, and ho remembered the sensation that the book produced People had boon reading it ever rinco, and discussing tbo problems it brought forward, and no donbt tfioy would bo discussed fifty years henco. It' was a remarkable anniversary to those who tried to think and endeavoured to learn something, and an thoso present wore supposed to be trying to learn or teach something, they ought to pay attention to the great problems that were put before-' tho world fifty years ago. Their i immediate business, however, was very simple and practical; it;'was to presont diplomas to those; students who had qualified for degrees, and whom he was sure they would all,congratulate. Ho hoped, that the successful students would not look on a degreo as tbo end of all their learning, bnt that it would ', bo only an incitement to them to learn more and do more towards enlarging their minds to tho end of their lives. > HONOURS LIST. _ Mr. J. W. Joynt, Registrar of the University, whoso words wero inaudible a few feet away owing to interruptions and noise, said that the number of Master of Arts degrees roachod tho unprecedented total of 17, a roliord for any collego of the New Zealand , University. Thoro was also a degree of Master of Laws to bo conferred. Tho number nf B.A. degrees was twelve. Victoria College tad obtained marked success this year in lespectof the senior scholarship associated With the bachelor dogroo examination. Oat ■of" eleven • senior scholarships open to competition for the whole Dominion, Victoria College bad- obtained four. Apart from ' *aegreos thero - were one or two other distinctions that made the year ■jui>' important one for the college, ffho prize in modern languages on tbo B.A. examination, offered by the agent of tho University in London, Mr. Eves, had gone to Mr. Gondringor, and the Rhodea scholar- . ship had been awarded to an M.A.'of the Jollogo. (Loud applause.) "Mr. Joynt then read the Kst of honours, though advised, liko other speakers, to "giro it to ,tho reporters." At one stage the noise made by tho students forced him to desist, and Mr. Bowen pleaded for quiet, saying that thoro were people in tbo audi- <■ 'ence who wore interested in the list. His interposition was tho signal for a chorus of wild "music," with stamping, whistling, and ether accompaniments. s Tbo list of honours was as follows:—

Masters of Arts. Francis "William Stanislaus Bartley. Alexander Buinol Charters. Amy Elizabeth Currre (third-class - hon"OUTS in Latin and Gorman). Leonard Frederick do Borry. 'Arthur , Benjamin Fitt (second-class honours m mental science). William Henry Leader Foster (third-clasß honours in mental science). Margaret liHaabcth Gibbs (third-chws honours in mental science). Charles Thomas Graham. Kathleen Mary Hcwetson (third-class honours in Latin and Gorman). -Edith Miriam Hind (second-class honours in Latin and French). James Hutton (third-class honours m pol- , itical science). Elizabeth Stewart ' Morrison (third-class -> honours in Latin and French). Bornard Edward Murphy (first-class honours in mental science). Florence Neilson (third-cbiss honours in and Gorman). ( Matthew Henry Oram (second-claas honours in mathematics and mathe- ' matical physics), John Wallace R<ss (first-class honours in Latin ind Greek). Frederick George Albert Stuckoy (thirdclass honours in natural science, zoology). Master of Laws. (William Hcndry Wilson, B.A. (first-clase honours in international law, contract and tort, and company law). Bachelors of Arts. Basil Davoy Ashcroft. Thomas Andrew Gilbort. ' William Pattcson Pollock Gordon. Florence Maad Hunt (of Canterbury College). / . Ina Gwendoline Hylton. Catherine Jamioson. Elsie .MiSJoont Jobiisboxii ' Robert Kennedy. Euphomia Ethel Law. Harold Wyatt Monagban. Isabella Neilson. Clara Constance Herborg Bockel. Cothbert Hargreavos Taylor. Bachelors of Science Mary Rushton Barkae. ' Benjamin Harris Low, BJL ' Bachelors of Laws. Clarence Adolphus Artlnir. Herbert Edgar Evans, BJL (conferred April).

Senior Scholars. '"-£ Mary Ruehton Barkas (in, Gorman). Thomas Androw GUbort (in Latin). Klsie Milh'cont Johnston (in Pronoh). Robert Kennedy (in economics). Mr. Eve's Prizo In French and German. Bernard Joseph Gondringcr. Rhodes Scholarship. Allan MacDougall, M.A. PROFESSOR PICKEN'S ADDRESS. Professor Picken said that tho Professorial Board wished to oitor heartiest congratulations to the graduates, and to assure them that it would take the keenest interest in their onward careers. It was tho practice of tho board to ask ono of its most recentlyestablished members' to act for it on that occasion, in tho belief that tho freshness of his impressions might enablo him, to say somothiug ' that would stimulate public interest in the well-being of tho college. "Thoro is certainly no lack of topics which ono might chooso," wont on tho professor, "but there seoms to.rne one thing, appropriate to such'a gathering as this, that cannot be. said too soon: Of all our pressing needs, and they, are very many, perhaps,tho moat fundamental is the need for growth of a clear and decisive opinion on tho question of irhat the universities should mean to tho national life. Such a public opinion must first bo formed by tho body of our own graduates (as they mature) and of those who show their interest in; the college by attending our public ceremonies. Its inestimable vain© to us will bo in determining tho. attitude which our / students shall take up from the ontsct of their university careor (and before). This attitude .must necessarily reflect tho public opinion in whoso atmosphere they.have been reared; and if,-we can got that public 1 opinion right, the path will bo smooth for further progress. Nurseries of National Ideals. "One hopes to have it generally recognised that tho universities: aro the nurseries of national ideals; and, that tho futuro of tho nation depends on their maintenance at a high mental and spiritual level. Thoro can bo no question that this was the thought in (tho, minds of those who laboured _ and sacrificed for the establishment of national universities, and what wo want more than anything,.to-day, is a fresh birth of this noble idea in the public mind. Tho thing that.has happened is this: Certain mechanical devices wero early introduced to' help the workings of v the academic machinery: examinations to provide on objectivo for periods of concentration on dofinito lines of study; degrees as a permanent recognition of the fact that so much precious time had been dovoted .to single-minded''pursuit of truth and knowledge. But thesb auxiliaries to the real university objects havo been perverted into ends-in-thomsolvps: the examination has becomo a universal test of merit which it cannot adequately test; and the degree has becomo for many tho boall and 'end-all, of the academic career. Can ono-wondor that tho importance of the social aspect of university life ; is taking hold of the £*udont-imagination as a fresh ideal for tho universities ? But it is a mistaken ideal, and one cannot too strenuously oppose the notion that a university is synonymous with ,an institute dnb for young/tnen and women I A.common typo of public opinion to-day is that.the business of a university professor is to prepare candidates for the degroe-exami-nations. ,V A more! pernicious doctrine could not i prevail.—The more a professor cares for the branch of knowledge it ie hie high privilege to represent' in tho commnnity, tho less is it possible for him to give his pupils tho superficial veneering on, which many examinations put a high premium.

independent Provincial Universities. "Many of us believe that thero is no satisfactory solution for tho university problems of Now Zealand short of establishing univorsities, in some measure independent at least, in the four centres. Such a state of matters has been,foreshadowed by tho chancellor in a recent official pronouncement; but whother its consummation bo near or far would seem to depend on the ability of the New Zealand provinces to provido (as university districts tho world over have provided) nocquate endowments for her'universities,from, private benefactions. Tho principle of purely national support is a sound ono, but tho oxigencies of party government greatly impair its practical value. This change will only be realised if we can firo the public imagination with a fresh idea of what tho universities may.'moan to,tho life of the country. And in every way it seems clear thet ' tho ultimate ends of university progress and development will bo best''served by a united public opinion on this subject, with tho i Knowledge, Culture High Principle and Character." ■ COLLECE NEEDS. ' 7 I | Mr. Thompson, representing the Stndente , Association, emphasised some collego needs which tho students wished to impress upon ' the senate. Tho first was that tho matriculation standard should be raised; it was considered that the average student who matriculated at presont was not fitted to commence tho first year's work of tho degreo course. Tho second matter was in rogard to tbo method of granting degrees. Tho students thought that all tho examining should bo dono in Now Zealand, which should give more uniformity, and obviate tho long .delay in learning results. It was urged that tho system of local examinations had proved successful in Now Strath Wales. Tho finances of tho college also required improvement. Other university colleges in New Zealand, which, nnliko Victoria College, had large endowments, received considerable support from tho public. In five years tho Otago peoplo gave £30,000 for university purposes and only a few weeks ago £2100 was collected m two days to endow a chair of domestic economy at Otago University. Victoria College required practical help to enable it to extend its buildings, and do the great work that a university college should do. PRESENTATiON; TO'■. RHODES SCHOLAR; Mr. Thompson, on■:behalf of the students presented Mr. Allan MacDougall, the Rhodes scholar, with a purse of sovereigns, as a token of tho groat'esteem in Tffcich they held him Ho,referred to Mr. MacDougall's : brilliant scholastic and other qualities.'■'■ ■ ■' v \ Mr. MacDougall,- after returning thanks' referred to : the .appeal to public generosity : made by: the previous speakers. '" A M'Gill graduate had told him that whereas in Australia and New Zealand, whenever the universities wanted anything, they went to the Government; in America they simply made their requests known to thopeople, and they wore never disappointed; Tho people of Wellington had in , theuv city a great university college,-.with a professorial staff of which anv poop o might be proud, and that college was' worthy of their, support. .