UNIVERSITY CAPPING.

Evening Star, Issue 10961, 17 June 1899, Page 4

UNIVERSITY CAPPING.

A SOLEMN FUNCTION IN THE CHORAL HALL. The compromise of the Senate with those whom Mr Justice Williams termed the " young lambs" of the University is not conducive tc enthusiasm. The capping ceremony of yesterday afternoon was fitly termed " solemn." If is difficult to work up a demonstration at anj daylight function, even though the doors be closed and the lights turned low; but when the garish day peers in through the skylight and the dust can be seen clinging to the rafters, and there is nothing to relieve the dull monotony of the walls save flags of all nations and faded clusters of green stuff, which, by contrast, make the background yet more uninviting, then it is that the probabilities of anything but an extremely decorous meeting are utterly lacking. The small body of students which, to the number of thirty-five or so, occupied the far corner of the hall were awed by the funereallike melancholy of their environment. Witl the persistency of a Greek chorus, they punctuated the points of the speakers with applause, but there was a sad absence of spontaneity or warmth in their plaudits. Not thai anyone seemed to regret this. In truth, the, grave and reverend gentlemen upon the pMfT form pointedly emphasised their approval of this serious form of ceremony. It waf referred to in complimentary terms, and nr students can ever have received in their undergraduate days so plentiful a besprinkling of honeyed congratulations than did the thirt; or forty young gentlemen assembled in the Choral Hall yesterday afternoon. Tho audience was large, and mostly of one sex. Here and there a man's head could be seen surrounded by a paradise of waving millinery, but off the platform it was essentially a lady's day. Tho first ripple of applause from the come? came when the male graduates filed on to the floor, followed by a louder welcome when th<= female graduates threaded their way from the back of the hall, through the audience, tc their seats near the platform, and a yet heartier roar came forth as Dr Milne—tall, handsome, and begowned—quietly emerged from the dooi near the Btage and took his seat with the others.

Then came a wait. Everything and everybody were sedately quiet. There was neither fun nor laughter, just a subdued murmur, a c in church immediatetly before service. The audience tried to be interested in the Star? Rnd Stripes boldly spread out for their admiration, or the Harp of Erin, or little lines of faded Chinese lanterns strung on strings across the room, or the Japanese parasols han.'ing sorrowfully from the walls. But in vain. Not even the pale pink, pale green, and deep rtd underneath the Royal Standard, to the back of the platform, could awaken our depression. We were assisting at a solemn function, and, instinctively appreciated the fact. Then came another stamping from the corner, and, looking up, we saw Sir Ji'n rs Hector, clad in black, scarlet, and gold, the learned professors in swishing gowns, and many other dignitaries come on the little stage. Sir James, looking bland and pleasant, took his seat before a small pile of long, cardboard rolls, and then, taking off his classic headcovering, again stood up and spoke to the assembly. Sir James is not an orator, nor was there much in his matter to arouse enthusiasm. It was in keeping with the occasion, and received in that mildly approbatory way as though the audience were fearful of giving offence should they applaud top demonstratively. Then came Professor Gilray, with a pile of paper in hand and a terribly earnest look upon his face. However, it was better than it looked, being not too long nor too prosy, but marked with that same deadly intensity of purpose characteristic of the day. The Registrar came next. Mr Joynt has a serious expression and a strong voice. Unfortunately he maintained the former, but could not make use of the latter. The surroundings bore down upon him and subdued him, and he kept himself well in hand, exercising the most admirable self-control as he produced one of the diplomas from its cardboard case and showed it to the audience. From a distance, find with the uncanny feeling prevalent, it looked like a fac-simile of Charles the First's death warrant, but a perusal of the wording calmed any temporary symptoms of alarm.

Then came the event of the afternoon, and everybody tried to infuse some little life into the ceremony. Sir James bowed, smiled, and shook hands with the graduates as they came, in all their rustle of silk and glimmer of pink and blue, to receive their hard-worked-for parchment.. The young lady graduates had bouquets and wreaths, and ferns and roses, flung, with very bad aim we must admit, at them; whilst a gentleman in black robes most obligingly picked each floral tribute up from where it fell and bore it in the train of the blushing graduate until she had safely returned to her seat. Some little confusion arose among one or two of the audience, due to the fact ihat this same courteous gentleman received from Sir James all the diplomas belonging to absent graduates, and as he bowed most politely when each, in turn, was handed him, some thought he was the most successful student there. Of course explanations followed.

Mr Cargill was next. This gentleman was deeply touched with what he had seen. "So many fine young men, so well trained, and growing up from the soil! and so many fine young women, good women—not like the new woman—no, sir, but—but—and here Mr Cargill waxed eloquent, and, imitating Dominie Sampson, swung his ami like a windmill. Professor Sale came next. No! the professor is not an orator, but he is clear and pleasant, and spoke very prettily and nicely to ns all. He did not object to fun, or jocularity, not he! in truth, he liked it—the more the better, in fact—and casting his eye toward a Chinese lantern that hung by a frail string from the ceiling and looking sternly on the pomp and display of the Japanese umbrellas—he hoped in future they would have a more imposing ceremony; still, let them go on, but do not let us mix the one with the other. Let us be careful in our choice of time.

Judge Williams brought the ceremonies of the afternoon to a close in a sufficiently impressive manner.

Certainly, if the desire of the University Senate was to have a " solemn " function their desires were realised beyond dispute, but it may be permissible to suggest that at a time when the art of reading aloud is being more or less insisted upon; when elocution is taught for the benefit of teachers and scholars; and when the pulpit is coming to fathom its loss in this direction, there does not seem any justification for such a display of oratory as we listened to. There is no reason why a university function should not hav« its reading and speaking expressed in chaste and dignified English, and delivered in a clear and interesting form. The following concludes our detailed report : The Registrar read one of the forms of diploma, explained the classes of diploma to be presented,, and mentioned that where honors had not been obtained it did not necessarily mean that a very high standard had not been attained, but that a candidate who was prevented from presenting himself within a given time could not obtain an " honors" certificate. The diploma for the degree of M.D. would, he said, be presented to Dr Chappie in Wellington, and, though they were not present, it was right that it should be mentioned that Joseph William Mellor and Henry Fawsitt Skey had gained honors in science. The Chancellor (Sir James Hector) then formally presented the diplomas, the recipients being heartily cheered on taking them, and numerous beautiful bouquets being showered upon the lady graduates. The list of recipients was as follows: Doctor of Laws.—William Deans Milne.

M.D.—William Allan Chappie (Wellington). M.B.s.—Eugene O'Neill, Ernest Williams, William Sutherland.

Masters of Arts.—George Edward Thompson, first class honors in languages; Marion Beatrice Thomson, second class honors in mental science; Alexander Lamonfc Wyllie, third class in mental science; Andrew Galloway Cameron Miller, second class honors in political science; Thomas Alexander Hunter, first class honors in mental science; Charlotte Eliza MacGregor, second class honors in languages;' Leslie Edward Williams, second class honors in languages; Reginald Moore, second class honors in mental science; Caroline M'Leod and John O'Shea, first class honors in languages; John Smaillie Tennant and Annie Bauchop, second class honors in languages; Francis Wallace Dunlop, first class honors in mental science. Bachelors of Arts.—John Hugh Alexander M'Phee, George Thorncroft Palmer, John Brunton, Theophilus Benjamin Strong, Margaret Collier Perrin, Joseph Robert Shore, John George Fullarton, Angus Marshall, Violet Maud Greig, Ralph Townley Little, Robert John Thompson, Isabella Margaret MacKellar, Lawrence Thompson, Arthur Edward Jones.

Bachelors of Science.—William Newlands, Sydney Chalmers Allen, James Hamilton Hall Baillie, Leonard Arthur Line. Bachelor of Laws.—Colin Campbell Hutton. Honors in science gained by Joseph William Mellor, B.Sc.; Henry Fawsitt Skey, B.Sc.

Mr E. B. Cargill, on being called upon to speak, congratulated the Chancellor upon returning to the old way of conferring degrees in Dunedin. He thought this was far better than a merely local celebration, a3 they could not invest the proceedings with too much importance. ' The. Senate had acted wisely in making

the change in the bestowal of diplomas, and he hoped that in future nothing would be omitted that could bring prominently before the minds of the people the great value and advantages of the University. He would not refer to statistics, but it was very satisfactory to find that the number of students in the Otago University had gone on steadily, increasing year by year, until", now there were no fewer than 400 students attending the University. On the present occasion, too, there were thirtyseven degrees conferred, as against twentynine last year, showing an advance in that respect. It was a grand thing to see the young people coming up for their degrees, and being provided upon entering life with university credentials representing training that would give them such splendid opportunities for usefulness in the community. To witness this ceremony gave rise to emotions of pride and happiness. Already the fruits of university teaching in various ways were to be' found in our midst. They had more than one of the graduates of the University upon the local Council, and there was promise of the time the Chancellor had referred to when the University would be taken in hand by its own sons. He was sure those who had that afteri noon presented themselves were just the type of women to make the best use of the learning they had acquired, and to carry it into their different spheres of life, without pushing it to any of those extremes which went up to make another kind of woman that was by no eans jo admirable.—(Laughter and applause.) He congratulated the Chancellor upon the character of the proceedings, and expressed the hope that the Chancellor's address and the address delivered by Professor Gilray would receive that attention from the public at large which they merited, and so tend to create a strong feeling in the community concerning the enormous advantages of the University. Professor Sale, who on rising to speak was received with loud and prolonged applause, thanked the chairman for his kindly reference to him, and expressed a hope that the Chancellor would give them his presence at such ceremonies as was being held that day as often as he could. He was sure whenever Sir James Hector did come amongst them he would be extremely welcome to all of them. (Applause.) Proceeding to refer to the establishment of the college at Wellington, the speaker said that institution completed for the present —and probably for some years to come—all that would be required for university education in the colony, so far as the establishment of university colleges was concerned. He was extremely glad that that college ; had been established, and he earnestly wished that it might be as the Otago University had been hitherto. It was a most im portant thing that a great city like Wellington should have the same advantages, if not more, than we enjoyed here. Another thing was that there might possibly be a change in the mode of He, however, would be sorry to see any change made in that respect.—(Applause.) He was aware that there was an attempt made by certain members of the Senate to insist upon the examinations being conducted by the professors themselves. Those gentlemen who wished to insist on that were evidently not aware of the great dim culties which would follow upon such a change. The Chancellor of the Otago University (Mr Justice Williams) said: Sir, ladies, and gentlemen, —It is my pleasing duty, on behalf of the Otago University—and I may say, I think, also on behalf of this meeting—to return our cordial thanks to Sir James Hector for his presence here this afternoon. We are always glad to see Sir James Hector, not only in his capacity of Chancellor of the University, but as the head and front of science in New Zealand.—{Applause.) Sir James Hector will always be welcomed in Otago, for we must remember that the colony owes him to Otago—he is an old Otagc man.—(Applause.) I quite agree with what has been said by Mr Cargill and Professor Sale: that this new departure in the conferring of degrees is an excellent thing. I also agree particularly with what has been said by Professor Sale: that the students' festival, which has hitherto accompanied these more solemn demonstrations, should still continue, but that it should be separated as rigidly as possible from this more solemn performance. I think, sir, you will agree with me that on this present occasion our undergraduates—the lambs of the Otago University—have conducted themselves with a superhuman amount of decorum.—(Laughter and applause.) I beg, sir, on behalf of the Otago University and of this meeting, to tender you our sincere thanks for your presence on this occasion.— (Applause.) Sir James Hector briefly returned thanks. EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS OP OTAGO UNIVERSITY, 1894-1898. The following table, prepared by Professor Gilray in connection with his speech at the ceremony, gives the educational statistics of the University of Otapro for the past five years, and should be interesting to the friends of the higher education in Otago: I.—Number of Students.

Total number for the five years, 20. Average per year, 4. 111.-Number of Masters of Arts with first class or second class honors.

IV.—Number of Diplomas in Science, with first class or second class honors. [Note.—This distinction is rarely taken. No student in any of the colleges took it between 1594 and 1897.] 1898 Fi f S T d - Total number of honors for the five years: Seven firsts and twenty-three seconds. rvT V.—Number of Degrees Taken. [Note.-The years give the years in which the ludeut6 Brt< for their examinations; they graduated in the following year. It is necessary to make this arrangement in order that wo may bo dealing with the same five years throughout. In the ' New Zealand University Calendar,' the scholarships and M.A. honors degrees are dated in the year in which the candidates mt; ard the pass decrees are dated in the year in which they actually nradiiatcd-i.c, in the year following the one m which tbey sat] NUMBER OF DEGREES. M -A. B.A. D.Sc. B.Sc. LL.D. LL.B. M.B. M.D.

Total number of degrees for the five years .. 131 Average per year ... ... ... ofi

t Males. Females. Matricu- • Not lated. Wat. TI. Mat. 1S94 ... 140 31 171 36 1895 ... 141 40 181 44 lsgjj ... 174 27 201 32 1897 ... 177 34 211 46 1898 ... 183 35 218 51 Not Grand Mat. Tl. Total. 4 40 211 1 45 226 1 33 234 0 46 257 0 51 269 II.—Number of Scholarships Gained. iSenior. Tinline. Exhibition Science (scholarship. 1891 ... ... 3 1 1895 ... ... 2J 0 1896 4j 1 1897 4 1 1898 1 1 A scholarship vacant every second year. 1

ir "st Second 1894 0 3 1595 ; 1 i) 1896 1 3 fNo honors awarded ISQ7J on account of the 10i "1 wnck t,f the MaV taura. 1S98 4 7 Total ~U 22

1S94 4 8 ... 2 0 2 1S95 9 4 1 3 2 3 1896 7 14 ... 2 3 2 1S97 1 18 2 2 5 1893 15 12 4 1 1 3 "i Ttl. 36 56 1 13 1 8 15 1