DEGREES CONFERRED

Evening Star, Issue 19001, 24 July 1925, Page 9

DEGREES CONFERRED

CEREMONY AT HIS MAJESTY’S

SIR HARRY REBEL'S ADDRESS THE EXAMINATION VIRUS With a host of happy graduates seated in the front stalls, and the remainder of the auditorium well packed with beaming relatives and friends, His Majesty’s Theatre presented an animated scene yesterday afternoon, when the Chancellor (Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P.), the University Commission (Sir Hairy iludolph Reichol and Mr Frank Tate), members of the University Council, deans of the faculties, and the professorial staff, attired in full academic robes, appeared on the platform to begin the annual ceremony of conferring the various degrees awarded to the students of the University of Otago. Many of the “undergrads.,” whose hilarious peregrinations have been en-

tertaining the city for the last two days, disposed themselves in various parts of the hall but though they provided a few lively interludes, and propelled their shafts impartially on “ heads ” and students, their behaviour was surprisingly good. it was only when the successful students were her ing presented for their diplomas that their badinage was extended in any way. Minor errors by the deans wore quickly detected and capitalised, and some of the women graduates must have found the passage across the stage quite an ordeal. But the attitude or the students, considering the season, was generally quite respectful, and their lusty delivery of the University anthem and ‘ Gaudeamus ’ demonstrated that under the care-free veneer lay a spirit of staunch loyalty to their Alma Mater. An apology for tho absence of the Chancellor of tire University of Now Zealand was received.

After extending a welcome to the mayor and tho University Commission, the Chancellor said that ho wished to express the sincere regret of all at tho loss of tho former Chancellor, the late Dr Cameron, who for many years presided over all such functions. Dr Cameron, he said, was at all times a student first, and no representations that were made by the students were ever ignored by him. The Chancellor concluded his tribute of respect to the memory of Dr Cameron by stating that Ins memory would always ho cherished affectionately. Reviewing the work of the past year, Chancellor referred to the resignation of Professor Barnett, who had occupied the chair of surgery, and Professor Woodthorpe, who held the chair of economics. Professor Barnett, before his retirement, had shown great public spirit by endowing the chair of surgery with a .munificent gift of £B,OOO. (Applause.) Professor Woodtliorpe had rendered valuable and faithful service in the chair of economics. (Applause.) In their places. Professor P. G. Bell had been appointed to the chuy* of surgery, and Professor A. G. ». Fisher to the chair of economics. Both of them were New Zealand-born. (Applause.) During the year there had been a number of important benefactions, particularly in the ethnological department. Only the previous flay he had been informed by the owner of another valuable collection that they would bo added to the department. A new wing was needed at tho museum —it was, in fact, a matter of urgency.

In the Inst few months, added Mr Sidey, ho had had many evidences oi the high esteem fii which the University was held throughout hy other countries. Many of their medical students had gone to tho Old Country, and when applying for positions there they more than held their own with graduates of other universities. _ The faculty of mines had also made important contributions in tho same way. The institute was known far beyond tho confines of this country. 'Two factors counted in spreading the reputation of the University. The first was (its distinguished teachers, not only the present, hut also of the past. Tho next was tho work of the graduates, not so much in their qualifying for the higher examinations, hut in their later years. lie prayed that the reputation of tho University would bo won in an over-increasing lyay by the work of the ! graduates. (Applause.) To the graduates who were that day to receive their degrees he tendered, on behalf the Senate of the New Zealand University, and on behalf of the Otago i University, his congratulations, and ho 1 asked them to derive inspiration from I tho lines of their own capping day j chorus: Our ’Varsity is great, hut wo will make it greater, For ono and all we are loyal to our dear old Alma Mater. The applause which greeted the Ch incellor’s apt quotation was renewed when ho introduced Sir Harry Keicnel. EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND. Sir Harry Reichel, principal of the 1 University College oi North \\ ale*, ! then delivered the chief address ot the afternoon. “ Let me begin, he said, “ by saying that I feel highly honored in being asked to address you at tho great annual festival of your Unnoisity. (Applause). I shall show my gratitude by being brief. I hope, also, by being audible. (Laughter.) When the invitation of your late 1 rime Minister to conduct an inquiry into the university system of the dominion reached mo just before Christmas it gave mo a thrill of pride and pleasure. 1 had already enjoyed the rare privi-len-o of a life’s work spent in helping to° construct from tho foundation a national system of education, university and secondary, and 1 was now ]ust on the eve of retirement offered the no-less rare privilege of surveying and reporting on another national system, built up a whole world away by men of our own blood and traditions, toto diviso orbo Britannos —(ironical cheers) —in the words of tho Latin poet, but in a far wider sense than ever lie dreamed of: and that in a region of mystery and romance, tho romance of early settlements in a land whoso extraordinary natural beauty and charm were balanced hy the perils of the stormy seas which environed it, and of perhaps the most formidable native foe whom our countrymen have ever had to encounter. “Though we,know too little about her, the name ot New Zealand stands high in the Old Country. We all know | the part you played in the Great War, to which you sent ono man for every twelve of your population. Many of us know that Ernest Rutherford, the greatest experimental physicist in the British Isles, perhaps in the world, is a New Zealander; and it will he long before the people at Home forget the prowess of the All Blacks. At tho same time, it must be admitted that our conceptions of your circumstances and conditions are somewhat vague. Tho Southern Hemisphere was not entirely strange to me; I had taken part in the visit of the British Association to Australia in 1914, was in Perth before the war broke out, and a fortnight later saw the first hatch of Victorian volunteers inarch out of Melbourne in ‘ civvies ’ to the training camp outside the city. More fortunate, therefore, than many worthy persons at Home I knew that New Zealand was not an outlying province of Australia —(applause) —and that it consisted of two islands and not of one —(applause) —but I confess I had hardly realised that tho distance from Sydney to Auckland was more than half the distance across the Atlantic from Liverpool to New York, that Auckland was as far from Dunedin as John o’ Groats from Land’s End, still less that tho passage between the Kortb and gouth .Islands contained

greater possibilities of SufuiHng p>M) the Channel crossing from Holyhead to Dublin. (Laughter.) “University education has been tny life work, and I entered on this mission with keen interest, but at the same time with a wholesome ignorance of the circumstances and conditions under which your work is carried on. I say ‘ wholesome ’ advisedly, for ignorance that knows itself is a wholesome frame of mind for one who is to act judicially. A man could hardly spend a fnll life in university work or any other profession without some general principles crystallising in his mind, if he fonnocf none, it would merely show that ho had no brains or had used them to very little purpose. But it is in the application of such general ideas to concrete cases that the quality of the judge is shown. I can say then with sincerity that I approached the inquiry to which the late Prime Minister invited me with an entirely open mind, and with the eager interest such a task must excite in one who has at once an intense belief in the possibilities for world progress of the modern university, and a no less deep conviction that the future of tlie League of Nations, and with it of world peace, is bound up with the continued existence and prosperity of the British Empire. (Applause.) For if a group of nations having the same religion, speaking the same language, fed on the same literature and national traditions, cannot hold together, what chance has a league composed of different races, languages, and religions, in many cases sundered from each other by national feuds and memories of conquest or oppression ? “ Ever since wo landed the work of inquiry has gone on morning, noon, and night, and left ns no time for enjoying the unique scenic beauties of this southern wonderland or even, I say it with bated breath, of paying proper respect to yesterday’s students’ pageant. (Laughter.) Wo have visited in turn each university centre, i and heard every witness who had releivant facts to .tell us or counsel to offer, and if the old saying is true, ‘ln the multitude of counsellors is wisjdom,’ the Commission should now bo qualified to add to the wisdom literature of the world, It is not inappropriate to this occasion, and it is mere justice to say that some of the best evidence we have had at each centre has come from the representatives of j the students. (Applause.) What con- j elusions wo have funned I am not in a position to state. We have hardly formed them yet, and when wo do they belong to the Government of Now Zealand; hut certain impressions have been left on our minds which may be not without interest. We have been struck with the way in which examination seems to dominate the whole educational field, and with the ; zeal and capacity for hard work shown , bv young New Zealanders, which often, I alas! leads them to work for examinations under conditions that render university study difficult, if not impossible. Again at each centre wo have heard the praises of Otago from the mouths of university experts. “ Wait till you get to Dunedin, and you will find something more like the true university spirit—they have the old Scotch tradition.” These hints excited our interest not a little. I was myself born and bred in Belfast, the capital of the Scottish colony in Ulster, and my under- 1 graduate days were spent at Oxford in the Scottish College founded by John De Balliol and Devorgnillln, his wife. Several of the members of the original college staff at Bangor, Henry Jones (the poet philosopher), Andrew Gray (who succeeded Lord Kelvin in the chair of physics at Glasgow), and James Dobhie (who subsequently became head of the Government laboratories in London), were the product of a Scotch University, and in our efforts to build up a Welsh University life it has always been the Scotch model to which our eyes were turned. In passing through Canada, in 1903 as a member of the Moseley Commission, I had also an opportunity of visiting _at Kingston, a small Scotch University, like a transplanted St. Andrews, small yet complete in itself, which made the proud boast that it was the on!y_ university on the American Continent where' Aristotle’s ‘ Ethics ’ was studied for the degrees in the original Greek. (Laughter.) I had seen then that it was possible for the Scottish University plant to grow and flourish overseas, and naturally 1 looked forward with keen anticipation to my Dunedin visit. Well, 1 think wo have, a.s wo were led to expect, heard here a deeper university note, and have experienced in greater measure that indefinable atmosphere which exists wherever there is true university life, and which is derived from two sources —study under large-minded and inspiring teachers, and ,hardly less important, the common intellectual and social life of a community of able young students. i “ The examination virus seema to have bitten deeply into the national mind; everywhere wc have found the tendency to think on educational quest ions in terms of examination rather tli an in terms of study and training. Indeed, the experience we have been through during the last four i weeks might almost provoke the ejaculation ‘Know ye not that New Zoa- • land is the ten pie-keeper of the great Goddess Examination! ’ (Laughter.) Examination is a useful, perhaps an indisponable servant, but—like many other servants—it becomes a bad master. A great English public schoolmaster half a century ago remarked to his Sixth Form one day: ‘My dear boys, how can you be expected to grow if .you are always being taken up by the roots to see if yon are growing.’ “ 'Whatever the upshot of the inquiry may be, whether it lead to the establishment of four universities or to the : raising and strengthening of a single. National University, it is the earnest hope of the Commissioners, as it must ho of every true friend of higher education that Otago may ever cherish the noble old Scotch tradition of the love of Lsnrning for its own sake, and ; the idea of a university as a corporate i body of fellow-workers in which, though some may be teachers, all are ! learners. ]f she does, she cannot fail i to render inestimable service not only to the people of her own district, but to the whole of the dominion. Floreat Otago!” (Loud applause.)

SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

GRADUATES OF THE TEAR. The Chancellor then conferred the various degrees on the following graduates—only a few having to bo awarded “in absentia”:— Doctors of Medicine.—Charles Ritchie Burns, John Cairney, Russell David King, Philip Patrick Lynch. Doctor of Dental Surgery.—Robert Bevin Dodds. Masters of Arts.—Daniel Ferguson Aitken, first class honors in French, second class honors in English; Howard Andrew Elliott Botting, second class honors in history; John Henry Coidy, in Latin and French; Roy Andrews Dickie, second class honors in history; Horace Fawcett, first class honors in history; James Francis Henley, second class honors in philosophy; Ivon (Blackstone Hubbard, in philosophy; William Lang, second class honors in Latin and French; Letibia Louise Lawson, in English and French; Reweti Oratosh Mason, second class honors in economics; Thomas Hay M'Donald, second class honors in history; Alexander Charles M'Lcan, second class honors in economics; Eric Robert Edward Ross, second class honors in philosophy (Auckland University College); Annie White Todd, in philosophy; Louisa Wallis Todd, first class honors in botany. Masters of Science.—John Angus Dunning, second class honors in mathematics; Robert Rutherford Niinnio, first class honors in physics (electricity and magnetism) ; Rudolf Georp« Puuselor, second class honors in chemistry.

Master of Laws.—James Crombio Pa reel!,' in jurisprudence, real property, companies. Masters of Commerce. •—• Thomas Leonard James, in economics and economic history; Allred Thomas, second class honors in economics and economic history.

Bachelors of Arts.—Manta rot Annie Black, Georgina Bruce Blaikie, Phillippo Sidney Do Qnetlovillo Cabot, George Maegregor Carveron (John Tinline Scholaikiii English), Archibald John Campbell?!Williain Cassols. _ Alexander Gordon Ghisman, Gordon Vincent Daly, Lesley Hucston Dickinson, Vera Kate Harrison, Vera Annie Hayward, Clement Alfred Hill, Mario Rosenhein Himmel, Richard Peter Kurt Kama, Hectorina Jessie Macdonald, Hectorina Mary M'Kcnsic M'Rac, Alexander Milne, William Graham AUClymont (senior scholar in history), Myra Walker APKinlay, Gordon Boughan Marie O’Mceghan, Albert William Farnsworth O’Reilly, Laurence Moter Rogers, Iris Beryl Roma ns, Jessie Hunter Ross, Walter James Scott, Glen Simmers, Janet Erskino Stonliouse, ] Joan Dunstan Stephens, Malcolm j M'Phorson Watt, George Ernest Wilkinson, James Clarkson Young, Thomas .Frederick James Young. Bachelors of Science. —Peter W alker Aitken, Eileen Margaret Ballnntvne, Geoffrey Alan Cox, Horace Edwin Fyfe, Colin Campbell Gcddes, Keith AVilliam R. Glasgow, Alexander Frederick M‘Gcorgo (senior scholar in mathematics), Hugh Marshall Niinmo (senior scholar in physics) Bachelors of Laws.—Charles Byers Barrowclongh, John Boyd Dcaker, George Henry Hodges, AVilliam Frew Murray Ott, John Nicholson Smith. Bachelors of Commerce. —John Donford, John Samuel Park. Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery. —Robert Erwin Austin, Morris Axford, Francis Eastham Bolt, Reynolds Harold Boyd, Gordon Bertram Campbell, Eric Candy, James JacMon Crawshaw, John Alexander Dale, Ronald Otway Davidson, Lycll Stanley I Davis, Konriek Holt Dean, Theodora Clemons Easterfield, AVilliam James Eclginion, AVilliam Rognvald Eca, James Eitzsimons (medical travelling scholar), John Con nick Forsyth, Ernest Sydney Fossey, Philip Vernon Graves, Robinson Early Hall, Eric .Robin Harty, Owen Stanmoro Hethcrmgton, Keith floani Holdgate, Roy Hiunphrey Howells, Clifford Samuel James, Brian Maurice Johns, Frederick Alexander Lamb, Harold Braithwaitc Lange, Allan Augustus Macdonald, Joiin Mark, Richard Bowden Marlin, Samuel Thomas Martin, Margaret Joan Mayfield, Cecil David Meadowcroft, Keiwicth AVilliam Fuller, Oscar Carl Mollor. Frank Adrian Morton, Arthur Rainsford Mowlem, Lawrence Cradoek AUNickU-, Joseph trick M'Q.nilkin, Charles Evernrd North, James Aitkenheud Paterson, Charles David Read, Reginald Francomho Roberts. Alice Campbell Rose (medical travelling scholar), Carl Xavier Ruhcn, Edward George Slayers, Frederick C unrles -Merritt Sliortt, Frederick Rich Smalo. James Garfield Stewart, AA 7 ilItini Raymond Courtney Stowe, Sydney Herbert Swift, Edward Harold iiii'vcv laylor, Norman AVaddle, Edward Baden Powell AVatson, Frederick Edward AVebster, Roy Samuel AA’lntesido, David Arthur Callender AVill, Basil Lana AVilson, Jcauio Gardner Wood. Bachelors of Dental Surgery.—Allan Thomas Buxton, Hinton Cyril Colson, Spencer Cotton,' AVilliam Hunter Hamilton, Alan Cameron Mncintyre, Chas. Lempfert .Malonev, AA r illiam Robert Stratton Rantin, Francis Georgs Stockwell.,

Bachelors of Science in Home Science. —Muriel Constance Gifford, Jessie Evelyn Harris, Alary Brebner Macadam, Rona Nellie Bain Marshall, Margaret Anna Michael. Bachelor of Agriculture.—Richard Hughes Bevin. Bachelors of Engineering (Civil). — Ivor Tnlk Chesson (Canterbury Ftiiversity College). Robert James Walton Howorth (Canterbury University College).

ASSOCIATKSHTPS AND DIPLOMAS

Diploma, of Associate of the Otago School of Alines in Mining.—Frank Leonard Sanderson. Certilicalc of Proficiency in Dental Surgery.—John Alexander Adams, Jus. Bruce Bihhy, Frederick Winston Craddock, Margaret Ethel Collie, David Edward Hart, Howard Henry Hooper, Alfred AVilson Jonghin, Thomas Bernard Francis Judge, Alargaret Christina AH Intyre, Herbert Sidney Patterson, Howard Rage. John Anthony Price, Albert, TTcatheoie, AVcir, Ormond Herbert AVillia ms. Diploma of Associate of Otago University in Home Science.—Muriel Mason Graham, Janet Campbell Henderson, Jane Afurray Irvine, Edna Eileen Alargarot Leach, Run Belle AJilne, Elsie Monro, Alary Stoddart Thomson, Nora Frances AVrigley. Diploma in Educai ion.- Arthur A'inccnt Fleet. Alary .Holmes, Alexander John Woods. Diploma in Social Science.---Amold Henry Nordmeyer, Ral]di AATIIiam Sonter. Diploma in Banking.—Herbert Willia m Whyte. SCHOLARSHIPS. —University of New Zealand.—■ Medical Travelling Scholarshin.— Ja nies Fitzsimons, Alice Campbell Rose. Senior 'University Scholarships.— Alexander Frederick APGcorgc (mathematics), .Hugh Aiarshall Nimmo (physics), AVilliam Graham AUClymont (history). John Tinline Scholarship (English). —George Maegregor Cameron. ISAI Exhibition Scholarship.—Robin Sutcliffe Allan. —University of Otago.— Sir George Grey Scholarship in Experimental Science (granted by New Zealand Government) —Peter AA'alter Aitken. Beverly Scholarship in Pass Degree Physics.—Allan George Harrington. Beverly Scholarship in Higher Mathematics and Mechanics.—Robert Rutherford Nimmo. Beverly Scholarship in Advanced Physics.—Colin Campbell Gocldcs. Rmeaton Research Scholarship (Experimental Science). —Rudolf George Pcnseler. George Young Scholarship.—Hugh Marshal! Nimmo. John Edmond Fellowship (Industrial Research).—Alfred Aaron Levi. Ross Fellowship. —■ AA'alter James Bora.man.

AVfXXERS OF PRIZES. —University of New Zealand.—

Macmillan Brown Prize (English Composition). Daniel Ferguson Aitken.

Haydon Prize (Essay).—Robert AVm. Connor. AVilliam Ledingham Christie Medal (Applied Anatomy).,—-Robert Louttit Flctt. —University of Otago.— Janies Clark Prizes.—AVilliam Lang (Latin), Charles Andrew Sharp (English), Henry Alexander AHDonald Mitchell and Thomas Frederick James Young (mental science), Janies Robertson (Greek), Ethel Emma Black (advanced history), Horace Henry Hawkins and John Borneo Starnes (pass degree history).

Leask Medal.—Albert Heatbcote ‘Weir (dentistry). Chamber of Commerce Prizes (Accountancy).—.John Barron, Robert Henry Henderson. David Leyden Brown, George William Jack Bell, Albert James Simmonds. Batchelor Memorial Medal (Gynaecology and Obstetrics). —Morris Axford. Marjorie M'Cailum Medal (Medicine). —Lawrence Cnuiock M'Xicklo. Near Zealand Medical Graduates’ Association Clinical Prizes.—Graeme Gibson Talbot (junior clinical surgery), Charles David Read (junior clinical medicine), Lawrence Cm dock M'Niekle (senior clinical medicine), Alice Campbell Rose (senior clinical surgery). Scott Memorial Medal (Anatomy).— Alfred Svaimvell Cook.