NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4900, 31 July 1877, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

A LAD'S! ADMITTED TO TIIH DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS. Tin-.Choral Hall was crowded on 11th July, for the purpose of witnessing the ceremony of admitting Mies Kate Milligan Edgar, a student of tho Auckland College and Grammar School, to the degree of bachelor of Arts of tho University of New Zealand. Thvro was evidently the greatest intercut taken in the occasion, for three-fourths of tho space of the largo hall was occupied by ladies, for whom .iiillieient bitting accommodation could scarcely lie found. The reiiiiiiuing space in the body of the hall wu occupied by male spectator.-) of all classes The students and pupils of this Auckland Collego and Grammar School occupied the gallery, and were not a little demonstrative of their satisfaction that a lady fellowstudent should be the recipient of competitive honour. They clapped their hands, and cheered heartily when the lady was observed among the large assemblage of spectators. Tho ilialit Rev. lUshou of Auckland (Dr. Cowie), Mr. Justice Gillies, Rev. T Huddle (Principal of the Wcsloyau College at the Three Kings), Mr. Lusk (Chairman of the Board of Jiduoation), wcro the liret to arrive, and were conducted to the platform by Mr. Farquhar Macrae (Head Master of the Auckland College and Grammar School), who was also attended by the several asais-taiit-master.'i of that institution. These gentlemen were followed by clergymen of all denominations, pnifo.'.isional men, influential citizens, and seniors, among whom we noticed Dr. Campbell, Mr. J. C. Firtu, Dr. Goldsbro', Dr. Purchas, Von. Archdeacon Miuiusell, Rev. Dr. Kinder, Kcv. David iirucc, 1-lcv. C. M. Nelson, J lev. Allan \V. Webb, Rev. .lames Kobertsou, Rev. G. IJ. Muiiru, Coloiiel Haultaiu (tiherill' of Aucklaml, Uolouel Nation, Major Green, P. Diguan, M.U.K., Mr. \V. L. Reea, M.H.K., G. M. O'Uorke, Al.JJ.il., .1. Sheehan, M.11.11., \V. Swanson, M.H.K., J. 'I'. JJoylun (Chairman of Harbour Hoard), (J. C. AlcMillan, H. Stewart, l>. M Luekie,

;•;. Ucsketh (Heskoth and Richmond), !■'. M. P. Hrooklield, — Armstrong (Armstrong ami Dignan), Mr. F. L. Prime, Mr. O'Sullivau (Inspector of Schools), and several other ollieial persons.

Mr. lluiiji Jlakt LUKic, M. H.K., in the double capacity of Chairman, of the Board of Kduoatiou for this provincial district and holding delegated power immediately from tho Chancellor of the University, presided, and upon taking the chair addressed the large audience as follows : —The occasion on which we are met together tliiu afternoon is, I need hardly remind you, one of no ordinary importance and interest, it is '.he first occasion of tho kind which lias occurred in the history of tins part of .Now Zealand, and, in some sense, the iirst occasion o : the kind that has yecurree' in any part of the British dominions. (Hear, hear.) This occasion is for the purpose of formally admitting to the academical degrtu of Bachelor of Arts a student of the Auckland College, which is altiliated to the University of JN'ew Zealand. This in itself would be a most important landmark in the history of this part of the colony ; but iu addition to this there is a much more remarkable feature iu the present occasion to distinguish it from occurrences of the like kind. This is the tirst time that any University in the British dominions has admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts a young lady. (Loud cheers.) I need hardly say that it aH'ords me a very great amount of pleasure and pride to have any part assigned to me iu the duty east upon the chairman of this meeting. Much as I might have wished that it had been conlided to the hands of one more worthy than 1 am to perform this duty —much as I could have wished that the original selection of the University, which had fallen upon Sir George Grey (who was unfortuuut-jly unable to undertake the task), had been carried out ; still, as the Chancellor has delegated his function to me for the time being, and as chairman of the Bojtrd of Kducation of this part of the colony, it is with pride and with pleasure ihat I am here to perform this duty. (Cheers.) 1 cannot allow the occasion to pass without saying something iu regard to the importance of this ceremony to ourselves as a community, if it be rightly viewed. There is a danger in these new countries that persons who arc of necessity engaged iu a struggle for existence, or in pursuit of wealth, should forget that there are other things in life quite as important, anil in some sense more important, than either material progress or making money. They should think that a nation which conlines its eii'Tijiiis and aspirations to the merestruggle for bread, or the accumulation of wealth, will never in the long run be capable of any great things. If wo are ever to become do:- merely a community, but what L hope wo shall become, a nation, no small i:rudit will be duo to those who, iu their conduct of the affairs of New Zealand, founded the educational establishments of the country ; chief of which its University has behaved with a liberality which has not as yet characterised the older institutions in other parts of her Majesty's dominions, by opening wide the doors of academical distinction, without regard to differences of grade or sex. I think we shall hereafter have cause to look back with gratitude for such liberality even to this occasion. 1 coinineud it to the miuds of all parents and young persons, and with regard to the particular student who is to be admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, the circumstances of the young lady's academical career have been buch as to relleet credit upon herself and lustre upon this community. (Luud cheers.) They have been such as arc rarely found in a new country where there f.rc few of the advantages which exist in older countries to assist the student in the pursuit of knowledge. And when 1 relleet that instead of all those appliances which iu older countries have been supplied with a liberal hand to aid the progress of learning, there is in this place as yet, 1 regret I should have to say it, so little, T' might say even nothing, done to smooth or mako easy the advance to higher knowledge ; — when 1 tell you that in the Southern parts of tUis colony there arc buildings suitable to such a worthy object to be seen, buildings which give fair opportunity to students of taking full advantage of the tuition they all'ord; —and when you remember that iu this place this particular student with others received their academical instruction in a building which is simply a disused military hut, the lloor of which is not quite safe to tread on, the roof of which is open to the sky, and which, as a residence, would be simply uu iuhiibital.li! ;—when you remember that tho student is not a boy who might be accustomed to rough it without complaining, but a young lady ; (loud c!icers>—that such a student should have porsuveruil from day to day against all ditliculties and discouragements, and yet should have obtained distinguished honours, —when you remember all this you will agree with me that a young lady, who could acquire several academical distinctions in competition with a great many others more habituated to rough usage, has the best right to the fullest recognition of her merits and her acquirements. (Cheers.) The examination for this degree under the new regulations is by no means an easy one. But she has also acquired repeated scholarships, conferred upon her as the result of competition with students from all parts of the colony. ((.Ulcers.) When you consider this you will allow that I have been right in saying that such merit has conferred a lustro on this community, t feel proud that Auckland should have been the lirst place to produce such a student for this degree. 1 take the liberty of saying that the degree is of none the less value as compared with the .'!. A. of older Universities, seeing that the examinations under the new re-

-illations arc a inuch more severe test of scholarship. 1 hope that other young ladies will be induced to follow this example, i hope we will not have on any future occasion such miserable accommodation for students as .1 have referred to. i hope this day and this ceremony will mark an epoch in thu colony. That young people will bo stimulated to increased intellectual exertions. That the fruit of these exertions will be a race of men and women who will bestow intellectual eminence on this country when it grows to be a nation. The results of this cultivation of the highest powers must lip.ve the best oil'eot on human character, which .shall lay thu foundations of future greatness for this country, secured by the persistent, uueryic.--of those who derive, their life and hopes Iron; the prosperity of their adopted horn.-. (Cheers.)

The BisiUH' (.if AucKi.AMi (l.)r. l/ow;-.-) b.iid: 1 have jjreal pleasure iu itaceptiiy

your invitation to say a few words on this interesting occasion. I have been looking round to see whether there! is an older Eii'dish Bachelor of Arts than myself in thu audience, and I see there ia. I salute the oldest, and, at the same time, the youngest Bachelor of Arts, who is a lady, iu Xcw Zealand or the British Umpire. (Cheers.) I may say tliufcl inyscll submitted to no higher intellectual test lor other degrees than that whijh admitted to that degree. As to the value of the degree nov." conferred on Miss ivli'i'i- 1 can teslilv that the Chairman has said nothing more" than is literally true when he said tli-it it U quite as good, in some ir.spccts more valuable, than the ordinary 1 , ,. A. degree conferred by Cambridge; certainly, in my time. There arc many matters in connection with this subject upon which this community miylit be congratulated. iMist, the admission of a lady to this degree ia the triumph of a great principle. Ladies have sought to be admitted to a degree at Edinburgh, if no. at other Universities, -and have been refused. In iho next place, this event is a great honour to her pcirenti and her teachers, i would not be understood to mean that a degree obtained in the colony was the same thing ua one obtained from Oxford or Cambridge. Sir James .Stephen ouee said, it was no matter of grief to him when las son left the University without taking .-. degree, because that son had had the advantage of a three years' course at Cambridge, associating with 1,700 young men of his age. In these days it i-s not uofreijuout to hear tiie nickname of " niue-stocaing"

given to women who cultivated. Uieir intellect. A nickname is no argument. The ordinary arguments against tin; cultivation o! the intellect of women are two : -1. That high cultivation of the intellect involved the Haeriiioe of those ijcalities which are prized in women —above al), their tenderness. L'ut it was not the cultivation of tin; intellect which produced this result, but, the neglect oi cultivating the affections. Whenever any point of. character is ne e 'l<-eted, then the symmetry of tiic man or the woman must HulXcr—nojlecluiii sui ulx'ncUur [neglect

avenges itselfj. Sara Coleridge, daughter of the poet, was one of the most intellectual women of her time, and hlic manifested no want of tenderness. J i was next said that it put an end to the subjection oi women to men—whatever men who an: rather in subjection to good and clever women (laughter and cheers), and to say that women would be less iu subjection, because more highly cultivated, was a rrAu-Uio ad übminlum. Let us remember that subjection, in the proper sense, is subjection through the aliceUons, noc the intellect. Suturaui /'urea aj-jjclUit. The advantages of cultivation of the intellect in women are b:iih positive and negative—positive in that it makes, her a more help meet lor man, and negative because it will probably set some limit to the sacrilice of valuable time which a woman gives up to conventional usages. I can assure parents it will not occupy more time, or be more expensive to nave daughters competitors for such an honour as is about to be conferred. I shall be giad to help any or my young lady neighbours. I bok forward to make my own daughter a candidate for such a'degree, liut we should teach our daughters as well as our sons to pray the prayer of old Thomas a Kempia, Dα ini'n.l, JJciu, idre 'juo/l sciciiUinn &st. [Grant me, (J God, to know that v. hich can be known.] (Cheers.)

The Kev. l>.vviu Bkuck said : I have been asked to say a few ivofub as a member of the Senate of the University of .Sew Zealand. 1 will only express the great satisfaction afforded tUe .Senate tu have the opportunity of conferring this degree upon .Miss i.dger. i also take the occasion to express my great, satisfaction to see so many representing the wealth, intelligence, and iutlucnee ot this city a :ieniblnd,"to honour the young lady who has been the lirst lady to achieve so high a distinc.iou. As to the value of the degree itself, I may tell you that what has been already said of. this degree doe.i not distinctly point out the very high character of it as an academical standard. It is customary to estimate the value of tlitse things by comparison. Now, the standard of examination in some of the Scotch Universities is eveu higher than that of Cambridge. The standard of the University of \ ietoria was, until lately, the highest; but the standard ot the University o! JSew Zealand is even higher than that of Victoria—it is uoiv the highest in the world for admission to the Ij. A. degree. Such is the degree .Miss Kdger has obtained. (Loud cheers.) The value of tins occasion itself lies in the probability that it will stimulate both young men and young women to applv themselves diligently to their studies, that it will encourage the d:sire for high cultivation of the intellect ami :ho higher branches of education. This assemblage dispels the thought lhat there is no iuterest in such matters here. 1 hope gentlemen of wealth and means wilt soon appreciate the bent tit they might confer on this country, on their feliow-scttlers, on the future of tbis community, by endowing some professorial chairs, and establishing bursaries that would ha objects of Competition. 1 can express the high satisfaction it would have given all the members of the rieiuttu if they could have been present here this day. (Oi,ers.)

Mr. iUAcn.vE conducted Miss Edger to the table ou the platform, and addressing the Chairman, said : 1 present to you, sir, as delegate of the Chancellor of the L"niversity oi .New Zealand, lor admission to the decree of Bachelor o; Arts. Ku:. ililli-au Kdger, who lias been declared : > have fulfilled all thu conditions require-.; lor thai degree under the new regulations oi the University.

The young Udy was greeted with cheers, all the geQtk'!ti:i) on tiie platform rising to receive her.

The CsiAru.MAN, presenting the diploma to the young lady, said : I'.y virtue of the authority delegated to aie by t!io Chancellor of the" University of Ntr; Ze.il.iud, 1 admit you, Kate Millijjau i-dyer, to rank as a " Bachelor of Arts'' of the. University of New Zealand. [The diploma is a certificate printed on parchment to the following eil'ect: "I certify that Kate Milligan K-dyor has been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts of the University of Now Zealand.—(liven under my hnudj the IGtU day of .March, 1577. J oils II i-.x!;vl'anci:f.i>, Chancellor."] The newly admitted Bachelor of Arts made no roj.'ly t'.iat was audible The Riuht Uov. Bishop of Auckland approached her, presenting a ivhue camellia of considerable size and bei.uty, which meant, according to some who arc skilkdin such matters, "unpretending occ Hence." Tin; lady defended into the body of the hull, and tori; her seat amongst her friends. Mr. Lrsit announced that Miss Kate Kd-er war, snne 1.. leave Auckland, having boon selected to (ill an important scholastic J appointment in Canterbury. He mentioned the fact to show that pecuniary reward as well as honour attended successful study. This should be an additional incentive to aim at a high standard of education. It was aUo stated that the emoluments of the appointment would be. £300 per annum. This concluded the formal business, and tiie yount; lady who was the object of so much interest again received the congratu iations of a numerous array of friends.