AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13192, 1 June 1906, Page 6

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

THE' CAPPING CEREMONY.' SPEECH' BY THE" VICECHANCELLOR. , « -~'.' __ CLAIMS OP THE COLLEGE. ' The annual meeting for the conferring of degrees of the University of New Zealand and the presentation of diplomas won by the students of i.'.e Auckland University CoHfrga took place in the Choral Hall, i v-s'.erday afternoon. '"The "Hon. C. C.' Bowen, vice-chancellor of the University, presided, in- the absence of the chancellor (Sir Robert Stout), and conferred the degrees and presented the diplomas. Seats on the platform were also occupied by members of llio Professorial Board of the College, members of the College Council, and . several graduates of the University. This year's graduates occupied seats at the front of the hall, and the undergraduates were present in force in their accustomed place in the gallery. There was a, good attendance of the parents and friends of the students, and of the general public. ' CLASSICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION. The Vice-Chancellor took as the subject of his opening address the subject' of classical and scientific education". The pre; ■valent complaint as to classical education was "probably, he said, due to a great exlent to the old system of teaching classics. There had been too much formality, but he was glad. to.say that a step had been taken, in -the. present generation which would greatly facilitate the leaching of the ancient languages. About 300 years ago, England had separated herself from the rest of Europe in the matter ;of the pronunciation of these languages, but' he was pleased that a little less barbarous systems of pronunciation was now- being adopted. If the teaching •of these languages was allowed to fall into abeyance, people who now talked lightly of the matter would find ■ that the deprivation of this class of education would be a serious j loss, especially to generations to come, These languages were the basis of all European civilisation and literature, and all the thought .and higher education of Europe had emanated from these tongues. They had ■ been told in the words of a well-known song . that every little boy who came into the world was" either a little Liberal; or, a little Conservative—(a voice from the gallery: Sing it to us!— laughter)—and it seemed to be the idea of some people that every, one of these boys was. also either a little classical or a little scientific being. Everyone who knew anything about boys \ knew what nonsense this was. There were general surroundings vand predilections to be . taken .into consideration, arid these very, often altered matters. > In the great' public schools at Home there was a modern side and a classical, side. The children after being trained together up to a certain: point were allowed to differentiate, and to take one side or the; other. 1 He thought they would soon find a tendency ' to adopt a similar alternative,; system in /.this colony. ■< ■■'• The University of New Zealand ,; was • desirous to provide as far as possible for instruction in every branch of human knowledge, and .i'.-rPi' give, opportunities to .those .'with special leanings, without it ..being- necessary for them to. go further afield. (Applause.) j' t t ;'.-; ■.. : : .' ;..,-, :. ; ;-.'.■■ ■■ -rr- ..r t: '.. REMARKS BY MR. JOYNT.'; V; : Mr. J. W. ■ Joynt (registrar of the University) made special reference to- the success of Mr.,: Ernest Chitty (a blind student); in;; obtaining the degree of Bachelor of Arts. (Applause.) 'tins, he said, was probably the first time in .the history of the ,v University.'".' of New Zealand, that a, degree had been conferred on a blind student. (Cheers.) He also pointed 'Out that the examiners in England,' on whose;-re-, ports ' the 'degrees were awarded, were not aware, except in one case, that' the papers of Mr. ; Chitty were those of a blind student. ,On the whole, the examiners were I not aware' that there was anything special in the case \ to'; differentiate ■'■ it from any other case. This)'• he need hardly say, was a remarkable; achievement. (Applause.) Two degrees were being conferred that, day for the first time in ■ the history of; the University, vi?., those r of Master of : Science arid Master of Laws. These degrees were at present in an incomplete stage, owing to the delay in the issue of the charter from the Crown. He believed, however, that the delay would not be of much longer . duration.; and that the full recognition due ■■' to the';. degrees, ' would soon be obtained. (Applause.) ■•' J THE DEGREES CONFERRED. The degrees were then conferred arid the diplomas presented by the vice-chan-cellor. The following is the list of the new graduates, who were presented by Professor Talbot-Tubbs, chairman of the Professorial Board:—.,'"." ,■•'. Bachelor of Arts: Hector Kenneth. Burns. Ernest Chitty, Anno Forsyth Ironside, Lionel John Mytton Mackay. Charles Frederick Chipman Miller, May Bloxsome Robertson, Thomas Francis Warren. Bachelor of Science: James Henry Adams, Edward Oaradus,. Frederick Palliser AVorley. Bachelor of Laws: William Phillips Endean. William Ernest Moore, Leonard Travera Pickmere. . Bachelor of Music: Flsrence Bertha Williams. ;' ' Master of Science: Colin Fraser, John Ernest Holloway, Frederick Palliser Worley. Honours in Science: Colin Fraser, firstclass honours in geology. Master of Arts: Mona Martha Brown, Fergus Gale Dunlop, Elsie Mary Griffin, .Richard tit. John Hovell. -

Honours in Arts: .Mona Martha Brown, third-class honours in political science, also third-class honours-in mental science; Fergns Gale Dunlop, firstrc.la'ss:' honours in languages and literature (English and French); Elsie Mary Griffin, first-class honours in natural science (botany). Master of Laws: Robert Norman Moody. Honours in Law: Robert Norman Moody, second-class honours'in contracts and torts, jurisprudence, and trusts. Senior Scholarships: Edward Caradus (in chemistry) and Anne Forsyth Ironside (in natural science). ■■"'.'. - The successful students were greeted with applause on receiving their degrees, a special ovation being accorded to Mr. Chitty, as he was led forward by a fellow graduate to receiyo his degree and diploma. He also received the congratulations of the vicechancellor on his distinguished success. ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR TUBBS.

Professor Ta-lbot-Tubbs tlien addressed the meeting. As. showing the growth of the Auckland University College, he staled that the number of graduates and undergraduates and students attending lectures had increased from 32 in 1886 to 140 in the present year, and to the latter number they tad to add 32 students from the training college. The .college had had an uphill battle to fight. For a long time the life, work, and home of the Auckland University College was something unknown to the general public. It was not so long ago that a newly-appointed member of the stalf, on asking a cabman to drive him to the college on his arrival in Auckland, had been set down somewhere in the wilds, as they then were, of the Surrey Hills. (Laughter.) The college had steadily progressed, both in popularity and success, but there were certain matters in regard to which lue college itself and university education in general must look to the public. Firstly, it would be from the public demand that they would, sooner or later,-- obtain adequate provision for a site for the institution, of which Auckland had come to be deservedly proud. (Applause.) • Secondly, it was the public who would require that, in the highest as well as in the lower grades of education, I adequate provision" must be made for the culture ol the body- In conclusion, ho spoke of the importance of getting the public to understand the true value of higher .education, and to realise that what .'as apparently the most useless was often the most useful - ? form of education. . They should understand that, as Aristotle had stated, the highest aim of education was the noble employment of leisure. They should allow university life its laborious leisure, which waß perhaps the severest form of

mental activity, and otherwise they might J find, to adapt Cooper's-.words, that — I Habits of close attention, thinking heads, Become more rare as education spreads; I Till teachers hear around one general cry, ... I Tickle and entertain us, or we die. THE 'VOICE OP".THE STUDENTS. ! Mr. E. de C. Clarke, president cf the Students' "Association, made a short speech from tho gallery. The students, he said, were greatly' gratified } at being allowed a legalised voice Hi the proceedings.- : They would like to use that voice to call attention to. tits fact that the college was,, being neglected hy the very people who should take a jeep interest in it, viz., the '■".isir.csi peonl" A' n*,.ruciii university was not a. place merely for classical education ; it was »■ place,in which business men should be trained, and for that reason the business people should take an interest in the college. (Applause.) - The half-hearted way ill which the question of the site for a new college had been taken up, and then-drop-! ped, was an illustration of this lack of interest. Whilst athletics were not the main object of a university life, it would be to the benefit of their college to devote a little'more attention thereto. (Hear, hear.) Whilst the value of professors, laboratories, and " other such adjuncts'"—(laughter)was undoubted, he did not see why tho students should not have a ground for exercise. (Hear, hear.) Every public school in the Auckland province was provided with a playground, and yet the University College Council had not seen fit to provide the University College; with a playground. (Laughter.) When a new site was selected for the college he hoped this matter would receive attention. He congratulated the successful students on their success, especially Mi. Chitty, whose great ability and courage had overcome! i.ifliqiilties. which most people would have deemed insurmountable. (Applause.) He hoped next year to see Mr. Chitty receive the highest honours which he so thoroughly deserved. (Hear, hear.) .

The successful students were subsequently entertained at afternoon tea at' the college by the lady students. They were also entertained, at supper by the Graduates' Association last- evening. The ' Students' Association will hold their annual graduation social in the Federal Hall to-morrow evening, when a play, written by Mr. A. F. Howarth.. will be produced. The latter part- of the evening will b? devoted to a burlesque, which is expected to provide considerable amusement. \