STUDENTS CAPPED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 15

STUDENTS CAPPED

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE NEARLY A HUNDRED DEGREES ANNUAL CEREMONY HELD TOWN HALL GATHERING Nearly a hundred degrees ■were conferred at the annual graduation ceremony of Auckland University College, held last night in the Town Hall, which was filled, with the exception .of part of the upper gallery. The proceedings were a little delayed by alterations to the tramway service for a recruiting parade in Queen Street, and this gave the college Hongi Club an opportunity to create a diversion by carrying on to the stage a large coffin-like box inscribed "Students' Rights," and holding a tangi over it. The members wore pyjamas and dressing gowns. They enlivened the proceedings later with buglo fanfares from the gallery, occasional hakas and the presentation of vegetables and similar gifts to selected male graduands.

Members of the District Court of Convocation, in their robes, entered tho hall in procession after the graduands, and occupied seats in the choir gallery. The final procession consisted of members of the college council and staff, the president, Mr. W. H. Cocker, being accompanied by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis,- and the speaker of the. evening, Professor G. W. von Zedlitz, of Wellington. Appointments to the Staff In a brief introductory speech, Mr. Cocker introduced Professor von Zedlitz as a member of the University Senate, and emeritus professor of Victoria University College, and one who had done great service to the cause of education in New Zealand. After congratulating the graduands and offering them good wishes for their future, the president referred with regret to the deaths of two students, Mr. D. H. Lewis and Mr. ,J. Fairbrother, who had qualified for degrees, and lie expressed sympathy with their relatives. Mr. Cocker mentioned the appointment of Dr. Julius Stone to the chair of law. Dr. Stone, ho said, possessed the highest academic qualifications, and the council had every confidence that under his direction the school woidd be one of which the college would be proud. He was gratified to state that two former students, Mr. L. W. A. Crawley and Mr. Jt. H. Toy, had been appointed to the staff. The task of finding positions in New Zealand for university graduates was a perennial one, and it was to be hoped that good would come from the appointment of a Government comnlittee to consider means of providing for their admission to the Public Service.

. The chairman of the Professorial Board, Professor W. A. Sewell, in adding his congratulations, remarked that for the first time on record a member of the college council would be capped in Auckland. This was Mr. Douglas Kobb, who had been awarded the degree of master of surgery. He had also to congratulate Dr. J. E. Caughey upon receiving the degree of doctor of medicine. It was a good sign when doctors in actual practice sought and obtained such distinctions. Professor Sewell also mentioned that Dr. K. A. Robinson, of the department of chemistry, had been offered and had accepted the Sterling Research Fellowship for 1940. He congratulated the winners of seven senior scholarships in various subjects. After the oration by Professor von Zedlitz, the degrees were conferred. The graduands were presented by the deans of their respective faculties, and filed on to the stage in turn to receive a handshake and congratulations. As they descended, the ladies were presented with small posies. ===============■ I