PRESENTATION OF DEGREES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 2

PRESENTATION OF DEGREES.

The ceremony of presenting the degrees taken by the Wellington students of the New Zealand Univeisity took place at the Museum on Saturday, in the presence of a number of ladies and gentlemen. The Chancellor of tlie University (Sir James Hector) presided, and seats on the platform were occupied by the Rev J. Paterson, Archbishop Redwood, Principal Rainy, Mr J. R. Blair (chairman of the Board of College Governors), Mr J. Mackay (Principal of Wellington College), Mr F. Innes (Girls’ High School), and Mr W. M. Masked (Registrar of the University). At the request of the Chancellor, the Registrar read his "annual report, which stated that at present there were 199 separate graduates on the roll, and if all the degrees taken were counted the number would be 277. He pointed out that it was important •to remember that since 1879 the examinations for degrees and honours in arts and sciences had been conducted by examiners in England. The University received an annual statutory grant from the Government of L3OOO, and of this LISOO was returned to the Colony in each year as a fund for the maintenance of. public scholarships. From the years 1872 to 1888 inclusive 203 scholarships had been gained, which represented a sum of about LIB,OOO actually returned to the Colony out of the Treasury grants in the shape of encouragement to study. As regarded the entrance upon University studies and undergraduates, the numbers showed a steady increase. In 1880 the number of candidates for. the entrance examinations was 68 ; in 1888, 367, of whom 254 passed, and of these last 125 had since matriculated. The figures quoted for the 17 years of the existence of the University compared favourably with the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney—the former after 35 years having a total undergraduate roll of 2025, and the latter 287 after S2 years. The graduates for the year 1888 were—Bachelors of Art, 30; Bachelors of Science, 2 ; Bachelors of Law, 2 ; Bachelois of Medicine, 3 ; Masters of Arts, 11—total, 48. The Chancellor in his address alluded to the great value of the diplomas, but he said the successful candidates, however, must not think that they could now rest upon their laurels. They must consider that they had entered' into a sacred bond ; and it was by their after-life that the public were able to judge of the value of this education, He alluded with regret to the absence of a University College in Wellington, and he hoped that the absence of such an institution would only be temporary, and that before long efforts would bo made to place the city on an equal footing with other cities in the Colony. During the past five years 1585 candidates were presented, 1074 of these passed, and 694 proceeded to their degrees. In Wellington, or the central district, 367 were presented, 215 passed, and 80 proceeded to their degrees, This showed that onefourth of the candidates came from the central district, which was not supplied with a University College. Wellington had a population as large as some of the other centres, and was therefore in a defective state as regarded higher education. Compared with the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne, the position of the New Zealand University w*s a re-' markable one. Last year, in New Zealand, 30 candidates graduated for the B.A. degree, as against 18 in Victoria and 20 in New South Wales. For M A-, 11 passed in New Zealand, 13 in Victoria, and 4 in New South Wales ; and for M. 8., 3 in this Colony, 5. in Victoiia, and 7 in New South Wales. He pointed out that during the last five years a school of medicine had been founded aud science degrees had been established. Mr J. R. Blair, in addressing the meeting, also referred to the need of a University College at Wellington, and he expressed the opinion that the time was coming when such institutions would he used as much by women as men. In connection with this, he pointed out that the highest degree in England last year was taken by a lady. Mr Blair said that the view that-working men had pc interest in higher education wa s disproved by the fact that some of the best boys at the Wellington College and similar institutions came from the primary schools. In concluding, Mr Blair made a feeling reference to the late Dr West, who, he said, had always taken a great interest ip the cause of education, Principal Rainy also addressed the audience, and in doing so expressed a hope that ere long they would have a university college in Wellington. No doubt the population was not so large as m other places he could name where there were universities, but they had to provide for the future, and it was as well that such aii institution should be early doing the good work which tbe future would require. He said that the establishment of such an institution as a University College was of the greatest possible interest to working-men. It was desirable that their childrea should have

i the same opportunities of learning that others had, and he pointed out that two of the most distinguished men at the Aberdeen University were the sons of workingmen. Mr J. Innes, M.A., also delivered an address. The Chancellor thanked the ladies and gentlemen fcr their attendance, and the proceedings terminated.