THE CAPPING GEREMONY TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7652, 27 August 1886, Page 3

THE CAPPING GEREMONY TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —I wish to place before the public the feelings of the students with regard to their conduct towards Sir R. Stout on Tuesday evening. As a student, I may claim to know something about their actions on that occasion. Tlie students had determined beforehand that tlinjwould not overstep tbe bounds of moderation; all to a man set their face against pea shoeing, and the majority had decided atainst instrumental music, and even in the lial] tried to put a stop to the few performers, to the disappointment of the musical part of the audience, but they intended to sing their " Laudeamus," which, to say the least, is not objectionable; the sentiments therein would have been appreciated by Sir Robert were it not that the late hours of Parliament have had a disorgansing effect on his spleen, and blinded his ordinary perception of Latin. No student had the slightest intention of preventing his speech being heard—quite the contrary; but they claim to have the ritiht on that occasion to applaud or object to such parts as suited those actions, a thing done at almost every public meeting, but they forgot Sir Robert was uot giving an election speech. Every student looked to the presence of the Premier as a gr'at honour—not, indeed, only because he wan Premier, hut on account of the singular high qualities (which they thoughl Inpossessed) which make a man esteemed. N : • regret tip: feelini.' shown on that occasion m r v n the studei ts ; but iheyare nee'.lessly in.iulte.l «> tlio ver. outset, and th«> «-oi,ld not >«■ iiiiiH i f Britain did they nut resent that insult. Some kindly liisuised puson must h:tvc informed Sir RuUrt that he would not buh.-ard, or why the prepai ntions hi; made? Ami Im, thinking he would be the, person who wouli' vop the unseemly noises, di-prnceful behaviour. ■ke , &c, rusliiMl at his object like a bull at a red rng, huiled forth terrible threats of the awful po.ver he. a* Premier could command—police, 4 Cectives, summons, and acts of Parliament. I not that a parallel to some actions of the

despotic Czars of Russia. He the Premier of a most free country suddenly dovelopes into ns absolute tin autocrat as King Thcobnw. The students were frightened, but astonished ami disgusted at tlu fall of their idol, for his believed liberal principals had made him such, finding him instead ii veritable " Vicar of Bray." Fear tj( liis awful intentions did not make them leave tho hall; it was necessary, they thought, to .show him how gentlemen behave when causulussly and boorishly insulted—that, was by considering him and his speech, his ileteetives aud his police, mill all the powers under his supreme command beneath them. Had they chosen to remain, it would have taken all the police in Dunedin to remove them—aye, they would have gone to court and done hard labour if needed to; for none would pay a fine, an ,-iction which would have placed the j'postle of hnorty in a pleasant light. Did he think that we were so poor spirited as to be so arbitrarily sat upon. Surely not! Sir Robert has changed, but whether the change is the result of political connections or physical disorders, tdH can say is that tho students rogrot. that his good sense has deserted and estranged those who were always his wannest supporters and enthusiastic admirers as a man. To quote the remark of the historian Livy, " Adeo excelle.nli bus ingeniix chins ilefuerit an qua civetn rei/ctnt, qitam qua hostem superent." —I am, &c. Student. August 25.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sin, —When Sir Robert in his opening remarks threatened to clear the house he was thereby provoking the ire of the Opposition, and when the Speaker declared that he woul dissue a summons in the morning he was only fanning the flame. The anger of the members reached its height when they discovered that the apostle of freedom had adopted the tactics of an inquisitorgeneral, and had placed spies iv the house. The Opposition at once arose and left the house, and there was a calm, doubtless owing to the fact that those remaining were afraid to be mistaken lor members of the said Opposition. In conclusion, let me remark that better than Sir Robert, do the Opposition know when to " vacate their benches." —1 am, &c, Another Student. August 26.

TO THE EDITOH.

Sih, —As a constant subscriber, I really must object to your sub-leader of this day's issue commenting on the action o£ Sir Robert Stout regarding disorderly students.

I fully believe that every reasonable, unbiassed, properly-educated citizen will highly commend the resolute determination of Sir Robert not to submit to senseless interruptions and "horseplay"—conduct only worthy of illiterate costermongers. As to pea-shooting, no doubt it may be grievously disappointing to certain vulgar students after the "pandemonium" was over not to be iv a position to boast that they " hit the Premier, Dr Stuart, or a prefessor in the face, on the nose, &c." The plea that the students are only " highspirited lads and young men" cannot be entertained by any well-regulated mind. Their misbehaviour is discreditable to themselves, and unfortunately reflects on university teaching. The bad conduct of students may, in a great degree, be attributed to the defective aud veneering system of university education as at present constituted. There is far too much Latin and too little logic, psychology, physiology, hygiene, taught in the universities and colleges. As you suggested some months ago, a chair of " Common Courtesy" would be advantageous, and, indeed, is badly wanted.

If the students had received training in logic, they would quickly see their unreasonable, illogical conduct. Fun and " hor.-eplay" may bo very good when on a cricket ground, but quite out of place in matters connected with the university. In your sub-leader you say in effect, " Sir Robert allowed the students to give him a lesson in temper and tact." Sir, I fail to see it. Rude, " hoity-toity" bouncing out of the hall en masse, and when outside hooting and jeering, which were quite audible on the platform—such conduct, in my opinion, can only be deplored as manifesting a spiteful disposition on the part of the students. When Sir Robert was leaving the hall aim getting into his carriage, the hooting aud jeering were continued.

Sir Robert had a very unpleasant duty to perform, and I think his hands should be sustained by every well-behaved, educated citizen. Public opinion is marchiug with rapid strides, and 1 believe that in a few years Latin musi give way to more important subjects of study, such as I have mentioned above.—l am, &c, G.M. August 25. [We were not slow to call the students to task when they deserved it a few months agn, but on the present occasion Sir Robert Stout had really little to complain of in the way of interruption when he let loose his augr^ threats; mid even if the case had been similar to that which occurred at the commencement of the session, it was one to be met by moral force—not for calling in the police. Wv venture to say that the students would have shown themselves wanting in spirit if they had not resented the manner in which they were treated—Ed. 0. D. T.]

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —The remarks which you publish (which appeared in the Wellington i'o.it) on the " outrage" at the graduation ceremony on Tuesday night are evidently dictated by a desire to help Sir R. Stout out of the difficulty in which his arrogant temper and misguided judgment have placed him. He professes to be a democrat, and yet, when called to meet with the studeuts of the university, iustead of treating them as gentlemen, he made elaborate preparations to intimidate them by police and detectives aud compel them to listen to him in abject silence. It may suit, the taste of interested parties in Wellington and elsewhere to praise and natter such men as Sir R. Stout, who hold the purse-strings of the colony aud can purchase unsaleable properties aud bankrupt railways at fancy prices to please their followers ; but such considerations do not weigh with in-

genuous students, unused to the tortuous ways of political life. They judge of men- according to their actions, and they judged rightly that the conduct of Sir R. Stout on this occasion was a deliberate insult to them, without provocation or excuse. The students deserve great credit for the dignified action which they took iv walking out of the meeting, and so preventing the dangerous riot which would certainly have been caused had this misguided knight attempted to use force. I venture to say that such an unprovoked outrage as that perpetrated by Sir R. Stout was never before attempted by anyone placed in similar circumstances, and for the credit of the New Zealand University it is to be hoped it will never bo repeated.—l am, &c,

Suuar Cuiqdk

August 27.