UNIVERSITY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11467, 5 July 1899, Page 6

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ZEALAND.

GRADUATION CEREMONY.

The ceremony of confcrriiiff the degrees ol)Luiiicd by the students of tho University of Otii K o by the Cliancellor of ihe University or New Zealand, took place..or. Friday, 161 hull..1 in the Choral Hall.. Tim hull had 'been.nicely decorated for the occasion, and there'was a, very largo attendance. Sir James Hector, Chanmlloi1 of the University of New Zealand, presided, and among those who occupied scats on tli» plat form were—His Honor Mr Justice Williams (Chancellor of tho. Otago University), Mr H. B. Cargill (vice-chancellor), Professors Sale, Gilray, Ribbons, Dr Salmond, Drs Bcnhani, Ilockcn, Barnett, nndLindo Fer"iison, the Yen. Archdeacon Robinson, the Itev. A. Cameron, Messrs James Allen, AUI.K,, A. E. Barclay, G. M. Gallaway. Binl D. K. White. A considerable number of graduates, undergraduates, and studonts wen: also in attendance

Tho Chairman, iii tho course of his addrees, said: -As you all ■know, the university degrees—the degrees ' granted by the university degrees—the degrees granted by the New Zealand University—have a value not very usual in university degrees. The examinations for these degrees are not conducted by teachers—l am now talking of Ihe Arts and Science course, and the Law course. Tho examinations are conducted by men of the very highest standing in the old countrymen wi'.o are selected from the list prepared from time to timo by the Senate of the yery best, names they can find: and the selected examiner is selected by a. committee of men of high integrity living in London. The students, therefore, have to be prepared by the jirofossor for meeting an examiner that they really know nothing about; and as for the students themselves, of course the examiner knows nothing about thorn. We, therefore, havo tho very highest test applied to those who present themselves for degrees in the Ne-.v Zealand University that it is possible to conceive. Tho examinations are totally dissevered from the teaching staff. They have no control of them, and if they feel aggrieved they have just to sit down and take ii easy and accept the position. Now, that is >. great feature in our university degrees; and it is that that causes the degrees of the New Zealand University to bo accepted in

such high estimation, not only in New Zealand and the Australism-'.'colonies, but outside of our own colonies."! Here we find are undergraduates taking positions as lecturers and professors in all parts of. the world. We have one now who has oome back to New .Zealand who was in Canada. AYe have another who went Home. He is the gainer of the 1851 .science scholarship. He is now in Canada; and we have them scattered about all over the world; anil as time goes on-1 think that a larger proportion, in proportion to tho population of the colony, of all the teaching Ktaffs in all-the colleges will bo derived from the .graduates of this university.—(Applause.) , The university naturally is split in two. It. is hardly to ho expected that we can go on giving an equal or double prominence to the subjects of arts and of science; but the arts side of iv university education is one of the very highest importance, as bringing up persons with a liberal ..education, and scattering them in; large numbers broadcast throughout the population. Their * influence reacts' upon . others; it reacts • upon the management of the-schools. Take one form alone. They modify the,school boards they get upon—indeed "erery institution they are mattered arnqngflts-rand they have a prominence in social life; ,and at last I hope that the. bulk of. our members of Parliament will be university 'men.—(Applause.) The more we get •the control of the country and its concerns •under''this-care of. men who have been tho'rousjhb-'.wel! educated —who have received a good'liberal-education—the better. When we turn, to, the science course the prospect .is extremely?.important:- It is absolutely essen-' lial-that: \vb should have a, sound and-proper; basis .for the' development of what is called .technical science.. Technical science at the present'time is a.'mere nebulous thing; it is. evening classes for design and other pur-, poses.for working men; but you will never have real technical. science until you trainup a class of men such''as the graduates in, science should* bo—a. class of men trained in, all 'the -phenomena of. Nature—men able to, develop.- We rc-jources ,of the country—men title -io/aid the great and grand work of progress. ■ -I think., therefore, that la , important work- for a university; and I 1 think that the. work that has been done in the ! past '' is. very■ 'satisfactory.' on tho whole. i This university has now been in existence for ! thirty-years; and,we ha.\re a. splendid roll to I show for the.work of ..the Otago University. Out of four of the.original professors. who ! were 'appointed at the-'.start of the university. I here,: three of-them" are still active in harness ' doing their daily work.—{Applause.) Well, that-'shows that they have been working hard and well; because n. man lives long- that worlcß h'ar.d,-;;.I :bcli'c\-e the speaker who is to follow mb will give accurate statistics, but on looking into'the Calendar I, was astonished to find that !'there .'are four hundred graduates on the roll I of. the Otago University. Well, I think that ! is a most remarkahle result for tho time,.bei cause you must remember that, perhaps, for the'first fifteen or sixteen years the university I had not properly .taken'root. .It is a. slow growing plant isa-university college, and does not at first take a.firm hold upon the people; but we find this last year there are 395. undergraduates or members of the Jlining - Sbhool who'are" on the'roll books. That is tb.say, tin's year you have nearly as many who are in perspective holders of degrees as have taken degrees :during the past twenty-nine years; and'l think: if one fact more than another would show tlie;extreme importance and value of the. university it is the - hold that has been taken, by this university college upon the public life in Otaso. 1 had not time to_ mnke up'tho number of scholarships that have Keen taken- by' the Otago University from the New Zealand University senior scholarships'; butlfind no less than forty-seven from local scholarships granted by the generosity of "local' citizens, and that is a, very important .'feature, which distinguishes .tljVQtatjo University from every other similar institution in New-Zealand.

"Professor -Gijtay said: Mr Chancellor, ladies, and'gentlemen,—The present seems a suitable: occasibn-for laying before you a few' fact* connected with the progress of the.UniverEity .of Qtago during the past few years, For the purpose of a brief review. I take the last five yeare-i.e.. from 1891- to 1898,.inclusive; ■ :Begirming with the number of students in'attendance, .I.'firid that it has steadily increased during these five years —the-total numbers beins 211 hi 189+. 226 in- 1895, 234 in. 1896, 257 in '1897, and 269, in 1898. In : dealing with scholarships, honours, and degrees,l reckon them according to the year in which the candidates sat for examination. Duririi; the lant five years our student* have gained 20 'scholarships, which gives an average of 4 for-each year;.six students have taken the degree of. Master of Arts with first class .honours';, and 22 students have take;i the same degree'with second .class honours.. A distinction very* rarely taken 'in connection with the 'New' Zealand. University is the diploma, that confers honours in science. No student in any of the colleges took-it between 1894- and 1897. At. the. examination in. 1898, however, twoof our: students ."took this diploma, one'•■with first class, and-the other with second- "class honours-. During the five years we are con-; sidering,-36 of ■ oiir students took "the degree of Master-of Art's, 56 tho degree of Bachelor, of Arts, 1 tno*degree of' Doctor of Science, 13 the degree of Bachelor of Science, 1 the, degree of, Doctor of Laws.' 8 ,the degree of. Bachelor of .Laws, 15 the degree of Bachelor of'Medicine,.,and. 1 the. degreo of Doctor of; -Medicine. This gives a, total of 131. degrees,' which .yields- an average of 26 for each year. It is gratifying ;to- find that so largo.a lvumber'of pur'Bachelovs of Arts proceed to the higher" degree of Master of, Arts?. Home may lie surprised that, in a school so well attended as the Medical School, only 15 have taken the degree- of.' Bachelor of Medicine. This, however," -is easily explained. A large pro- : portion of' our, 'medical students, after spend-, ins a few years with, us, go to Britain, gene-1 rally, to Edinburgh, to finish their medical' -studies, wjiere many of them have carried off ['high.distinctions.'.and'have thus done credit' !. to'their early training.. In regard to scholarships and''honours, Canterbury College and ■ the University'of Otago',are pretty equal; during' the'fivo ye.ar.3 under review. Canterbury" College has gained 19 scholarships tor our'2o;. ll of her students have taken, the I degree, of Master of Artp or the. diploma in. ■science TOf.h firsst clflss h.qnours for-our 7 (seven);.-whereas-in-the degree of Master of. Arts and the diploma in science with second I-class" hotndure "we" are exactly equal, 23 each. ilt will thus be seen that there is practically, no diiference. except in first class honours, where Canterbury/College has the advantage.. In.justice.-to the local institution, however, if should be mentioned that Canterbury Col■lefe has.enioyed- two great advantages over the other- New -Zealand university colleges. It" hap■ two; Hi»-!i Schools under the direct control of its 'governing body; and, owing to its exceptionally favourable geographical p6siiion. it is icd by a- much larger number of-High Schools .than any of the other university colleges.' I trust that all contests be.tween Canterbury"College and the University-of-Ot'ap-o, whetlier in scholarship or athletics, will always bo conducted ill . a spirit ot friendly rivalry, and with the most perfect "Oiid humour. We are both aiming at the I elevation .of our New Zealand youth; and in both'cases the results show that the two I'iiistitutionß'are doing excellent work, and are ! entitled to.en.joy the.confidence of the public. ■Imong the honours gained by previous utago ■ graduates .during, the. period under review, the. following aro worthy of special mention- _Mr Don has taken-the degree of une"tor 6( Science; Mr Milne has taken tho depree of- Doctor .of Laws; Dr Chappie has taken the degree of Doctor of Medicine; Mr Mellor has gained "The Exhibition 1851 Science Scholarship" of the value of £150 ! tenable for two years;- Mr Adams.has passed j. the Indian Civil Service Examination; and -Mr Salmond has been appointed.Professor ot Law in the University of Adelaide. A pleasing ■feature of our university history during recent years is tho great success of the Mining bchooi, the-attendance at which is steadily rising from year to year. It is gratifying to .know that many young men trained in the school are now occupying good positions in various parts «. the worldi I"have much pleasure m mentioning thai tho school received some time ago a valuable gift of appliances and balances from I-the Hon. A.. Lee Smith, M.L.C., who presented them in compliance with the wish of his son. a promising 'student in the school, whose carlv death is deeply regretted by.all who '1-npw hini.: The chief change in the teaching ■staff, that has taken place recently was cau^d Ibv the death of our lamented colleague, JJr I'Parkor, whose grant service's to the university ! and to science were suitably recognised at .the time by the press, and by various public bodies. . , ' The Chancellor (Sir James Hector) then formally presented the diplomas, the recipients being heartily cheered on taking them, and | numerous beautiful bouquets being showered I upon the lady graduates. . The list of recipients was as follows: — Doctor of Laws.—William .Deans Milne. M.D.—William 'Allan Chappie (Wellington). M.B's.—Eugeiie O'Neill,. Ernest "Williams, Willinm Sutherland.

Masters of Arts.—George Edward Thompson, first class honours in languages and literature (English •■ and ■ French), Marion Beatrice Thomson,, 'second class honours in mental science. . Alexander Lnmont Wyllie, third class !lionours: in-monta-l science. Andrew Galloway' Cameron Miller, second class honours in political science. Thomns Alexander Hunter, first class" honours in mental science. Charlotte. Eliza Macgrcgor, second class honours in languages a.nd literature (Latin and French). Leslie Edward Williams,.second class honours ■in languages and literature (Latin and French). ■Reginald Moore, second class honours in mental ' science. Caroline M'Lcod, the degree of M.A. JohnO'Shea, first class'honours in languages and literature (Latin and English). John Smaillic Tehnant, third class honours in jnental science. Annib Bauckop, second class honours in languages and literature (Latin and English):' Francis Wallace Dunlop, first class honours- in mental science. " " EOYAL COLQJiS " TQBACCXX

Bachelors of Arts.—John Hugh Alexander M'Phee, George Thorncroft Palmer, John Brunton, Theophilus Benjamin Strong, Margaret Collier Perrin,, Joseph Kobert. Shore (holder of the. Mental Science.-Scholarship), John George ( -Fullarton, Angus Marshall, Violet Mande-'-^reig' (holder of the Tinlinc Scholarship);. .'.Jlalph Townley Littls,. Robert John Thompson, Isabella Margaret MacKellar, Lswrenqe .Thompson, \'Arthur-'. Edward Bachelors of-'Science.—"William. iKcwlands. Sydney Chalmers Allen, Jirmcs Hamilton Hal; Baillie, Leonard Arthur Line.' i Bachelor of Laws.—Colin Campbell Hutton. • Diploma of Honours in Science.—Joseph William. Jlellor, first class honouta,' iri theoretical and organic chemistry. Henry Pawsitt Skey, second clasß honours in physical science (electricity)^ '• ;,- Addresses were also, given by-Mr E. B. CargLH (vice-president of the Otago University), Professor Sile, and- Mr Justice Wiliams (chancellor of the Otago University). The following table, prepared, ky Professor-GUray in connection with his speech at the graduation ceremony pn Friday, gives the1 educational statistics of the University of Ota;o for the past,five years, and should be Interesting to the. friends': of the higher education in Otago:— \ ;; ; ' . ,'. I.—NUMBER OF SIUDEXT3. , ' Males. . \ Females. . Not ~. \ Not- ■:• ■•'.' • ■ Jratri- Matri- Matri-NjUiri-- ■;.Gran9 cul't'd. cul't'd. Tot'l. cul't'd. ojl'tfd. Tot'l. n. 1891 .. 140 31 171 . an.. ~:i\. 40 —'Jit ' 1895 .. 141 40 ' ISt 44 \ \ 45 — 2-28 1898.. 174 - 27 201 32 •■ % V -83 - 23* 1897 .. 177 34 . 211 40 0\ \4O —'"if . ISSS .. IS3 .35 21S —SI 0 :.. .51 —2W ll.—Number of Scholarships, iuixip. : •'.'• Exhibition. '- Senior. Tinline. ScieuceSchool. 180* ..•'•.: 3. 1 '•.. A scholiraMp '•' 1595 .. .. 2},. 0 vacant eteri/ - 1800 .. .. 4i 1 ■ , sicondy '' 1897 ~ ~..' 4. ;1- - '.. : V ear.\ 1898 .. ... 1 1 1 1' \ . Total number for the 'five',years, 20. Average per year, 4. '...&■[ . ' •'■ : '.».-'.. •.'_.'. Hl.—NuiißKiff'fc Masters of' Arts with First Cl)sb or Second Class lloxours.. , . .\ :.■'., , .' First. Second! . 1594 „ ... .. • ;, ,0' ■ 3 " 1805 .... ".. ..' .. 'I>■ 0•- ' ISBB .. '.. -...- ..... 1 a the wreck of. the. Matama. ■ 1893 .. ;' .. ■ ;;.- ... 4.. ,7' . " Total ..,.-_, .-. ■• .. .-6 ,22 IV.—Number.or Diplomas.is Scirsce with. Fnar ' ■ Glass or Sicosd Cmss Hoxodrs; Noik.—This distinction is rarely taken.: :jJo studeni in any of'the colleges took it between 1804 and 181)7., ■■- . . ' . . First. ..Second. 1595 .. ■.. :. ... '.. -1.. .- 1. ■ Total number of Honours for the five years—7 fli'stj and 23 seconds. , .' . '. ■ - . ' ' V —NI'M'JFR 01? DpQrrES Takfv ' KOTR.--Tlie years give Hie years in which the students sat for their examinations; .they graduated in the 'following year. It is necessary'to make this 'arrangement in order that we maybe dealing .with the same live years throughout. In the New Zealand University Calendar tho. Scholarships ami . 11. A. Honours Degrees arc dated in tho' year in which tho candidates sat, and the I'ass Degrees are'dated in tho year.in which they actually graduated—i.e.j in the year following the one in which: fey saC ~. ..;; '. NUJIBKR OF DEOREBS. ...; ■ -. ir.A. BA. D.Sc: B.EC.LL.D.LL.B.M.B.M.D. ISS* .4, '. 8: ... '2 .. .. -2 :..- ---1895 '9.4-13 :. 2 . .3 . ..' 1896 7 14 ...' 2* ".; -3 ',2 ..: 135)7 1 IS .. 2"' .'. ''5,6 ', .. 1893 15 12. .. .4 1-1.3,1 ' , 30 MS 1 13 1 .-' 315 .'1 Total number of Degrees .'or the live-years, 131. ' Average per year,: 26. '~;