UNIVERSITY OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 22

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ZEALAND.

THE CAPPING CEREMONY.

The annual presentation of diplomas won by students at the Otago University took place on Friday eveniDg in the Lyceum Hall. The building was crowded to excess in every part, and as usual a very large proportion of the audience were ladies.

Professor Sale, who presided, said : Ladies and gentlemen, Sir James Hector, chancellor" of the university, expected to be able to be present on this occasion to present the diplomas himself, but I regret that he has found it impossible to do so, aid consequently it' devolves upon me to perform that office for him. I havo also received apologies for non-attendance from Mr Leary (mayor of Dunedin), the Hon. Mr Larnach, Bjshop Nevill, and Dr Belcher. Before I commence !bh,e, business of the evening, I think I should probably be consulting the feelings of most in this room if I just say one word on a subject that should be near the hearts of many. The T)niv;rsity of New Zealand, and especially Canterbury, has sustained this week one of the severest losses it possibly could sustain in the death of .Sir Julius yon Haast. Three or four days ago it would have been considered almost a certainty that he would be engaged at £his very moment in Canterbury doing the very thing .that I am doing now. His name requires no encomium from me. I can only say that he was a personal friend of my own, that I esteemed him very highly, and that I believe not only the university but science and learning have lost in him a very valuable friend and champipn.T7-(3uhdued applause.) I shall not detain y,o,u with any further remarks, but call upon the chairman of the Professorial Board to read the pam.es of thqsp entitled to receive diplomas. Professor Gibbons on rising was delayed for some minutes while the undergraduates sang the chorus " Glory, Hallelujah," and he then read the graduation list as follows :— -

Forbes, Annie.— Matriculated 1883, gaining junior scholarship ; first section B.A. 1886 ; 8.A., 1887 ; senior scholarship in Latin and English. Allen, Fraqk Bowen.— Matriculated 1883, gaining junior scholarship ; first section B.A. 1886. Don, John Eoberfc.— Matriculated 1883 ; first section B.A. 1886.

Donald, Robert—Matriculated 1882, gaining junior scholarship ; first section B.A. 1886. Hendry, Alex.— Matriculated 1883; first section B.A, 1883,

Methven, Jas. — Matriculated 1884; first section B.A. 1886. ' Mill, Wm.— Matriculated J884; first section B.A. 1886. ' I Montgomery, John Hobert.— Matriculated 1883, gaining junior scholarship ; first section B.A. 1886. Simmerß, George Annand.— Matriculated 1P84; first section B.A. 1886; B.A. 1887; senior scholarship in natural ocience (zoology). Spencer, Wm. Kdward.— Matriculated 1883 ; first section B.A. 1885. Valentine, Jas. Archibald — Matriculated 1883 first section B.A. 1886. Master of Arts. Phineas, Levl.— B.A. 1888 ; second class honours in mental science: J Bachelors of Laws. Findlay, John George.— First section 1885. Stout, Wm. Anderson.— B.A. 1883; second section LL.B. 1885 ; third section, 1886. Doctor of Laws. , Fitchett, Frederick.— Bowen Prize; senior scholarship in Latin ; third year's scholar in Greek ; first honors school of political science; LL.B. 1880.

Bachelor of Medicine. Christie, Wm. Ledingham.— Matriculated 1882; passed first professional examination 1884, second do 1885, bhird do 1886. Professor Sale then presented the diplomas to each of the graduates in the usual foam. There was enthuastic applause when Miss Forbes, who was first on the list, went forward ; and the same was repeated with musical honours in the case of Dr Fitchett and Mr W. L. Christie. The ditty very appropriately chosen for the former was the well-known song from " lolanthe," " Into Par1 ament he shall go," and three full verses of this were sung in Dr Fitchett's honour. Mr Christie was distinguished by the rendering of a specially written parody on the career of Sir Joseph Porter. At the conclusion of the presentation Professor Sale said : I think it will be readily allowed that this year forms an epoch in the ,history of our university. We have just conferred a diploma on our first medical graduate, and I am convinced that this is a more important matter than anything the university has yet done in the way of conferring degrees. As the occasion seems to call for special reference being made to the subject of medical study, I have now great pleasure in requesting Dr Coughtrey to address you. Dr Coughtry delivered a lengthy address, the full text of which appeared in Saturday's Daily Times, but which the great demands on our space at the present junction will not allow of our reprinting. After the applause and noise which followed at the conclusion of Dr Coughtrey's address had. subsided, Professor Sale called upon the Rev Dr Stuart to address the assemblage. The Rev. Dr Stuart, who was received with much applause and the singing of " He's a jolly good, fellow," said : Graduates, I have great pleasure in congratulating you, in the name of the council of your alma mater, on the attaiument of your educational majority, and in wishing you steady progress in the lifework you may respectively select. I need not remind you of your obligation to the community which provided you with means of education which for completeness and efficiency may fitly rank with those of far older communities. The return expected at your hands is solid work in one or other of the fields open to you — whether of art or science, whether of the professions or the varied of life, With your mental equipment you cannot give heed- to the voices 'which are ever saying that in our wide world there is no room for souls of culture, capacity, and persevering industry. What, no room for them! Why, boundless territory od every hand invites possession ; while problems great and many— social, political, and industrial — call for solution, and offer reward and honour to the fortunate solvers. ' I grant there are stones in the path of life, difficulties in the way to the stars, but this is no reason for seeking rest in the miserable conservatism which denies alike the need and possibility of progress ; and least of all for seeking it in pessimism, which smites the four corners of the soul with the dead palsy. ; Yet for those whom fear or waywardness has drawn into these wastes there is a door of hope and possible extrication, but it is by promptly striking out for the right and the true. Hear the self- remens trance by which a former student was moved to retrace his steps : — Rouse tliee, my soul — tlio' the fate of the poor be bitter, Tho' their masters be cruel, their fetters riveted fast — Far in the East, see the light'of a new star glitter, Heralding days when the reign of wrong shall be past. . Thou, too, canst hejtp, with God thy weak arm nerving ; Thou, too. canst wear the cross of a new crusade ; Thou canst light for the right, with a faith andpurpose unswerving ; Thou can'Bt lay down life, if it need be, undismayed. It is to the friends of. the university a great satisfaction to observe that our students are already in numbers in the professions and industries of the country, and by their bearing reflecting credit on the institutions in which they were instructed. It may interest you to know that Messrs Lindsay and Salmond, two' of our graduates, have recently returned from the old' country, having obtained high distinction — the former in the medical school of the University' of Edinburgh, and.the latter in the law school of University College, London. Now and again voices are heard in disparagement of our scholastic establishment; but on being sifted they turn out little more than a cry for 'its partial modification or reconstruction on slightly different lines, and are therefore harmless. I like to recall that the first teachers of our schools were specially trained, and in manycases were college bred — as Mr Bethvme, formerly of Invercargill School; Dr Hislop, formerly of East Taieri School ; Mr Gardner, of Pine Hill School ; and the late Mr Livingston, for many years of Dunedin school. But years before our high schools and. university came into existence their importance and necessity were discussed in presbytery and at social and political meetings, and their coming was regarded as" a' certainty. j The settlers who subdued the wilderness.' and | read thiir Bible — that inspiring .history of nations.that bracing philanthropy of the, heart", that speech of God to man, that divine poesy — so nobly supported- the educational policy of their leaders, Captain Cargill, Dr Burns, Mr Macandrew, Sir John Richardson, and others, that 21 years after the foundation of the settlement there were in operation primary schools, grammar schools, high schools, and the university— a heritage, I deem, of • priceless value— an achievement second in moral grandeur to the educational labours of the pilgrim fathers of the New England colonies., You say that the founders are under marching orders to the land beyond. It is so. S«t the sufficient guarantee, for the .preservation and transmission of our schools of all grades to the after ages is the reappearance of their spirit \n their posterity. You must have noticed with pleasure that the subscribers to the Macandrew Memorial Fund have given to our council the sum of. £600 for founding a Macandrew scholarship in the uni- j versity for' encouraging the study of national economics. I may also observe that a friend assured me the other day that a settler who has long been a cultivator and lover of flowers has, arranged to establish an annual prize in the interest! of bosany. lam sore that fa (foe. course r r vi 'i

our square men will remember the higher education by establishing' lectureships, scholarships, and prizes. Be this as it may, I cannot doubt that our common desire and prayer are that the tree of knowledge so early planted in our virgin soil may flourish and bear fruit for the delectation and invigoration of oar youth to latest ages. I rejoice that year in and year out our graduates are increasing and the influence of the university extending, and I trust that I may,livej;to see some of its graduates taking not only creditable places but leading places in the science, in the politics, in the professions, and above all in the industries of this life.— (Loud applause.) The students broke out into their favourite chorus "Guadenmus," the singing of which was accompanied by noises* more loud than musical.

Professor Sale then announced that the proceedings were over, and the students continued their vocal exercises while the assemblage dispersed.