UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 12

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO.

GRADUATION CEREMONY.

The annual function promoted by the students of tho University of Ota go, with the sanction and approval of the University of Ot»go, which is the substitute for tho "capping" ceremony formevly held under the ausplcos of the University of New Zaaland in Dunediu, as at each of the affiliated col'eses in the colony, waß held «v Friday night in the University buildings. The fact that, notwithstanding the exceedingly boisterous weather, there was a very large Attendance of ladies and gentlemen showed that these ceremonies retain much, if not all, of their popularity. The first portion of the ■proceeding* was carried out in tha university library, which was inconveniently crowded ■when the procession of members of the counoil and professors entered. Tho undergraduates ■were mussed at the bicir of the room and tho visitors bestowed themselves wherever they could find room to stand if they were not fortunate enough to obtain ceats. The Ohanoellor (Mr Justice Williams) presided, and among others present were the Vice-chancellor <Mr E. B. Carfrill), Professors Sale, Shand, Ulrich, P«rker, Scott, Salmond, Gibbons, and Cfilray, Dr Heineroacn, Dr Hocken, Dr Ba'rnett, and Mr O. White. Tho CHANOELton, whom the students greeted . with threo cheers, said: Ladies and Genfclonaen, — The record of the university for -the past yew hss" been on the whole nn uneventful one. Unfortunately, ; we ' have Experienced during the past "' year what we have experienced in years previously— that is, a shortness of cash. The eternal want of pence which VGxes public men has continued to vex the council, and in consequence of our straitened circumstances the utility of many branches of tie university has to a certain extent been curtailed. Daring the pasb year the number of mala matriculated students who attended classes., was 145, and the runabcrof female matriculated stndents was 44. There was a slight falling off from the previous year so far as the arts department is cdnoarnad, bnt there has been a considerable increase in the number of mining etudents.— (Applause.) The total number of students attending the university is about tho Eame as last year. At the last November examinations one member of the university attained tho distinguished degree of Doctor of Science. — (Applause.) Mr John Robert Don, who was before a Master of Arts, took his doctor's degree on the thesis of "The Genesis of Gold," and I am told by those who era capable -of judging that this thesis was an exceedingly able one. Three members of the university bava taken the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. One oE those is a Jady— the first lady who has taken a medicsl degree in the colony, — Miss E. H. Siedeberg. — {Applause, followed by .three cheers for Dr Siedeberg.) I regret very much that she is cot here to-night.— (Cries of "Oh!") I understand that she has proceeded to Dnblin to further prosecute her studies. Eight mem* fcers of the university have taken the degree of Master of Arts. The only one of these who .took that degree with flrst-class- honours was /a lady, Miss J; H. Rutherford, who g»ined first-class honours in Eoglish and French. Three' "member* of tho have taken the degree of "Bachelor 7 of Science, nine hava taken that of Bachelor of Art 3, and. two have taken- that o£ Bachelor of -Laws. Three of the cenior- scholarships of the New Zealand University have been gained by members of this university, snd three of the jnnior scholarships the New Zealand University granted latt year are held by students attending this unjveraity. During the past year three scholarchips fell in, and they have been awardad again — the Richardeon scholarship to A. J. Crawford, the Walter Soott scholarship to Stewart A. Moore, and the women's scholarship to Winifrede Bathgate. AH of the scholarships are held for three years. The Stuart prize lias boen awarded this year, for the first time, in terms of tha beque&t, to J. §?. King Adams, the best student in mental science. — (Applause.) Next year this prize will be awarded to the best student in physios, in the third year to the best student In English, and so on. During the p&si year there has been very little addition to the teaching ataff. lam very glad to say that the university hag secured the services of Dr Heinem&nn ts lecturer on tho German language. Dr Heinemann came here with very high testimonials indead. German is an optional honours snbject, and I sincerely hope that students will take advantage of Dr Heinexaann's teaching and study a language that has » literature second only, I think, to our own. Ur Dallas has been reappointed lecturer on the I reach language. The university has again been able to take up the teaching of political economy. Professor Gibbons— (a call for three cheers for Professor Gibbons was heartily re* flponded to)— will commence a course of lectures on that subject daring this session. The great feature of the year has been the developmentof the Mining School.— (Applause.) Store are nearly 40 students in attendance this year, and already the names of 14 students are recorded who desire to commence a mining course daring next year. The accommodation jboth in the class room and in the laboratories is •trained to the utmost. I am very happy to lay that after considerable negotiations with the Qoyernmeufc a comoleti ojanide »nd ccmh<;

ing plant is in course of erection, the total cost of which will ba about £750 — (Applause.) This, we hope, will ba able to start wotk after the midwinter vacation. The plant will be of the utmost use in the training of the students in working the cyanide process, and the crushing plant will be of very great use to loon] industries, because it will enable considerable quantities of samples to be tested for treatment aud report. During the past year the council were very glad to have had the opportau'ty of allowing the Medical Congress of Australasia to hold its sittings in their buildings, and they were enabled thus to contribute in a small degree to the success ' of a, most interesting meeting. The council are very pleased (o Bckcowleclgo tho exceedingly handsome gift from the Imperial Government, through tho Treasury Offloo, of a complete set of the publications connected with tho voyages of her Majesty's ship Challenger. These comprise 60 volames of a value of £150, which are most elaborately got up, and of the highest scien'.iSc importance. They have been placed in the museum library. While speaking on tho subject of libraries I miy mention that, owing to our somewhat straitsned circumstances, this library bas of late years been really s tar?ed. — (Hear, heir.) The latest addition to it was a sum of £100, whioh came to the council for library purposes after the death of our lato lamented professor, Mr Mainwaring Brown. If there is such a thing in Dunedia as a. wouldbe pious founder, or if there is anybody who is anxious to make a will and put some charitable disposition into it, I oould recommend nothing more suitable than that he should include a small sum by way of donation to the library. We would sooner have the money wbilo the intending benefactor is alive, but we would i ooner have it by will th»n not a^ all— (laughta*),— and if he is going to make his will and leave us this sum, the sooner the will comes into e£fe3t the b.'tter we will ba pleased. — (Loud laughter.) Now, it is my pleading duty on behalf of the council to welcome the new grada&tes. I trust that ycur success here insy be the earnest of your pucce3s in your future careers. I wish you in the future material' success, yet I also wish yon that higher success without which material success is as dross. I have mentioned that the great feature of the year has been the development of the Mining School. It is a fit and proper thing that this university should give its assistance to develop the material resources of our young country, but you will remember that a material result is not the only p.im and end of a university training. Our ideal must be pitched somewhat higher. The patriarch Job wa? unacquainted with the cyanide process— (load laughter),— bat he was not altogether ignorant of mining operations. He speaks of the shaft where mm swing in the air, of the drive of that path which tha bird of prey kaoweth not and the proud beast hath not trodden, of watercouwes cat through the moantains, and of the dam whioh binds the streams that trickle nob. He speaks of these things, bat ho goes on to speak of something else that cannot be gotten for gold. He speaks of wisdom and understanding. That is the ideal to which all true education must seek to altwn— to attain to that spirit wbioh in the ( stately words of the Book of Wisdom is beneficient, loving towards men, steadfast, sure, free from care, all powerful, all surveying^pure,most subtil. — (Applause.) Graduates," may that spirit be yours: — (Loud applause.) , At the request of the Chancellor, the Registrar (Mr' A. Hamiftoo) then called up the graduates of the year, who were successively presented to the chancellor, and signed their Dames in a book provided for the purpose. Tho following graduates were present ;— Doctor of Science : Mr J. R. Don. Masters of Arts : Miss A. M. M. Baron, Miss J. .M. Poison, Miss J. H. Rutherford, Mr G. P. Howell, Mr A. D. Wilkinson. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery : Mr A. Stenhouse. Bachelors of Science : Miss J. M. Poison, Mr C. O. Lillie. Bachelors of Arts : Mias M. Salmond, Miss M. Smyth, Mr J.A. Cowie, Mr F. W. Hilgendorf, Mr J. M. Thomson. Bachelors of Laws j Mr E. O. Cutten, B. A., Mr A. B. P. Haggitt. The following graduates were not present :— Matters of Arts— Miss O. M. Cruickshank, Miss R. W. M'Eerrow, Mr D. A. Strachan, Mr A. M'Neil, Mr E. Pinder. Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors of Sut* gory— Mies E. H. Siedeberg, Mr J. M. Matthews. Bachelor of Science— Mr A. M'Nab. Bachelors of Arts— Mr T. Dunn, Mr W. G. Grave, Mr R. LShdretb, Mr P. M'Zinlay. Tha graduates who responded to their name 3 when called upon were heartily received, and the ladies were showered with bouquets. Dr Don was accorded a particularly cordial reception, three outers being given for him and a chorus of students proclaiming him to be a " jolly good fellow." The Reoistbar read the following list of students who had gained distinction during the examinations :— Parker M'Kinlay— Equal for physical science senior scholarship with Chtistchurca candidate. Frederick W. Hilgendorf— Senior scholarship in natural science (zoology). James M. Thomson— Senior scholarship in menta} science. Aleifrnder D. Wilkinson— Hi. A., with secondclass honours in Latin and English. Miss OhristinaCruickshank-M.A., with secondcla«s honours iv mathematics. George P. Howell— M.A., with aecond-class nono/nrs in English and German. M4fß Jessie H. Rutherford-M.A>, with firstclam honours in English and French. Jteiss J. M. PoUoa— M.A.. witii aocondklasa htf*mra in phjaic%

David A. Rtrachan— 3l. A., with second-class honours in political science. .Jliss E. W. M'Kerrow— M A., with second-class honours in IMiu and Kuglish. Edward Pinder — M. A.., with second-class honours in mental science.

Angus M'Neil— B.Sc, with eecond-class honours in Litin and English. John Orkney, John Watt, aud Ernest Edwards—Diploma of associateship in mining and certificate of mctallurgi % al chemist and assayer. Thomas IBsdaile— Diploma of aasociateshi^ in mining, certificates of metallurgical chemist and assayer, land and mine surveyor, and of the geo'ogical division. Arthur Mcsley — Diploma of associateship in mining.

Mr F. H. Campbell, as president of the Students' Association, replied on bohalf of tho new graduates, saying that they were deeply gratetul to the chancellor for the kind wotds which he had addressed to them. Thoy felt, at the same time, tbab their honours did not entirely belong to them. They were deeply indebted to tho council for the excellent opportunities afforded to them for pursuing their studies, and they owed very much, also, to their professors and lecturers, who, they should remember, stood or fell with them in a seus?, and Cj whom belonged the greater portion of the honour they bad gained. Ho thought it very desirable that tba!< public presentation of diplomas should take place annually, and as an instance of the importance tho graduates themselves attached to the ceremony he might, perhaps, mention the fact that one of the lady graduates had come all the way from tha North Island that sbe might receive her diploma.~-(Applanse ) The ceremony seemed to eervo a threefold purpose. To those who had formally obtained their degrees and had passed beyond the walls of the university, it was a reminder that they must not' forget their duty to their alma mater, bat tbat they must move with tho times unices they wished to bs outstripped by their younger brethren. Those who had been " capped " that nighb were deeply impressed with a sense of their responsibility, and felt that they must now all go forth into the world to so mould their lives that they might reflect the highest honour possible both on themselvf s and on their university. To the undergraduates— (a cry of " Three cheers for us " from one of their number was lustily taken up)— he thought that ceremony was an incentive to redouble the efforts they were making to cbiain the goal aud object of their ambition, their university degree, so thai; next year, if possible, they might occupy the proud position the nsw graduates occupied that day. He was very pleaEed that there was every prospeot of tbat ceremony being continued every year, and the students confidently appealed to the council, who had so generously assisted them iv the past, to extend to them the sam 9 cordial and generous suppoit in the future.— (Applause.) The Chancellor : I thank you very much for the addreßS you have delivered. I can assure the students that it io the anxious desire of every member of the council to work harmoniously with them, and I sincerely hope that this ceremony will ba an annual ceremony for many, many yeira to come. This, ladies and gentlemen, concludes the present part of the proceedings. The rest of the proceedings will ba of a slightly more festive character. — (Laughter. 1 ) • With "one cheer more for the chancellor f) the first part of tha evening's programme was concluded.

Afc tho conclusion of the ceremony, as was the case la%t year, foue ha'.f-hour concerts were held— two in the Chemistry Hall, and two in the library. At the firat of th<-se Miss Olive Little played a piano solo, and Miss Moeley a violin solo, and Mm Ada Mathes-'n sang a soi>g; and the following formed a double quartet party :— Mestra Hale, Don, Edgar, Hopcraft, Montgomery, Cautwell, Strong, and M&uson. At the second cpneort Miss Q. Roberts played a piano solo, Miss H. Alexander gave a reoitatioD, Misa G. Williams contributed a violin solo, and songa were rendered by Mr Bray and Miss Treseder. 'At the third concert Miss Lily Shand sang a solo ; Mr J. R. Maodonald and Miss Freeman contributed recitations ; Mr J. Jago sang a song, with violin obbligito by Miss G. Williams ; and Mes3rs Halo, Dan, Edgar, Strong, Montgomery, Hopcraffc, CUntwell, and Manion formed a double quartet party aa in the fifstmentioned concert. The fourth concert consiated'of songs by the students in the chemistry hall, which was excessively crowded ; while a great number, inoluding the press representatives, were uuable to obtain admission. Among the other attractions wero some chemical experiments by Mr W. Goodlefc. Microscopes and inieropolariscopes were al?o exhibited in the board room ; while the School of Mines was thrown opsn for inspection, and refreshments were served in the chemutfy laboratory. The waxworks were a big improvement on those of last year, and reflect great credit on Mr J. Mutr, who made up the models in excellent style.

Eleven bankruptcies were gazetted last week— a miner, a fruiterer, a journalist, a butcher, a boarding-houso keeper, a farmer, an " unemployed," a labourer, a miller, and two contractors.

The winter hat set in rather late this year, bnt Conghs and Colds should never be neglected. Take "YVoods's Gbeat Peppermint Curk ; it's thoroughly relublfr-ls 6d or 2a Gd. Gr.occ.tf end O!i«niiits»