OTAGO UNIVERSITY

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 37

OTAGO UNIVERSITY

STUDENTS’ JUBILEE DINNER. A HAPPY AND MEMORABLE GATHERING. It was on July 10, 1871, just 50 years ago, that classes at Otago University were fit'st commenced. Some two years earlier the University had been formally established by the enactment of the “ University of Otago Ordnance,” and it wag this jubilee that was celebrated hero last February by the University authorities with impressive ceremonies lasting for a week. These celebrations fell in vacation time, and consequently present sludems had little part in them. Their opportunity to do honour hi their Alma Mater and fittingly to mark the passage of 50 years’ activity in her class rooms came last Saturday evening, when a students’ jubilee dinner was held in the Art Gallery Hall. The idea was taken up with the keenest enthusiasm. The Art Gallery Hall was seated for 475, but considerably more than that number were present. The dinner at the hall was preceded by a torchlight procession from the University by' students in carnival garb. They formed up in double row outside the door of the hall, and made a pathway for the visitors as they arrived. The hall within was most tastefully and gaily decorated with the University odours and emblems, ana when all were seated it presented a memorable scene of sparkling animation. The babel of happy voices made it obvious that scores of old friends were finding the keenest pleasure in renewing old associations and reviving happy memories of their student days. The Carnival Orchestra added to the liveliness of the occasion with lively renderings of tunes made familiar by the recent Capping Carnival performances. About an hour was spent over the dinner itself, excellent service being rendered by a large number of students who volunteered as waiters. Mr Gilbert Maclean (president of the Students’ Association) presided, and. after the loyal toast had been honoured, announced a number of apologies that had been received. He intimated that the ladies not only permitted, but commanded, the men to 6moke. The toast of “ The University of Otago was entrusted to Mr .T. H. Coombes. The Rev Dr Cameron, on rising to reply, was received by the company rising and singing “For He’s a Jolly Good .Fellow. ’ He said he acknowledged the toast, not Chancellor, but as an ex-student, as all who were taking part were. Mr J. Cairney proposed the toast of “Past Students,” of whom he said every present student was justly proud. The first to respond to the toast was Miss Frances J. Ross, of Columba College, who said she did not mind being called an “old” student, but she objected to being referred to as a “past” student.- —(Applause and laughter.) She added her tribute to the immense value of the work of those who founded the Otago University 7. Those they might place first of all the professors, men of such zeal, learning, and high moral character that they had raised die University to its high place in the community and in the national life. These high traditions were being carried on by the present professors. She spoko of the great hospitality enjoyed by the students at the hands of the professors and their wives. She drew attention to the immense improvements and extensions made to the equipment ana work of the University since her student days, and these extensions were still going on- In spite of ali the changes, they knew there must be one animating principle uniting the life of the University through all the years, and that was the search for knowledge and the passion for the _ clear light of truth. She concluded with a choice peroration in which she said old students handed on the torch to those who came after, pleading them to strive, to seek, to find, but never yield. Mr J. B. Chilian also responded to the toast, and expressed regret that the Hon. W. Downie Stewart was not present, lie advised all present students to stay on at the l niversity as long as thenparents would stand them failing.—(Applause and laughter.) Mr D. W. Faigan (vice-president of the Students’ Association), proposed the toast of “The Teaching Stall'.” In calling- upon Professor G. E. Thompson to reply, the Chairman expressed their great indebtedness to him for the part he had taken in arranging that gathering. The professor was greeted with cheers and prolonged applause. He returned thanks for the kindly and graceful way in which the toast had been proposed. They had heard so much, he said, during the last 18 months of the greatness of the first professors, that the present staff had rather “ got the wind up.” It had been somewhat unkindly 7 suggested that though the professors had increased in number from three to about thirty that the sum total of brains on the teaching staff remained constant. —(Laughter.) If so, the case of forty lecturers was even worse, for 50 years ago there was not a lecturer in the place.—(Laughter). He referred to tlie presence with them of the daughter of Professor Shaud, Mrs M’Lean .—(Applause)—the daughter of Professor M'Gregor, Mrs Oox —(Applause)—Miss Ulrich, daughter of Professor Ulrich—(Applause) Mr Stuart Ilolmea, who, he believed, was the first student enrolled 50 years ago —(Applause)—-and the Hon. Mark Cohen, who was also enrolled in the first year. —(Applause.) They would find the present students grouped at the feet of fourclasses of teachers, professors, lecturers’ assistants, and gas-heaters.—(Laughter.) The difference between the lecturer and professor was more apparent than real. The professor had a billet, and the lecturer had ability.—(Laughter.) He was a lecturer himself once.—(Laughter.) He proceeded to draw a witty comparison between certain University degrees and certain brands of liquor, and continued to delight the audience with a humorous description of various types of professor. The toast of “Present Students” was entrusted to Dr W. Marshall Macdonald, who said he considered it the most important toast of the evening. Referring to the rapid growth, of the Uuiveisity, lie said it would not be long before the medical students wore as numerous as the rabbits of Central Otago.—(Laughter.) The Hon. Mr Pan proposed to deal with the matter by issuing a ukase to the mothers of New Zealand saying that they must on no account. have more than 45 medical students in any one year. This proposal was quite on a par—(Oh’s!)—with the celebrated at-

tempt of Mrs Partington to stop the Atlantic. The Chairman, responding, eaid it had been to the present students very pleasant to hear a little praise of themselves, especially from a member of the teaching staff. They more frequently hoard praise of their predecessors. The students greatly appreciated the support of ex-students ana professors at the Capping Carnival. The present students did appreciate the great school of learning with which they were associated, and did give at times a little thought as to what they might do for the University and for the community.—(Applause.) Miss M. E. Bell (vice-president of the Students’ Association), who was received with cheers, also returned thanks for the manner in which the toast had been honouxed. Women students, she said, had come to stay. Some of them had come to stay too long.—(Laughter.) Mr T. B. Davis proposed the toast of “ The Ladies ” in a bright and humorous speech, delving into the story of creation and into folk lore for his material. lie urged it as a duty on every student to have a sweetheart. —(Applause.) The reply on belie.lf of the fair sex was made by Professor T. D/ Adams. He made happy reference to the “liberty, equality, and fraternity ” between the sexes that had always prevailed in Otago University, in this respect far in advance of the older universities. During the evening the proceedings were most pleasantly varied with songs contributed by Miss Alice Wilkinson and Messrs J K. Davidson and Mortley Peake. Hearty thanks were accorded to the orchestra, the singers, and the student waiters; and a gathering that will live long as a happy memory to everyone present broke up at half-past 11 with the singing of a verse of “ Gaudeamus,” “Auld Lang Syne,” and the National Anthem.