CAPPING CEREMONIES.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16800, 19 May 1926, Page 8

CAPPING CEREMONIES.

UNIQUE OCCURRENCE. TWO BLIND GRADUATES. (Times Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. This year's capping ceremonies have been most noticeable because oi tlic fact (bat two blind University students received degrees—cine at Wellington and one at is understood Hint, they arc' the first graduates afflicted with blindness to lie so honoured by the University cf New Zealand. Among I lie graduates at. Wellington who were ‘'capped” was Miss May Yieilc Roussell, who look her ">LA. degree at Victoria College tins year. Stic is totally blind, and was led on to the platform by a i'chow-graduate. Miss Roussell lias carried on her studies with the aid of I lie Braid i system, and .while under examination dictated ner replies lo Idle set questions to an attendant, who put them (>n paper. Plic completed tier studies at Victoria College after having taken her B.A. degree at Auckland last year. The second case is lhal of James Duncan McGuire, who lias just completed liis B.A. course at Auckland. After reading the. formal declaration, the Bon. George Fowlds, who conferred tiic degrees, congratulated Mr .McGuire upon the successful termination of his studies in spile of his severe handicap. As lie left Ihc platform. I lip blind graduate was allowed lo pass unmolested by the bestowers of carrots and sebnapper, and other Likens r.f esteem,'hut his smile showed lint tie fully appreciated Bio humour of tiie occasion. In both cities (he blind- graduates were heartily applauded by lire large gatherings present at tiie ceremony.