Capping Day Ceremonials.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue III, 21 July 1900, Page 129

Capping Day Ceremonials.

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. SUCCESSFUL INNOVATIONS BY STUDENTS. The last year of the century will be famous for many thing's. In the annals of the Students' Association of the University College, Auckland, it will be ever memorable as the year which saw established a series of ceremonies and revels, in connection with the presentation of diplomas, which far exceeded anything heretofore thought of or attempted, mid which were carried to a most highly satisfactory and successful conclusion. Of late years capping ceremonies have been decorous but deadly dull. Most persons have forgotten if they ever knew the reason. From time immemorial and in all universities throughout the world there arc certain occasions or days on which students hold it ns a traditionary custom and a right that for a few hotrrst they shall bill dull care be gone, give rein to high spirits, and let innocent folly and hilarity hold full sway. This idea held possession in New Zealand as elsewhere, and every year at the presentation of diplomas students would take advantage of the ceremony to sing songs, ami perhaps make sport of those persons and things which in the decorous days of “term” commanded their respect. Misunderstanding the spirit underlying these innocent, if rather rowdy manifestaions. seeing insolence where pure fun only was intended, the press and therefore the public took a. somewhat hostile stand, ami denounced the students and their exubereuce of spirits in such unmeasured terms as to set up a feeling of profound resentment. Under the principle on which the affectionate parent belabours a weeping infant under the avowed intention of giving it “something to cry for” the students very unwisely gave the public and the authorities something to grow! about, the conduct at one or two presentations being such as decided the authorities to abolish capping day for a season. Justly or unjustly the thing was done. “Sweet.” however, •‘are the uses of advertisity,’*

tor in this “winter of discontent” the Students' Association came into existence. One of its first actions was to petition for a restoration of “capping- day,” the executive of the Association giving ■ guarantee that due decorum would be observed during the presentation ceremony and the speeches, and that arrangements would be made for holding the revels to which students considered themselves entitled elsewhere. On two previous occasions things had worked as well, and as quietly as could be .wished. This year the students thought they might make arrangements for some more elaborate rejoicings than usual. THE PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS. took place in the afternoon. To say that the function was decorous but poorly describes its solemn respectability. A heavy “church-on-a-week-day” atmosphere hung like a pall over the gathering, and the applause and cheering which greeted the graduates of the year as they stepped forward to receive their diplomas had an almost sacrilegious air. The speeches were, however, more interesting than usual, that of Professor Brown, on “The Ideal University,” being particularly good. All the recipients of diplomas were roundly applauded, but to Dr. Pat Marsall, Mr M. A. Hunter, B.Sc., Mr McCullough, M.A., were accorded regular ovations, that to Dr. Pat Marshall being particularly enthusiastic.

The names of those receiving diplomas were as follows: — Sir James Hector then presented the degrees as follows:—Doctor of Science. Patrick Marshall (University of Otago): Masters of Arts, Robert Alexander McCullough (Auckland College, second-class honours in mathematics and mathematical physics: Edward Herbert Strong (Auckland College), second-class honours in languages and literature (Latin and English). Bachelors of Arts, Harold Napier Baker (Auckland College). Annie Blennerhassett (Canterbury College). Charles Elliot Fox. senior scholarship in geology (Auckland College), Thomas Arthur Harris (Auckland College). Denis O'Donoghue fold regulations). Henry Ainslie Parkinson (Auckland College). Frank Lubecki Pogson. senior scholarship in Latin (Auckland College). Bachelors of Science. Mathew Albert Hunter, senior scholarship in chemistry (Auckland College). Christina Murray Cruickshank (Auckland College). Bachelors of Law, Thornton Jackson (Auckland College). Campbell Larnach Mac Diarmid (Auckland College). THE STUDENTS’ FESTIVITIES. Tn settling the programme for the delectation of students and their friends, the tastes of all were considered. There was a torchlight procession for the undergrads, and younger students of the University, there was a graduation supper, with important toasts and thoughtful speeches for the more sedate, and on Saturday a social to which students, male and female, might bid their friends. Each of these entertainments had been carefully arranged and worked up, each was in its own way the greatest of successes, and each reflects credit on those who organised the same. THE TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION. This was formed at the College, the common room being transformed for the nonce into a sort of green-room and dressing-room combined. Here were gathered a truly motley collection — a most admirable Kruger, an undeniable Roberts, a tramp, a Boxer, and a host of others. To attempt to describe either the actors or the scene as they formed up in front of the College library .Would be folly. Both were indescribable. Bravely the procession set forth, the lanterns and torches gleaming brightly, and the many banners, with their multitudinous “strange devices” fluttering bravely in the air. Up Symonds-st. the procession began gradually but surely to increase in size. All and sundry turned to follow, till, when the turn into Karangahape Road was reached, the entire roadway was taken up and passing trams had to whistle frantically in forcing their way through the throng.

And now it was that the fun began. and ere long waxed fast, and then furious. Up till the reservoir was reached there was little attempt at even the most good-natured opposition. Here, however, during the halt and the singing of some college songs, the crowd had had time to find out of whom the procession consisted. Instantly there was created that opposition of “town” to “gown," which appears to exist more or less in all university cities. Crash, crash, crash; stones nnd clods were flung at the lanterns, till Roberts, leading on his gallant charger, began to realise that ft waa high time to march homewards

if all were to arrive with whole skins. The lights were demolished, and then the crowd gave its attention to hustling and bustling. Thera were one or two ugly rushes at one time and another, but temper was on the whole well preserved, and the march successfully negotiated past the Pitt-street corner, where a somewhat determined attack was made. Thenceforward till Princes-street was reached things were quieter, but here—owing to the facilities afforded in the collection of ammunition, a . very heavy sod fire was kept up, mingled with not a little blue metal. The ’Varsity boys, however, marched steadily on, refusing to be drawn into what would certainly have made a very pretty little battle. There were no serious casualties, though one or two somewhat severe knocks were received from blue metal, and several narrow escapes from serious injury from the same material were recorded.

Sketches by our special artist who accompanied the procession give a better idea of the same than any let-ter-press would do.

THE GRADUATION SUPPER.

This was served in the Masonic Hotel. Princes-street, and was extremely well <1 me. Professors Brown, TalbotTubbs, Segar and Mons, de Montalk were present, and, with the graduates. were the guests of the company. The speeches were all thoughtful and well considered, and of very great interest to students. Space, however, forbids any abstract here. Suffice it to say that such gatherings, where graduates and elder students can informally meet the professors and discuss matters affecting both, in a manner impossible at other times, must do an incalculable amount of good.

THE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION SOCIAL.

The social given in the College on Saturday must be put down as the most successful “off-night” ever held in the building. It was the last act in the rollicking little comedy that students set themselves to perform, and the characters romped through the piece with the enthusiasm of amateurs and the skill of professionals. There was a large attendance of friends, too large, in fact—but no one minded; and when you spilt coffee over an immaculate shirt-front, or disarranged a coiffure, you were merely greeted with a bland smile. Loyalty and enthusiasm pervaded the building. All the students, male and female, wore academic costume, and the sweet girl graduate proved to be not merely an invention of the lady novelist, but a charming reality. The guests assembled in the classical lecture-room, where Mr H. Dean Bamford (President of the Association) delivered one of his usual felicitous speeches of welcome. First came the capping songs, “Welcome,” “Exulis Carmen,” and “The Auckland Undergrads,” sung by the students. Then followed the mock capping ceremony by the members of the Debating Society. This was a really clever farce, in which every one excelled himself. The Registrar, looking the image of J. L. Toole, brought down the house with his humorous dignity, while the Chancellor covered himself with glory by snoring through the Premier's speech. This latter gentleman created roars of laughter by his egoistical remarks, such as “this my college,” “this my city,” and “this my people.” Mrs Elizabeth Gates looked simply ravishing, and kept the house in shrieks of laughter with her by-play; while Solomon J. Wise (graduate of “Tin Dog” University, U.S.A.) proved himself to be a capital actor. His speech was distinctly amusing, while his by-play with the German Consul was excellent. This amiable fooiii ■ led by Mrs Gates (who refused to . .v Dr. Erson to speak) knocking Mr Richardson down, whereupon the remains were removed to the tune of the “Dead March.” A stroll through the laboratories followed the farce, and happy was the student who could bring an expression of awe and admiration to the face of some fair friend with the line-long name of some reptile or rock. Supper followed, during which the students concluded their programme of songs. The following are extracts from the best of these productions, “The Absent Minded Beggar (“Quis Est Qui Dulcia Curet?"): —

Sunt puellae quas secreto duxit, patre nesclo, Qul rogantl rcspondisset “minfme!" Desunt oleum et clbus, et mlnatur dominus, Et baud sclo an sit jam progenies. Cum puellls ambulabut, frustra, heu, dealderant.

Nam absentem oblitum experientur. Praedicandi non est tempos, veniente

hieme, Puellas jam desertas adjuvemus. CHORUS. Duces, coqui, edit us rege rex Pedites et equites. deciens mH la sex, Quoque nltente pro patria, Et quis est qui dulcia curet? Galaem heus circu infer to. et da! da! ! da! ! I FROM “THE ANTI-CIGARETTE.” If you are weak in spelling, or speak With accent vile, or yearn for Latin grammar, Or dote on smells, or would chip off shells From paleozoic rocks with a small tack hammer; If your fancy plays with the weird Xrays. Or your genius turns to studies mathematic. Oh! we will store with mystical lore Your head from cellar to topmost attic. CHORUS. Oh! in the work of higher education No competitor can wag his tail at us, tail at us; As you all know, we surely lick creation. And there’s none that ever dares to rail at us. rail at us. Our virtues they always do strike us As qualities magnificent to see; Of course you can never be like us. But be as like us as you’re able to be. The guests began to leave after supper, but the fire of the students* enthusiasm was as fierce as ever. Adjourning to the library they kept the fusillade up till a late hour.

RAETIHI.

Our illustrations show some points of interest about Raetihi, that rising township which is hewing out for itself a place on the high plateau twee a the Wanganui River and the Ruapehu plains. Tourists coaching between Pipiriki and Kerioi, on the way to Taupo, will remember Raetihi as a typical bush -settlement. Its position, and more the good quality of the land around it, ensures it a successful future. In the winter time the country is often covered with snow.