CAPPING CEREMONY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 212, 1 June 1908, Page 8

CAPPING CEREMONY.

THE IRREPRESSIBLE STUDENT,

' , SIR R. STOUT PROTESTS. (BT TELEGRAM. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT). AuoMand, May 30. The irrepressible under-gradnate had "a day out' yesterday. It was capping day. He turned up at tho choral hall armed with a motor-horn, an alarm clock, whistles, and toy trumpets, and some -bells, amongst other unconsidered ttifles, while tho strength of ■his vocal organs would put to'shame any football "barracker" of modern times.' Nor was he any respecter of persons. His Excellency tho Governor ran tbe gauntlet of liis playfulness, in common with the Chancellor of the New Zealand University (Sir Robert Stout) and others who were called upon to address the gathering. Sir Robert otout had not proceeded far with his address when, during a slight pauso, a piping En, 0 n\ n ;° from tlle students' quarters: Oh, Bobby, you are a wonder," followed by a volley of raucous horse laughter. Thereafter disconcerting interruptions wero frequent, the ice having been broken. Loud snoring marked tho concluding stages of the address, and occasionally' tho 'shrill blast of a whistle, accompanied by cries of "halftime" or "time, caused the Chancellor to call a temporary halt. At length the speaker raised his voice in protest. " Unless these interruptions cease," he said, " I will have to adjourn the proceedings." A voice floated down the hall, I can't hear a word here," and even the stern professional visage ro- | axed a little at this cynicism. Lord Plunket waited, several minutes before lie obtained a hearing at all. When he did, he courteously thanked tho 'students for their trouble. He had received a polite hint, he said, that he would not be called upon to speak for moro than five minutes, and as tour amj three-quarters had already been taken up by the "vocalists"—(laughter)— he-would not bo required to speak for-long. When His Excellency finished there wero cries of Encore, and "Wo want some more in chorus.. Tho appearance of Mr. Joynt, .the registrar, was welcomed with, Who is this Joynt?" and the uproar became so groat that Sir Robert had again to protest., ' .It is. my duty to see this ceremony properly conducted, and I intend to do so, he said. (Ironical "hear, hears," from tho students.) Tho Minister for Education (the Hon. Geo. Fowlds) fared no better. It was, as though all tho fowls of the barnyard were loose in the back of the hall. When tho Minister essayed to speak lie was greeted with a composition set to music to tho air of " Polly, wolly, doodle": "Georgie dear, calm your fear, • l hough there may be many a queer Naughty girl at Te Oranga; : . ' c?-i? 'J Oll ought'er bane her: Still it s miles away, and Gray Lynn cannot : near. ,

There wor.e limericks for everyone, and as the graduates went up t-o receive their diplomas they were subjected to an embarrass-ing-firo of personal criticism. In many instances .there was method fin this madness. In one respect the under-graduates -put-in a novel plea for a site and a new college. A banner, bearing the inscription, "We have eyes, but no \site," occupied a prominent place on tho platform, and during the time the . Governor was endeavouring to got a hearing ..the. students effervesced * into a-set of verses .to the tune of "Waiting at the church. At tho conclusion of the cere,n}ony,. the Chancellor had' bis revengo," He roiuarked that tho conduct of the .students on. tlio whole, had bceii good, with the e l . noption of "some.young lads who had not long left school." ,