CAPPING DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1787, 27 June 1913, Page 8

CAPPING DAY.

, GATHERING CUT SHORT. CHANCELLOR ADJOURNS. STUDENTS REFUSE PRIVATE CAPPING. AMUSING SCENES. ' Tho auimnl outbreak of. University student!) occurred yesterday, and with it enmo the unexpected adjournment of tho cupping ceremony. Tlio capping wns set down for 3 n.m. in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, and at tho appointed hour tho Chamber was filled. Before tlio Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout) took his seat a student, arrayed in a Maori mat (and little olse), mounted the stago. "Ladies anil gentlemen," ho said, "owing to tho largo crowd which has assembled this afternoon to witness file ceremony, I liavo boon nslced to announce that it will bo performed in tho largo Town Hall. If you will kindly proceed tliither you will bo nblo to witness it." Tho audienco rose and began to filo out. Then many hesitated, wondering if the announcement was a hoax. A littlo later two of tile caretaker's assistants appeared and removed tho tables, and tlio chairs, and the water bottle front tho stage to the big hall. Tho public followed, and were scarcely seated when the Town Clerk, in an interval between a Maori liafet and ragtime dance, appeared in tho gallery and 6houted that tho ceremony would bo held in tho Concert Chamber. Cries came of "No; we'll have it here;" More hakas and Turkey Trot. But everyone scrambled back to tlio Concert Chamber. In a little while, with tho doors closod, tho gallery empty, and tho roysterors absent, the Chancellor took his seat. Among thoso on the platform with him were: The Mayor of tho city (Mr. J. P. Luke) and tho Minister for Education (tlio Hon. James Allen).

Chancellor and the Door. The Chancellor intimated that ho wished to say a few words on the subject of university education. The function of tho university, ho said, was limited. "I must," ho continued, "have that door kept closed. I am not going to ha/ve tho door open when I am speaking. The work done by the college has been excellent. The students havo excelled not in NewZealand alone. but in Europe, too, and they have passed into high in the United Kingdom. Our Rhodes scholars in Oxford stand higlier than the Rhodes scholars from any other country. What, then, should New Zealand University students-strive for? To maintain the honour of their university, aad not to forget that their education has cost a great deal of money. ... In my opinion our students have not taken tho position in the social life of the country which they should, have taken. I ask the doorkeeper to be good enough to shut the door. I would ask the students to remember that thoy have a duty to the community in being teachers of the community. ... Ido not intend to take up more of your time. (Applause.) I hope you will show that the State has not wasted its money in ,tho endowment of university education."

The Chancellor was reading the list of Auckland students who had won degrees when the gallery doors flew open, and a flood of girl and boy students poured" in, singing: "Here we are, here wo are, here we are again!" Sir Rotert Stout: I don't know how that door got open!. Chorus: Everybody's doin' it, doim' it, doin' it. A "Votes for Women" placard was figuring prominently in the gallery. Sir Robert: You will be good enough to keep out of that hall—and take away that placard. If you don't do so, I shall adjourn the meeting and deliver the diplomas in the office. The placard temporarily disappeared, but the gallery remained filled. Sir Robert: I don't understand why the hall-keepers have not obeyed the orders which I gave to keep those doors shut. Pause. Sir Robert: I can't understand why the doorkeepers don't shut that door. • Chorus: Close the door! Shut it! Shut it! Hurry up; shut the door! ,Sir Robert (addressing the gallery): Sit ! Gallery in reply: There are no seats! Lend us your seat, Bobbie. Doesn't ho look nice! Sir Robert: I am not going on with this meeting. I shall adjourn and deliver the caps to tho candidates in the Mayor's room. Cheers; and cries of: "Alone he did it." The audience rose, and, immediately, the merrymakers solemnly struck up, "God Save tho King." ' A voice: Three cheers for the Victoria College Council. Mr. Trcgear Kissed, The gallery: Hip, hip, hurray! • The voice: Three for tho Professorial Board. The gallery: Hip, hip, hurray! The voice: Three for the Auckland students. Tho gallery. Hip, hip, hurray! The voice: Three for Sir Robert Stout. Tho pallery: Hush! Hold your breath! As Sir Robert Stout, took his departure down the aisle- (making for tho Mayor's room) the occupants of the gallery leaned over the balcony, and sang: "We dbn't suppose we will see you again, for months and months and months!" The Chancellor departed, but the audience remained laughing heartily. A brief lull, and a student gowned, wigged, bearded, and generally disguised as tho Chancellor decorously walked on to the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "there seems to be some misunderstanding as to wliether the degrees are to bo presented here or somewhere elso. If they are not presented hero they will bo presented in absentia." (Cheers.) Just when the diplomas seemed likely to be presented by the mock chancellor. Mr. B. Hector, Registrar of the Universitv, appeared and rescued them. The mock chancellor: Please, Mr. Hector. don't take them away. •

Mr. Hector escaped with his bundle. Mock chancellor: This is just another instance of the confusion. Mr. Edward Tregcar, who had been on the platform with the Chancellor earlier in the proceedings, now reappeared. He mounted the stage, and said: "I must say lam rather disappointed. I saw the boys at, their fun this morning, and I wanted to see them at it some more. Do you think it would bo a good thing to have the Suffragettes with us." Tho SuiTTogettes. two "ladies" in low neck and tights, stepped on to the stage, mid while Mr. Tregear beamed upon them they threw up their arms, fell upon him in loving embrace, and smothered him with kisses. The Maoris entered and encircled the amorous trio with a haka. Mr. Tregear shortly made another attempt to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, they will have me here because I am one of the youngest boys among them." Out went the lights, and shortly the curtain was drawn in upon th® speaker. The Mayor Takes a Hand. Accompanied by slow pianoforte, a student mounted the stage, and delivered the following monologue: "We see no reason why graduates invited here to be honoured should lie treated like children at the whim of the Chancellor." Wie slow music changed into popular airs, and well-known songs occupied the next few minutes. Upon the platform appeared Mr. West. "Ladies and gentlemen, I think that tho students of the eollege owe it. to von ." The Mayor (Mr. Luke), interrupting: I am sorry indesd for Wellington's name that this has happened. Wear, hear!) There is something due to the graduates to bo capped. You are doing n_n injustice to these young men. (No! No!) I appeal to you Cries: Vote of no-confidenco in Sir Robert Stout! The Mayor: Never mind Sir Kobert Stout. Allow me as Mayor of your city to have your attention for a moriient. A voice: What is the remedy?

The Mayori Tho remedy! If tho graduatea -will come Into the Council Chamber

und bo capped, Kir Robert Stout will carry out tho ceremony. Will you consent? Cries of "No; hnvo it here!" Also somo Pouuil of "Yes." and (solus): "Don't read tho Auckland graduates' names out" I'itimi and twig: "i'or lie's a jolly good fellow!"

The -Mayor: There seems to bo a perfect misunderstanding as to who cufjuyed tho hail. Tho university engaged it, not the Students' Association. In tlio Jiamo of the city, and in tho namo of law and order, I ask you well-educated young men to go into tlio Council Chamber and bo capped. (Laughter.) Tlio graduates did not budge, and Mr. West again spoke, ilo said that it had been told them that tho gallery would be reserved lor students, and ho claimed that what lilllo noiso I hero was was made |>y outsiders. Tho noiso was very mild by comparison with other functions, lieloro the ceremony the students had taken ft, pledge not to creato a row, and they had carried out that pledge. (Applause.)

Graduates Dcclino to bo Capped. Tlio Mayor: Como into tlio Council Chamber and have tho ceremony performed, and then onjoy yourselves aiterivards. If you will do that X will placo tho big Town Jlall at your disposal. Mr. \\'cst: I understand that the graduates absolutely refuse to bo capped elsewhere than in this hall. (Cheers.) Mr. D. S. Smith spoko to tho effect that the Mayor's oiler should bo accepted. (Mo I No!) Tho Mayor: Then I will ask you to loavo tho hall. ' Olio in tlio gallery: Read tho Riot Act. Tho Mayor: Yes, I will read that soon enough. Tho gallery: Ho doesn't know it. A voice: Will Bobbio Stout have University reform ? Chorus: Nol Tlio voico; Will ho have any other 6ort of form? Chorus: Yes! Tho voice: What form? Chorus: Chloroform I Tlio Mayor: I must nsk you to leate, please. Otherwiso a step will be taken which will not bo very popular. Someone: What, run us all in? Tho Mayor: No, but lock tho doors. Chorus, to tho tuno of "Auld Lang Sync": "Wo'ro hero because wo're here, because." Tho students decided not to go to tho Council Chamber. Porched on a chair, one declared that it would bo "a sign of weakness to go now," "You have been insulted by your Chancellor to-day," ho added. A blushing young "girl" took the platform. "Sir Kobert Stout," sho 6aid, "will prosent tho diplomas in camera—a secret casOj like." The Mayor Reappeared. Tho Mayor interrupted tho 6peech. Cries of "Kiss it," and tho "girl" embraced tho Mayor and implanted a kiss. Shortly after this tho gathering broko up, but tlio graduates, with threo exceptions, did not go to to capped. Tho other degrees wcro conferred in tho absence of the students.