CAPPING CEREMONY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 235, 22 June 1918, Page 8

CAPPING CEREMONY

STUDENTS' JOLLIFICATION

SPEECHES-WITH INTERRUPTIONS. Yesterday was "Capping Day" for Victoria Collie graduates, and napping liny is tho undergraduates' day out. The ceremony liappeueu in the town Hall law uigiit, and it went mucii as other tupping, ceremonies of otlici- years—perhaps t milder all'air than usual. Tliere were some speeches, but they were eu well punctuated with hilarity that they could not become very boresunie. The chairman was j\lr. Clement Watson, and when lie took his scat somebody called "WhaL'll you haver" (.'aine the reply in chorus, "Watson's Three Star!" iiy and toy Air. Watson had to make a. speech. Jle apologised first for the absence of Sir Irniieis Hell, and there was an outburst of ironical applause. He apologised for the absence ol the Mayor, and sumebod) , asked. "What about Joe Carter} , "

To students in this sort of mood Mr. Watsdii dirt his host to speak. He said that ho could not rni'ev to Ihe affairs of tlio college without speaking of the war. Whereupon a crowd of wugs among tho male H.udenu noisily unfolded newspapers, and with much coughing ami audible yuwning made believe lo read them. Mr. Watson said that the war had reduced greatly the numbers of men students at the college, in 11)11 there were 2-13 men students, and in 1918 there wore lb'li. In the same period the number of women students had increased from 134 to 19<i. The name circumstances had caused the great preponderance of women graduates this year. He went on to talk about (lie calamity of the war, but the boys were in no humour for tragedy. Once or ' twice they tried with only fair success the old ".skyrocket" noise 'beloved of all students. Mr. Watson said something about "bring the war to a successful conclusion," and somebody said, "That was in 'The Dominion"; and another, "That's what Bill ilassey said!" Presently a voice, impatiently: "How long, 0 Lord, how long?"; and another said in tones of the last limit of ennui, "It's 25 minuses past eight." Mr. Watson did give it up after a while, congratulating the graduates on their success before he sat down. 'J lie Hon. T. M. Wilford was the next speaker. There was a general greeting of "Tommy's a sport!" Mr. Wilford was wise enough not to attempt serious talk. Ho said that he had no particular theme, but lm was going to pick up his theme from thoso around him. "Some theme!" called a youth. My. Wilford told a couple of funny stories, and had a joke or two with his audience, getting not all the best of the exchanges. Presently he told some war stories, and finished up with a. war leeturette of fen minutes or so. To Air. Wilford's surprise the students listened lo that with attention, and when he would have sat down they "encored" him, and ho gave them another little talk about the war slid the PiuiGernians. The diplomas, were presented to the graduates by the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir Jnmes Allen) and Lady Allen. Sir James Alien did not make a speech, but merely called for cheers for the grailvates, which were given lustily. Following were the graduates of the college for the, year:—Masters of Arts jwitli honours).—Eileeu M. Duggan, Alfred- S. Fnrquhar, Annie C. W. S. Mackenzie, Eobert B. Byder, Oonstince 11. Shields. Masters of Arcs.—George Al. Henderson, Carrie P. AVallace, Frank E. M'Kenzie. Master of Laws (Auckland). —Patrick E. E. Dromgool: Bachelors of Arts.—Louisa J. Chapman, Lilian L. Crab, Edith It. Dabies,, Jessie S. Dunn, Cecilia M. Dwyer, Michael Gilfedder, Olive L. Hunt, Thftinas Kane, Eleanor KidstoTi, Winifred 'E. G. Knight, Dorothy M'Cartney, Dorothy B. M'Lean, Kora ]?. Norman, Olive R. Snbno.i, Edytlie G. Waddington, Iris 11. Woodk'use (Senior University Scholar), Edith J. K. Whitelaw, Irene K. Wyllie. Bachelor of Laws. —Howard D. C. Adams, Herbert A. Cunningham', Werner Heine, Lyndon C. Hemery, Richard A. Howie, Frank E. M'Kenzie, Lyra V. Ji Taylor. Bachelor of Commerce.—George W. Clinkard, Arthur E. Brockett. During the evening- the students sang several choruses. ,!.'c:!ie uf them were good, the best of them heiiw n ditty to (lie tune of "Tit AVillow, about a leading citizen of Wellington. The conductor was Air. F. "V. Waters.