Graduation Day

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 386, 21 June 1928, Page 9

Graduation Day

STUDENTS AT TOWN HALL

Sir George Fowlds “Knighted”

ALTHOUGH capping ceremony has now been displaced by the conferring of degrees at meetings of tbe New Zealand University Council, students of the Auckland University College celebrated the occasion when graduates of the year were congratulated by the college in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon.

Sir George Fowlds, president of the college, presided. On the stage were the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. Baildon, Sir James Gunson, Professor W. F. Osborne, of the University of Manitoba, Mr. IP. T. Merritt, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, a number of guests and members of the council and staff of the college. Proceedings opened with the singing of the “Gaudeamus,” the appearance of Dr. Thomas at the organ providing a student with the opportunity of displaying a placard from the gallery announcing that “Eddie would now play ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ on the mighty Wurlitzer.” Sir George Fowlds, who was greeted with prolonged applause, said that the capping ceremony that year would be a little different than usual, as the University Council had decided in its wisdom that degrees were to be conferred by it at council meetings. (Uproar.) The usual formula of presenting the degrees, and in which, in the past, he had been assisted by the students, would be dispensed with, and instead he would give a few remarks (cries of “No”) and which he desired the public to hear. (Applause.) He hoped the students would give him every assistance in that respect. The address, as reported yesterday, although frequently interrupted by loud snores and other interjections, was heard fairly clearly. At the conclusion Sir George was loudly cheered, the outburst lasting several minutes. As the names of the graduates were called out by Professor Maxwell Walker they mounted the stage and were congratulated by Sir George. As the girl graduates stepped down from the stage they were handed the usual bouquets. The gifts for the men comprised a varied assortment, ranging from bottles of ale to a garland of saveloys, the latter being nung round the neck of a newly-fledged doctor of philosophy. Smoked fish, fresh fish and vegetables were also included in the gifts. SIR GEOFIGE “KNIGHTED” At the conclusion of the ceremony a procession which included an imposing personage in royal robes, a mitred bishop, heralds and a train-bearer, mounted the stage and proceeded to confer on the president the order of the garter. This necessitated a halt

in the ceremony, .while the trainbearer. who was attired solely in pink silk underwear and a bath towel, removed the missing insignia from his own leg. A coat-of-arms dened by the College of Heralds to be appropriate to the occasion, and the letters patent, were also presented. Congratulations to Sir George on his knighthood were offered in more serious vein by Professor Maxwell Walker, on behalf of the professorial staff, and Mr. A. B. Thompson, president of the Students’ Association. Professor Osborne conveyed greetings from the University of Manitoba to the Auckland University College, also stressing upon the students the value and purpose of education in a democracy.