i\E\V ZEALAND UNIVERSITY. + PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 294, 29 August 1888, Page 6

i\E\V ZEALAND UNIVERSITY. + PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS.

The presentation ot diplomas to the Auck. land students who had been successful in the annual examination last year took place in the Choral Hall yesterday afternoon. Thepresentatiou was made by the Rev. D. Bruce, who was supported on the platform by the Chairman of the .Board of Education (Mr J. H. Upton), Miss M. A. Coleman. 8.A., Mr Justice Gillies, Prof. Brown, M.A., Rev. J. Coates, M.A., Dr. Bakcvrcll, Mr blomnn, 8.A., Mr F. K. Bourne, M.A. (Headmaster of the Auckland Coliegeand Grammar School), Protessor Thomas, M.A., Messrs Francis, and Kir by, M.A. The attendance of the general public was not very large. A number ot undergraduates and schoolboys who had obtained positions in the gallery kept up a continual uproar dtiring the proceedings, frequently interrupting the speakers. The Rev. D. Bruce remarked that he had been requested to present these dip omas by the Chancellor ot the University, in his place. An impoi tant end was served by this public presentation The populace are in the aggregate more deeplj impressed by what they sec than by what they hear of ; and, m a young country like New Zealand, it is upon the public sympathy, tins more actively aroused, that a I an eisity must rely, not only for support, but also and specially for its effectively tiaimng the people for the work ot everyday life. He retened to the usefulness of a University education, observing that the number of degrees taken shoiud not be the true index m this country or the woik done by the University. In proot of tins, he instanced that whereas 169 decrees had been conferred by the Now Zealand University on the 9th April ot this year, there \\ ore on the rolls 846 undergraduates. He made pointed reference to the need of technical education, and claimed tor the Auoicland branch of the l nivcrsity that her piotessors had been in the van in the movement m aid ot the principle. Speaking ot the danger that thieatened the Auckland University College troni the roar for letienLhmcnt, Mr Bruce pointed out how the present University sjstem ot this colony with scveni' colleges was only the natuial outcome of the geographical connguration of the colony. Mr binclair Gillies advanced and was piesented with his Bachelor ot Arts diploma, the gallery boys sinking "For He s a Jolly Good Fellow." Mr R. M. Ryburn. who had also taken a B. A. diploma, is at present absent at the Otago University College, therefore Mr Ryburn, sen., received the diploma for him. Air J M. French, who had obtained a Master ot Arts degree, was unablo to be present, being teaching in the noith of the province, and his diploma was ret en ed bv hi-3 father. Ihe Chairman announced that Dr. Giles, 11. M., who was to havt* addicted them, could not attend on account oi sickness. Mi Upton. Chan man of theßoarclofEducation. spoke or the demand for retrenchment and the form it took i.i certain quarters of a wish tor the abolit.on ot Univers>it.\ education. He was of opinion that it would be a very great loss to the <<jiOnj it University education were done awny ". ith. Theiewa-.no danger ot this being done in Oiasjo or Canterbury, w hich weic well provided tor hj endowments, but there was in Auckland. Speaking ot the national s\stcm of education geneidllj . he thought that the w ork of the pum dry bchoo s and the secondary .schoo s o crlappcd. He would like to seethe work of the primary schools stop at a certain standard, "which would gi\ c a great saving. In ttie Grammar School he w oulu like to see the endowments de\oted to Kiving scholarships only, and that the i c should be no feet- at the school. The University the Grammar School, and the primary schools should assist each other more than they did. The Chairman thanked the audience for their attendance, hoping they would overlook the disturbance caused by the noisy members of the gallcij , and the meeting then teimmatcd.