The Capping Ceremony.

It. would seem, however, that our Graduates are no longer "capped": they are "presented." And that is our first grievance. We do not wish to probe old sores, but, for the life of us, we cannot see why the expression "Capping Ceremony" should be allowed to sink into oblivion. It certainly has far more significance for all concerned—the Graduates, the students, and even the public—than the present idiotic term—"Public Presentation"—whose sole recommendation so far as we can see is its alliterative nature. And even then, any piffling penny-a-liner paddling in the puddles of Grub Street could produce a more alluring alliteration. Nor would we have it thought that we are advocating a return to the formality of the old Capping Ceremony conducted by the New Zealand University. Heaven forbid! But two things we do advocate—that there should be retained the expression, "Capping Ceremony"—a term conveying a definite meaning and of mellow sound in the ears of University men—and we suggest that there is considerable room for improvement in the form of the present "Public Presentation."

Over two years have elapsed since the Senate abandoned the Capping Ceremonies conducted under its auspices. Time has dissipated any grievances, which may have been felt, and it is now open to the local Colleges, whose choice is entirely unfettered, to institute a Capping Ceremony, which shall be based upon and combine the best features of Capping Day in the Universities of the Old Country. It is quite time that this makeshift Public Presentation (Hades!!) were banished into the Limbo of dead, forgotten things.

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We have another grievance. To formulate it may seem to some high treason, but we shall do so. Some of the songs sung at the Pub. Pres. were unduly long, notably, the Song of Victoria College, "Revels" and "Absent Friends." Each of these could be profitably shortened by deleting at least one verse. Also, so it seems to us, (tell it not in Gath!) the Final Chorus (Tune— "The Old Brigade") isn't all it's "cracked up" to be. To our mind a genuine Song of Victoria College has yet to be written. Why we should have adopted the music of the "Old Brigade" goodness only knows! Mr. W. H. Stainton could have written for us far more inspiring and appropriate music. However, to return to the Capping Cere.—we mean the Pub. Pres.: this began at 8.15 p.m. on Friday 23rd June. For some reason it was not held in the Social Hall at Victoria College but in St. John's Hall. We do not know why: we can only assume that the reason for this was that the authorities thought that the Social Hall was too convenient, and would save too much of the trouble for which we should all gladly search in these days, or perhaps they were under the impression that several ambles up and down one of the longest and most appallingly dreary flights of stairs it has ever been our misfortune to see, would be a good thing for the nimble undergraduate. The Social Hall would have provided ample accommodation for all, and— but there, let's ha' done.

The programme commenced with the singing of two College songs—"Song of Victoria College" and "Gaudeamus Igitur " As we have said, the Song of Victoria College is at least a verse too long, and towards the end it dragged. Despite the fact that the Students Association had been fortunate enough to secure the services of Mr. E. F. Waters as Conductor, the old tired feeling manifested itself in both these songs. For many years the men have refused positively to lend their full share of assistance, and this year was no exception. There were quite a large body of male students present, but it never made itself felt in the different choruses.

Mr. Clement Watson, Chairman of the Victoria College Council, then addressed the gathering. He dwelt upon the democratic nature of a University such as ours, page 71 where there are no bars to keep out anyone who should desire to peruse the "book of knowledge fair," and he urged the Graduates to take their places as leaders of the people. After mentioning the College's lengthening Roll of Honour, Mr. Watson referred to the different ways in which assistance had been given the Government by the Professors and Students of the faculty of Science. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, congratulated the Graduates upon their success, and the Dominion on having them. He laid emphasis upon the need that would arise for University men after the war. Germany had shown us to what a great extent it was possible for the University to influence popular thought. He looked to our University men to embody the ideal of service to humanity.

His Excellency the Governor—the Earl of Liverpool— spoke for a few minutes on humorous lines. He referred to the College Roll of Honour, the advance of the South Russian Army in Bukowina, and stated that two Japanese training ships would be visiting Wellington during the following week. He hoped that they would go away again (encouragement from the back) he thought that they would. (More gentle applause). Then followed the presentation of the Graduates of the year to their Excellencies. This being the most important business of the evening, no time or idle ceremony was wasted upon it. Indeed the presentation was over so quickly that very many did not realise that it had even begun. In fact so small a figure was cut in the Pub. Press, by this part of the evening's programme, that we feel that an apology is expected of us for referring to it at all.

Thereafter two other songs—"Absent Friends" and the "Final Chorus"—were sung, and the Pub. Pres. concluded with the singing of "God Save the King."—"x²y."