The Congratulatory Ceremony.

This was held in the Town Hall on Friday, June 8th, at 7.30 p.m. The hall was well filled with fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, undergraduates and others attracted by the chance of seeing something for sixpence. About 7.45 p.m. the imposing procession of graduates, preceded by His Worship the Mayor and Mayoress of Wellington, the Hon. F. T. Rolleston, Mr. G. G. G. Watson and our late worthy president of the Students' Association—filed into the hall and took their places either on the platform or in the choir seats. We rose and sang the National Anthem. We also remained standing and sang Gaudeamus—or at least those of us in front did. There was only a half-hearted attempt on the part of the horde at the rear of the hall to sing anything that evening, except their own rather idiotic songs.

Then the Mayor, in his capacity of chairman, spoke. He was commendably brief and we trust all present took to heart Dr. Butler's five evidences of education. The Hon. F. J. Rolleston next addressed the meeting. We understand that his remarks were inaudible to those at the back. The burden of them, however, was the importance of a broad and liberal education, the value of the classics in fostering sane and accurate thought, and the speaker's congratulations extended to the graduates of the year. The last speaker was Mr. G. G. G. Watson, representing, so we understand, the past students of V.U.C Here, again, the remarks were, we believe, inaudible at the rear. But those who could hear had impressed upon them, the necessity of students taking part in general college activities besides mere study, etc., etc.

The graduates then filed down from their seats and passed in front of those on the platform, shaking hands as they passed with all and sundry. When this was over, we stood and sang The Song of Victoria College, "Absent Friends,` both of which were spoiled by those at the back either singing some rubbish of their own, or else singing a line behind everyone else—for both examples of bad manners there was no excuse—and finally another robust rendering of the National Anthem. It was all over once again.