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The Spike or Victoria University College Review September 1927

A Beaker Goodbye

page 39

A Beaker Goodbye.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 2nd, passers by on the southern side of the science wing looked with undisguised amazement through the open windows of the Honours Chemistry Lab. Usually the scene of some complicated experiment with apparatus scattered about in no apparent order, it was now tastefully decorated with flowers. The apparatus which was still present was so skilfully camouflaged with cakes and cheese straws that it would have taken a very critical observer to recognise it. All these preparations were for one of those mysterious functions known to Chemistry students as a beaker tea. It has become the custom of the advanced chemistry students to acknowledge by such a gathering the success of those of its members who have gained overseas scholarships. This occasion was one of more than usual interest, as we were farewelling three persons—Miss A. M. Copping, who has the distinction of being one of the few women science students to leave New Zealand with the object of taking up research work abroad; Dr. J. Sword, who was returning to Glasgow after having spent a year as Assistant and Demonstrator in Chemistry at this University; Mr. G. M. Richardson, until now Assistant Demonstrator in Chemistry and an exceptionally brilliant student, who was also going to England with a scholarship.

By four o'clock the company had assembled, and rather an anxious pause was experienced while several of the members searched in vain for Dr. Sword. However, is due course he arrived, and Professor Robertson, taking the head of the table, called the gathering to order. At this stage the girls afforded us the opportunity of seeing with what success experience in Practical Chemistry could be applied to the making of tea. The cakes, cheese straws, and dessicated biscuits disappeared with surprising rapidity. At an appropriate moment the alcohol bottle was set in motion. One could note the curious glint in the eye of each person as he or she handled the bottle, but only one student was bold enough to add some to his beaker of tea. We all had an anxious moment when the bottle reached Prof. Robertson, who seemed loath to relinquish his hold of it. However, he was at last persuaded to pass it on so that the rest of the students might have a sniff of its contents.

After the tea had been satisfactorily disposed of Mr. Chamberlain explained that it was desired to make presentations to each of those leaving, which would be of use to them in the line of chemistry they were following. Dr. Sword was said to be taking up some work in connection with the stars, in the hope that he would discover certain new elements. Accordingly he was presented with an apparatus which would produce stars of any colour in great quantity. As Miss Copping was to follow up Bio-chemistry, she was presented with a peculiar freak of a certain species—a rabbit with a tubular outgrowth from the back of its neck ending in a bulb, the pressure of which appeared to determine its movements. It is well known that in most branches of chemistry an accurate balance is an esential, and so Mr. Richardson was presented with a very fine example of this instrument which possessed an advantage over the ordinary type page 40 in that it could be carried in the pocket and was not likely to be damaged by rough treatment. To these were added some articles of personal interest or practical use: a suitcase for Miss Copping, a greenstone, panelled match box for Dr. Sword and a pair of hair brushes for Mr. Richardson.

The recipients replied in words fitted to the occasion and then the usual silence of the chemistry wing was broken by vigorous cheers. After a time the efforts of many helpers restored the lab. almost to its usual state, but we are certain that the after-effects, far from terminating here, lasted till the next lecture, for it is reported on good authority that a choice piece of cake was found carefully concealed under Prof. Robertson's note book!