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The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, June 1929

Capping

page 49

Capping

The Procession.

Allusions—topical, semi-topical and pointless, undergraduates showing Spartan fortitude to the elements, an effort to out-Sidey Sidey with the town clock, and the patronage of the College authorities were the features of the Capping profession this year. We give the prize to "Major Neargrave and his Golden Barrow" for the best caption to a "stunt" with "Scramble and Feed, Unlimited," next. There were a lot of also starteds, and not a few took short cuts in order to be in at the finish. The speech at the Post Office Square was a masterpiece—at least, we have the speaker's word for that, because no one else heard it—but it was left to those two intrepid alpinists who gave a daring demonstration on the P.O. tower to give the folks of the city a treat. Altogether, the procession was one of the feeblest for many years, and it is a pity that a more auspicous start had not been made under professional patronage.

Capping Ceremony.

Last year our under-graduates were not officially "capped," but the members of the Council and other prominent men decided that in view of the parlous state of the Government trading accounts, they would post the degrees to the recipients and so increase the P. and T. revenue. However, it is rumoured that an unofficial ceremony was held by the Students' Association, and that our dignitaries were so pleased with the general tone of the proceedings that this year they forgot all about the postage revenue and revived an ancient custom to its full status. No half-measures in the Library for Our professors, but with all the embellishments of academic distinction that made bold array before a large concourse. An old student, Mr. Justice Smith, helped to pass the time away with a few well-chosen remarks. As they came from the Bench, they were appreciated; from anyone else, they might have sounded dull and trite. Several others extolled everything there was to extol, and happily the hall was cleared away in good time for the annual ball, which was also a success, according to the "Post" and the "Dominion," and the balance sheet of the Students' Association.

Undergrads' Supper.

Coinciding with the public re-appearance of the professors at the Capping ceremony was their muster at the ungrads.' supper. Professor Rankine Brown was in the chair. Mr. H. H. Cornish told the graduates what a fine lot they were, and they seemed pleased, and Professor Kirk endorsed these remarks with a twinkle in his eye. Mr. A. E. Hurley blushingly returned thanks. The thanks and gratitude of the students for many small mercies was expressed by Mr. R. H. C. Mackenzie in proposing the toast of the Professorial Board. The reply by the chairman told of some of the good things to come without being a policy speech. Mr. W. D. Goodwin, on behalf of the graduates, expressed their appreciation of the page 50 free feed, and Mr. W. P. Rollings, replied, "C'est rien." "If you have tears, prepare to shed them now," so Mr. Mountjoy with the dearly-beloved-brethren touch, when toasting "Absent Friends." Misses M. Davies and E. Purdy, and Messrs. Rothwell and Goodwin gave appreciated items, and the students and their songs were sometimes in unison and frequently in tune.

Smoke Concert.

The report of this function has been held over until the second edition, which will be sold to-morrow night in the men's common room.