The sexes were fairly well balanced as to numbers, and each student carried in a buttonhole of her frock the name of a book.
Duly ticketed, the students had then to discover their affinities.
By this pleasant means girl graduates and their gentlemen companions were mated for the time being in a delightfully social manner, that soon broke down whatever early bashfulness existed.
The hall was soon filled with pleasant chatter.
The function was presided over by Mr W. P. P. Gordon (president of the Christian Union).
The Rev. A. Cameron (chancellor of the University) was warmly applauded on coming forward at the chairman's invitation to speak.
He said he had very great pleasure in welcoming the students who had come to the University for their first session, and he was sure they would receive a very hearty welcome from the older students.
The occasion called back to him the time when the University classes were held where the Stock Exchange stood at present, but the number of students was then small, and there was no need for introductions one to another.
Life in the early University was also very different from that now before them, and he was sure the new students would derive great benefit, not only from the professorial lectures, but from their intercourse one with another.
He hoped the professors present would forgive him if he said that he had in his student days derived more pleasure from intercourse with his fellow-students than from the lectures of the professor. - (Laughter).
He urged all the students to work conscientiously, with the idea of becoming not only scholars, but to be alive to their responsibilities as citizens for they had the community at large to serve as well as themselves.
He hoped the new students would enjoy the beauties of Dunedin, as well as profit by the teaching they would receive at the University.- (Applause).
• Great preparations have been made at Oamaru for the celebration of the Easter holiday.
In addition to the annual bowling tournament, and the annual regatta, with its yacht and motor launch ocean races from Port Chalmers, a monster garden fete, on an elaborate scale, has been arranged for Easter Monday.
Besides the usual items of an attractive character generally to be seen at such gatherings, there will be a tug-of-war for the championship of North Otago, to be pulled under well-defined conditions.
For this test of strength and endurance a number of teams have been in active training for some weeks, and the event has created a great deal of interest.
But what has aroused even greater interest is the election of the queen of the carnival.
For this there are four candidates, each supported by a strong committee.
The voting has been going on for a fortnight, and the candidate having the most votes at the close of each day is made known by means of a distinctive flag.
Three of the candidates have in turn occupied the leading position, and, naturally, the contest is exciting a great amount of interest, and bringing in a substantial sum to swell the coffers of the Fete Committee.
The result will be made known during the progress of the fete, and the crowning ceremony will take place thereat. - ODT, 4.4.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
