The Spike or Victoria College Review, June 1908
Socials and Entertainments
Socials and Entertainments.
Facing The Music.
"Nemo ferre saltat sobrius nisi forte insaniet."
— Cicero.
This farce, played in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, on the nights of 8th and 9th April, in aid of the Gymnasium and Social Hall fund, had, contrary to modern custom, much to do with the title. Two Mr. John Smiths,—one a Reverend—with the assistance of their wives, some relatives and friends, an actress, a housekeeper, a police sergeant, and other domestics, made a plot thicker than molasses. Eventually of course, the plot unraveled in a manner the secret of which is only known to play-writers. F. W. Roberts proved his ability in playing the lead, in the part of Mr. John smith. D. N. Isaacs cleverly impersonated the curate of St. Andrews, and Mr A. W. Newton made good use of the part of Uncle Duncan. F. A. de la Mare, who as sergeant Duffell was less prominent on the first night than his prompter, gave the desired impression that he was unwise to forsake the police for the detective branch of the service. E. Lyon laughed infectiously as Dick Desmond and minor parts were filled by V. B. Willis. The ladies were uniformly successful. Miss Olive Moore was excellent as the garrulous Mrs Ponting; Miss
Lennox was convincing in the difficult part of Mrs John Smit; and Miss May Newman and Miss Longton both acted well as Mrs "Rev." Smith, and Miss Fotherin gay, of Bijou theatre respectively. A String Orchestra under Miss Ethelwynn Kirk assisted the performance.
College Picnic.
The Ladies' Hockey Club, having shown how such things should be done, the Students' Association had no hesitation in deciding to hold a College Picnic, on the 30th November, last year. Four drags and a funereal stage coach left the Government Buildings about ten o'clock, and only one of them broke down before Trentham was reached. After a meal had been prepared and disposed of and the men had performed the washing up in a manner highly satisfactory to themselves, rounders, cricket and other frivolities were indulged in. On the arrival of a later drag a sports meeting was carried out, with much attention to battle the fair admirers of their prowess prepared more appeasement for the appetite. The moonlight drive home was an excellent conclusion to an excellent day's outing.
Ahuareka.
A sense of immense relief was the dominant feeling at the "Ahuareka" (bust-up social) held after the last day of last year's November examinations. The first part of the evening was occupied by a short concert programme; songs were delivered by J. D. Smith, Chas. J. Gamble, D. N. Isaacs and Miss C. T. Strack, while recitations were inflicted on the audience by G. H. Gibb and E. Lyon. After these items W. Perry proceeded to express the regret of students at the departure of Professor Maclaurin, the note of grief in his speech being considerably relieved by his Hibernicisms. He presented Professor Maclaurin on behalf of the Students' Association, with a framed enlarged photograph of the College. The departing professor replied briefly and to the point. It is almost unnecessary to add that the remainder of the evening—and part of the subsequent morning—was devoted to dancing.
Opening Social.
Bad management marked the final Social held under the auspices of last year's Students' Association Committee. The Programme was divided into two parts, the second part consisting wholly of dances. No information was given as to part one, except that it contained six items. It turned out that two of these (Numbers three and six) were dances, the remainder of the items being varyingly subdivided and consisting of songs and such embarrassments. By the time the first dance. (event number three) arrived, those present were unable to determine whether they had reached event number six or whether it was only the fourth of fifth item. They were kindly allowed by the officials of the evening to flounder along unenlightened. During the course of the evening the President of the Students Association welcomed the new students and Professors, and Professors Picken and Adamson replied. Sons were contributed by Miss Martin and J. D. Smith, recitations by Miss B. Nicholson and G. W. Reid, and two items by a small orchestra conducted by Miss Kirk. Supper followed the first half of the programme, and as aforesaid, the second half was devote to dancing.
Supper To Rhodes Scholarship Candidates.
On the evening before the selection of the Rhodes Scholar, the four candidates were entertained in the Common Room at a supper—men only. There were over forty students present, and the passing of the evening was hastened in the usual manner by speeches supporting and replying to toasts, songs and recitations. W. H. Wilson's prophecy of the approaching evolution of the four University College of New Zealand into four separate Universities, attracted as much attention as any other remark made during the evening.
Ladies' Hockey Club Dance.
The Ladies' Hockey Club held their Annual Dance, on Monday, 25tg May. There was a very large attendance of students, and there were not many to whom the evening did not appear to be giving enjoyment. The supper was laid out it the Biology Lecture Room, for which courtesy the Club is much indebted to Professor Kirk, and this innovation was most successful; it gave some scope to the artistic talents of the ladies, and also a freer play to the activities of the men in their wild rush for supper.
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Cricket First Eleven, 1908.