Other Activities.

In addition to the work already mentioned, the W.E.A. held courses of popular lectures, at which there were good attendances, the audiences sometimes being well over 100. Mr. E. E. Stark, B.Sc., City Electrical Engineer, gave four lectures on the "Electric Motor" in the City Council Test Room. These were so popular that, at the request of his auditors, Mr. Stark later on gave an additional lecture on the same subject. Mr. W tokens, the City Gardener, also save a course on the "Weeping Willow," the "Growing of Vegetables," and on '"Shrubs, Climbers and Plants," at our room in Hereford Street. The Headmaster of the Normal Training College, Mr. C. T. Aschman, save a much appreciated lecture on '"Modern Education." Six lectures on "Town Planning" were delivered under our auspices by Mr. S. Hurst Seager, B.A., F.R.I., in the Old Chemical Theatre at Canterbury College. Mr. Seager prepared for these lectures a beautiful collection of fine lantern slides, and the course was followed with increasing interest. Mrs. T. E. Taylor gave us a lecture on the "Montessori System," a fine collection of apparatus being provided by way of practical illustrations. Dr. Alfred Foster delivered two illuminating and helpful lectures on "Bacteriology and Disease."' Dr. Chilton delivered an extremely useful lecture on our behalf, at the Trades Hall, on the "Christchurch Artesian System." This lecture was repeated at Riccarton, where Mr. R. M. Laing gave a lecture on the "Geology of the fort Hills." The series was concluded by an illustrated lecture on the "Growing of Lucerne," by Mr. H. Bruce.

Our best thanks are due to Mrs. Taylor and the gentlemen who so freely gave their services to our work. We are particularly grateful because sonic of them were put to considerable expense in preparing slides for their lectures.

Before the classes started at the beginning of 1916, we had a "Parliamentary Union" to which most of the class members belonged. Mr. J. McCombs. M.P., kindly presided, and the procedure was exactly the same as that of the House of Representatives. During the course of the year a model Arbitration Court was held. Over this Mr. T. W. Rowe, M.A., LL.B., presided, and the Drivers' Case was conducted by Mr. F. R. Way. Mr. W. E. Woodham and H. Worrall acted as the Judge's assessors.

In addition to the lectures we had three excursions—one to Dean's Bush, where Dr. C. Chilton explained the flora to the excursionists, and one to the Cashmere Hills, where Mr. R. M. page 25 Lading, M.A., B.Sc., showed to the students practical illustrations of his lecture on the "Geology of the Hills." The students also paid a visit to the Christchurch Drainage Farm, under the guidance of Messrs. H. Bruce and C. Walker.

At the end of the first term a social was given to Mr. J. B. Condliffe on the occasion of his approaching marriage. Advantage was taken of the opportunity to make him a presentation. Since that time .Mr. Condliffe has enlisted, and we are sorry that he will not be with us during the coming year.

The local branch of the W.E.A. has suffered much by death during this year. Mr. E. Mann, one of the most promising of our younger students, died suddenly from appendicitis during the early part of the year. No less unexpected was the death of Mr. F. V. Fraser, a very enthusiastic member of our Economics class. But the greatest blow of all was the death of one whom we look on as the foundress of the W.E.A. in Christchurch, Mrs. E. W. Cunnington. Probably Mrs. Cunnington was the most remarkable woman New Zealand has yet had, and it was in her drawing room that the plans for bringing the W.E.A. to this City were first formulated. Though she was full of years and honours, her loss is none the less to be deeply deplored. To the relatives of these members we again offer our deepest sympathy in their loss, which is also ours.