The Debating Society has now turned the corner of its fourth year stronger than ever, with a membership second only to that of the Students' Association, and with every prospect of still further rapid growth. "Why should all students make an effort to help the Society and make that effort now?" "That is the question," as Hamlet would say. Once more the "Whips of time" excuse is thrown in the Secretarial teeth, once again a committee has to face those long-faced lanterned-jawed and spectacled individuals, who work all Saturday, work all Sunday and have that "tired feeling" all the week. If the Society existed for the express purpose of lifting these people out of themselves, and, once a fortnight at least, of giving them other thoughts "de officiis" than those of Cicero, we would deserve recognition by the Society which concerns itself with the treatment of dumb animals.

But this race of student is fast dying out; the aims of this Society are towards eradicating the same; we blush not when we claim that our objects are these. We endeavour by entertaining means to bring students together and to further that great object, that scholars should educate one another. We endeavour to make it a Society where the weak can help the strong, where the seed of ideas is carefully watered, pruned, and tended so that, in the future, it may flourish into a strong and vigorous plant, bearing the fruits of action. Does this object commend itself to you—are we working on correct lines? It is for the students to judge, by their dictum we succeed or fail.

Perhaps a stronger reason why the Society deserves the attention and support of the students, yea, and of the University authorities themselves, lies in the indisputable fact that the Society may claim to bring the students of the University in touch with the general public. Dependent as we are on the sufferance of the community, it is but right that "the man in the street" should be able to form some opinion concerning the work of the college which lie helps to support. What better proof than the fortnightly meetings of the Society, what evidence page 17 more conclusive than the syllabus of that body, can be brought forward in support of the contention, that the students of the College are endeavouring to train themselves to be useful citizens, useful politicians; are fitting themselves to be a factor which in future may bind the Colony together, in short are deserving of the trust that the public has placed in them.

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No one will deny the Debating Society's claim to bring the students into closer relationship with the leading celebrities of this city and Colony. All thanks is due to those ladies and gentlemen who, as friends of the College, have done more than anyone else to strengthen this body and through it the standing of the College itself. There is no reason why this movement should not increase and expand. The best of the present is thus brought into contact with the future, assuring for it seriousness and strength.

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In considering its syllabus the Debating Society has stretched out its hands to the Students' Association. Three nights have been given to the discussion of matters intimately connected with the welfare of the College, and no doubt the union of these two bodies will help to strengthen both, and will work for the good of the College as a whole.

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Owing to the Easter Tournament, the session was somewhat late in commencing. The annual general meeting was followed by an impromptu debate. The committee notes with pleasure that a large number of Freshmen braved the audience. "It is a sign of growth when the buds begin to shoot."