page 12

The Mayoral Reception.

Shortly after nine o'clock on Saturday morning a large number of students and citizens met at the Town Hall and his Worship the Mayor, Mr J. G. W. Aitken, in a kindly speech, welcomed the University representatives to the City of Wellington. He considered that such meetings were doing good work for the human species because isolation narrowed the human mind and did not make for broad culture and progress. The University sports were free from the gambling taint and he looked forward to the time when students from Australia and even from Europe would lend a yet wider interest to the gatherings.

Sir Robert Stout, as Chancellor, welcomed the students on behalf of the University and spoke of aims and ideals of the institution and especially of that esprit de corps and "University feeling" which these meetings did so much to promote.

Professor Blunt, of Canterbury College, returned thanks in a short but happy speech in which he struck the key-note of the reception—the closer union of the Civic and the University authority.

When G. F. Dixon had returned thanks on behalf of the Students' Association, a photograph was taken and the Meeting adjourned to the Wellington Tennis Club's Courts in Palmer Street.

Under the happy auspices of a clearing sky and a mayoral blessing was the Tournament of 1905 begun.