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The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review October 1905

Capping Carnival

Capping Carnival.

"Come fill the cup and in the Fire of Spring
Your winter Garments of Repentance fling,
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To flutter and the Bird is on the Wing."

Omar.

Capping carnival

Sydney Street Schoolroom proved all too small to seat the crowd who had come to see whether the students of Victoria Coll. Had been so crushed in spirits by the reproofs of the afternoon as to be unable to rejoice.

The musical part of the programme was contributed to by Miss Isaacs, F. P. Wilson and B. J. Jacobs. The latter was vociferously encored for his rendering to some severely classical coon songs.

The Glee Club under the direction of F. P. Wilson, rendered some of the College songs written for the occasion. One cannot truthfully say that they were given with the vigour and volume expected in a student song. The men seemed too bashful to lift up their voices—even from the back-though later on some long intervals between the items was taken advantage of. It seems a pity that that modesty which is so distinguishing a feature of V.C. students should have taken so virulent a form—as the musical director pointed out what the public expects is volume and any amount of it. The first part of the programme ended with "Humoursities." The Land Commission was shown still sitting in 1930, and various citizens appeared to aid it in its labours.

page 50

A guardian of the law—one who in his size and ferocity of aspect was calculated to strike terror into the boldest desperados—appeared, and between stops for refreshment—informed us in a sepulchral whisper of his travels with the Commission.

The City Coroner related how, hardened by life-long practice—he alone of the original Commissioners was left—the rest, talked to death by the stream of witnesses had dropped off one by one . Although he admitted he knew nothing about land, or matters agricultural, he felt would not be right to allow the witnesses to depart without hearing his noble "Ode to a Turnip." The ode recited in A. Tudhope's most melting tones, appeared to deeply affect the witnesses.

R. G. Knight (V. B. Willis) on his famous tricycle, discussed with much volubility and confusion, on his chances for the next election—the question of Saturday v Sunday, and his dislike to being taken for a College Councillor. He was followed by another aspirant for parliamentary honours, J. Hutcheson, who in fiery language, told of his "assassination"; the annunciation of his political creed "Up with jack Hutcheson," left no doubt as to the sincerity of the speaker—Taylor. Messrs Quick and Luckie, perhaps the best impersonations of the evening, were represented by Tustin and S. S. Mackenzie. They told on naïve terms of the summits reached and kept by themselves and their families.

A fearsome figure—mainly legs and wings—attired in football costume—appeared next and proclaimed himself in G. G Smith's dulcet tones to be Jimmy Duncan—the old crock still worth his place in any team. W. Gillanders as member for Wairara-a-pa brought before the notice of the Commission the preeminent claims of his electorate.

The Commission were, at this point, seized with an uncontrollable impulse to vent their feelings more forcibly, and Commission, policemen, witnesses, and agriculturists joined in a hake of amazing vigour.

The second part of the entertainment opened with an innovation, (the fame of which has spread to our friends in the South) a coon song by five College ladies made up appropriately. Much to the disappointment of the audience, some of the College songs in the second part had to be omitted owing to lack of time.

The Concert was concluded by a farce in which the dangers to which "Sarah's Young Man" exposed himself, and the confusion his advent caused in an hitherto peaceful home, were page 51 convincingly displayed. Mr. Moggridge (J. Stout) an elderly gentleman and victim to the green-eyed monster, showed his suspicious nature to the uneasiness of Mrs. Moggridge. Sam Sloeleaf (S. Grundy) as the lover of Sarah, (John Graham) gave his part such an air of reality as to make the audience wonder where he obtained his training. R. M. Watson as Mrs. Moggridge, and B. Millier as the slim-waisted Araminta, the admired and admirer of Harry Fielding, (W. Perry) carried out in a most natural manner, their amorous roles.