Held At Christchurch, Easter, 1906.

"Not sure, though hoping of this good success."

—Lear.

It was at Christchurch, at Easter, 1902, that the first Tournament was held. With some misgivings, but with high prophetic hopes, the Colleges in that year contemplated the long journeyings and the uncertain weathers which succeeding Easters were to bring. Failure in those days might have been fatal. But in 1906 there was no thought of failure. The fat seasons and the lean seasons will come and go, but with each succeeding year the Tournament will return. The hopes of the founders in 1902 have been so fully realised that the Tournament has become an integral part of the University life. The Professors, the Governors, the Senate and the Citizens have so recognised and supported the enterprise of the Students that we are as much committed to our Olympic Games in April as we are to our Tartarean Trials in November. Each centre has responded to the demands of its Tournament year, and the new cycle begins with all the promise of assured success.

The number of competitors this year was reduced by the rule which limited the number of entries for each event to two from each College in all events except the Ladies' Singles and Doubles at Tennis. The competition, however, was just as keen, and the change made little difference, except in clearing the field in the athletic events, in reducing the strain of the tennis matches, and in lightening the burden of travelling expenses. Most of the champions of former years were still in the ranks, but among the challengers were a number of new men of great promise. The most notable absentee was W. H. Moyes, of Canterbury College, whose performances, especially in the Quarter Mile Race, had become a feature of the Tournament.

Beside the real objects of the meeting, the incidence of success is of course a matter of detail. Providence, in its own good time, has a way of equalising our gains and losses. Still, as we all feel proud when our efforts to assist Providence to tip the scale our way have been crowned with success, it need hardly be said that Victoria College is rejoicing at her measure of success. For the first time she annexed the Joynt Debating Scroll, for the second time she won the Tennis Cup, and for the fifth time she lost the Athletic Shield. To have won two of the three coveted trophies was a good performance, and it fell to fighters little accustomed to the joys of victory. The most pleasing feature of the success is perhaps this, that Victoria College, after many sturdy infant struggles, and in the first year of her building, has won her way into the forefront of the fighting line. She had, so to speak, kept her flag flying while her ship was cut in pieces, and was able to bear its tattered remains triumphantly into port.

Victoria College Teams.

"Here's goodly stuff, toward!"

—2 Henry IV.

One of the results of reducing the number of entries for each event was to increase the competition for the honour of representation. The selectors this year had, generally speaking, rather an anxious time, for there was room in many cases for some difference of opinion.

The Teams were as follows:—

Debating.

E. J. Fitzgibbon and F. P. Kelly (elected by the Debating Society.)

G. F. Dixon was appointed Manager of the Team.

The Mayoral Reception

"As happy prologues to the swelling act."

—Macbeth.

The Tournament was opened on Saturday morning, at the Alexandra Hall, with a Reception given by His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch. The Mayor, Mr. C. M. Gray, welcomed the Teams on behalf of the citizens, and, in a short speech, expressed his appreciation of the objects of the Tournament, and his hope that it would be in every way successful. The Hon. C. C. Bowen, who was received with loud applause, welcomed the Students on behalf of the Senate. He spoke of

Delegates and Secretary, Easter Tournament.

Tennis Courts, Easter Tournament.

the part the Tournament was playing in building up a University life, and he expressed the hope that soon a new stimulus would be provided by the establishment of Residential Houses connected with the Colleges. Professor Blunt spoke on behalf of the Professorial Board of Canterbury College, and Dr. P. Marshall, of Otago University, replied on behalf of the visiting Colleges. Mr. D. Ferguson, the Canterbury College Secretary, in modest phrase thanked the Mayor on behalf of the Students.

As soon as the reception was over the Meeting repaired to the Cranmer Tennis Courts, and the opening Matches were begun.

Tennis.

"A little measure of success, a flood of flannelled joy."

—Old Play.

The Victoria College Tennis Club is to be heartily congratulated on its success of this year. Of the five Championship events it carried off four, and in the fifth its representatives were left to contest the final round. It may be said with some assurance that the win was deserved, for, recognising the fact that the last day must be very exhausting, most of the Victoria College players who had still to play on Tuesday, forsook the pleasures of the Dance on Monday night and reaped the harvest next day. Miss Roberts is to be particularly congratulated on the win against Miss C. Hull, of Auckland, which gave her the Ladies' Championship. Miss Roberts was apparently beaten with the score at 2—8, but game by game she drew upon her opponent until the score was 8 all. Miss Hull, who plays a fine game, had expended all her effort on the earlier part of the match, and Miss Roberts by sheer endurance won the next two games. It was a very plucky fight, and the most sensational win of these contests. The Combined Championships were well contested, and, though Miss Roberts and de la Mare won the event, they had to fight all the way, each match requiring the full three sets. In the first round against Mrs. Longton and Anderson (C.C.) the games were 6—4, 4—6, 6—2, and the second against Miss Hull and Oliphant (A.U.C.) resulted 6—1, 2—6, 6—4. In this match Miss Roberts was very successful in page 15 depriving the opposing net player of chances for his favourite smash. In the final against Miss Barker and Benjamin, Victoria College lost the first set 5—7, but after a hard struggle succeeded in winning the next two 6—4, 6—3. The Ladies' Doubles ended in a victory for Mrs. Longton and Miss Barker (C.C), over Miss Roberts and Miss Cox. In the Men's Singles G. S. Prouse ran to the final without serious difficulty, and R. St. J. Beere, after a stormy passage with A. Friedlander, of Otago (5—6, 6—4, 6—5), was left to contest the Championship with him. The match was played after the return to Wellington, and Prouse won two sets straight. Both sides were in very good form, and the play was excellent. In the Men's Doubles the most interesting game was the final between Prouse Brothers and Beere and de la Mare. Hardly ever during the three sets did more than one game separate the sides. In the first set the Prouse Brothers won by good ground driving (7—5), and thereafter Beere and de la Mare plied them with lobs, winning the two remaining sets 7—5, 7—5.

At the finish there was the same tale of exhaustion which it was hoped would be avoided by decreasing the number of entries. One player had twelve sets on Tuesday, and the last one was over barely half-an-hour before the last train left to catch the "Mararoa."

The following table shows the results:—

Athletics.

"Madam, I go with all convenient speed."

—The Merchant of Venice.

Easter Monday was a perfect day for the Sports, and the track at Lancaster Park was in excellent condition. Only one record was broken during the day, C. F. D. Cook (C.C.) clearing 5 ft. 61/4 inches in the high jump. All the contests were good, page 16 and the performances were of verv even merit. In the 100 yds. S. F. Bass (C.C.), just beat T. E. Seddon, and the same winner won the 220 yds. Clampionship. The latter race had to be run twice, as the first running railed forth a protest which was upheld. The Quarter-Mile was won by H. W. King from T. Milroy (O.U.). King judged his run very well, and finished in his best style. J. Davie again won the 880 yds., and F. A. de la Mare the Mile Flat. F. G. Dunlop (A.U.C.), and P. McCallum (C.C.), are both distance runners who should do well when their judgment is ripened by experience. In the Hurdles Otago won all the points, O'Kane gaining two first places and Gilray two second. G. V. Bogle and Holmden both ran close up in these events, but were not quite good enough. Gilray's Long Jump of 20 ft. 10 in. was just one inch short of Buck's record. G. V. Bogle got the point for second place. In the Mile Walk, Canterbury College secured the three points. Holderness was easily first, and Currie, who walked very gamely, was second. J. Davie (O.U.) again beat G. P. Anderson (C.C.) in throwing the hammer, and D. McKay, a new performer from Otago, put the shot 34 ft. 7½ in. Of the. other events, Otago University won the Mile Relay Race, in 3 min. 50 2-5 secs., and the Tug-of-War. Holmden, and with him, Miss May Miller, won the Thread-the-Needle Race. In the Championship events, Otago thus gained six firsts and four seconds; Canterbury College, four firsts and four seconds; Victoria College, two firsts and two seconds; Auckland, two seconds. Three competitors, J. Davie, W. J. O'Kane and S. F. Bass, gained an equal number of points for the Ladies' Challenge Cup, and the trophy will be held by each in turn.

The Official Results are given on Page 19.

Debating.

"There's two things I don't want at me fun'ral. Wan is an oration, th' other is wax flowers. I class thim alike."

—Mr. Dooley.

Judges—J. W. Joynt, Esq., M.A., T. E. Taylor, Esq. and W. H. Triggs, Esq.

On another page are published the remarks of the Judges on the Debate, with some account of the arguments used. E. J. page 17 Fitzgibbon and F. P. Kelly, who are the Champions for this year, gained their proud position by a unanimous verdict. The question "That Nelson contributed more than Wellington to the overthrow of Napoleon," was first discussed by Otago and Canterbury. Of the Canterbury men, C. F. D. Cook made a good and thoughtful speech, but he lacked the fire and decision which carries conviction. J. W. Mcllraith is said to have made an excellent speech, but his words could not be distinguished at the back of the Hall. B. E. Murphy and L. T. Burnard of Otago formed a combination which it was an honour to defeat. Murphy was clear, well arranged and pointed, if somewhat cold. Burnard was bright, yet solid, and when he got going had enough steam to obviate the necessity of slowing down in order to sound the whistle. A certain irrelevant playfulness in his opening remarks probably lost him a few points. In the second Debate F. P. Kelly opened for Victoria College, and he was well up to his best form. Though not brilliant, his speech was clear and carefully arranged, and kept a high standard throughout. The Auckland men, J. Stanton and M. H. Hampson, were excellent in matter, but deficient in oratorical power. Fitzgibbon had all his usual fluency and skill in phrasing, and before it became monotonous he burst into a peroration which was easily the best effort of the evening. It was probably Burnard's beginning and Fitzgibbon's ending which drew the line so clearly in the minds of the Judges. The general excellence of the speaking may be judged from the fact that Mr. Joynt expressed the opinion that the 1906 Debate reached the highest standard yet attained in the University Tournaments.

Entertainment.

"Ah. fill the Cup; what boots it to repeat
How Time is slipping underneath our Feet!
Unborn To-morrow and dead Yesterday,
Why fret about them if To-day be sweet !"

—Omar Khayyam.

Though so much business was crowded into five short days, there was time as usual for the less strenuous and more social side of the Tournament. A casual observer indeed might have been excused for overlooking the business and thinking it altogether pleasure. The weather was so beautiful, and page 18 Christchurch so pretty in her Autumn tints, that the kindness and attention of the Christchurch people added the one thing left to make the holiday a perfect one. On Monday night, when the Sports were done and the harvest gathered in, forgetting our victories and defeats, we all met in the old Hall at Canterbury College, and danced the hours of night away—all, save the few who had to think of the battle on the morrow. A Garden Party given by Professor and Mrs. Blunt was very much enjoyed by all who were able to attend. Few of the Victoria College Students were able to stay for the River Picnic. While the camp-fires were throwing their fitful lights through the dark shade of the "Wainoni" pines, the "Mararoa" was vainly endeavouring to plough her way through a mud bank in Port Cooper, and, when at last the tug had hauled her through, we had our Concert on the broad deck. From the time the "Rotomahana" reached the Lyttelton wharf to the moment the engines of the "Mararoa" broke down off Cape Campbell, everything had been so calm and joyful that the worst sailor of the pilgrim crew rejoiced that Fate had extended the holiday even by three hours on the rolling main. At 11 o'clock in the forenoon we drew in sight of the College on the hill, and sighed that the game was over, and the steep paths of knowledge still to climb.

Official Results