Tennis Courts.

Many faithful souls have expended much enthusiasm and more energy, on Saturday afternoon, in removing the cliff immediately adjoining professor Kirk's Frog House with the object of making for a fourth Tennis Court. The College Council had been granted a sum of money by the Government, for the purpose of improving is really needed, but still in case anyone else should think so, it is as well to have some money in hand wherewith it carry out such improvements. One evening the Council decided to write to the Government requesting permission to use part of this sum of money in the formation and completion of a fourth tennis court. A reply was received which, after much abstruse argument, was construed as being a negative. Dr. Knight then allowed his ingenuity to become active and suggested that a tennis court was an improvement to the College Grounds. The Council, without consulting unsound and would have a bad effect upon the morals of the students. Dr. Knight's suggestion was, therefore, rejected with scorn and a fourth tennis court is still coming. It is to be hoped that very shortly the Council will have another lapse, and will not only decide to improve the College Grounds, but will seriously consider the advisability of acting on such a decision.

Ladies' Debating Club.

"Men may talk just now and then,
But we talk on for ever."

That shy reserve which is so marked a trait of the lady students of this College, probably prompted the idea they should form a Debating Society where their utterance would page 81 not become profaned by falling on male ears. The idea seems to have been taken up with enthusiasm and the Club is now a live institution, Its meetings are held on the same evenings as those of the older Debating Society, commencing at a quarter to seven. At the first meeting, held on the 30th May an address was given by E. J. Fitzgibbon for the purpose of enlightening the ladies as to how to speak. The remainder for the meeting will be occupied by debates on varied subjects, to a great extent the same as those chosen by the College Debating Society. It is to be hoped that, as a result of the new Club's operations, the ladies will gain sufficient confidence to speak at meeting to which the public is admitted. The officers of the Club are as follows : —

Chairman : Miss Mellsop. Vice-Chairman : Miss Barkas.

Secretary : Miss Reeve.

Committee : Misses Ivey, Currie, and E. R. Fell.

Wellington College.

"Thanks and ever thanks."

It is once again The Spike's pleasing duty to express the thanks of Victoria College to J. P. Firth Esq., for having given the use of the Wellington College Grounds to those who were training with a view to the Easter Tournament. Victoria College is also grateful for the many courtesies extended by the staff and boys of Wellington College.

Women Students' hostel.

"Veni, vidi, vici."

The Women Students' Hostel, in Woolcombe Street, about four and three-quarter minutes walk from the College, was opened with much ceremonious pomp shortly after the commencement of the College year. Most opened, and at the present time every room is occupied. Mrs Thornton, the popular Lady, Principal has been the hostess at more than one jolly "students evening" during the last few weeks.

Hadfield Hostel.

The Hadfield Memorial Hostel, intended primarily, but not exclusively, for theological students, was opened shortly after Easter. The fact the most of the men students had by that page 82 time settled in "digs," probably accounts for the existing state of affairs at the Hostel, two students having the whole building at their disposal. Archdeacon Fancourt is at the head of the establishment for the time being.

University Tournament.

As is customary in the centre in which the next University Tournament is to be held, a local Tournament Committee has been set up to complete and carry out the arrangements I connection with the Tournament to be held here next Easter. The Committee is as follows :—G. F. Dixon and J. M. Hogben, (Students' Associating) A. H. Bogle and F. A. Wilson, (Athletic Club) R. St. Beere and A. Fair, (Tennis Club) and H. F. O'Leary (Debating Society).

Graduates' Association.

"the men sublime
Whose deeds go down to after time
Enshrined in annals glorious."

The Graduates' Association, in order to dispel the prevailing noting that it awakes from lethargy only once annually, when it elects officers, decided at its annual meeting to present to Victoria College a Challenge Cup, to be held by the all round Champion at the College Sports. We understand that the Cup will be forthcoming when the graduates have responded with sufficient liberality to the appeal of the Committee for funds for the purpose. The Committee have also decided to give a lunch on Capping Day to the graduates of the year.

Bowen prize.

"Many are called, but few are chosen."

There were a good number of essays sent in for the 1907 Bowen Prize Competition but, owing to the absence literary merit, the Senate decided will endeavour should be made. It is to be hope that students will endeavour to remove this reproach on future occasions.

Bifte Club.

"O took a gun, my darling one,
And shot him through the head."

The offer by Professor Haslam, (Canterbury College), of a shield to be competed for by riflemen of the different University page 83 College has been responsible for the proposal to form a Rifle Club here. The greatest difficulty in the way of this is the matter of obtaining from the Government concessions with regard to discuss the proposal to form a Club and despite the fact that our representatives had won the University Tournament Debate, it was decided that it would be advisable to do so, and a Committee consisting of F. A. Wilson, J. L. Short, G, H, Gibb, M. H. Oram and R. St. J. Beere, was set up to approach the Government, and ascertain what concessions can be obtained under present regulations. It will then draft a constitution and report to a meeting which is to be called later.

College Notices.

"The boy is father of the man."

Some reference was made in the last Spike to the childishness displayed by certain students. Unfortunately it would seem that some further reference is necessary. There are still with us some would-be facetious students whose alleged wit finds expression in remarks written on notices which have been affixed to the College Notice Board. Whilst the signature of the authors' names to these witticisms would not enhance their reputation as humorists, it would nevertheless give indubitable proof of their belief in the kindergarten system. It would seem that in the near future, the provision of classes in Common Sense and in Propriety will become a matter of necessity.

Club Records.

Considerable difficulty has at all times been met with in obtaining for publication in the Spike—or indeed for any purpose—records of the [performances of the different College Clubs. Every year the same difficulty arises, and we believe that in the case of a large number of the Clubs, there is, outside The Spike, no permanent record of such performances. We would suggest the each College Club should have a portion of the book in which minutes of meetings are kept — and such books should be strongly bound—set aside for the purpose of writing therein the performances of its teams and of individual members, with such particulars as may be of interest in the future. Such record could and should be written up regularly, and would act as a useful and authoritative source of information to those seeking enlightenment as to the past doings of the Clubs.

Sir George Crey Scholarship.

Two competitors for this honous, Miss M. R. Barkas, and M. H. Oram, were placed by the examiners, and the Scholarship was awarded to them in equal shares but spares bur Miss Barkas has since relinquished her claim. Her special subjects were Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, while Oram took Mathematics and Astronomy. To both Students we extend our hearty congratulations.

Jacob Soseph Scholarship.

This Scholarship was this year awarded to A. Macdougall, who gained first-class honours in English and French at the recent examinations. We offer our hearty congratulations on his well-earned success.

Professor Maclaurin.

"The nightingale that in the branches sang—
Ah! whence and whither flown again. Who knows ?"

Victoria College owes its thanks to Professor Maclaurin for his gift to the College Library, prior to his departure, of a number of valuable mathematical works. There books, which the College Library did not previously possess, were specially chosen by the Professor from his own library of presentation to the College .