The Editorial Committee invites contributions, either in prose or verse, on any subject of general interest front students or officials connected with the College All literary communications should be addressed to The Editor, Victoria College, Wellington.

Subscriptions are now due, and are payable to Mr. G. M. Cleghorn, Financial Secretary, Victoria College.

youth the years bring great changes with startling rapidity, and this is true not only of individuals, but also of institutions. Our own is no exception to the rule. It is a far cry from the days—they seem almost medieval times—when the gloomy portals of the Girls' High School reluctantly admitted the pioneer students—and only after the shades of night had fallen. The building was approached by a side-entrance, and everything proclaimed aloud the temporary nature of our abode. The staff comprised four Professors and four Lecturers, and the students were comparatively few in number.

From this transient state have we progressed step by step. Each year has marked a great advance, and now we seem to have reached completion—not perfection, but completion. We stand a College equipped on every side. The additions to the building and staff, combined with a reduction in the number of students (due to the raising of the matriculation standard) have placed us in a state of unexampled efficiency as far as facilities for study are concerned. Fresh Clubs page 8 have been formed, and whatever a student's interests may be—athletic, social, or intellectual—they can be met within the College walls. The erection of a social hall and gymnasium has provided a home for College meetings and athletics. A committee room is available, and common rooms have been furnished: scantily indeed, but still furnished. No longer does the dread stroke of 9.30 o'clock disperse all gatherings, nor does the College guardian wait with anxious face till the last student is off the premises.

College Progress.

We are, however, menaced by the same danger as that with which the American Colleges are now grappling, but in our case the danger is even more serious. The varied and multitudinous activities of student life threaten to absorb the whole attention of the students and prevent all systematic work and the acquirement of real knowledge. Study and reflection, investigation and discussion on literary or scientific subjects, have taken a secondary place.

In our case, we repeat, the danger is still more threatening. Most of our students are employed during the day in earning their own living. When night comes they are required to train for athletics; do such committee and organisation work as they are connected with; attend College lectures; and acquire knowledge and experience in its application. Few are the fortunate students who are able to keep the first two years of their College life free. For the great bulk only the evenings are available. Taking these important factors into consideration, and remembering that of the making of Clubs there is no end, the College student should keep in mind that his first objective is the acquirement of a wide range of knowledge and of experience in its acquirement and application. Athletic and social activities should, during the sessions at any rate, take a second place, and, under the present circumstances, a very decided second place. When the students get more leisure or the University sessions are lengthened, fresh factors will arise which page 9 may alter matters. Till then an active participation in every side of College life is impossible, and the freshman must choose not hastily or indiscriminately, but carefully and wisely.

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Additions.

We have to welcome the Fencing, Boxing, and Swimming Clubs, which have been formed since our last issue, and also to congratulate the Officers' Training Corps on the successful completion of its first year's work. We expressed some doubt at the time of its formation as to the advisability or adding to the number of College activities; but its earnestness and success seem to have justified its formation and realised the hopes of its promoters. May it prosper.

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Ourselves.

We present this issue to our readers in a somewhat new form. We have placed all the literary and semi-literary matter (our readers can distinguish these two classes for themselves) together, and put all the Club reports after them. A welcome increase has marked the contributions to both departments, and it was necessary to sacrifice some old friends in the way of head-pieces. Pursuing the Spike's policy since its inception, we have made form give way to matter.

The contributions were fairly numerous and varied, and we were pleased to note a tendency to view College affairs from a broader standpoint, and also to treat a greater range of subjects. We shall, however, have more to say on this subject in our next issue. We trust that our critics, as well as our present contributors, will submit matter for publication then.