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Thursday of Easter week saw the hosts of Victorians hastening to Christchurch to put into effect their resolve that the Spoons must go. And go one did. for Victoria by dint of meritorious deeds, advanced one place nearer her ultimate objective. The Tournament Wooden Spoon has gone—grant that its holiday from our portals may be lengthy.

Tournament this year was an unqualified success—and this not only because we caused to be abandoned a specific lump of wood. From the chant of greeting given us by Canta's straw-toppered haka party to the last lingering departures it was a merry, mad round of enjoyment.

Victoria acquitted herself well on the whole—she scooped the pool in three divisions, bringing back the honours of championship in the rowing, the basketball, and the shooting. In other avenues of sport she did her part bravely and though beaten was never disgraced—except in that pleasant Tournament aside, the contest for the Drinking Horn.

Friday saw the gathering of the four Colleges in the Assembly Hall at Canterbury College for the official welcome, and here, with simpering grace, we posed for the! photographer.

Saturday ushered in the battle royal. The morning was devoted to the various preliminary events, while the afternoon brought the contest of the Spartans wielding long oars. Held under unfavourable conditions on a two-and-a-half mile course on the Wai-makariri River, at Stewart's Gully, the rowing proved a worthy victory for Victoria. Perhaps the conditions, after Port Nicholson, were more to their liking, but our lusty oarsmen rowed a great race to snatch victory by a length and a half from C.U.C. Have those swamped boats of former days become but a legend now? The night was devoted to the finals of the Boxing events of which Victoria was to win but one. Congratulations to Canterbury for retaining the Shield, despite O.U.'s very strong bid for premiership.

Sunday—ah, blessed day of rest—gave us an opportunity of seeing Canterbury's scenic wonders from the car windows as we scurried past on a delightful motor-drive. The evening was spent—by some at least—in spiritual exercise, and later at a picture entertainment.

The busiest of all days at Tournament is Monday. Victoria began well, for the Basketball team played magnificently to win the Basketball Shield. Our congratulations to the girls for their victory—a reward for sheer merit and general all-round superiority. Our marksmen brought a further honour when they lifted the Haslam Shield for shooting.

Perhaps the most significant reminder of how we fared in the arena of athletics can be found in the trophy case at V.U.C.—to wit the Athletic Wooden Spoon. Our athletes managed to stave off the strong challenges for that coveted trophy and so this ours once more. Something will have to be done about our athletics before next Tournament. Most College sports tend to be haphazard, but in athletics, perhaps because team work is allowed to play too small a part, there is a lamentable lack of enthusiasm. The tennis finals saw our "hopes" meet their Waterloo against a more seasoned team from C.U.C. Our representatives in this department played well but just could not make the grade.

Monday night saw V.U.C.'s dolphins engaging in aquatic skill. Swimming, of all the Tournament sports is probably nearest to national standard and our "reps" were beaten but by no means disgraced by Otago's team of potential champions.

Then came the contest for the Drinking Horn, with Victoria's eager and stout-hearted defenders not so very ready for the fray. "Down, down, down; down to the depths" did not seem to be the goal of our team's endeavours. And so we lost our most coveted possession. 'Tis gone, but aha! not for long!

Canterbury are to be congratulated for the success of the Tournament Ball—worthy conclusion to a very successful Tournament. Truly the spirit was,

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Let us drink and be merry, dance, joke, and rejoice
With claret and sherry, theorbo and voice!

V.U.C. supporters deserve a word of praise for the lusty encouragement they gave all our representatives throughout the Tournament.

Then came Wednesday. A day of farewells, sad enough perhaps but all with that underlying thought of "see you in Auckland next year."

And Victoria, when we do see them, how shall we fare? We have progressed one step nearer—what about the other two? Our congratulations go to C.U.C. for their win in this year's Tournament, and for the entertainment which they gave us.

Perhaps next year. Victoria . . .!