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Patron: professor Adamson. President: R. V. Kay.
Vice-Presidents: Miss Crawford and C. H. E. Strack.
Hon. Secretary: L. J. Edmondson.
Hon. Treasurers: Miss J. Park and A. Wiren.
Committee: Misses Richmond, North and Daniell, and J. Cuddie,
W. H. Cocker, L. A. Rogers and J. H. Sheat (Financial Secretary of the "Spike").
Tournament Delegates: G. G. G. Watson and C. H. E. Strack.
Hon. Auditor: Mr. J. S. Barton.
President: S. Eichelbaum, M.A., LL. B.
Hon. Secretary: P. B. Broad, LL. B.
Hon. Treasurer: G. G. G. Watson, M. A., LL. B.
Committee: Misses M. E. Hales, M. A., Cooke, B. A., and I. Watson,
M. A. and H. E. Evans, B. A., LL. B. F. P. Wilson, M. A. and V. B. Willis, LL. B.
Patron: His Excellency the Governor.
President: Professor Sommerville.
Vice-Presidents: G. G. G. Watson (Chairman) and
J. P. Bryne (Vice-Chairman).
Hon. Secretary: J. G. Schmidt.
Hon. Treasurer: L. A. Rogers.
Committee: Misses Taylor and Richmond, and J. Casey and G. O. Cooper.
President: M. A. Tremewan.
Vice-Presidents: Miss North and W. H. Cocker.
Corresponding Secretary: T. Lyon.
Recording Secretary: Miss Kidson.
Treasurer: Miss Bell and J. H. Sheat.
Chairman: Professor Hunter.
Hon. Secretary-Treasurer: H. S. Tily.
Committee: Misses Braddick and Ross, and P. B. Broad.
President: Professor Adamson.
Club Captain: A. S. Faire.
Field Captain: T. Beard.
Hon. Secretary: B. C. B. Dickson. Hon. Treasurer: F. J. McKenna.
Committee: Above and W. J. Melody.
Club Captain: J. A. Archibald.
Hon. Secretary: J. H. Sheat. Hon. Treasurer: D. Bruce.
Committee: C. H. E. Strak, L. J. Maule.
Club Captain: J. Fanning.
Hon. Secretary: A. Graham. Hon. Treasurer: A. W. Duncan.
Committee: E. Ward and A. Fenton.
Club, Captain: G. M. Cleghorn.
Hon. Secretary: L. J. Edmondson. Hon. Treasurer: R. A. Hówie.
Committee: Misses M. Sievwright, E. Still and D. Atmore, and
R. M. Bruce, P. B. Broad and J. Cuddie.
President: Professor Garrow.
Hon. Secretary-Treasurer: H. S. Tily.
Committee: Misses Daniell and Woodhouse, and H. A. McKenzie and F. C. Lees.
Club Captain: R. V. Kay.
Hon. Secretary: W. D. Maxwell. Hon. Treasurer: D. O' Sullivan.
Committee: S. A. Wiren and F. J. McKenna.
Conductor: Miss Clachan.
Hon. Secretary: Miss Hammond. Hon. Treasurer: E. Evans.
Committee: Misses Leitch and Bell, M. K. Archer.
Chairman: L. D. O' Sullilvan.
Vice-Chairman: F. Robertson.
Hon. Secretary: W. P. Pringle. Hon. Treasurer: F. J. McKenna.
Committee: D. Hay, E. C. Lees, N. Robertson.
Club Captain: Miss Mander.
Hon. Secretary-Treasurer: Miss Gallagher.
Committee: Misses Bingham, Wallace and Ellis.
Editor: P. B. Broad.
Assistant Editor: Miss M. L. Nicholls.
(Published Twice in the Session)
The Editorial Committee invites contribution, either in prose or verse, on any subject of general interest, from students or officials connected with the College. All literary communications should be addressed to The Editor, Victoria University College, Wellington.
Subscriptions are now due, and are now payable to Mr. J. H. Sheat, Financial Secretary, Victoria University College.
"With such agents as Christian truth and intellectual culture at work, the possibilities of the future are indeed infinite; but till man becomes a very different being from what he is, the only guarantees against unjust aggression, I fear, must continue to be authoritative mediation in the instance, and armed intervention in the second."
If there is one question more than another, which is coming into prominence to-day, if there is one question more than another, which, though there is the uneasy feeling that the time is not yet ripe for its discussion, is yet drawing more and more attention to itself, and which, at the conclusion of the present world-devastating conflict, must be food for the thought of all seasoning people—that is the question of the disarmament of the great powers. Much has been written on this topic in the past: before the commencement of the war one could not open the smallest and least important publication without coming into contact with a contribution on the subject: discussion is already rife as to the part which disarmament must play in the
We are labouring under no fond delusion that we are going to throw a flood of new light upon the subject; in point of fact we are not going to advance an argument in favour of disarmament or in favour of the increase of armaments, but we aspire impersonally, impersonally, impartially, and without bias, to discuss those factors which have a bearing upon the whole question. "What we want," says Matthew Arnold," is a free play of thought upon our routine notions, spontaneity of consciousness, sweetness and light." Our notions as to disarmament are essentially of a routine order. Hence the need for a free play of thought upon those notions.
In those essays of Matthew Arnold, from which we have already quoted, and from which we shall continue freely to quote, the author speaks of Hellenism and Hebraism. "The governing idea of Hellenism, he says, is spontaneity of consciousness; that of Hebraism, strictness of conscience." Hellenistic, man's moral activities and impulses; and after tracing the origin of Hellenism to the Greek ideal of the perfect conscience, he proceeds to show how at different periods in the life of the individual the Hellenistic and the Hebraistic influences are predominant.
Now it seems to us that the subject of disarmament is one, as to which there has been in England much "confusion and false movement." It seems to us that before the war. British prestige was surely on the decline, owing to the enervating changes in Britain's foreign policy caused by the domination influence upon Liberalism of the Puritanical section of the British electorate. As we have said, we desire to view subject impartially, but in so
In order to dispose of the first cause of confusion, which arises, we must first dispose of the question—is the popular demand for disarmament to-day the product of the Hellenistic or of the Hebraistic element in England life? It seems sufficiently clear that the answer must be—the demand for disarmament is almost entirely attributable to the Hebraistic element in England. We do not propose to go into this preliminary point at length, but there are several good reasons, which justify the conclusion to which we have come. In the first place it is noteworthy that the demand in England for disarmament has become most pronounced during the last decade, in which the Liberal party has held the reins of office; and we fancy that most people are agreed that the main support of the Liberal parts in England is the faction, which, for want of a better name, we have termed the Puritanical. If we were to carry our inquiries back so far as the South African War, we should find that that war most bitterly opposed in England by the Quaker cum cocoa cum Puritan press (of which the paper edited by Mr. A. G. Gardiner is a typical example) upon the ground that any further extension of British territory was inimical to the interests of the country. We suggest that the excellent result of that war, not only for England, but also for South Africa itself and for the Empire, become more and more noticeable as the present terrible conflict progresses. Nevertheless the little Englanders, whose attitude over the South African War proved them to be egregiously in the wrong, upon the conclusion of that war and ever since have not ceased to direct their energies into a still more dangerous channel—the advocacy of disarmament. An instance of the lengths, to which this party would go in the interests of peace at any price occurred in the columns of a typical cocoa paper, which, two days before England declared war in Germany, came out with the naked and shameless statement—"Truth to tell, the causes which precipitated the present European conflict, are not worth the bones of a British soldier." And we have the latest declaration of the champion of the cocoa press—Mr. A. G. Gardiner—that it were better to lose the war than resort to conscription. We do not wish to labour the point further. It is the puritan element in England
The first factor, which we wish to consider is the moral views of civilized states upon war. The present European conflict has thrown into full relief the fact that there exists in almost every civilized nation to-day a national ideal of the morality of war, a national ideal, and that that ideal is not necessarily common to all civilised nations. In the United States of America the national ideal is undoubtedly peace: we might almost say—"peace, at any price." The attitude of Mr. Bryan—that nothing could justify the United States in entering into the war—is unquestionably indorsed by large number of his countrymen. Even if it were not, there is ample evidence to justify us in suggesting that the American view is that war should be resorted to by a nation only as a final and inevitable weapon of redress. What degree of immorality the United States of America would consider a casus belli it is difficult to say. It is clear that the Americans do not regard a direct insult from another nation as good ground for war. It is clear that they do not regard the murder of American citizens by a foreign nation as sufficient ground: and, according to Mr. Roosevelt, it is clear that Americans are not prepared to resort to war in defence of a treaty, to the maintenance and support of which they have pledged themselves. Nevertheless was must assume that there is some supreme act of immorality, which Americans would deem sufficient to justly them in dirtying their hands with the vulgar business of war. This then we take to be the national sentiment of the United States in regard to war. The difficulty that we have found in defining the attitude of the United Stated in relation to war is not met with when we turn our attention to European states. England has
The second factor, which we take up for discussion, is the presence in the world to-day of peoples uncivilised, only partly civilised, or of a civilisation different from and irreconcilable with European civilisation. Imagine the position in Africa before the outbreak of the war. Here in a vast continent, with but few settlements of Europeans, were large numbers of uncivilised tribes, whose inherited instinct was war, whose moral creed might be summed up in the phrase enunciated by the German Chancellor—"Might is right." Among these races peace was maintained, right was enforced, as in such cases it must always be enforced—
The next two factors, which we take up for discussion are closely allied to that one, which we have just discussed, and they call for consideration in conjunction with it. Let us state them as being firstly, the existence of habitable, but uninhabited spaces of territory, and secondly the fact that some nations to-day, which evince the greatest prosperity and are remarkable for the virility of their peoples, are penned up in territorial limits, which prevent that expansion for which they obviously seem destined. The two facts uppermost in our mind are the vast expanse of country known as the Northern Territory of Australia, and the rapid growth of the population of Japan, combined with Japan's material prosperity, her lack of colonies, wherein to "dump" her surplus population, and her absurdly narrow territorial limits. It is perhaps this aspect of the question, which appeals most strongly to us colonials, we cannot, and it is only right that we should not forget, that in Australia and New Zealand there are great tracts of country, which are primarily suitable for settlement, but which are now lying idle. The Australian is well aware of this fact, and long ago made up his mind as to the policy, he is going to adopt in regard to the Northern Territory. Now the population of Japan is increasing at such a rate that that country is compelled to look outside her territorial limiters for space, to which to transplant her citizens. There is no reason to suppose that Japan is governed in her foreign relations by pacific principles. She has already had a sharp clash with the United States of America over the question of Japanese settlement in California, and there is good reason to believe that war was only averted with the very greatest difficulty. Were we to embark upon any scheme of disarmament, we should be compelled in a few years either to admit the Asiatic races freely, or to go to war in a state of hopeless inefficiency against a nation splendidly equipped, and prepared for war. This is perhaps the most potent argument
We have left ourselves but brief space, in which to mention the two last factors, that we propose to discuss—Socialism, and the improvement of the instruments of warfare due to the progress of scientific discovery. The importance of the Socialistic movement is not likely to be underestimated to-day. The only voice raised in Germany against the present war was that of the Socialists. To a less extent the Socialist made himself felt in England and in France. Rightly considered, in the future, the influence of Socialism will undoubtedly be used against war, and, in the interest of disarmament. But whatever may be the influence of Socialism in the future, the present war
The last factor, which we have mentioned is, in our view, not important, but we include it for the sake of completeness. It is sometimes contended that warfare must very soon cease, because instruments of destruction are becoming so improved that it will be a practical possibility for one nation completely to destroy another. It seems to us that nations will continue to wage war, no matter how destructive weapons may become, just so long as such nations continue to believe in the justifiableness of war. If a nation given up warfare as a means of securing redress, or of enforcing right, it will be not because that nation has become appalled by the destructive nature of the machines of war, but because the destructive nature of the machines of war have emphasized the horrors of war, and proved its immorality.
We set out to investigate the factors, which have a bearing upon the problem of disarmament, and to endeavour to arrive at a conclusion which would approximate as nearly to the truth as possible. "The uppermost idea with Hellenism, says Matthew Arnold, is to see things as they really are." This is what we have endeavored, however inadequately, to do. Consider from whatever point one will, it seems to us that the question of war and peace will always be determined by the moral factor. When the moral views of all nations are the same, when those views are definitely pacific, when the cultural attainments of all people are equal and uniform—then, and not till then, will disarmament become possible.
We are at length able to print a list of those past and present students of the College, who have gone upon active service in the present war. The list does not purport to be complete, but it is approximately so. The Secretary of the Students Association would be very grateful for any information that can be supplied, with a view to making this list as correct as possible. Following are the names:—
Of the above the following have been killed in action, or died as the result of wounds:—
The following have been reported wounded:—
The following awards have been made for distinguished conduct in the field:—
Frank Kingdon Turnbull, Military Cross
Henry Devenish Skinner, Distinguished Conduct Medal
We conclude this list with a few extracts from letters received from students on active service:—
In a letter of the 21st February,
Writing from Woodcote Park, Epsom, on 24th February, A. W. Delamore throws some light upon the vagaries of the postal service in England. "One of the little Peculiarities of our postal service is that your letters will be jealously withheld for months—not one may pass their official barrier—and then some fine morning in some distant post office William Smith, Acting Lance Corporal (without pay) is disappointed in love and works it off by collecting half a hundred letters and forwarding them. . . . . . . . I hope I am finished with hospitals for a while. I left this convalescent camp for another hospital just before Christmas, but am now back preparing to take the furlough vows. And after furlough, Hornchurch, the depot, and after the depot, the deluge."
Some information as to the whereabouts of a number of Victoria College men is found in one of G. H. Seddon's letters—"Of the other Victoria College men with 4th Reinforcements, McCaw and Skinner were both wound; I have since heard that McCaw recovered from his wound, but has developed typhoid. Quigley was the only one left to do for the five of us. Of other College men Batten has been returned to New Zealand with typhoid, Yates is in Abassieh Hospital, Lieut. West is convalescing in England, Hall-Jones sick at Malta, McKenzie at Lemnos, Collins, who had his right arm blown off, in some hospital in Alexandria, Foster sick in Cairo. As far as I can make out, Castle (Headquarters Staff) East (Ambulance) Quigley, above mentioned and my brother are all that we have at present to do battle for the honour of the College on Gallipoli. You will be pleased to hear that I Still have the College Banner; it was carried during my stay with
In a later letter from Hornchurch on the 7th February,
In the course of an interesting letter written at Moascar Camp Ismailia, on 4th February, Ken. Caldwell (Lieut.) says—"On landing we entrained for Heliopolis where we spent only three days and then proceeded down at Alexandria. Our stay here too, was very limited, for, on the fourth day we were moved out on to a line of communication to the Western frontier. In fact we were included in what is called the "Western Frontier Force." This force was and still is operating against a rising of Arabs between Tripoli and the Nile Valley. Our part of the work was very quiet for all we had to do was to sit down on one hundred and twenty miles of railway line between Alexandria and Dabaa and keep the lines of communication open. We spent Christmas out there. I was stationed with about half a company at a little village called Amria, about 15 or 20 miles from Alexandria. For a time we had Major Beere with us, while A. P. Castle was about 40 miles further up the line. On being relieved we returned to Alexandria for a fortnight or thereabouts finally moving down to Ismalia where we went over some of our training. The other evening we had a visit from Jimmy Stainton who is now a hardned warrior. We also visited George Strack and A. B. Sievwright both of whom are looking well up to the mark."
The every day experiences of life on a transport, and the incidents of the voyage to Egypt are illustrated in a letter received from
Captured from the Turks at the Suez Canal.
Phasellus ille quem videtis, hospites,
Ait fuisse navium celerrimus . . . .
(The "Spike" has very kindly been given access to a number of letters from Theodore Rigg, who was sent to Serbia some months ago to report to the Serbian Relief Committee upon conditions in Serbia. Dealing as they do with a country, and a people, concerning whom we in New Zealand know very little, the letters from intensely interesting reading. Rigg, who represented the College on many occasions in the Easter University Tournament, will be well-known to all the older students now attending lectures.)
"Scutari; 4th December. We arrived at San Giovnni di Medua early in the morning, and had a miserable breakfast on the beach. The place is quiet a charming spot, and it caused vivid remembrances of New Zealand's rugged coast. The village of San Giovanni consists of half a dozen houses and everything of an eatable nature was at a premium. . . . . . . . We started off for Scutari next morning, the whole party travelling in carriages. The Drive was exceedingly enjoyable, the scenery was everywhere interesting—new types of houses and new systems of agriculture and above all new races of people . . . . . . . The Albanians are exceedingly poor people in many parts of the country we have so far seen. I have never seen such great destitution, such pitiful clothing and abject misery. Shortly after arriving in Scutari we experienced very severe cold weather. The thermometer for several days must have been several degrees below freezing point . . . . . . Yet in spite of the extreme coldness the poor Albanians could be seen in cotton tatters, bare feet and white wan faces. There is no prosperity at all in the country—it is exhausted by continued warfare and lack of organisation.
We have seen during the last three days the remnant of the Serbian Army creeping in. all the glory of war here had obviously long ago vanished. They came on foot, some with rifles and equipment, some without anything but a tattered uniform. Their baggage horses were mere skeletons, and the men themselves walked dejectedly
along the streets as if they had lost interest in life. Refugees are now beginning to come into Andrijevitza in small numbers, but I fear many thousands have died of hunger and exposure on the road. I was speaking to a Serbian officer only last night, who had come from Prizrend by a mountain road. Only the strongest men could ever hope to reach Scutari by this path. They all had to walk for six days, sleeping where they could in the snow, carrying food for the whole journey with them and trudging on and on, hoping against hope to arrive safely is Scutari. During the last three days several thousand Serbian soldiers and many Red Cross English Workers have arrived at Scutari . . . . . . . . Yet in spite of the hardships they have gone through they have borne themselves very well and here at Scutari the English nurses find what they call Heaven sleeping on straw and eating two meals a day, consisting entirely of stewed onions, haricots and potatoes." "Scutari, 15th December. I have just arrived back from a ride to Andrijevitza to see the condition of the refugees. I found that the refugees coming down from Ipek were in a piteous condition. Women and children were trudging along in the mud, some without boots and able to get practically no shelter or food by the road-side. Many had been ten or twelve days on the road and had come over mountain paths covered with snow. They are extraordinarily hardy, but they must nevertheless have suffered great hardships on their journey. The Serbian soldiers were also a sorry sight. They looked . . . as if they cared not at all where they were going to. They wanted rest and food. I passed numbers lying down to sleep on the road-side in the rain. Scutari has closed up all its shops. Many of the merchants have sold right out."
(New Zealanders, who are complaining of the increased cost of living might well weigh one fact mentioned by Mr. Rigg in this letter—bread costs 9/- a loaf!)
(On the same day as the above letter was written Mr. Rigg forwarded a report on existing conditions to the Chairman of the Serbian Relief Fund):—"I started out for Andrijevitza on the 5th. During the first day from Podgoritza towards Andrijevitza we commenced to meet refugees coming from Ipek. Diakova, Berance, and Bosnia.Their condition in many cases was piteous—poorly clad, many without shoes trudging along in the mud over the hills in country which is extremely barren and devoid of adequate shelter and food. Many carried on their backs what little goods they had been able to save, and a number of women could be seen carrying cradles covered with shawls from which the cries of little children were audible. I encountered several families of five or six children, and here even small children of six or seven years of age were walking, some carrying a piece of the family goods in the shape of a pot or small bundle. Some refugee families were fortunate in possessing a horse on which the family possessions were tied and on the top of them a place was made for the smallest children . . . . . . . . . . . . . Of these 10,000 refugees I would place the number of Serbians at 3,000, the rest being Montenegrins who were flying from New Montenegro which was opened up in recent times. Practically the entire peasant population of Serbia has remained behind, and now that Ipek has fallen there is no possibility of their coming down into Montenegrin territory." "Scutari, December 17th,
1915 . Scutari is a most interesting place—half the town is Westernised and one could easily imagine oneself being in a provincial town in France. French is quite commonly spoken among shopkeepers and of course European dress is invariably worn by all the principal shopkeepers. There is, however, a very considerable native Albanian class which dresses and lives in true Eastern style. Their shops are very similar to those I saw in Ceylon and the tradesmen can very frequently be been sitting on the floor of his booth by the side of a brazier of coals. There is a considerable Moslem Albanian element and the dress of these people is of course Turkish in style. The women invariably wear the harem skirt and cover their faces. Even some of the men have the loose baggy trousers modeled on the harem skirt. The Moslem priests at the hour of sunset can be seen in the spire of the mosque calling the people to prayer. Quite a proportion of the people can be seen entering the mosque, taking off their shoes before whole desperately poor and many very ill-clad children can beseen on the streets. In fact how they withstand the freezing coldsnaps, which we sometimes get is marvellous. Many have no shoes and are clad in cotton garments woefully thread-bare . . . . . . . . I left Scutari on a Sunday with a Montenegrin who speaks excellent English. This man had been in Canada three or four years and on the outbreak of war had come back to Montenegro to fight in the Montenegrin Army. All these volunteers including those attached to the Serbian Army are heartily sick of the whole business and are desirous of leaving the country and fleeing to America. We at once struck the rottenest road which I have had the pleasure of riding on. We rode for four and a half hours over boulders and mud up to the horses' knees and then we came to the ferry which was to take us over an arm of Lake Scutari. The ferry was manned by Albanians of a very independent nature who did just what pleased them in taking people across. They went when they thought fir and charged according to their estimate of labours involved. As soon as we reached Montenegrin territory I was struck by the friendliness and friendliness and pleasantness of the people. At Tuzi where we stayed for the night a Montenegrin gentleman, in his rich national dress—blue baggy trousers, a red jersey and a pistol stuck prominently in his belt—was exceedingly kind to the English gentleman. He gave me lodging in his own house and apologised and arrived early in the forenoon. Podgoritza is the largest town in Montenegro (population 10,000). It would correspond to a small provincial center in England for the peasant people bring in their produce for sale in the market square. Every day the market square is thronged with women selling apples, potatoes, pigs, wine and hay, etc. they wear the national dress which has for its most noticeable feature the round hat had an embroidered bodice. Podgoritza was very busy when I was there as civilians and soldiers were arriving in great numbers from Andrijevitza. Leaving Podgoritza next morning we started off for Andrijevitza. For the first four hours we were ascending a long mountain road, which gradually brought us into rocky, barren country but gave us now and again many beautiful glimpses of the valley below with its beautiful blue river . . . . . . . As we went further on our journey we met more mountains and sudden descents. Sometimes as far as the eye could see would stretch stones and hills with now and again a small greasy dell relieving the greyness. These little dells were jealously preserved by the peasants. Sometimes they were only fifty square yards in size, but one found that they had been fenced off with brushwood and were in use for the cultivation of maize . . . . . . . . All along the way we passed Serbian soldier, bullock-waggons, herds of castes and baggage horses. During the daytime the procession went dejectedly on its way. The soldiers stepped along with little interest in life. At night in every direction camp fires blazed, and more than one morning when we were obliged to make an early start, it was extremely fascinating to see the innumerable start, it was extremely fascination to see the innumerable points were encamped . . . . . . Andrijevitza in a small township, which in normal circumstances must have been rather charming . . . . . . We were fortunate in securing a room with a nice Montenegrin family. They looked after us very well and again I had further glimpses into Montenegrin home life and hospitality. They and several curious customs, and one or two which the insularity of English people would object to. It is quite good form for the host to see you safely into bed and the women of the house usually assist you in your washing arrangements next morning. They have a curious custom to pouring out the water into your hands as you require it when one is washing." "Marseilles; February 29th. At last back again in civilisation . . . . . . In Scutari, San Giovanni di Medua and Durazzo we were able to do good work and at Scutari I am quite convinced that we were able to save lives. It has been a pathetic and saddening time and scenes which we have seen in these places will forever remain with us. Little boys and women with pinched hunger-drawn faces breaking down before one is hard to bear. The retreat of the Serbian Army—the pitiless march day by day over the snow-clad mountains of Eastern Montenegro seems hardly real to me now. It seemed like a phantom army seeing them struggling down through Montenegro. Men
walked or ambled as if they had really lost all hope, and even life itself appeared to be of no importance."
The Editor begs to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following exchanges: — Taranakian, Nelsonian, Knox Collegian, Wanganui Collegian (2), Scindian, Otago High School Magazine (2), Adastrian, Canterbury Agricultural College Magazine, Timarurian, The N. G. C. And the Waitakian.
My Dear Spike,—It has always been a great solace to me in those dark moments I sometimes spend in looking back over my spasmodic career at College that, even in the wildest fit of delirium, I never contributed to the "Spike." It may be more accurate to say that what little I did contribute never got in. the editors were too prudish, too prudish by far. They didn't like my style and I didn't like their's. Decent enough chaps in their way, but however much they may have been good sorts in everyday life, when they sat in the editorial chair they became inflamed with a sense of modesty; they burned it and branded it into everything they wrote (or re-wrote) in connection with the journal. Its pages reeked with moderation and propriety till it became a paragon for failures to mould in. It did not suit a students community. It never aimed at portraying the students as they were. Men who worked vigorously, played vigorously, prayed vigorously and blasphemed equally vigorously, when they came to reflect the glamour of their doings on paper suddenly became dull and cold and issued a journal had neither the moral fibre of strong conviction nor the material fibre of good shaving paper. So far as I have been able to ascertain, this has mostly been due to a desire to be "literary." Perhaps you are still trying to be "literary," on the "If at first you don't," etc. principle.
And so it is with something of an apology that I appear with a manuscript. It is only my second offence. The first time was six years ago when I wrote two limericks about College professors, which, tho' they might have looked out of place in a Keat's authology, were still calculated to raise a titter of scandalised joy on some poor book-worm's face . but no! not even Taylor would have let them thro'—And Taylor was the broadest of the pack of them; or at any rate the one who let most of his real self into print. I remember the furore he created with one editorial when he stated the Imperial spirit was an artificial monstrosity and identified true patriotism in New Zealand with a desire to break off from the Old Country. I know how well he now sees himself to have been wrong when he wrote it; but the effort was laudable in that he was not afraid to write what he thought grey background of orthodoxy that goes by the name of the Spike. By the way he was literary at the same time; and while I hope to avoid the path of hypocrisy even as he, I of course cannot hope to use the same light rhetorical toe in doing so.
I want to talk to you about Colonials and how they fit into the scheme of things from the Englishman's point of view. And I might as well tell you right from the jump that the Englishman does not like the Colonial and the Colonial does not like the Englishman. Now wait a moment, Mr. Editor with that blue pencil. Let me explain. It is the fault neither of the Englishman nor of the Colonial. They are each born with mutually incompatible tempers. It is just like religious denomination. It is the mere accident of birth in most cases what your creed is but it always brings with it the conviction that you are it and everybody else is out of it more or less as he aberrates more or less from your creed. I can never conceive of the Anglicans and Presbyterians really loving one another. They may make an alliance for a set purpose as we all have been in New Zealand. They have a mutual hatred of criticism and comparative mythology and this tends to make them pull together in a general sort of way. But as sect to sect, the Higher Criticism forgotten for a moment, they mix as oil and water, mutually exclusive, mutually suspicious.
And so it is with the Englishman and the Colonial. There is the common dread of the Hun, the mutual self-satisfaction at the immensity of the Empire and the mutual resolve of about 20% of each to do something to put the Hun down and exalt the British prestige amongst the nations. But, the common fear left unconsidered, the Englishman in suspicious of the Colonial and the Colonial is satisfied that the Englishman is a prig and a fool.
Having stated the general case, I shall state the exceptions and then adduce evidence in support of the main thesis.
Firstly it must not be thought that I am hinting that there is any mutual contempt. Far—very far from it. The Colonial thinks the Englishman a fool on account of his laissez-fairs methods. "Let the Government take its time," the man in the street says and sits back awaiting news of bold action on the part of a Government incapable of saying boo to a goose (always excepting Lloyd-George) and of great victories on the have seen in spring or money, anything to the contrary notwithstanding—, and so had to join our Officers' Training Corps, now, since the Turkish campaign, a Colonial has only to show up and call a "day" a "die" and say "bloody" once or twice and the ink turns to steam in the feverish haste with which they write out the commission papers.
Nor am I to be charged with tacitly asserting that NO Englishmen and Colonials het on well together. Of course that would be an absurd statement to male. The English gentlemen in his home is charming and if he sees for 25 years' close contact with you are up to or over his social mark, you will find his heart big and his hearth warm. To us Colonials, however, who are used to making friends freely and seeing the inside of a fresh house about once a week, the cold eye with which the average Englishman greets you is very freezing indeed. He fairly oozes to know you. If you have the least doubt it at all, tell him it's a fine day. You'll be satisfied then. Plenty of English offices have admitted to me that to me that when they went to a fresh mess it took them a fortnight to get on bare speaking terms with anybody beyond the Colonel. And this is their own kind! Can you wonder that the poor Colonial must sit apart and eat and think alone when they are in doubt as to whether he will put his foot in his soup plate, and are not sure whether he talks English or not.
To return to the main proposition; I maintain that in spite of mutual admiration, in spite of many cases if warm hospitality extended by Englishmen to Colonials, in spite of our common nationality and national danger, there has grown up in the few generations we have lived apart a difference of temperament that leads to something akin to discord. The practical matter-of-fact life that we have led in the Colonies has given us great individual initiative and so a complete disregard for established institutions. We cannot bend the knee merely on account of their antiquity to customs in which we see no value. We have been used to judge all courses of conduct by their utility an anything savouring of the ceremonial or the circuitous stands condemned as a waste of time. The Colonial cannot bear the 1½ hours spent over the mess dinner, he resents the necessity of saluting officers would never obey, he objects to wearing different clothes for different meals and is galled by the isolation with which he is saddled by a community whose interest and occupations are at one with his. If he tries to break thro' this crust of custom he is snubbed. The Englishman loves these formalities. He does not uphold them be any conscious effort but they are ingrained in him by birth and education. At the great Public schools for instance, two boys may be inseparable chums—joint delinquents in a thousand scrapes; but no one expects the one to recognise the other on meeting him in the street in company with a third. No one recognises in the street—it simply isn't done.
It follows that if in later life he does unbend to talk affably to a stranger one evening it is the proper thing to show no sign
On one occasion I was in a small tea shop in the Strand patronised only by officers and I saw a man with a badge remarkably like the Australian. So I remarked in the Freemason style common to us—"Hullo, Australia"! He answered that he was as Imperial man and evidently thought me one too as I wore the Imperial uniform. He told me his regiment and said that there were plenty of Australians and for that matter Canadians to be found about there. "Doesn't matter so long as they're Colonials "was my rejoinder. Said he, loftily, "well, I'm bally glad I am, Sonny!" Of course he begged my pardon, and doubtless likes me even less than before.
That same afternoon (a Sunday) I had a good sample of the opposite side of the question. A crowd was waiting at Trafalgar Square for a recruiting procession and there were many Colonials about. I was walking along the lower end of the Strand looking as much like an Imperial officer as I could when my belt was grabbed from behind and I was dragged up against a wall, my cap removed and a large dirty hand run thro' my hair and a bellow in my ear "Well, sonny, how are yer?" I looked up to behold three hulking Australian privates grinning in anticipation to my next remark. "By the blinking blazes, if I wasn't a Colonial you 3 beauties would all go up like kites—what are you doing this for?" "Yer a Colonial" said one, "Put it thar." I put it thar and they explained they were waiting for Imperial officers to show them how much they loved them. Yes, they knew it was a risky game but it was worth the fun and if anyone "squacked" they would "empty one into his jaw and move on." By this time other Colonials were arriving and as they grew noisier the police grew more restive. So I ordered in good old N. Z. Infantry style "Fall in there, you lubbers" an got them into line, numbered off and formed up into a sort of platoon.. The crowd took them for the recruiting procession and the last I saw of them was a mixed crowd took them for the recruiting procession and the last I saw of them was a mixed crowd of Colonials and their lady friends marching amidst the cheering throng till they rounded a lion in Trafalgar Square out of sight. There are not isolated instances but my everyday experience teems with such. I have been in
Of course all of us by the time this appears in print will have separated to batteries across the water somewhere, where one is sure to be warmly received; or may even with luck have joined the rends of another army altogether, where current superstition hath it one is even warmly received. All we ask is congenial company.
As there is a big scheme on foot that needs the help of the publicity of your pages, please stay the editorial hand as it seizes the blue pencil or the pruning knife.
Most of the students at present at College know—at least if they take the slightest interest in student activities, should know—that it has been decided to hold soon after the end of the war a Re-union of all the old students of the College. Through you, Spike, it is desired that these same old students, now scattered all over the world, may come to know of what's brewing. Although no details have yet been definitely settled, the general idea is that the Re-union should consist of a judicious mixture of social functions such as a Reception. Ball, Picnic and so forth, with various sports contests, between present and past student. The time for holding the gathering will be as soon as the men are back from the Front and before they are tied down with the old ties, business and otherwise. It is proposed to make the function last over two days—aye, and two night.
Those who have attended University Tournaments will be best able to realize the value as well as the pleasure of such a gathering. Not only will it give men and women a chance to renew old friendships and make new ones, not only will it enable the present generation of students to meet those who worked so hard to create and build up our student institution and college spirit which is so essential to our corporate life. You, Mr. Spike, have often in times past drawn attention to the lamentable way in which the general public ignores our College: that same public may wake and take more notice of us when Re-union forces it to recognise not only the large number of students who have passed through our college, but the important positions they are taking in all walks of life.
Although the termination of the war may not yet be in sight, it is essential that our plans for the Re-union should be ready when
Sir:—May I have a little space to indict jointly and severally the Victoria University College, Council, Professorial Board and Students' Association? The indictment, which is based on the form of the invitation card issued this year by those bodies to the invited guests' for the Annual Capping Ceremony, contains two counts: (1) The College is therein referred to as Victoria College. After years of unpleasant confusion between this College and Sundry Secondary schools (whose only claim to the title of College consists of the fact that they have become possessed of the endowments which were originally set aside for University purposes in Wellington) not to mention numerous typewriting College, Piano-banging College, Hair-dressing College and such like, we were in the year of our Lord
This year, with a whole heart, we feel we can congratulate the Committee, which selects New Zealand's Rhodes Scholars. We have not always seen eye to eye with the Committee in the past. We have always felt that it attached too great weight to the possession of degrees. But this year, we think that all our readers will agree that in Athol Hudson, New Zealand will be worthly represented in the old country. We value Hudson not for any degree of popularity, which he may possess, nor for his scholastic attainments, for which we don't care twopence; but we esteem in him those qualities of humility and of humour, of courtesy and of strength, of tolerance and of patience, of honesty of purpose and of clearness of vision, which to our mind, go to the make-up of the true University man. Probably most of our readers will have heard the story of the Oxford don, who, with gentle irony, spoke of the average Rhodes Scholar as possessing "all the qualities of Jesus Christ a Hercules." We are proud of Hudson, not because he possesses a unique combination of qualities, but because primarily an always, he is a man. There is no need to speak of his services to the College. Such will not be forgotten by who knew him. Always of a retiring nature. He work was as through as it was unobtrusive. He was indeed, one of those "who do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame."
The work of compiling a list of all past and present students, who have gone upon actives service in the present war, is steadily progressing. In this issue we publish a fairly complete list, which shows the present numbers to be 225. But the list is, unfortunately, only approximately correct: when the Nominal Roll, which is being prepared by
During the Vacation the Executive despatched a number of parcels to students on active service, each parcel containing a "Spike" and a writing wallet. So far appreciative replies have been received from A. B. Sievwright, G. S. Strack, K. J. Strack, Rev. Father T. B. Segrieff and K. S. Caldwell. It is intended to continue this labour of love. The value of the parcels is small, but, if they but serve to brighten a dull moment, to remind those, who are "over there "that they are not forgotten, that we here are following their doings and appreciating the selflessness of their motives, they will have served their purpose.
We feel sure that everyone will congratulate Watson on his election as a life member of the Students' Association. In many ways Watson has been one of the best Presidents whom we have had. His genius for organization and administration have brought about many reforms in the work of the Association. His election raises the number of life members to twelve.
At the Annual Meeting of the Students' Association a pleasant interlude afforded by the presentation of College blazers in accordance with a scheme, which was approved representatives, at the previous Annual General Meeting. The fortunate representatives, who received their coloures were:
Cricket.—P. B. Broad, A. E. Caddick, A. W. Duncan and F. Joplin.
Athletic —D. O'Sullivan, I. C. Robinson, E. H. Luke, H. Williams, A. B. Sievwright and R. V. Kay.
Hockey—E. Rowntree, G. S. Strack, C. H. E. Strack, N. A. Foden, S. J. McDowall.
Tennis.—Misses E. Cook, F. W. Cooke, E. Hare, G. M. Lawry, M. H. Sievwright, and C. F. Atomre, K. C. Clayton, K. A. Henderson and H. Williams.
In this number is outlined a suggestion for holding a College Re-Union after the war. The suggestion is a most happy one, and worthy of every support. Committees from the Graduates Association and the Students' Association have already been set up to confer, and it is hoped, within a few months, to have the arrangements well under way,
The Annual General Meeting of the Graduates' Association was held on 17th April. It is most regrettable that more graduates do not make a point of attending these meetings. The Association is the only one, after a graduate leaves College, which serves to keep him in touch with all matters affecting the University. The present membership is very small—only 38—while the number of graduates eligible for membership must be in the neighbourhood of 400. The activities of the Association naturally had to be very much curtailed last year owing to the war but the year, nevertheless, was not an uneventful one. The most important business that came before the Association was the proposal of the Court of Convocation that the Association should merge in the Court. Wisely, we think, the Association decided not to do this, but it is endeavouring to arouse in graduates a greater interest in the work of the Court of Convocation. The number of graduates upon active service is now over 50.
The "Spike" extends a welcome to a new College institution—the Free Discussions Club. This has been formed for the purpose of enabling those students, who take an interest in the deeper thing of life, to meet and discuss those questions, discussion upon which, nearly all other College Clubs as a rule, forbid. The title, we fancy, most people will agree, is perhaps a trifle cumbrous, a trifle cumbrous, a little lacking in grace; but it has nevertheless the merit of being unequivocal, while the object of the Club are unimpeachable. So far the following subjects have been discussed—Freedom of Thought, Nietzsche's moral views, and "Ann
This year the Victoria College Calendar has been merged in, and forms part of the University Calendar. The change is a good one in many ways, and it should certainly save the College Council some unnecessary expenditure. However there is one matter, upon which we think the change open to criticism. In the former Victoria College Calendar a full list of graduates and undergraduates always appeared: in the new Calendar the names of both are omitted. Club secretaries and other harassed individuals (including the Editor of the "Spike") have found these lists, in many directions, of the very greatest assistance. They formed the only permanent record open to students, of all past and present students of the College. Surely it is high time that a Register of Victoria College students were compiled. Some of our past students occupy high and honourable positions on different spheres of public life. It is a pleasant thing, and an inspiring thing to refleet upon their past association with the College. University men's memories are short, and it is only too easy for the present student to forget the names of those, who built for us in the past, those traditions, which form an integral part of the life of the College.
We have convictions, and we have the courage of our convictions, but we have not the courage to adopt the suggestion of a student, who thought that it would be an excellent idea for the "Spike" to publish the names of those, who ought to be engaged, or look as though thy contemplated being engaged. We are not timid, but there is a law of libel in New Zealand, and we must draw the line somewhere. Meanwhile if any student cares to write to the "Spike" a letter containing such name, and signed with his own name, we might publish it as correspondence. But in such case, we would advise such student to make sure of three things—(1) That his purse is long. (2)That he can run 100 yards in 10 seconds. (3) That he is about to remove his residence from Wellington.
We notice with regret that there has been a return of the childishness, that manifested itself some years ago. We have once more among us the fledgling, whose delight it is to show his smartness by adding to, and defacing notices on the on the board in the hall. It is time that students' Association took steps to check this practice. Probably the instance punishment of one of these ladling would nip this regrettable movement in the bud. The student, who defaces these notices, is not in every case really blamable for his actions: he is rather the victim of his lack of years and of that sense of responsibility, which in a few years will cause him humiliation, when he reflects upon his youthful puerilities. Nevertheless the Executive, in its own interests, had better administer a corrective gently, but firmly, very, very firmly.
We understand that there has been quite a flutter in the dovecots of the Science Laboratories, through the idiosyncracies of the lab-boy, who, unable to remember the names of the students, whose record of work he keeps, hit upon the ingenious in place of their names. The "Spike" has been handed a number of these descriptions and they certainly are too good to allow to languish and die unknown. We therefore insert them here, and invite our readers to send in guesses as to the originals of these pointed descriptions—"Spots and specs": "High Cheek bones": "Tall and dreamy": "A pug": "Skinny": "Fat arms, talks."
One of the most important results of the recent agitation for the re-organisation of our university was the passage through Parliament of the New Zealand University Amendment Bill, which made provision for an academic body—the Board of Studies, though the Board has only advisory powers. The Senate must consult it before making changes in legislation on academic matters, such as courses of degrees for degrees or methods of examination. The Board, which is to meet annually, is composed of twenty members, five representatives from each of the four Professorial Boards.
The new body held its first meeting in November last and considered, among other matters, the course for the B. A. and B. Sc. Degrees and the best method of examination for these degrees. The editor of the "Spike" has thought it desirable to place before students the main proposals made by the Board to the Senate: students who wish to know of the Board of Studies
The Board proposed:—
pass in five subject at the intermediate stage, viz:—two foreign languages, one of which much be Latin or Greek; English Literature or History; Pure Mathematics, Philosophy or Economics; another subject which may be an experimental science. These subjects are those for the Intermediate Examination and 2, 3, or 4 of them may be passed at the of the first year.
The following typical courses will make clear the suggested regulations:—
Intermediate: Latin, Greek, English, Pure Mathematics, History; [four, three, or two of these may be taken at the end of the first year and the remaining subjects at the end of the second year.] Final: Latin, Greek (at end of third year). Honours: Classics (at end of fourth year). Intermediate: Latin, French, History, Economics, Geography. Final: Economics, History. For Economics or History in the Final the students might substitute a new intermediate subject (say, Mathematics) and an additional year of French or Latin; or a new subject (say, Philosophy) studied for two years.
Only in language study, therefore, would a student, after passing the Intermediate, be even relatively free to prosecute his higher studies for Honours. The general effect of the proposals may be put thus: a student may obtain Honours in Languages by taking his Honours subjects at all stages and in addition three subjects in any other subject by taking his subject at all stages and, in addition, the equivalent of six intermediate subjects.
If these proposals were adopted, they would allow specialized study in Languages but in no other subject. This anomaly may be due to the fact that almost all the Arts representatives on the Board were teachers of Languages, who were fully aware of the needs of their own departments and could not be expected to know that the requirement of other departments were very different.
An adequate scheme must provide equal facilities for the higher study of all subjects. Higher study is not
that every candidate for the B.Sc. degree must:—
pass in four subjects at the intermediate grade, viz:—one of the subjects pure Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, two experimental sciences; and another subjects that may be taken from the group of Arts subjects. These are the subjects for the Intermediate Examination that may be passed in two sections. pass in two subjects at the final stage (or their equivalents, as provided in the B. A. course). give evidence of his ability to read scientific works in French, German, or Italian.
As far as freedom of study is concerned, the B.Sc. course is far in advance of the B. A. course for there is no compulsory subject like Classics (as in the B. A. course) and the choice of subjects by students in not so restricted. The restriction seems all the more unnecessary as the Board suggested that the course of any student should be subject to the approval of his Professional Board.
The proposals of the Board were:—
Examination in subject at the Intermediate grade shall be conducted by the Colleges (as the term-examination now are).
In grades higher than the Intermediate the Board of Examiners for a subject shall be the four teachers of the subject in the affiliated colleges (with or without an external examiner).
After the Board of Examiners has determined the results of the examination in that subject, the chairmen of the Boards shall be a Committee to consider the results as a Whole.
The Senate agreed to none of these proposals; it disapproved of compulsory "repeat" and of the proposal to have all courses approved by the Professorial Board.
The whole, question has been referred back to the Board of Studies and it is to hoped that the Board and the Senate will both show a spirit of sweet reasonableness, so that our degree courses and our method of examination may be brought into line with the results of modern thought.
Mary C. Terry
John A. Scott
The following have passed sections in the B. Sc. Degree:—
The following have passed sections for the LL. B. degree:—
The following have passed a section to the B. A. degree:—
After a session and a half of valiant struggling against adverse circumstances the Debating Society comes once again into its own. More settled conditions obtain than did during either of the last two sessions, and fresh vigour is given by a body of new students, who seek with enthusiasm to revive the old traditions and to carry on t he work interrupted by the sad and shattering events of the earlier stages of the war. The Society is strengthened also by the support received from the women students, who have temporarily suspended the activities of their own society and thrown their weight into the balance on behalf of the main body; and for the keenness and energy with which they have come to the rescue in a time of stress the committee cannot be too grateful. The Training College must also be mentioned. In response to an invitation to co-operate with the older society—based on the ground that one strong society was better than two weak ones—the T. C. S. A. decided to leave the matter to the individual option of its members. This is, perhaps, all that can reasonably be expected and despite the disadvantage caused by the occurrence of Training College functions on debating evenings, the support received is appreciable and must be recognized.
From among the variety of questions in which these crowded days abound the committee has had no great difficulty in making a satisfactory selection, and the programme for the current selection, and the progamme for the current session is a full and well-balanced one which would be very hard to beat. The Plunket Medal Contest, which was last held in
Four meetings of the society have been held to date and have met with a success which even in times of peace would be considered unusually creditable. There are good solid speakers among the new blood and the attendances are such as to evoke from one of the judges (himself an old member) the comment that they reminded him of "the palmy days of the Society." Whether this state of affairs is to continue or not is, of course, in the lap of the future, and no man may look far in these days; but what-ever the uncertainty in this and in other matters, all the elements for "one crowded hour" exist, and it may be that it is left to the Debating Society to maintain an institution which would otherwise sink land disappear.
The Annual General Meeting was held on 24th March and was made interesting by an attempt to rob debating of half its terrors (and nearly all its benefits) by the appointment of a committee to settle the exact meaning of all terms beforehand. As the meeting preferred to look upon debating in its old and healthy character of an exercise in dialectics and not as an essay at truth, or any such perverse unnatural thing, the attempt failed; and members are assured that all questions placed before them are in their wild and woolly state and must be used as raw meat, with great appetite and much chewing. During this discussion one speaker exposed the crafty controversial device, to be encountered frequently, no doubt, when a Home Rule Parliament commences business, of "drawing a mare's nest across the track."
The society commenced its session with the customary public debate. This took place on the 8th April, when Mr. T. Brindle and Mrs. Donaldson, on behalf of the Social Democratic Party, moved "That the highest form of morality can only be attained in a Socialist state of society," and were opposed by Messrs P. B. Broad and J. P. Byrne. This occasion favourably resembled that of
On the 22nd April the first regular debate took place, the question being "That an alteration in the regulation of the liquor traffic in so far as it applies to the New Zealand troops is desirable." Messrs Cooper and Rowe moved and Messrs Wilson and Schmidt opposed. The debate concerned itself chiefly with wet canteens and early concerned and early closing, but as usual with liquor debates much was said on matters which claimed only a distant kinship with the point at issue. There is no rule compelling speakers aroused optimism as regards the outlook for the session, but a sad not was struck when the meeting displayed an almost unbelievable absence of sympathy with that most poignant of human anguishes—thirst—and voted for the motion en bloc. The judge (Mr. D. S. Smith, M.A., LL. M.) placed the first five speakers in the following order: Messrs Cooper, Schmidt, Cocker, Wilson and Evens.
At the second "regular" meeting on 13th May, Mr. George, seconded by Mr. Ross, moved "That the British should adopt reprisals in answer to Germany's infringements of the rules of war" and Mr. Evans, seconded by Mr. Jenkins opposed. Because of a counter-attraction at the Training College, the attendance was less than at the
The meeting on the 27th May consisted of a literary evening arranged by Miss Marjory Nicholls, winner of the last Plunket Medal Contest, and formed an enjoyable interlude to the solemn rumble of debates. Miss Nicholls opened with an address on "Modern Irish Writers," describing in brilliant phrase the genius and the character of the Irish, and the nature and import of that remarkable literary renascence which is developing before us and of which the greatest names are those of Lady Gregory, W. B. Yeats, and J. M. Synge. This was followed by readings from some of the writers mentioned, Mr. Nicholls giving a length (and all-to-short) excerpt from James Stephens' "Here are Ladies," Miss Nicholls and Messrs Broad and Pot of Broth.," Miss Crawford some representative selections from Irish poetry, and finally Miss Kennedy and Misses Nicholls and Baldwin a lively dialogue between two bedridden old workhouse characters in Lady Gregory's "The Workhouse Ward." Everything went swimmingly and it is only mildly true to claim that the majority present gleaned a mass of information and a very fair idea of a literary realm seldom brought into popular notice out here. It may, however in passing be
This is the progress up to time of publication. It was hoped to have included in this report the names of the plays to be read on Friday evening during the Short Vacation, but these are not yet agreed upon. When they are settled, notice of titles, dates and casts will be given on the College Notice Board.
It will be well within the memory of many students that for some years there existed in the College a Club, which was named the Heretics Club but which unfortunately met with an untimely death two years ago. This Club, formed for "open and free discussion on problems of religion, philosophy, and art," had so efficiently filled a corner of University life that its loss was keenly left by many and this year an attempt has been made to revive interest in such a Club, and once more provide opportunities for discussion on topics not usually admitted by the other Clubs and Societies of the College.
A preliminary meeting was held on the 7th April, and after an informal discussion it was decided to form a Club for the purpose of "free and full discussion of any subject that may interest members" such subjects being generally of a moral, social or religious nature. The Management of the Club was to be as free from hampering formalities as possible and at meeting the rules of debate are so far abandoned that the control is entrusted to the discretion of the Chairman and members themselves.
At its next meeting the Club was given the name which stands at the head of this report as an indication of the purpose for which it was founded and it may be so stated, as a Creed.
The first discussion on 28th April was one particularly appropriate to the nature of the Club and was opened by Professor Hunter. It had for subject "The Freedom of Thought" and among the points emphasized in the discussion were, the dependence of Progress on Freedom of Thought: that is where Thought is free, Progress is rapid and inevitable, and where it is not free it is slow or negative,. That where the churches and authority are strongest and consequently Liberty of Thought at it lowest, there is the greatest stagnation; and that with Freedom of Thought will always be found Honesty and Sincerity of Thought as well.
The second meeting was held on 12th May and the subject, Nietzsche's Views of Morality, Introduced by Messrs, P. B. Broad and A. J. George. The openers gave a brief account of the principles underlying Nitztsche's philosophy
The third meeting was held on the 19th May and took the form of a review of the problems reaised and partly solved be H. G. Wells in his novel "Ann Veronica." The introductory paper was read by Mr. H. C. Jenkins who after briefly outlining Ann's story asked the following questions: was Ann's father justified in trying to protect her?; was Ann justified in leaving home?; and what was her relation to Copes?. From these question the discussion became general and hinged on the marriage and divorce laws, and particularly the status of women. With regard to this latter question, which occupied the greater part of the discussion, the meeting was fortunate in having present a speaker of competent and wide knowledge of the subject, viz., Miss England, and she was good enough to give the meeting the benefit of her views. Another feature of the discussion was the keen manner in which the women present, took part, and it has been suggested that the discussion was not full enough and should be taken up again at a later date. On account of the simplicity of a constitution this is easily possible and lies wholly in the hands of members themselves.
The further discussions that have been arranged are as follows:—
1st term, June 2nd, "Prayer," taken by Miss H. Ross.
June 16th, "Historicity of Jesus," by Mr. H. S. Tily.
2nd term, July 21st, "Genesis of Religious Ideas," by Miss Braddock.
It will be remembered that the old Heretics Club had a Library in which were to be found books giving the other
The use of the Library will be a privilege restricted to members only, but it is to be pointed out that the discussions have no such restrictions, and every student who feels interested in a subject that is going to be discussed is invited to come along and hear it and give his opinions on it.
The Farewell Social held at the end of the year was well attended and proved very enjoyable.
During the vacation six studies on subjects relating to the war, were held. There formed a series but each was delivered by a different speaker. This arrangement proved very interesting especially to those who were able to attend the whole series.
The summer Conference this year was held at Te Awamutu. Several of our members travelled up and bought back glowing accounts to the less fortunate people who could not go. These Conferences are well worth attending as it is here a student feels the full influence of ennobling ideas. Moreover, at the present time, it is he only chance of meeting people from the other College in New Zealand.
The weather again played tricks with our Pre-sessioanl Conference. We intended to visit Belmont but were compelled by rain to seek the College Gymnasium. A programme was arranged and the afternoon passed only too quickly. An effort was made to show new students what the Christian Union really represents, as the success of our work depends mainly on students getting a good idea of our ideals. The meeting closed with an address by the Rev. Sola.
The handbook was again issued this year. Judging by its popularity, it has become part of the indispensable equipment of a student.
The work of forming study circles was proceeded with as early as possible and the results have been very satisfactory. We are still hampered by the fact that many of the freshmen are unknown to our committee. This makes it necessary for us to continue our work of obtaining new members throughout the term.
The Bible Study Circles are now well on with their work. The books for study are.
This last book was studied by all last year but has lost none of its charm in the second reading.
This year the leaders circle is under the direction of Mr. J. Caughley. Mr. Caughley has been of great assistance to the Canterbury College Christian Union in the past and now is giving us great help in our work.
At the end of last year the Executive decided to send copies of the New Testament to all our College men on Active Service. This was done and several letters of thanks were subscription list should be opened for the purpose of sending the "Intercollegian" to members of the Union at the Front. This list is open at present.
The book for Mission Study this year is "The Evangelisation of the Sudan." It is a well written book containing a great deal of information. Some of it is rather a shock to our ideas of the people of this part of Africa.
Gaps in book-shelves do not add to their beauty but we do not rejoice in the fact the our library has a well filled appearance. This library, which is situated in the Gymnasium, has now a good stock of books and members should take advantage of the opportunity presented. Mr. Purdie our librarian has not a very strict code of rules.
In conclusion we extend a hearty invitation to any student to join our ranks. You may lose a few hours "swat" but it is time well spent. The questions which occur in our studies have to be answered some time in life. Why not now?
"So far, so good."—Miss Clachan has kindly consented to be our conductor again this year, and with a good membership, and a satisfactory financial condition, the Club's prospects are bright. But that we may continue to flourish, the co-operation of every member is absolutely necessary, and we would here urge regular attendances at practices in spite of the rush and innumerable demands of the coming examination term, and warm each student that the waning of his enthusiasm is a serious draw-back to the whole Club.
The committee are endeavouring to cater for the social side of the Club. Accordingly, after the practice on Wednesday, May 3rd, a social evening was held. Several of the members kindly contributed items, and games and supper constituted the remainder of a most enjoyable programme.
Before the term ends we hope to give two concerts, one at the Soldiers Club, and one at Trentham Camp.
At the close of last year we gave two performances. The first was our Annual Concert, the gross proceeds of which, £20, were donated to the Hospital Ship Fund. We here desire to place on record our thanks and appreciation of the held so willingly given us by performers, and by the donors and sellers of sweets and flowers. Those who contributed, items were:— Mrs. F. P. Wilson, Misses Watkins, Smith, Churchill, Dryden and Messrs. Hamilton Hodges, and W. Goudie. The second concert was given in the Y. M. C. A. Hall at Trentham Camp. We shall not
Over the Porirua trip we would willingly draw a veil, but "truth will out," be it but brief. The drags did not turn up, though we did. However we have long since forgotten the wait at Veitch and Allan's corner, and have only pleasant memories of a glorious trip round Queen's Drive, a beautiful moonlit harbour, and a supper and dance at the women Students' Hostel. The thanks of the Club are due to the ladies who have acted as chaperones for us, and to Mr. F. P. Wilson for the interest and assistance given us so often.
We are still in need of male voices. Of tenors is an urgest need. We appeal to the men of the College, to fill the places of those who have left us for the front, and to sing their little bit for the "Green and Gold."
The prospects of this club which were dimmed somewhat last year by the departure of several of its members on Active Service have now brightened up again and it is hoped that the fresh interest taken in it by students and the new members it has acquired will make for it a worthy record this year.
The weekly meeting which lapsed last year on account of the rare attendance have now been resumed and it has been arranged that each Tuesday evening some member or members will be present in the Gymnasium Common-room to meet new members. Tuesday evenings have again been selected as the Club night but we would point out that the activities of Club are not limited to Tuesday evenings, it being the special feature of a Chess and Draughts Club that members may enjoy its benefits in numbers of so small a magnitude as two, the ordinary every-day two, and at times to suit themselves. But even this numbers may be made smaller; for a single member
The special feature of the problem is double knights play by which the mate is effected. It is extremely rare that a checkmate can be achieved by two knights alone and on an open board impossible: in the position shown in this problem, it is possible, only by the presence of Black's own pawn. The position is as follows:—
White to move and win. Key move, Kt-B4.
The position may be stated in the two notation as follows;—
Or—
8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 6K1, 3Kt1p2; 5Kt1K.
Or as an alternative to this problem the following end game is given recommended as one worthy of careful study. Interest attaches to it because it is a position
Or—
8, 8, 1 K P S, 3 r 4, 8, 8, k7
Solution of problem in October
The position of this problem was:—r 3 K 3, p 1 p 5, Q 3 K 3, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8. And the key move Q-Rsq. Then whatever Black did White's move was Q-R 8 checkmate.
The club has just passed through the most difficult season of its existence. Those stalwarts, who had built up the club to such a position that, a season ago, it could place in the field a team likely to extend any other one in Wellington, were away, many of them fighting for their country; and the new player at Victoria University Collage seemed indeed rare avis. Two teams were entered, but the juniors after two matches, one of which was won by default and the other lost after a days leather-hunting on the Wellington College ground died a premature death. The senior did famously. Our numbers were desperately small, some of us were away during Vacation, and more than once we were forced to take the field in a maimed condition, lacking some of our members, but the survivors, together with some other University men, who hurried up most opportunely. Struggled on so gallantly that last the satisfaction of gaining a tie and a win in our last two matches. We finished just below the penultimate team on the table, but we guarantee that we got a much fun and enjoyment from our cricket s any other club in Wellington, and good deal more than some, if one may judge from the nature of the remarks one has sometimes heard hurled by an opponent at a fellow-player. The match with Hutt was interesting. The result was a tie in each innings. In the second we needed 84 runs to win, and had 27 minutes wherein to get them. Fanning tried to put the last ball on to Somes Island: Smith did famously.
The team was not a brilliant one. The mainstays of the batting were brilliant one. The mainstays of the batting were Birch and Smith. The former came nearer the century, reaching the exalted height of 97 one day at the Basin Reserve. Towards the end of the season Smith was very consistent. The bowling was not so good as in other years, but mention must be made of Fenton's splendid work. He carried the team on his shoulders, obtained 66 wickets at 10 runs a piece, and with a little less bad luck (for instance he had seven chances from one batsman in one innings refused) he would have obtained more wickets than any other bowler in Wellington. In our opinion he is the best slow bowler here. The fielding
Though the standard of play has been considerably lowered by the fact that such a large number of our members are on active service or in camp yet the interest in the game in maintained as keenly as it has been in the past. On account of the present war the Wellington Provincial Association decided, at the beginning of the present season, to abandon the inter-club matches. As a result of this the club has had to arrange friendly matches with outside clubs as well as various tournaments among its own members in order to vary the monotony of Knock-up games. A fairly large number of ladder matches have also been played.
On Anniversary day a team of ladies and men journeyed up to Otaki. Though it rained steadily till after eleven a. m. we managed to day the courts, chiefly through the efforts of the ladies in our team, and play off the matcher. In this we were successful, winning ten sets to our opponents eight. On St. Patrick's Day we again went to Otkai and, the weather being kinder, managed to put in a whole day's play. We were again successful by a margin o two sets. On each of these occasions we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, chiefly owing to the splendid hospitality of the Otakiites. Early in the season two friendly matches were played with Brougham Hill on their courts. We were successful in neither of these. On Saturday, February 20th, Trentham Camp, sent in a team to play us, the following are the results Trentham players being mentioned first—
Sergt. Seay lost to D. S. Smith (6—2) (4—6) (5—7)
Lieut. Sheppard lost to Cleghorn (3—6) (3—6)
Sergt. Atmoer won from Sergt. Foden (6—5) (5—6)
Sergt. Wright lost to Edmondson (2—6) (2—6)
Sergt. Collins lost to Broad (3—6) (2—6)
Sergt. Marcussen lost to Howie (4—6) (4—6)
Sergt. Seay and Lieut Sheppard lost to Smith and Cleghron
Sergt. Atmoer and Sergt. Wright lost to Sergt. Foden and Broad.
Sergt. Collins and Sergt. Marcussen lost to Edmondson and Howie 0—6, 3—6
Several other matches were arranged with Trentham Camp, but on each occasion rain prevented their being played. Early in the season two successful handicap tournaments were held on public holidays among the club members, one being a Yankee and the other a Sealed Handicap Tournament. The ladies' and the men's Championship Singles were commenced some time before Christmas: the final of the former has yet to be played off between Miss Fenton and Miss Junker while we must congratulate Cleghorn on again winning the latter, by defeating Foden 6—2, 6—2, in the final. The most interesting match in the men's singles to win after a strenuous three-set go.
In concluding we would like to thank those ladies who have throughout the season so kindly attended to the making of afternoon tea and we would also like to add a word of thanks to the College Council for their decision to erect a concrete wall along the bank in the corner of number 4 court.
Our football activity this year will necessarily be curtailed. No inter-college matches will be played, but we have entered two teams for the Wellington Rugby Union Competitions, the first fifteen participating in the 3rd grade competitions and the second in the fourth grade. No junior or senior matches are being played in the city. The call of the Empire has taken away most of our experienced players, but as the same may be said of our opponents the College team should do well. In the past we have been rather younger and more inexperienced than the opposing teams and were thus at a disadvantage. This state of affairs does not exist to-day. May the green jersey seize the opportunity and now enter on a permanently successful phase in its career!
The Club entered a team in the seven aside competitions held on May 13th at Athletic Park and played into the final when they were beaten by Petone.
The Season opened auspiciously on 20th May when our first fifteen defeated Athletics by 17 points to 3 the score being made up of 5 tries (one converted) to a penalty fast. And for once the Collegians were fitter than their opponents and finished strongly. Barker in the three quarter line showed promise and Churchill was noticeable among the hard working forwards. Our line kicking and goal kicking was weak.
The Hockey Club, in common with all clubs of a similar character, has felt keenly the effects of the war. Most of our old players are gone, and the new rule of the Wellington Hockey Association has narrowed down greatly the number of player still remaining available for the competition games. All players in competition teams must be under the age of twenty on May 1st. other players must content themselves with practice games which are being arranged to enable hockey enthusiasts on the waiting or rejected lists to keep in form.
Our club has decided to enter a team for the competition, play for which commences on June 10th. We look to new student or support to enable the club to uphold the reputation which has been earned by the Victoria University College Club in past years.
Members have commenced practicing, having turned out at Karori Park on several Saturday. After a practice on Saturday 13th afternoon tea was partaken of (not dispensed) with the members of the Ladies' Club. A very enjoyable and instructive half hour was spent. We sincerely trust that the jug was returned to the owner and not taken to the Friends' Hostel.
On Saturday 20th May a friendly game was played against a team from Trentham. After a short struggle V. U. C. proved Victorious—4 goals to nil. The Free Lance reporter, we are informed, was present but being a smart fellow, he, like Brer Rabbit, "lay low and said nothing."
Members of the club unable to play in the Junior Competition will always be sure of a gme against one of the Trentham teams,
The club has decided to ask the Students' Association to grant blazers to the life members of the club.
The executive of the Students' Association has addressed a circular to the several College Clubs, urging them to "carry on" during the period of the war. Sport of the kind provided by and hockey club is not only pleasurable but necessary. Past members of the club, many of whom are now with the fighting forces of the Empire, have built up a worthy record of achievements. It is the duty of present collegians to hold together institutions of this type on which much of the corporate life of our College rests, and the committee trusts that those students of whom there are still a numbers, not yet playing any game in the desire to benefit themselves and to maintain the reputation of the college, will turn out with stick and shin pads and don the green for the Hockey Club.
The Ladies Hockey Club had a very successful season last year. The Senior team won the competition after many keenly contested matches. It was unbeaten throughout the season. The Senior were—Misses Dobbyn (Captain), Carrick, Neumann, Hunt, Mander, Thompson, Bingham, Blacker, Gallagher, Campbell, and Jamison. Misses Dobbyn, Neumann, Hunt and Carrick, with Miss Mander as emergency, were selected to play in the Wellington Representative team at the Tournament held in Wellington last September.
Nearly all our players left us at the end of the season. This year, with the exception of Misses Mander, Bingham and Gallaher, we have an entirely new team. No Junior team is taking part on the competition this year, but the Senior team began the season well by defeating the Wellington Girls' College after a keenly contested game. Owing to the wet weather no further matches have been played, but we have every reason to hope that we shall be as successful this season as we were last year.
Early in the year it was decided to make certain alterations in the "Spike." The chief one contemplated was the enlargement of the size of the page by about one inch in length and width—making the new page approximately ten inches by six and a half. It was also decided to adopt a rough cream paper for the cover, and to substitute of the Common Seal of the College, the College crest. However, on going into the question of cost, it was found that, as the price of paper had increased very greatly, the Executive would not be justified in making these changes, and we accordingly present this number to our fellow students again, to brave the light of day, clothed in its ancient vesture, and of its former stature. Nevertheless, the attentive student will notice crest in place of the Common Seal.
In the June numbers of last year's volume, we suggested that the time was now ripe for a change in the policy of the magazine. In the editorial of the first number of the first volume of the "spike," one of the aims of the magazine was stated thus—"to bring out the dormant talent, perhaps even genius, in both art and literature, that hundred University students." We thought that end might best the attained by bestowing a distinctive function upon each of the two yearly numbers, the suggestion being that the first number should be a "literary" number, and the second number should be an "official record of the doings of the College, and of all clubs and institutions in connection with it." Here again, but for a different reason, our hopes were doomed to disappointment. Until after the beginning of the term, at so low an ebb did the tide of College activities seem to be running, we thought that it would be possible to issue only one number this year. It was not realised until late in the term, that such a revival of interest in College life had manifested itself as would justify our embarking upon the experiment, that we have outline. We have therefore thought it only prudent to follow the beaten path for one more year.
There is one more matter, which, as gently as possible, but firmly withal, we wish to bring beneath the notice of students. It in this. In the present number of the "Spike" no student actually attending lectures, is represented by a single literary contribution. Now this is a serious matter. It is deplorable in more senses than one. While such a state of affairs continues, it is clear that the "Spike" is grievously failing at least in bone of it aims—that quoted above. We are positively certain that there are a number of students, who worship at the shrine of Melpomene, or light their humble wicks before the alter of Macaulay, and who could be of material assistance to us in the production o this magazine. But for some reason, such students resolutely refuse
"O you who bent the gaze of clear young eyes, In ended terms when Fortune's face was kind, Upon the page lit by the cloistered glow Of the bright Lamp of Knowledge,—will not you Pass on what shed a grace, about your path To other outstretched hands, before your own Are folded past the power of giving aught?"
Sergeant George McLachlan Hogben, of the 13 regiment Company (West Coast), Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Main Body New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, was born at Christchurch on the 27th September,
He fought in Egypt at the Battle of Tuseun and was wounded at the Battle of Krithia, Gallipoli Peninsula, on the
Educated at a Kindergarten, at Waimataitai Public School, Timaru Boy's High School and Wellington Boy's College, "Mace" —as he was known to his intimate friends —came to Victoria University College in
He was joint author with his brother of "South Sea Bubbles"—the Capping play of
He was responsible also for some clever individual Capping songs—notably the sadly prophetic "Dread Nought," wherein we have the lines:—
"For he knew poor old Asquith was perspiring With thoughts of firing And ships retiring, So he sent him the help he as requiring, By promptly wiring New Zealand's aid."
On leaving Victoria College he became an Engineer ("Mining Surveyor") to the Consolidated Gold Fields of New Zealand at Reefton, and those competent to judge predicted a brilliant future for him in his profession. His intention of proceeding to England to undergo higher training in Civil Engineering was cut short by the war in which he laid down his life, so brimful of hope and promise.
For some time he was reported missing, but there comes from a kindly Chaplain at the front final news of "Mac":—"He lies buried in a cemetery overlooking the "Egean Sea with the islands so full of sacred association "in the distance, Samotherce and Mitylene."
Lost, by working man, a Purse containing £6 in notes and one half-sovereign.—"Post."
Liar!
It was remarked, too, that the orchestra furnished both popular and well- played music.—"Post."
One of those subtle distinctions so dear to the heart of the musical critic. The beggars will be sarcastic at any price.
"The Empire's Cause."—sir Robert Stout Esq. From the toast list of the Anzac Commemorative Dinner.
We imagine that Mr. Joseph Ward, Bart. Would then reply.
Lost, on Wednesday, from Makara, aged dark-brown Sheep-dog.—"Post."
A new method of estimating age, not recommended in the case of the fair sex.
Free Lance, May 20th. Heading of Leading Article. That Accursed Word Mesopatamia. —Who should be Shot?
We suggest the man, who set up the type!
It is absolutely necessary in view of the enormous increase in t the cost of loving, that a war-bonus should be granted to officers.— "N. Z. Times.
We deprecate the class distinction involved in this suggestion. We have it on good authority that the men are just as bad as the officers.
Licensed to sell stamps: any denomination sold. — Shop Window Advertisement.
Including Dowieites and Unitarians, but ye canna sell a Presbyterian.
One man protested that he could not see out of one eye, and, turning his head aside, dropped it into the palm of his hand—a glass one.—"N. Z. Times."
We cannot sympathize with him. People with glass hands should be more careful.
Prof. B - - - - n,: Quite so, quite so. It is always well to be accurate in one's statements; and in any case, out of regard to the morals of the Junior Latin class we were glad to hear you add that they stood on the walls with their own wives.
Miss B—k—r,: Yes. Some two or three years ago the proposal was mooted to establish a Conservatorium of Music affiliated to the University of New Zealand, and though the proposal was dropped we agree that it was well worthy of encouragement. We shall therefore be pleased to print your thesis on "Mouth organs."
A. J. G - - - ge and the Secretary of the Gym. Committee. (I) re those two dozen spoons missing from the Demonstrator in Chemistry set his class to analyse a penny: may they not also have been asked to analyes a spoon? (2) Yes, we agree with you that a "Spoon" is also capable of psychological analysis.
Prof. E - - -t - - -f - - d: "Frozen sea water is water practically free from ice." We anticipated something fishy when we saw the heading—"Salt Sea Stories"—but this is too tough even for a chemistry student to believe.
Misses W - th - rs and McL - - r -n: We cordially sympathies. It is most unfair to restrict the athletic events in the Tournament to males. We have approached the Committee with a view to having the contests thrown open to ladies. Meanwhile by all means keep your hands in (if you will pardon the mixed metaphor) by training on the Tennis Court. The nets make excellent hurdles! !
J. P. B - - ne: That mare's nest idea of yours is great. But why drag it merely across trails. Would it not be a good idea to try it as a lawn-mower?
Prof. McK - - - - e: "Niggiers are to appear in church only in boots." Phew ! !
S. M - nsf - - Id: Yes, Ethel is a pretty name, but it doesn't seem to sound well when joined to acetate.