Caf Chaff

The year has certainly started well for those fortunate people who were at the Congress Union party last Saturday at Nomi Hirschfeld's home on Kelburn Parade. Nomi, who had a year at Vic in 1951, spent last year doing science at Otago. This year she is spending at Vic again—a welcome return. Most of the Vic types who were at Congress were there. We noticed Pam Beck, Beryl Hargreaves, Pauline Hoskins, Elaine Foote, Kay Brown, formerly women's vice-president at C.U.C. and now taking education here, Diana Lescher, who has just been co-opted to the executive, Gillian Lescher, Audrey Cook, 1953 Congress Controller, Josie Harding, Kathleen Slocombe, Marjorie Monroe, Gerda Oelsner, also formerly of Otago and now doing science here, Kevin O'Brien, Conrad Bollinger, just back from Auckland not teaching at Tech as we previously wrote—he's still waiting for the job. Hec MacNeill, who will be filling in time until he leaves for the U.K. and Europe midyear, Alec Young, Dave Somerset on leave from C.M.T., Bruce Tolley, recently awarded a Senior Scholarship in French, Brian Bradburn, Tom Turney of the Chemistry Department, Pat Hutchings, Tim Beaglehole, David Scott, Roger Harris, our "night watchman," and your editor, Trev. Hill. Everyone (we have it on good authority enjoyed himself but unfortunately most people thought they had Just had to leave at the early hour of 4 a.m.

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There was a flat-warming that night also—at the new domicile of John Treadwell, whom many will have seen on Monday night leading the haka party, Colin Riddet, John Doran of the Jazz Club, and Alan Holland.

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We are informed that Lance Robinson was seen wearing a black armband recently. This cannot be taken seriously, but surely the fact that Hec MacNeill has been wearing a black tie has some significance.

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It seems a pity that the men's common room was not ready for the beginning of the term. The room is in a mess and at this stage is beyond use. It is to be hope that the executive will do its best to have the refurnishing finished as soon as possible.

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It is rumoured that the Socialist Club are sending a message of condolence to the Russian Embassy on the death of Marshal Stalin. There is a difference of opinion on the wording of this message. While it is felt that such a message should be formal, some members felt that the club should ally themselves with the Russian people and their loss.