The Land Of God

A faint quivering of the eyelids is at length observable in our College Kip van Winkle, the Council. We doubt, however, if a full state of wakefulness has yet been reached, or, at any rate, had been reached, when the chairman was elected for this year. Perhaps the appointment may be looked upon as a prize for good attendance, for Dr. Findlay was, we believe, especially strong on this point; or perhaps it may be that the Council has given it as a reward for good work in the future.

In several respects, however, we cannot complain, for most of the requests of the Students' Association have been satisfactorily complied with. 150 chairs have been granted us, and these will supply a much-felt want. £30 has been passed for plastering the room above the library, and turning it into a common room. A path is to be laid across the sea of mud, soon to become a tenuis court. The cinders for this track have been arranged in neat mounds for quite a time already, and, after the next Councillor has had a mud bath, we may expect further developments as to their arrangement. Then too, the City Council is to be asked to place lights on the rise approaching the path. The spacious apartment on the left of the main entrance has been granted for the use of committees, and is really quite snug. "Standing room only" is a sign which has frequently to be displayed. Lastly, it is suggested that hot tea be supplied gratis to the unfortunate students whose lectures prevent them from having anything more substantial for several hours on end.

Thus it will be seen, we have something to thank our Council for. Still, when we see the liberal donations which are pouring into the Y.M.C.A. building fund from all sides, a qualm sometimes seizes us as to whether a really earnest effort was ever made on the part of the Council on behalf of our building fund. The lining and sleeves of our new coat, will come, we trust, in due course.

Students' Association

At the Annual General Meeting of the Students' Association, the question of the election of Honorary Life Members again came up, and, the same weary round of discussion, as to whether a four-fifths majority could be obtained on a straight-out ballot, or whether a qualifying ballot must first be taken, ensued. Some members seemed impressed with the argument that no Life Members might be elected, but the majority appeared to think that if the members proposed did not stand out so clearly as to obtain the requisite majority, they ought not to be elected—the fewer elected the greater the honour. One or two speakers wandered very far from the idea of the framers of the constitution, suggesting that students, who, by reason of academic distinction, brought honour to the College, should be eligible, or rather, should without question be elected. This seems to us quite to ignore the reasons for which the constitution lays down Life Members should be elected. A student might possibly win the highest distinction, and yet be, during his whole college life, far less sacrificing, and of far less service to his fellow students than the last undergrad. who plays emergency for IIIB.

Our Rhodes Scholar.

When P. W. Robertson left us to go to Oxford, all knew that success lay before, as well as behind him, but even the most optimistic had no idea that his conquests would begin so soon after his arrival. He is already, after nine months residence there, a "Scholar of Trinity," having obtained a Science Scholarship, of the value of £80 a year, for three years. Since, however, he has already the Rhodes Scholarship, the authorities decided to let him have the honour only of this newly-won distinction, and a year of research abroad at the close of his Oxford course. The privileges of a "Scholar of Trinity" include, amongst other things, the right of wearing longer gowns than the ordinary ones, of reading lessons in chapel, and of devouring two extra courses at dinner. This last-named distinction is presumably included to prove that, after all, scholars are only mortal.

Robertson was also made a member of the "Alembic," a club which consists of 3rd year science men, and discusses questions of scientific interest.

Socially he is having a thoroughly enjoyable time, and is upholding the honour of Victoria College in that direction too.

A Loss.

"But if beneath yon Southern sky
A kingly stranger roam."

We regret to have to record the loss to the College of H. W. King, who has taken up a position in the South. During the time he has been with us, he has served the College faithfully; on the football field as a member of the first fifteen, and in the University tournaments. He has been in the representative team almost from the first, and his performance in the quarter mile at the meeting at Christchurch will long remain in the memories of those who witnessed it. As he is attending Canterbury College this year, we may look forward to seeing him striving as hard for the success of his new College as he has done for the old.

Leeding the Lions.

"Philosophers find joy in books,
The outer world, not heeding;
But even they are mortal, for
They all require feeding."

—Anon.

The Committee of the Students' Association this year hit upon the idea of bringing the candidates for the Rhodes' Scholarship together on the day before the choice was made, when they were all assembled in Wellington. Thus it was that W. Gillanders, President of the Association, presided at a luncheon given in their honour at the Keiburne Kiosk. On either side of the Chairman sat the four candidates, Messrs. Pickmere of Auckland, Currie of Canterbury, Farquharson of Otago and Sprott of Wellington. Speeches were made, and conjecture was rife as to who was to be the fortunate one, everybody expecting a keen contest.

It is to be hoped that this function will be continued annually, as it proved a great success.

Ourselves.

Owing to the energy and business capacity of our Financial Secretaries the Spike last year came out with a credit balance of £3. In order to encourage any literary or artistic talent which may happen to lie undeveloped in our readers, it was decided to offer prizes for the two best literary contributions, and one for the best sketch suitable for reproduction. We regret to say that the response was not encouraging, but we hope that for the next competition, for which the same prizes are offered, more may be sent in, the notice given on this occasion being rather short.

Wellington College.

We have again to thank Mr. J. P. Firth, Headmaster of Wellington College, for the use of the College ground for training purposes. As always, both masters and boys did everything in their power to assist Victoria College in her preparations for carrying off the coveted shield.

Bowen Essay Prize

The Bowen Essay Prize was this year won by Herbert Edgar Evans, of our College, the subject being "European Alliances from the time of the Congress of Vienna to the present time, and their effects on the British Empire." We regret that lack of space prevents us from printing the prize essay, which runs to some thirty pages of type-written quarto. The winner has our heartiest congratulations on his well-merited success.

Jacob Joseph Scholarship

Miss E. M. Martin, with 2nd Class Honours in English and Latin, and M. Sprott, with 1st Class Honours in Latin and Greek, were this year awarded the two Scholarships bequeathed under the will of the late Mr. Jacob Joseph. Sprott is shortly leaving for Cambridge in order to pursue his studies.

Anomalies.

A rather curious point seems to have arisen in the course of the elections. It is that an od eundem graduate may vote in an election for the Senate, but, not being a member of the Court of Convocation, he cannot vote for the College Council. Nominally, he may become a member by being admitted by Convocation, but, as there appears no means of calling it together, he is page 71 practically disfranchised. Another anomaly exists in the election of members to the Senate. In the case of an election for a member to represent this district, graduates resident in this district who are on the books of Victoria College may vote, but not graduates resident here who are on the books of another College. There appears, however, to be nothing to prevent any number of graduates who are on the books of say Canterbury College, but are resident here, transferring their names for the election, and then re-transferring when the election is over. Thus in the recent election it is said that a number of proxies of graduates resident here, which were to have been used had there been a contest for the Canterbury District, were set free when it was seen there was to be no opposition there, for use in the election for the V.C. District. Now that this election is over, they may at once re-transfer and vote for Canterbury District next time

Alteration in Senior Scholarship Regulations.

The College Council is not the only body which is beginning to bestir itself. The University Senate is also awakening from its conservative and "dogmatic slumbers." The Senate is a body which we hold in considerable estimation, consisting, as it does, of sober and respectable men, who endeavour, according to their abilities, to do the right, but at the same time, there is no denying that it has been almost impossible, up to the present, to lead it out of the ruts of immemorial tradition. However, the thing has at last been done. The Senate has amended the Senior Scholarship Regulations, and thereby removed a long-standing rock of offence. A Scholarship is now awarded in each of the B.A. degree subjects, Hebrew and Education excepted. In former years only one Scholarship was given for two out of the three languages, English, French and German, whereas in Latin and Greek one each was given. Now this was most unfair. Unquestionably there is quite as much work required to be done to reach Scholarship standard in English or German, as there is in Latin or Greek, and it is strange that the Senate should have so long ignored this obvious fact. However, we must congratulate the Senate upon its amendment, tardy though it is.

Graduates Association

The graduates of Victoria College have formed an Association, the objects of which are, shortly, to provide a means of stating their collective opinion on any matter which may concern page 72 them educationally or academically, of bringing before the Council any recommendations thought desirable, of considering candidates for nomination to the Council (a very necessary work too long neglected), and of bringing graduates into closer touch with the various institutions of the College. At the First General Meeting Mr. H. P. Richmond was elected President, and Miss M. E. Hales Honorary Secretary. It was decided to support Mr. F. P. Wilson lor the seat on the Council rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr. Richmond, and Mr. Richmond for the seat on the Senate. At the election, Mr. Wilson was returned unopposed, but Mr. Richmond was defeated by Mr. Cohen. The subscription to the Association is extremely low—One Shilling, with an entrance fee also of One Shilling; and it is hoped, that all the new graduates, and as many of the old ones as have not already done so, will send in their names to the Honorary Secretary.

Graduates' Supper.

In former years ex-students have not been able to attend the supper given in honour of the graduates of the year, and an opportunity of allowing those who have been connected with the College to meet together has thus been lost. This is now altered, as the Committee of the Students' Association has decided to allow those who have attended College in former years to join with present students at this function, on payment of an extra shilling. The idea appears to be a good one, as at present there are few occasions on which past students may show their interest in College affairs.

As we go to press we regret to hear that our President, F. A. de la Mare, has suffered a bereavement in the loss of his father. On behalf of the students we tender him our heartfelt sympathy.