Election of Life Members.

The rules and regulations which hedge round the election of Life Members of the Students' Association were not sufficient to exclude two of us from the Holy of Holies. They were "two of us" in the particular and peculiar sense that they made our interests, was students of Victoria College, their own, and as soon as they were eligible by reason of having ceased to attended lectures, they were given those post mortem (tanquam) honours so seldom accorded to laborious and virtuous days.

To give a full and detailed account of the services of George F. Dixon to the Students' Association would be to give a history of that illustrious institution from about the year 1901. Sometime in the dark ages notice signed by one J. W. Joynt invited intending students to give in their names at the University Office at 10 o' clock in the morning. On that eventful day G. F. Dixon was standing on the pavement of Museum Street at 10 a. m. waiting for the door to open. The Victoria College door has been an open one to open. The Victoria College door has been an open one to him ever since. Six years a member of the Executive Committee, never once during those six years did he miss a meeting. He was President of the Students' Association foe three successive years, and promoter and organiser of most of our Clubs during their early struggle for existence. His work in connection with the founding of the University Tournament was of such a colossal nature that we are unable to do it justice. We have been seen the files of corres page 78 pondence, and at a moderate estimate they contain as much as about three volumes of the Enyclopaedia Britannica. He has been one of the Victoria College delegates from the beginning, an manager of the team on four occasions. Dixon is as Victoria College landmark, and we hope to see him on Victoria College land for a long time to come. There will always be a spaded and a shovel time to come. There will always be a spade and a shovel ready for him at the tennis courts. The present election is the only one which has not promised to involve him in toilsome days and nights. May he escape the annual half-crown for many years.

The other life member is William Gillanders. He has severed his connection with us in good earnest, and "Gilly's Shovel" will have to be wielded "on the old clay patch" by some less lusty arm. Dixon and Gillanders both hail from the same school and the same province, they are "prime Canterbury." Gillanders followed in Dixon's footsteps as President of the Students' Association, and his strong personality combined with that shrewd diplomatic Scotchness of his left its mark on the College life. He always pushed his weight and was muscular withal. As General Secretary for Australasia of the Y.M.C.A. he will have plenty of scope. We are sorry to lose him—but congratulate the Y.M.C.A.

Sound, Fight, and Heat.

In connection with these branches of science there are certain phenomena within the College buildings which, we believe, have not yet come under the notice of the Professor of Physics. The eagle editorial eye has, however, had the misfortune to stumble across the said phenomena, and we felt in our duty to bring them beneath the searching gaze of the readers of The Spike. In the first place we have observed that the Library, the room in the College where silence is most desired—and the hints to that effect hanging about the walls are surely broad enough—seems to be recognized as a happy hunting ground for would-be orators. Some time ago one might have thought that the printed requests for silence gave advice undergraduate who disregard them, will before long mend their ways. There has also been a noticeable lack of light on several occasions, much page 79 to the annoyance of students, who have been compelled by circumstances to return home with their craving for knowledge unrelieved. With regard to heat, we have observed an overdose of it in the lecture rooms, and an absence it in the Students' Common Room. This latter deficiency may, to some extent, account for the limited number of students who seem to know of the Common Room's existence. There are one or two other details about the building which might be remedied—the lack of ventilation worthy of the name, to take one instance. Nobody however would dare to assert that the architects did not make the external beauty of the College all the cloud e desired.

Supper to Rhodes Candidates.

On the night before the fatal day on which this year's Rhodes Scholar was to be chosen, the Students' Association gave a complimentary supper to the candidates. The only damper to the evening's entertainment was the absence of representatives from Otago and Canterbury—the former because he did not arrive till the following morning, and the latter because the Canterbury College authorities did not appoint a candidate. The two candidate present, however, to wit R.L. Ziman of A.U.C. and G. V. Bogle of ours, did their best to make up for this loss; and their efforts were ably seconded by those of a hungry individual from the "N.Z. Times," who helped to keep things moving in fine style. During the course of the evening, the usual complimentary speeches were made, the usual toasts were honoured the usual songs were sung, and—de la Mare recited But the pièce de résistance of the evening was the reply by W. Gillanders to the toast of the University of New Zealand; we doubt if the advantages of University life and the widespread power of a true University spirit could have been better described by the Registrar himself. The gathering was indeed one of those occasions—and may they ever increase—when purely College interests are forgotten, and spirit of loyalty to University alone is evident.

Wellington College.

Once again we would express our heartiest thanks to Mr. J. P. Firth for the use of the Wellington College Grounds for training purposes. As on the previous occasions when we have been allowed the use of the grounds, Mr. Firth took the kindliest in our doings, and we have to thank him, his staff, and the boys of Wellington College for the many courtesies shown towards us.

Via Litterarum.

The approaches to the College have been made much more tolerable than they were last year, but even now much is to be desired. The river-bed which wound its course down the Mount Street approach has been filled up, and the feet of students have performed a function which usually falls to the lot of a steam-roller—the smoothing-down of the rough metal laid on the track. We are pleased to offer our thanks for the new lights, but the authorities have not themselves to thank that no student's limbs were broken it was dark.

Jacob Joseph Scholarships.

There two scholarships were this year awarded to G. B. Collins, ll. m., who gained first Honours in Law in the recent examinations, and Miss J. O. Abernethy m. a., who gained second-class Honours in Languages and Literature (Latin and German). We offer our heartiest congratulations to the successful candidates upon their earned successes.

Macmillan-Brown Prize.

We are pleased to be able to announce that this prize was in January last awarded to a student of Victoria College, making five successive years in which the University essay prizes have come to Wellington. This record is one which can be extended, and we sincerely hope that some students will come forward this year to fill the gap created by the incapacity of former winners to compete. The prizes are valuable, the work in interesting, and the competition, limited to undergraduate, is not severs. Let it be possible to say that in literature, as well as in page 81 debating, Victoria College can set a standard which others will find it hard to reach.

Sir George Grey Scholarship.

This scholarship was gained by G. R. Barnett at the end of last year for work in Pure Mathematics, Mechanic and Astronomy. In the November examinations, however the Senior Scholarship in Mathematics was awarded to him as second to Ziman of Auckland who was debarred from it by holding another Senior Scholarship. The Sir George Grey Scholarship was therefore awarded to J. F. G. Ricards, for work in Chemistry, Physics ad Zoology. We congratulate both students upon the distinction awarded to them.

The Grounds.

On May 24th, Empire Day was celebrated by Victoria College students in a manner suggestive of Arbor Day. The trees with which the Council propose to adorn "the old clay patch" were duly produced, and those who had dutifully obeyed the summons of the Council appeared on the scene to dig trenches and commence planting. We hope the trees will grow, but the subsoil certainly planting. We hope the trees will grow, but the subsoil certainly doesn't give much promise. It is understood that the Gardens Committee estimates the whole cost of beautifying the College grounds at £20, buy whether this sanguine assumption proceeds from a vivid imagination or a shortage of cash is not explained. Perhaps it was a misprint for £200!

The Tennis Courts.

A season's play on our three tennis courts has proved conclusively that a forth court is absolutely necessary. It was waits, and any practice this season without long waits, and good practice was out of the question. Consequently most of the first team had to get practice elsewhere. Those that did not, suffered. If the junior players are to improve they must have practice with their seniors, and more accommodation must be provided. How?

The three courts cost £274. Of this College Council provided £100 for leveling and £75 towards cost of asphalting and the students' Association voted £50. £50 was raised in debentures from friends of the Club. The Club has a credit balance of £15 and the Construction Committee has a balance of £9 1s 10d. The Tennis Committee have therefore to face a debit balance of about £25 18s 2d. This is not a serious matter, and with reasonable economy should be wiped out from revenue in two or three years. Notwithstanding its importunity, the Committee will almost certainly laying the asphalt and topdressing the new court. But the rough-hewing, the rock-shifting, can be done by the students. Let those who want the new court take off their coats, and there will be no need for their eloquence at general meetings. Working-bees will be organized as soon as the winter are over, and there is no reason why the new Court should not be in use by Christmas-time.

The Gymnasium.

Notwithstanding the plaints of the Football Club, the Gymnasium Committee has so far not reported to the Students' Association any starting progress in its schemes. Nothing can be done until the sum of £350 I provided, and even that would not be enough. Up to the present only about £55 has been collected, and of that £20 was contributed by the generosity of the Professorial Board. This, however, is a start, and an earnest that the scheme will not die. We learn that the appeal for subscriptions at the end of last year was something of a fiasco, as it was made right at the end of the term, and more than half the students never claimed and their circulars—which adorned the rack for some months and were than surreptitiously removed by the Secretary. Anyone aggrieved may apply to the Secretary and the missing circular will be supplied. A further effort will be made by organized canvass this year, so every man should prepare himself either to pay over or dodge the Treasurer. In our last number we said that we had reason to believe that there were friends of the College on Wellington who would help in page 83 this cause. We are sure that such friends exist and will appear at the psychological moment. Let us is the meantime show that we ourselves are willing to do our share for the Gymnasium.

Thanks.

The thanks of all connected with the College are due to Professors Kirk and von Zedlitz, Mr C. P. Powles, Mr Thompson (of the Parliamentary Library), Miss M. R. Barkas and W. B. A. Quick, for much sacrifice of time and trouble in the arrangement and indexing of the College Library. The magnitude of a work of this kind cannot well be realised by a glance at the neatly arranged shelves and the compact index case, but those who during the long vacation saw the quantity of literature to be disposed of might almost have despaired of the task of evolving order out of such a chaos.

H. D. Skinner has been appointed assistant librarian to Mr C. P. Powles.

The Council and the students.

At the meeting of the Council held on 15th May, Mr. McCallum said a few words on behalf of the students' organizations, and suggested that members of the Council should, in their private capacities, subscribe to the various funds. We do not see that there is any special claim upon Councillors in this direction, and we ask rather for their sympathy than their financial support, but at least Mr. McCallum in the past has shewn himself ready to practice what he preaches.

Graduates' Association.

At the second Annual Meeting of the Graduates' Association, in addition to the election of officers for the year, Mr. A. R. Meek was nominated by the Association of fill a vancancy upon the College Council. Mr. Meek was subsequently elected as representative of the graduates.

All graduates should become members of this Association, which exists for the protection of their interests, and constitutes the means of voicing their opinions.

Us.

It has been usual, on the occasions of previous changes in the editorial staff, for the incoming talent to make an apologetic statement for their appearance in print. We, therefore, take this opportunity of assuring our readers that we have no such intentions. We were appointed to our position by the Students' Association Committee for the purpose of writing the magazine. If we have failed to satisfy them, we shall be pleased to print a statement of their objections not more than half a page in length. Such statement must however, be typewritten and on one side of the paper sonly. Any other persons with grievances against us are respectfully requested not to use firearms.

Subscriptions.

The Management wishes to acknowledge the following subscriptions:—T. E. Y. Seddon, '06, Miss M. C. Ross, '06 '07, Mrs. Hall, '06, M. G. Bell, '06, Mrs. Æ. M. C. Lovey, '06, Rev, T. G. Kay, T. Fleming, '06 Dr. McArthur, '06, A. J. Thomson. '06, Miss McLean, '06, R. MacMorran, '06, Miss F. M. Wolters, L. F. De Berry, '06, Miss Zoe E. Poynter, '06, Dr. Robertson, '06. Miss E. Williams, '06, F. Matthers, '06, A, E, Currie, '07, H, O. Stuckey, '06 '07, Miss A. M. Brown, '06.