Held At Wellington, Easter, 1909

To those who were awakened in the small hours of Easter Saturday morning by an insistent patter of raindrops, the foreboding was ominous. By daybreak the fates seemed to have completely conquered and a Persistent northerly had installed itself, shaking steady rain out of the moisture-laden clouds that enveloped the City, and flouting the prophecy of the weather-wise that "Fair weather cometh from the north." Such were the weather conditions that greeted those who had spent weeks of insistent toil in preparing for the successful management of the Eighth New Zealand University Tournament and welcomed to Wellington the Auckland representatives, who had arrived by the Main Trunk Express on Thursday, and the Southerners who journeyed thither by the "Maori," on Friday morning. Undeterred by an outlook so disheartening and a prospect gloomy in the extreme, a numerous and optimistic assembly of students wended its way to the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall to receive the official welcome of the Mayor and Citizens of Wellington and hear explained away such untoward behavior of the weather.

The Mayoral Reception.

Shortly after 9 o'clock Mr. J.P. Luke, M.P., (Senior City Councilor) from a platform on which were assembled many local notabilities, extended the welcome of the City to the visiting page 20 representatives and apologized for the absence of the Mayor, the Hon. T.W. Hislop. He reviewed the history and work of the New Zealand University and mentioned the services rendered to it by the late Rt. Hon. R.J. Seddon and Sir Robert Stout. He added that had the late Premier lived a Chair of Naval Architecture would certainly be founded in view of the present navel crisis. In concluding he wished the Tournament success and to assist in the entertainment of the vistors in the unforeseen weather conditions, kindly arranged for an Organ Recital by the City Organist, Mr Maughan Barnett. Professorial Board and offered the use of the College for any entertainment in the afternoon. He also made a weather prophecy.

Professor Gabbatt of Canterbury College briefly returned thanks. His hopes were two only, that the best College would win and that the best would be Canterbury.

G.F. Dixon thanked Mr. Luke for attending, told the effect of Opie on Mercury and stated that he had already found two pursed.

Before dispersing, it was announced that through the courtesy of Mr F.M.B. Fisher, M.P., who was present, arrangements had been made to open the Genberal Assembly Library to visitors and this privilege was largely taken advantage of. A large number aviated themselves of the opportunity of bearing the Town Hall Organ—a unique form of Tournament entertainment—and after a pleasant hour had been spent, appreciation cheers. At noon there was no sign of a break in the weather and it was then decided to entertain the visitors at the College in the afternoon. This impromptu arrangement was not without its advantages and in all all-too-short three hours many new friendships were made and old ones renewed. A concert programme was carried out, each College in its turn providing the talent; afternoon tea was dispensed and the entertainment terminated with a set of Lancers and the indispensable "Merry Widow."

Victoria College Teams

Athletics.

Easter Monday proved to be a day of perfect atmoshpheric conditions; a cloudless sky with a bracing fine southerly. As was only to be expected the track was somewhat dead after the heavy rains and this fact serves to enhance further the several page 22 fine performances subsequently achieved. A large assembly of over 1,500 people watched the "games." Public opinion favoured the chances of Canterbury College, and mainly by the aid of R. Opie—their crack sprinter—and L.A. Dongall, they duly captured the shield.

Collyns secured the opening event, Putting the Weight, for Canterbyry College and Dongall placed a second win to their credit by wining the mile championship in record time, 4 min. 63 3/5 secs.—a fine performance. Dougall made his own pace and had no difficulty in winning easily from Rigg, (V.C.); Dougall also won the half mile without being extended. The 220 yards went to R. Opie, (C.C.), in the fast time of 23 4/5 sees. —1/5 sec. outside record time. The performance in the high and long jumps were only moderate, but A. H. Bogle (V.C.) showed excellent form in annexing the 120 yards hurdles in 17 1/5 secs., equaling both in heat and in final— with slight assistance from the wind—the previous best performance. He also successfully defended his title in the 440 yards hurdles, C. Strack (V.C.) being a creditable second. The 100 yards Championship was won by R. Opie in 10 1/5 secs -1/5 sec inside record time, but as the race was run before a slight breeze the record was not recognised. It was nevertheless an excellent performance, and under perfect conditions Opie should be capable of at least equaling the record. Duncan was close up second. These runners were again placed first and second in the 440 yards Championship, in which a considerable amount of jostling took place. Although the result was not affected, such tactics are to be deprecated in University sports. Otago secured first and second places in the Hammer Throwing through the agency of Hamilton and Wilson, the distance 99ft. 11½ ins. Being a distinct improvement on the previous year's performance. Otago's representative, A. Hamilton, succeeded in wresting the Mile Walk Championship from R. Twyneham (C.C.) in 7 min. 21 2/5 secs., the best performance to date. The finish of the Three Miles Flat was left to Victoria College, T. Rigg finishing first and D. S. Smith second, L.A. Dougall (C.C.) made the pace for the first mile (run in 4 min. 56sec.) and then retired. Two miles were recovered in 10 min. 33 secs., and the full distance in 15 mn. 56 secs, which is considerably below the previous best time. Rigg was unpacked for the last mile and won sprinting,. A large field of gallant knights and fair ladies, assembled to contest the ancient game of Threading the Needle. Many fingers were pricked, but no records were broken. Last year's Pick-a-Back champions successfully defended their title.

The official records are given on page 28.

Tennis.

With the weather in its angriest mood throughout Saturday and the consequent loss of a day's play, the prospect of completing the Tennis Championships before the close of the Tournament looked extremely doubtful. By decree of the Committee, however, the ladies were required to play on Easter Monday morning, and on Tuesday, by dint of careful arrangement, the championships were so far completed that only two finals remained to be played on Wednesday. The quality of play, though equal to that of the previous year, was not up to the University standard. Canterbury College successfully defended their title to the Tennis Cup;, which looks to be in their safe keeping for some time.

In the Men's Championship Singles a fine contest was witnessed between Wilding (C.C.) and Moody (O.U.), the latter eventually winnign (6—3, 6—4). In the final, Jennings (C.C.), last year's champion, had no difficulty in defeating the Otago representative (6—0, 7—5). The result of the Men's Championship Doubles was never in doubt, Jennings and Wilding (C.C.) easily disposing of Bundle and Gower (O.U.), and the Combined Championship Doubles was also a foregone conclusion, Jennings and Miss Grace successfully defending their title. Canterbury College players continued their victorious career in the Ladies' Championship Doubles, two Canterbury pairs reaching the final, which was played in Christeburch, and ended in favour of Misses Grace and Paterson. Victoria College players showed to advantage in the Ladies Championship Single, three of them reaching the semi-final. In the final, Miss Reeve (V.C.) was opposed to the redoubtable Miss Grace (C.C.) and an exciting contest extends in favour of Miss Reeve (12—10) amidst enthusiasm. The Spike extends to the champion its congratulations. An outstanding feature of the Tournament was the safe and consistent play of the Canterbury players, Jennigns and Miss Grace.

Debating Contest

Judges: His Execellency Lord Plunket, K.C.V.O.; His Honour Mr. Justice Denniston' and J.W. Joynt, Esq., M.A.

Subject: "That the creation of small navies for defence purposes should be encouraged in the self-governing States of the Empire."

For the fourth time in succession Victoria College has won the joint Debating Scroll, and for the fourth time her successful representatives have been men hitherto untried in these contests. Professor von Zeidlitz [sic] occupied the chair, and briefly explained the method of conducting the debate to a packed audience. The notes of the judges, which speak for themselves, Are as follows:—

"In accordance with the usual practice, the judges at The recent debate beg to submit a few observations and impressions. Instead of going through the speeches in detail, they will throw their remarks into a general from, occasionally alluding to a speech by way of illustration.

"The subject had the advantages of a direct and specific bearing on contemporary problems, to an extent which was not foreseen at the time of its selection. The effect of this was to remove the discussion from the region of an academic rhetorical exercise, and to give it the character of an attempted solution of a definite practical question. This character, however, was not maintained throughout. There were occasional flights of artificial rhetoric, purpurei penni, which could never have appeared in a debate on which a practical policy was really to follow. Some of the speeches did not rise to the occasion; others rose too high, and acquired a touch of unreality in consequence. Others, again, grappled with the question with an air that meant business. There were marked differences, too, in the evidences of previous preparation and study. Some speakers had obviously tried to get at the bottom of the question; others had been satisfied with superficial generalization, which sounded well enough but ignored the vital elements of the problem. There was one good peroration—that form of ornament which Was supposed to have received its death blow from Lord Beaconsfield— viz… that of the first Otago speaker.

"There were curious diversities in the modes of using notes. The first Wellington speaker seemed to be reading almost all the time, though the judges were informed he was not really reading at all. The first Auckland speaker, whose volubility almost bewildering, occasionally drew a blank on his memory; and there follow that awkward, chilling pause, which gives a frosty air to even excellent speeches. The first Canterbury speaker discarded notes altogether, but the effect thus gained was discounted by a certain air of unreality and want of conviction, which pervaded the speaker's manner generally. So, too, with attitude and gesture. Let it be said once for all that movements of the arms should never be resorted to unless they are in page 25 absolute harmony with the sentiment, and adopted to import additional force and effect to what is being said. As for attitude a mean must be struck between the stiffness of the parade ground and the meaningless ramble about the platform. There was a good deal of unnatural stooping and swaying of the body. When Gladstone stooped, the audience almost held its breath; and when he shot himself into an erect posture again, the effect was electric. It might not be out of place to suggest that aspiring orators should cultivate physical exercise, in order to obtain the freedom and grace of bodily movement, which count for so much in the general effect produced.

"It is somewhat painful to discern that solecisms, born of diction and of pronunciation, are still rampant and flourishing. It is needless to give example; some were so glaring as to be reproduced in the newspapers. This is a very serious matter; and so long as such abuses are allowed to prevail, our University speakers are simply disqualifying themselves from ever addressing a cultivated assembly. If we cannot look to our University Colleges for a pure style of speaking the English language, where are we to look? Students should study more seriously the best models of oratorical diction. If they cannot read Demosthenes or Cocero with ease, they can at least read Burke, Bright Chamberlain and Balfour. Again, in the matter of pronunciation the young speaker might do much for himself. Let him read aloud every day three or four pages of a great speech. He should do it slowly and deliberately, giving every vowel its full value, and cutting the final consonants clear form entanglement with secondary words. He is not to speak like this when the time comes; but musicians know that the price which is to be played rapidly must be practiced slowly.

"The debate was won by superior training. It was manifest that the Victoria College speakers were "fitter" in a debating sense, than the others. And this superiority was the result not merely of a few weeks preparation, but of a more steady and systematic attention to the business of debating. This annual competition is not effecting its object unless systematic study and preparation become the rule instead of the exception."

The Harbour Excurision.

At 6.45 p.m on Monday the " Duchess," crowded with the cream of University student life of New Zealand, cast off from page 26 the Ferry Wharf and headed for Day's Bay. The trip across was marked by much din and a speech from the ship's captain, and on arrival at the Bay a rush was immediately made for the water chute. The construction of the approach rendered the adoption of the queue system a necessity, and twenty minutes of patient and expectant waiting were rewarded in each case with a flight of 10 2/5 secs. Through space and muddy water. A concert in the Pavilion followed, but a set programme which was in the hands of two officials who could not escape from the embraces of the queue system of riding on the chute had to be abandoned in favour of an impromptu one. Supper was devoured with avidity, and the return journey commenced at 9.45 p.m. A bright moon lit the placid waters of the harbor, throwing the surrounding hills into dark background and the run across round Some Island seemed as a journey through Elysia. Ten-thirty p.m and the Ferry Wharf saw the end of a happy evening.

The Dance

This function, the price de resistance of any Tournament, was held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Tuesday night. Many months before, efforts were made to secure the large Town Hall, but a picture show with an eye to business had engaged it a year ahead. The invitation list had, therefore to, be restricted to students and visitors, but this damped the spirits of none. The Committee calculated to a nicety the dancing capacity of a floor that was in its kindliest mood, and a recherché supper bore eloquent testimony to the good taste of the management in these matters. Gaily the happy moments sped to the accompaniment of haunting melodies, till the last stains of Tosti's "Good bye "slowly died away and linked the Tournament of 1909 with the memories of the past. Many dancers reached their homes before daybreak and the milkman.

The Parting

Wednesday was a day of parting and in the morning a pleasant little function took place at Kirkealdie and Stains' Tea rooms, when the teams from the four Colleges were entertained by Mr. G.F. Dixon, the Chairman of the Tournament Committee. Mr. Dixon feelingly expressed regret that he was severing page 27 his long connection with the Tournament, but was pleased once more to meet the visitors. Cheers for the retiring delegate and the singing of Auld Lang Syne closed a pleasant function. Immediately afterwards the Aucklanders were farewelled as they left by the Main Trunk Express, and in the evening Dr. S. J. Simpson took his departure for the South, accompanied by the visiting Otago and Canterbury representatives.

"Pleasures, alas ! how fleeting: but oh ! The memory."

—Anon.

Vale

With extreme regret we record the severance of the last but the strongest link that officially binds G.F. Dixon to Victoria College. Eight years back he was elected one of the first two Victoria College delegates on the New Zealand University Tournament Committee, and now after eight years of faithful service we sorrowfully see his passing. But there remains a monument to his ceaseless labours, one that will endure the Tournament existed merely in the imagination at his first connection, but Dixon foresaw possibilities. Who shall not say that his fondest hopes and ambitions were long ago realised. It is often laid at our doors that we are forgetful of the fact that there is a New Zealand University and that we are but members of different Colleges; but such could not be said of the retiring delegate. He nominally represented Victoria College on the Tournament Committee, but while carefully watching out interests, his energies have ever been towards the permanent establishment of the great Easter function. To him each of the sister Colleges is in turn indebted. His services have always been at their disposal in the arrangement of travelling concessions, and none shall miss him and his thorough business methods more than the officials of the Railway Department and the Union S.S. Company. As manager of Victoria College teams every Tournament representatives knows his value, but the immense amount of work accomplished by him can only be known to those who have had the pleasure of working with him. Victoria College will truly miss him.

Official Results

Athletic Championships