Dear Sir,—In ancient times, when a man had a grievance, he took down his trusty battle-axe, went into hard training for a week, sallied forth and alleviated his injured feelings by tapping his opponent firmly on his medulla oblongata. In modern times one writer to the papers—hence this epistle. Some five or six years ago, when one received an invitation to attend a dance or other social function, it was customary to reply within a stated time, in order to assist the hostess or committee, as the case might be, in making the necessary arrangements. Now, alas! another generation has arisen, to whom the mystic symbols R. S. V. P. are as meaningless as Belshazzar's warning. This is a pity, as these blasé ladies and gentlemen are as a rule the first to complain if arrangements, through their own negligence (one might almost say discourtesy), are not everything they expected.

Our own University Ball, the Capping Dance, and the onetime annual Vitoria College Ball, are all examples of the gamble, which the committee has to take as to the number to be catered for.

Coming nearer home, at the various dances held on "the hop floor on the top floor," the greater percentage of the dance tickets are sold at the door, thereby causing great inconvenience to the Committee. Let me give a concrete instance. At a recent dance flaring notices were displayed in the vestibule, and tickets were offered for sale everywhere. Ladies were to be admitted free, but they were asked by general proclamation to notify the Committee if they intended being present. The result was twelve tickets were sold and ten girls notified the Committee. The Committee were naturally somewhat at a loss, and decided to cater for forty couples. Some sixty couples attended, and these same individuals grumbled because the supper ran shout about one o'clock, or because some other minor detail went wrong.

While on this subject, I have had a little experience as a Committee member, and it is a wonder to me that more conscience-money is not received after these dances. There are a number who go in on the "dead-head" ticket at every College dance. This is a statement easier left unsaid, but it page 82 is high time that such a blemish should be removed from College life.

In conclusion, I may add that I have not this year been a member of any dance committee, but these facts have at one time or another been brought forcibly before my notice, and I think it is that this state of things should cease.—Yours,

Dear Sir.—At Easter I happened to be in Wellington, and of course paid a visit to Victoria College and renewed my old acquaintance with the Gym. I found little change in either place, but one change which I had expected to find I looked for in vain. I should like to know, Sir, why there are on the walls no photographs of the First XV. since 1910, the Cricket Eleven since 1908-9, and the Hockey Eleven since 1908.

To the ex-student revisiting the scenes of his youth there is nothing more pleasant than the renewal of old memories, friendships, and acquaintances, per media of such College groups. At one time each club used to present a copy of the photograph of its representatives to the Students' Association, and surely the clubs in question are not so poverty-stricken as to be unable to continue this eminently praiseworthy practice. Should this be the actual case, however, it seems to me to be "up to" the Students Association to go to some little expense in the matter rather than leave the walls of the Gym. in their present bare and unadorned condition.—Yours, etc.,

Dear Spike,—some years past, ever since its foundation in fact, the Swimming Club has talked confidently of inter College contest, and leading spirits have repeatedly suggested that at any rate when the Easter Tournament came to this city a competition would most certainly be arranged.

The Spike for June, 1910, makes mention of a delegation set up to confer with swimmers from other College, with a view to some such tourney being arranged, and I distinctly recollect the annual meeting of 1911 instructing Committee to page 83 bestir itself in the matter. Mr. A. N. Hancock was the mover, and apparently now that he has departed from Victoria College the Executive is quite content to sit still and do nothing. If ever there was anything more in these promises than the vain dreams of enthusiasts, surely the Easter just passed should have been their fulfilment.

The holidays this year fell exceptionally early, practically in the middle of March, and Club carnivals are frequently held as much as three weeks later. Of course there would have to be a certain amount of risk run as regards the weather, but such a risk is always present, and in the sequel no more perfect day for swimming than Good Friday was could possibly be asked for.

The Cricket and Boxing Clubs have shown what a little enterprise will do, and have set us an example which I hope future Executives will take to heart. In my opinion the Swimming Club has been very badly "left," and will have to buck up considerably in future if it is to justify its existence.

It will be interesting to see what the Committee has to say on the matter at the next Annual General Meeting.—I am, Sir,