Our Rhodes Scholar.

This year, with a whole heart, we feel we can congratulate the Committee, which selects New Zealand's Rhodes Scholars. We have not always seen eye to eye with the Committee in the past. We have always felt that it attached too great weight to the possession of degrees. But this year, we think that all our readers will agree that in Athol Hudson, New Zealand will be worthly represented in the old country. We value Hudson not for any degree of popularity, which he may possess, nor for his scholastic attainments, for which we don't care twopence; but we esteem in him those qualities of humility and of humour, of courtesy and of strength, of tolerance and of patience, of honesty of purpose and of clearness of vision, which to our mind, go to the make-up of the true University man. Probably most of our readers will have heard the story of the Oxford don, who, with gentle irony, spoke of the average Rhodes Scholar as possessing "all the qualities of Jesus Christ a Hercules." We are proud of Hudson, not because he possesses a unique combination of qualities, but because primarily an always, he is a man. There is no need to speak of his services to the College. Such will not be forgotten by who knew him. Always of a retiring nature. He work was as through as it was unobtrusive. He was indeed, one of those "who do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame."

For the Warriors.

The work of compiling a list of all past and present students, who have gone upon actives service in the present war, is steadily progressing. In this issue we publish a fairly complete list, which shows the present numbers to be 225. But the list is, unfortunately, only approximately correct: when the Nominal Roll, which is being prepared by page 44 The Base Records Office is issued, the Executive hopes to be able to obtain a record, which will contain complete information as to our gladiators, who have fared forth in the cause of liberty and justice, to fight in this, the greatest and noblest of all the Crusades.

During the Vacation the Executive despatched a number of parcels to students on active service, each parcel containing a "Spike" and a writing wallet. So far appreciative replies have been received from A. B. Sievwright, G. S. Strack, K. J. Strack, Rev. Father T. B. Segrieff and K. S. Caldwell. It is intended to continue this labour of love. The value of the parcels is small, but, if they but serve to brighten a dull moment, to remind those, who are "over there "that they are not forgotten, that we here are following their doings and appreciating the selflessness of their motives, they will have served their purpose.

Life Member.

We feel sure that everyone will congratulate Watson on his election as a life member of the Students' Association. In many ways Watson has been one of the best Presidents whom we have had. His genius for organization and administration have brought about many reforms in the work of the Association. His election raises the number of life members to twelve.

Blazers.

At the Annual Meeting of the Students' Association a pleasant interlude afforded by the presentation of College blazers in accordance with a scheme, which was approved representatives, at the previous Annual General Meeting. The fortunate representatives, who received their coloures were:

Cricket.—P. B. Broad, A. E. Caddick, A. W. Duncan and F. Joplin.

Athletic —D. O'Sullivan, I. C. Robinson, E. H. Luke, H. Williams, A. B. Sievwright and R. V. Kay.

Hockey—E. Rowntree, G. S. Strack, C. H. E. Strack, N. A. Foden, S. J. McDowall.

Tennis.—Misses E. Cook, F. W. Cooke, E. Hare, G. M. Lawry, M. H. Sievwright, and C. F. Atomre, K. C. Clayton, K. A. Henderson and H. Williams.

Re-Union.

In this number is outlined a suggestion for holding a College Re-Union after the war. The suggestion is a most happy one, and worthy of every support. Committees from the Graduates Association and the Students' Association have already been set up to confer, and it is hoped, within a few months, to have the arrangements well under way,

The Graduates Association.

The Annual General Meeting of the Graduates' Association was held on 17th April. It is most regrettable that more graduates do not make a point of attending these meetings. The Association is the only one, after a graduate leaves College, which serves to keep him in touch with all matters affecting the University. The present membership is very small—only 38—while the number of graduates eligible for membership must be in the neighbourhood of 400. The activities of the Association naturally had to be very much curtailed last year owing to the war but the year, nevertheless, was not an uneventful one. The most important business that came before the Association was the proposal of the Court of Convocation that the Association should merge in the Court. Wisely, we think, the Association decided not to do this, but it is endeavouring to arouse in graduates a greater interest in the work of the Court of Convocation. The number of graduates upon active service is now over 50.

Free Discussions Club.

The "Spike" extends a welcome to a new College institution—the Free Discussions Club. This has been formed for the purpose of enabling those students, who take an interest in the deeper thing of life, to meet and discuss those questions, discussion upon which, nearly all other College Clubs as a rule, forbid. The title, we fancy, most people will agree, is perhaps a trifle cumbrous, a trifle cumbrous, a little lacking in grace; but it has nevertheless the merit of being unequivocal, while the object of the Club are unimpeachable. So far the following subjects have been discussed—Freedom of Thought, Nietzsche's moral views, and "Ann page 46 Veronica." It will thus be seen that the Free Discussers are catholic in their taste. There is ample room for such a Club at Victoria College: we wish it every success.

The Calendar.

This year the Victoria College Calendar has been merged in, and forms part of the University Calendar. The change is a good one in many ways, and it should certainly save the College Council some unnecessary expenditure. However there is one matter, upon which we think the change open to criticism. In the former Victoria College Calendar a full list of graduates and undergraduates always appeared: in the new Calendar the names of both are omitted. Club secretaries and other harassed individuals (including the Editor of the "Spike") have found these lists, in many directions, of the very greatest assistance. They formed the only permanent record open to students, of all past and present students of the College. Surely it is high time that a Register of Victoria College students were compiled. Some of our past students occupy high and honourable positions on different spheres of public life. It is a pleasant thing, and an inspiring thing to refleet upon their past association with the College. University men's memories are short, and it is only too easy for the present student to forget the names of those, who built for us in the past, those traditions, which form an integral part of the life of the College.

Engagements.

We have convictions, and we have the courage of our convictions, but we have not the courage to adopt the suggestion of a student, who thought that it would be an excellent idea for the "Spike" to publish the names of those, who ought to be engaged, or look as though thy contemplated being engaged. We are not timid, but there is a law of libel in New Zealand, and we must draw the line somewhere. Meanwhile if any student cares to write to the "Spike" a letter containing such name, and signed with his own name, we might publish it as correspondence. But in such case, we would advise such student to make sure of three things—(1) That his purse is long. (2)That he can run 100 yards in 10 seconds. (3) That he is about to remove his residence from Wellington.

Callow Fledlings.

We notice with regret that there has been a return of the childishness, that manifested itself some years ago. We have once more among us the fledgling, whose delight it is to show his smartness by adding to, and defacing notices on the on the board in the hall. It is time that students' Association took steps to check this practice. Probably the instance punishment of one of these ladling would nip this regrettable movement in the bud. The student, who defaces these notices, is not in every case really blamable for his actions: he is rather the victim of his lack of years and of that sense of responsibility, which in a few years will cause him humiliation, when he reflects upon his youthful puerilities. Nevertheless the Executive, in its own interests, had better administer a corrective gently, but firmly, very, very firmly.

"L'Enfant Terrible."

We understand that there has been quite a flutter in the dovecots of the Science Laboratories, through the idiosyncracies of the lab-boy, who, unable to remember the names of the students, whose record of work he keeps, hit upon the ingenious in place of their names. The "Spike" has been handed a number of these descriptions and they certainly are too good to allow to languish and die unknown. We therefore insert them here, and invite our readers to send in guesses as to the originals of these pointed descriptions—"Spots and specs": "High Cheek bones": "Tall and dreamy": "A pug": "Skinny": "Fat arms, talks."