page 37

Notes

We are happy to be able to correct an omission in the Memorial number of Spike which was iusued in 1920. It has just been brought to our notice that the name of William Thompson Churchward was omitted from the list of those who went on active service. Mr. Churchward, who is now a solicitor at Blenheim, was at Victoria College in 1902, 1906 and 1907.

* * *

The annual Debating Contest for the Joynt Scroll was held this year in Dunedin on July 4th. The motion for debate, which was chosen by the Judges, Mr. A. C. Hanlon, K.C., Pastor Nore and Mr. J. McIndoe, was "That the British Empire is now in a state of decline." Victoria College (affirmative) represented by Miss Z. Henderson and Mr. A. Chorlton, met Canterbury College (negative) in the first contest of the evening. In the second contest, Otago University took the affirmative and Auckland the negative. After deliberating the Judges awarded the Scroll to Otago, Mr. C. Mouat being placed best speaker of the evening and Mr. L. Moller second. Our congratulations go to Otago on their well-deserved victory.

* * *

The Rhodes Scholarship nominees from Victoria College this year are K. J. Scott and H. R. C. Wild, two students in the faculty of law, and both prominent members of Varsity clubs and residents at Weir House. We, too, await with great interest the selection at the end of the year.

* * *

Mr. Harold Miller has now returned from his trip abroad on library investigation, and we are glad to see him back at his old post. Readers will find some of his impressions of U.S.A. in the article which he has contributed to this issue.

* * *

During Professor F. P. Wilson's unfortunate absence through illness earliier in the year we were very glad to see Dr. J. C. Beaglehole who came to act in a relieving capacity as lecturer in History.

In the French course, students who had been under Dr. Henning are for the time being in the hands of Mr. W. F. C. Balham, who was Professor Boyd-Wilson's assistant prior to Dr. Henning's appointment.

To both of these lecturers we express our great pleasure at this brief renewal of their connection with the College.

Mr. C. L. Bailey, who has been in England on a James Macintosh Travelling Scholarship for the past two years, has had his scholarship extended for a further year to enable him to continue his researches on the history of education.

* * *

Mr. J. S. Barwell left recently to study at the University of London. He will further his work in psychology under the direction of Professor Cyril Burt.

* * *

In August Mr. P. H. Sykes departed for Eng-land to continue his studies at King's College, London. Besides passing M.Sc. with first class honours in Chemistry and winning a Jacob-Joseph Scholarship, Mr. Sykes has always taken a keen interest in the College activities and is an ex-president of the Science Society.

For the past seven years Mr. Sykes has done excellent work in the laboratory of the Government Agriculture Department and in England another scientific post in the employ of the Government awaits him. We wish Mr. Sykes every success and hope that he will be back with us again in a few years time.

* * *

K.N. writes:

"A University College should be capable of producing from time to time a literary publication of some degree of merit. This Victoria attempts to do in Spike. But the College also requires a permanent record of the activities of its students, and Spike is made to serve this purpose also. The result is that it is adequate in neither.

"I would suggest, therefore, that in future Spike be devoted entirely to the publication of works of literary merit, and that for the purpose of official records there be published annually a Year Book recording the activities of the Students' Association together with such articles as are necessary to make the Year Book a complete record of the history of the College for the preceding year."

(As far back as 1916 a similar suggestion was made. At that time there were two issues of Spike a year, and it was proposed that the second number be reserved wholly for matters of record such as a Year Book would contain. Anyone who observes the painfully small type in which it is necessary to print the ever-growing volume of Club Notes will surely agree that some serious change is needed.—Editor.)

page 38

Yorkshire Again

This is to welcome Dr. Wildman, late of the University of Leeds, our newly appointed Lecturer in Zoology, and Mrs. Wildman. Dr. Wildman's distinguished university career began after four years experience in farm work when, in 1924, he entered the University to read for the degree of Bachelor of Science, with Honours in Agricultural Zoology. He graduated, with First Honours, in 1928. Whilst an undergraduate he studied, among other subjects, pure zoology, agricultural zoology, agriculture and human physiology, working part of his time at the University School of Medicine. He also carried out investigations in the life-history of several insects of economic importance in agriculture. In zoology he was a student under Professor Percival, now Professor of Zoology at Canterbury College.

In September, 1928, he was appointed, in succession to Dr. Dry, now of Massey Agricultural College, Askroyd Memorial Fellow of the University of Leeds. He undertook an investigation of the pre-natal development of the fibres and coat of certain British breeds of sheep, an account of this work being published in July, 1932, in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. This was the subject of his thesis for the degree of Ph.D., Leeds. He then commenced a series of investigations into the cuticular scale patterns of mammalian fibres, and the first series of papers on his work is about completed.

It says much for the high opinion held by Englishwomen in respect of New Zealand girls that the lady of Dr. Wildman's choice followed him promptly to New Zealand and secured him. And it says much for English girls that it is obvious to all of us that he could not have made a better choice if he had waited until his arrival. We welcome them both very heartily and look forward to long and most pleasant association with them.

* * *

There is a movement afoot to form a Camera Club at V.U.C. Such a club should prove a great advantage to students interested in photography, both from the facilities which it will provide and the lectures which will be arranged. The proposal has not been advanced very far yet, but students interested in the formation of the club may anticipate the inaugural meeting early in the first term next session.

* * *

Copies of the photographs of the College and Weir House appearing in this issue may be obtained through the Editor.

Next year will see the resumption of Accountancy lectures at V.U.C. It is twelve years since such lectures were discontinued and during that space of time there has been a very great increase in the number of students taking the Commerce Course. The object of re-instituting the Accountancy lectures is to enable Commerce students to take all the subjects for their degree at the College.

The project was initiated by the Commerce Society, and the New Zealand Society of Accountants has accorded its hearty support to the scheme. The College Council has advertised for lecturers in Book-keeping and Auditing and in Accountancy Law, but at date no information is available as to the appointments.

There is every inducement for Commerce students to avail themselves of the opportunity of taking these lectures at the College. There are the advantages which accrue from maintaining a continuous association with the College instead of the intermittent sojourn now rendered necessary by taking half of the degree at private institutions. The important question of the lecturers will of course be considered by students and they will await with keen interest the announcement as to who these men are. That they possess the reputation of some of the private teachers with years of lecturing behind them should not be demanded, for their merit may he elsewhere than in an accumulated reputation. If they are young, this will surely be the case.

* * *

The deplorable state of organised singing by College students even of the oldest College songs has been very marked during the past two or three years, and there is undoubtedly ample justification—or perhaps provocation—for the recent proposal to form a Varsity Glee Club. It is felt that the Haeremai Club, notwithstanding its enthusiasm, is scarcely adequate as the local representative of the Muses, and on a review of student efforts at Capping and other public occasions, the new club indeed appears to be over-due. "Time and melody," it has been suggested, "should no longer be sacrificed to such incompetence."

Accordingly it is intended to proceed with the formation of a Glee Club immediately on the resumption of the 1934 session. The suggested aims and activities of the Club are as follows: The raising of the general standard of organised singing within the College; the formation of a social body bringing together those interested in music; part singing of College songs and works by page 39 members of the Club; the formation of a choir to lead the singing at Capping and other public functions and the encouragement of students to undertake work of this nature; the public presentation of choral work; the improvement of the vocal numbers in the Extravaganza; the presentation by members of musical numbers at various College functions; and the arranging of lectures or recitals by local and visiting musicians.

All who are willing to assist by active participation in the Club or by constructive suggestions regarding its formation should communicate with the organiser, H. W. Dowling.

* * *

In the course of a letter welcoming the appearance of a Labour Club, "Glaucon" writes: "I cannot but feel that the Free Discussions Club comes within the sphere picturesquely described by George Young as 'an outside limbo in which conflicting opponents of non-co-operating opinions, like the hosts of Midian, prowl and prowl around.' Accordingly, though aware of the advantages of the completely independent attitude that club adopts, I am constrained at the same time to welcome most heartily the formation of a new club better adapted to consider the many pressing questions on which we can no longer indefinitely postpone judgment."

* * *

In case there may be any doubts on the subject, we would assure readers that the views expressed in this issue are not necessarily those of the Editor, the Students' Association, the Professorial Board, or the College Council, and should not be accepted as an expression of College opinion.

Dr. I. A. Henning has left us for Australia. After a stay of just over two years during which time he was Lecturer in the department of Modern Languages, Dr. Henning returned to Sydney with the intention of taking up a responsible position on the executive of the Broadcasting Corporation.

It was indeed an event when the College acquired a man of the scholarship and the enthusiasm of Dr. Henning. His outstanding ability in French and German, together with his delightful manner as a lecturer, combined to make him one of the most capable and popular members of the Staff; and in College activities other than those connected with study, he entered with spirit. The Dramatic Club and Free Discussions Club in particular will miss him very much indeed.

Much as we regret that his association with us has been so early ended, we do sincerely trust that good times lie ahead of him in Australia.

* * *

Of the two prizes offered for contributions to Spike, one has been awarded to R. S. Odell for his two photographs of the doorways at the College and at Weir House. The other is shared by Miss L. M. Puckridge, author of "May Mary," and B. A. Snowball, who contributed "Contrite Sea."

* * *

We acknowledge exchanges from various con-temporaries in New Zealand, and "Tamesis" from the University of Reading.