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The Spike or Victoria College Review 1936

Weir House

page 66

Weir House

"Where? Weir House? Ah yes, the University hostel place!"

The resident, stunned beyond words, can merely nod bleakly at the offender. At last he rallies sufficiently to summon up an expression of withering pity—and the unwittingly sacrilegious one remarks to himself. "What peculiar people they keep up there." But this offender is one of the five per centum of Wellington's population who have at least heard of Weir House; the pitying glances should be kept for the remaining ninety-five per centum, who scurry about the floor-boards of the city at the House's very foot, and lift not up their eyes unto the hills from whence cometh—

Well, whence cometh what? Surely something is expected of the corporate life of ninety University adolescents. But wait a minute; Weir House is only a place where ninety mere men can eat and sleep, isn't it? Whatever the answer, there is no record of any controversy among the students of four years ago when they started holding meetings and drawing up Constitutions—they presumed that something was expected of them, by themselves if by no one else. And even now the fruit of their labours, the Weir House Association, admittedly not considered universally a very delectable fruit, is still as ripe as ever.

A few months ago, the 1936 University year involuntarily came in, and in like wise a number of the more or less (literally) responsible residents went out. With the greybeards gone, a younger House proceeded to impose upon itself the task of being ninety per centum of the College life instead of the ten per centum which its numbers entitled it to be. Kindergarten sublimity ignored the frantic sarcasm of "Smad" correspondents who seemed to have changed their minds about this being an Age of Youth. And now, with two-thirds of the year gone, some residents admit that a youthful graciousness may be prone to undue exploitation by the Students' Association Executive (may its bribe increase). A wise Weir House will watch for this.

The Weir House cog in the College games machine functions as supremely as ever; nearly every branch of sport can boast of some Weir House element. College and New Zealand University Blues are no strangers among residents. The coming fixture—Weir House v. The Rest at football—is going to be no walkover for the latter team. Incidentally we mention that the non-training III. C. team is in an unassailable position in its grade.

Sufficiently appreciative of scholastic genius and an adequate supper, the residents gathered recently to farewell Max Brown, prior to his departure for England. Max, a first-class honours man and former Rhodes Scholarship nominee, has decided on the strength of a postgraduate scholarship to test the patience of the Chair of Economics at Clare College, Cambridge University. He leaves with the best wishes of all, especially those who have been associated with him in his active contribution towards all aspects of House and College life.

Harold Baker, recently nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship by Victoria College, has the residents' assurance of their hopes that he—the fifth nominee to have passed through the House—will achieve that distinction which hitherto has eluded our grasp.

Contribution to the flow of wit and communion of souls at the meal-table and similar centres of discussion has been made by the reopening of the Wellington Teachers' Training College. Matters pedagogic are considered in public, and wondering residents of the 1935 standard are dazed by the fact that these chaps are paid for swotting.

The Weir House Association Social Sub-Committee occasionally displays criminal tendencies. Weeks of conspiracy and confabulation result in an orgy known as the Annual Dance. It has to be experienced to be believed. The functioning of the 1936 aforesaid subcommittee has been well up—or down—to usual standard.

Not long since. "Spike" heard whisperings of Weir House breaking out into print on its own account. The competitive strife thus born is responsible for the classic standard of this present edition. Yes, "Weir House Magazine, No. 1" recently appeared. Immediately prior to its publication the Editor left the country for England.

Thanks for the space that this has taken, "Spike." All Weir House, from the Warden down to the freshest freshman, from the Janitor down to the House Committee, await publication with a kindly critical enthusiasm (force of public opinion, y'know!).