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The Spike or Victoria College Review, June 1903

One! Two! Three! We Want Murphy!

page 42

One! Two! Three! We Want Murphy!

At break of day New Plymouth was reached, and even the afflicted one joined the piratical crew in an attack upon the town. A party of twenty at once laid siege to a fruit shop. It belonged to Murphy—presumably an Italian.

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"One, two, three," said a small voice, and then a mighty shout broke the morning stillness, "We—want—Murphy." Half the town started from slumber, fearing a riot; not so Murphy. For fully five minutes the raiders kept on repeating their polite request, and then Murphy, who had mistaken the call for the last trump, appeared on the scene with a look of unfathomed dread in his eye. He forgave, however, and now cherishes quite a kindly remembrance of twenty hungers—satisfied.

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To this day the villagers along the line tell with delight a strange legend of fifty bronzed and beardless faces that saluted them from the platform of the express with unhallowed and ghastly noises of stupendous magnitude. But the war songs grew thinner and wearier, and the last gurgle of heroic effort died languidly among the hills of Porirua.

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Lest anyone should suspect us of exaggeration we reproduce the words of the great Victoria College battle-cry, given under the leadership of our famous Maori chief, Rangitihi Whakahirahira (Paaka):—

ChiefE hoa ma e TribeMahara ki Poneke
Ake ake kia
koa kia toa
kia kaha. ChiefA toia te waka TribeHe e ChiefA toia te waka TribeHe e ChiefA toia te waka ki
runga ki te maunga
E tu mai nei ka
whakatakotoria ki runga
kite ngaroparapara koa TribeMehe tete waka
mehe tete waka
mehe pitau whakareinga.

We congratulate our readers that we are unable to reproduce the sound and the faces.

page 43

We have again this year to thank Mr. H. E. Nicholls for his able assistance in preparing for "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern." Mr. Nicholls gave considerable time and trouble to a play which was first accepted and then, almost at the last moment, discarded. It speaks volumes for his kindness and skill that he helped us through, and that the play went off so well. The actors signed a round robin, which they presented to Mr. Nicholls after the performance. The words spoken at the presentation were not many, but they were meant.

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The method of scoring the tennis points at the Easter Tournament is unsatisfactory. Some scheme should be devised by which each representative makes an appreciable difference to the result. At present two men and two ladies are all that count, and it is possible for four really good players to carry off all the points against a good even team of twelve. If the team as a team were encouraged it would be much easier to get the best team away.

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"Oh Victoria,sempiterna
Sit tibi felicitas
Alma mater, peramata
Per aetates maneas."

College song.

The excavations on the College site are now completed. The competitive designs, which were sent to Melbourne to be judged, are now in the hands of the College Council. No doubt some modifications will have to be made in the successful plan, and some time will be occupied in letting the contracts. Allowing for all delay, however, there appears no reason why the foundation stone should not be laid early next term.

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We are glad to be able to announce that The Spike came out last year with a cash balance of £1 7s. We have as assets 72 magazines and stock-in-trade valued at £2.

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We are always pleased to publish gems of oratory from the Debating Society. A correspondent, who is also a short-hand writer, sends us the following:—

page 44

"Who would be a doctor? When the choice was first offered me and the chance given to prosecute the study of medicine at home, I spake to myself thus. These were my very words:—'New Zealand wants men, high-minded men, men who their duties know. New Zealand cannot afford to lose men of my calibre. I will go to Victoria College and study law. For is not justice holy, sacred, eternal? Does not every other consideration appear mean and sink into insignificance beside this?' And it is my chief ambition to become a successful advocate that I may defend the cause of the criminal and the spieler, that I may cheat the rope of the hangman and rob the gaol of its birds."

"It is especially gratifying to us older and experienced speakers to see so many younger students amongst our audience. We extend to them a hearty welcome, and feel sure that by paying attention to our words and gestures they will in time acquire the facility of speaking, the exquisite modulation of voice, the gracefulnass of gesticulation, and the force of logic possessed by us older hands."

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