Our Team

Athletics.

• 100 yds.: M. Leadbetter, F. S. Hill.
• 220 yds.: M. Leadbetter, F. S. Hill.
• 440 yds.: F. H. Paul, C. W. Davies.
• 880 yds.: K. M. Griffin, F. H. Paul.
• 1 Mile: K. M. Griffin, H. McCormick.
• 3 Miles: H. E. Moore, H. Mc-Cormick.
• 1 Mile Walk: S. G. McIntosh.
• 120 yds. Hurdles: N. M. Thompson.
• 440 yds. Hurdles: N.M.Thompson, J. O. J. Mal. froy.
• Long Jump: J. R. Grigg.
• Putting the Shot: A. D. McRae, C. B. Thomas.
• Throwing the Hammer: C. B.Thomas.

Tennis.

• Men's Singles: W. P. Hollings, R. R. T. Young.
• Men's Doubles: R. R. T.Young and M. C. Gibb; H. N. Burns and C. G. S. Ellis.
• Ladies' Singles: Miss I. I. Thwaites, Miss R. Gardner.
• Ladies' Doubles: Misses R. Gardner and M. Pigou; Misses I. Thwaites and O. Sheppard.
• Combined Doubles: H. N. Burns and Miss R. Gardner; W. P. Hollings and Miss M. Pigou.

Boxing.

• Heavy-weights: A. D. McRae.
• Middle-weight: E. C. Miller.
• Welter-weight: V. F. Conningham.
• Light-weight: N. J. Lewis.
• Feather-weight: R. R. T. Young.
• Bantam-weight: K. Vance.

Debating.

F. H. Haigh and J. W. G. Davidson.

Tournament Delegate.

H. McCormick and H. E. Moore.

Manager.

N.G. Whiteman.

The Aucklanders arrived in Wellington on Wednesday afternoon and were entertained at tea. The majority of our team left with the Aucklanders by the Lyttelton Ferry on Wednesday night, leaving about a dozen men to follow on Thursday night. We were met at the Christchurch Station by some good souls from Canterbury College and bundled into some char-a-bancs and So to breakfast. After partaking thereof at a more or less break-neck speed, we were whisked back to the station in time for the first South Express. Little of any note occurred on the journey. Everyone seemed to be taking care of himself in view of the strenuous contests ahead. We were met at Oamaru by the Otago delegates, Messrs. J. C. Leitch and A. E. Porritt, who explained all arrangements. And let me say here that the arrangements for the whole page 12 Tournament left little to be desired. Otago is to be congratulated on one of the best run tournaments for many years. The billeting arrangements ran smothly except for the inevitable chameleon like few who seem to consider that all sorts of arrangements can be changed and rechanged as frequently and as easily as their own minds. However, that's by the way. Friday was spent in preparation for the coming conflicts, and by some in partaking of the joys of the "Rendezvous," where dancing, music, girls, suppers, books and all sorts of other delightful things were to be obtained all through the Tournament.

On Friday afternoon also the Reception was held in the Allen Hall. The writer's brief recollection is the length of time devoted by various speakers to excusing or extolling Dunedin's weather, until those of us who remembered what happened at Dunedin last Tournament, began to have forebodings— which happily were not quite realised.

Saturday was devoted to tennis, boxing preliminaries in the morning at Marama Hall and the finals at night in the King's Theatre.

On Sunday there was a special service at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral in the morning, and a service taken by students—one from each College—at First Church in the evening.

On Sunday afternoon we had a delightful motor drive up North East Valley, over the Port Hills and back by the lower road. The weather which had been behaving off and on, decided that we couldn't have tea on the hills as was originally intended, so we hied us back to Selwyn College, where the members of the athletic team enjoyed themselves thoroughly watching others eat highly indigestible cakes and so forth.

On Monday the Athletic Championships were decided, and in the evening the Debate furnished the usual feast of oratory and flow of "bowl."

The Tennis finals were decided on Tuesday, and on Tuesday night came the piece de resistance, viz., The Ball, field in the Art Gallery. And Some Ball, too! Null Ned. The north-bound express. on Wednesday morning departed from Dunedin Station with a highly important and delicate freight, viz., poor old Canty 's Easter Egg. But this is a secret. This time it was the Aucklanders who had been goaded beyond endurance and, so it was whispered, a silent and savage onslaught had been made on he delicate shell-like creature. There was a sound of stealthy footsteps by night and in due course, one box with fragile contents reposed in the guard's van of the north express, checked through all the way to Auckland.

Accompanying the aforesaid fragile freight were three Tournament Teams. An hilarious farewell at Dunedin, many games of "Beaver" at the wayside stations, where sundry stationmasters and local cops had the time of their lives wondering what to do about it all; a battle-royal on the Christchurch Station, where a worthy limb of the law found himself hoisted to a precarious and undignified height; and we arrived (more or less) on the good ship "Maori," and so home to Wellington.

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We entertained Auckland at breakfast, and a devoted band bade them farewell from Thorndon Station. Ask Herby McRae how he said good-bye to his friends the porters. And so back to toil, after probably the most enjoyable Tournament since the war.

Debate.

The contest for the Joynt Challenge Scroll was held in the Allen Hall on Monday evening. The hall was packed. Fortunately there was comparatively little "noise" and interruption of the speakers. This is so much to the good and it is hoped that next Tournament at Wellington will show a still further improvement in this respect.

Dr. W. Marshall Macdonald was in the chair, and the judges were: J. B. Callan, Esq., B.A., LL.D., Hon. C. E. Statham, M.P., and Rev. H. Maclean, M.A., M.Sc., B.D. The subject: "That in the interests of University Education, the University of New Zealand should cease to exist, and the status of separate and independent Universities be given to each of the four Colleges at present affiliated thereto."

Unfortunately at the last moment our "first string," R. M. Campbell, was unable to travel, and our thanks are due to Mr. Davidson, who stepped into the breach at very short notice, but to such good purpose that Victoria once again annexed the Shield—for the first time for four years—the last occasion on which V.U.C. was successful being at the 1919 Tournament, also held at Dunedin. Victoria at one time had practically a mortgage over the Debating Shield, and it is to be hoped that they have again entered into possession for some time.

In the writer's opinion the debating this year was not of a very high standard. None of the speakers sounded at all convincing; there was a marked absence generally of gesture, of light and shade, and with one or two exceptions of emphasis. Quite a number of the speeches were distinguished chiefly by monotonous delivery and uninspiring manner.

We have to congratulate Mr. Haigh on being placed first speaker. Mr. Haigh's speech was the best the writer has ever heard him deliver. He avoided several of his more glaring faults and was less inclined to dogmatise and "appeal to the masses." He also quoted authority to good affect, albeit one of his authorities emphatically denies that his quoted words referred to anything in the nature of the subject of debate.

The first debate was between Otago (affirmative) and Auckland (negative), the speakers being C. B. Barrowclough and Dr. R. S. Aitken for Otago, and L. K. Munro and W. A. E. Leonard for Auckland. We do not intend to deal with the speeches in detail, the chief feature of this debate being the consternation of one speaker when asked "what he had up his sleeve."

The second debate between Victoria. (affirmative) and Canterbury (negative) was more interesting. The speakers were F. H. Haigh and J. W. G. Davidson for Victoria, and J. B. Batchelor and C. E. Beeby for Canterbury. M r. Davidson spoke well con page 14 sidering the short notice given him that he would be required. Canterbury's main arguments were directed to the question of finance. They argued that a small place like New Zealand could not possibly support four Universities, each giving a full University course. The ground was almost completely taken from under their feet by Mr. Haigh 's argument in favour of granting each University only a limited charter.

The only attempts at repartee during the whole evening were by Mr. Batchelor, of Canterbury, but they were too obviously "worked" to be effective.

The judges wasted no valuable time in announcing the result, simply stating that V.U.C. had been placed first and Mr. Haigh first speaker—a result particularly pleasing in the circumstances to the wearers of the Green and Gold.

Tennis Club.

The Tennis Championships were commenced on Saturday morning at the Otago Lawn Tennis Club's Courts. Victoria once again modestly retired to the side lines early in the contest, and generously allowed the other three Colleges to monopolise the limelight. Heigh-ho! It's many a weary year since V.U.C. looked anything like acquiring that Tennis Shield. But it's a long road, etc.

Hee Burns characteristically missed the boat at Wellington on Thursday night, so we had to rearrange the team somewhat. But why, when the manager came home in the "wee sma' 'oors" to Selwyn College and found Hec's telegram awaiting him—why did he consider it necessary to wake up the Tournament Delegate from his refreshing and innocent slumbers?

In the first round of the Men's Singles, Russell Young was unlucky. He had to play Entwhistle, of Auckland, and was doing well for a start, but as he had to rush away immediately after the game in order to box in the preliminary rounds, his game suffered somewhat.

Hollings found Smyth, of Otago, too solid a proposition in the second round, but he put up a good fight. Smyth was beaten in the final by Seay, of Canterbury, after a great fight in the second set.

In the Men's Doubles there is little to chronicle beyond the fact that Young and Gibb survived the first round. This event proved an easy win for Canterbury in the persons of Seay and Loughnan.

In the Ladies' Singles, Miss Gardner won her first set, but succumbed in the second round. Miss W. Partridge, C.U.C., created a surprise by defeating Miss B. Knight, the former champion.

In the Combineds, so far as V.U.C. is concerned, there is nothing to say.

In the Ladies' Doubles, Misses Thwaites and Sheppard had a win in the first round. Another surprise victory was that of Misses Henry and Pragnall, of O.U., over the Misses Partridge, of C.U.C.

The Tennis Shield went to Canterbury and Otago, each with two wins. Auckland had one win.

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Boxing.

The preliminary bouts were fought on Saturday morning at Marama Hall.

Young, who had just played a strenuous game of tennis, won his fight in the Featherweight against Lewis, of Otago.

In The Lightweight, Lewis, who had been suffering from influenza, took the count to Cotter, of Otago. This was rather unfortunate, as it was considered that Lewis had a good chance of winning this weight, although Farquharson, of Canterbury, was a hard man to beat.

Coningham won his bout against Cook, of Auckland.

In the Middleweight, Miller went down to Riddell, of Canterbury, although opinions differ as to the merits of the two men.

McRae were his bout in the Heavyweight.

The finals were held on Saturday night in the King's Theatre.

Vance was outclassed in the Bantams by that little hurricane, Patterson, of Otago.

In the Feathers, Young (V.U.C.) scored a very popular win over Jenne, of Canterbury. Jeune had a bye in the morning, whereas Young not only fought in the preliminary round, but had been playing tennis all day. Pluck and endurance won the day.

We were not interested in the Lightweights, which was won by Farquharson, of Canterbury.

Coningham scored an easy win over Harding, of Otago, in the Welters, the fight being stopped. Coningham thoroughly deserved his win, as he has been "there or thereabouts" for the last three years.

The Middleweight saw a very even but uninteresting fight between Riddell, of C.U.C., and Lamb, of Otago; the winner turning up in Lamb.

Craven, of C.D.C., won the Heavyweight against McRae, of McRae put up a good fight, and went near to finishing. Craven off in the third round. However, Craven perked up in the last round, and sent McRae to the boards. Mac must have got a deal of satisfaction in surveying Craven's face next day.

In the final result, Otago, Canterbury and Victoria tied for the Shield with two wins each.

Athletic Club.

The Sports were held on Monday at the Caledonian Grounds. The track was very soft, and a bitterly cold wind blew most of the day. Our team, while not successful in regaining the Shield, put up a creditable performance. We have several promising runners, who will do well if they take the game seriously, and do not expect too much fuss to be made of them before they have made good. Some runners would do well to remember that those athletes who made good in the past did so on their own, and had no trainers to rub them down and fuss over them until after they had proved their quality.

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The sports were chiefly distinguished by the good showing put up by Otago, and especially by A. E. Porritt, the Rhodes Scholar. Porritt won four events (a thing that has never previously been done)—two of them, the 100yds. and 220yds., equalling the records; the 120 hurdles in 16 1-5secs. (one-fifth over the record) and the broad jump with a leap of 22 feet, which has only once been beaten. In some of these events he was undoubtedly helped by the wind, but the wins were none the less meritorious. And Porritt did all this on top of running the whole Tournament!

As usual, we had no wins in the field events, but Thomas gave us a welcome point in the Hammer. His was a very good throw, and would have won easily in most years. Griffin repeated his "double" performances by annexing the half-mile and mile, both without difficulty. Owing to the wind, the times were not up to Griff's standard. Griffin had previously this year won the same two events in the Wellington Provincial Championship and the N.Z. Championships, and this capped a most successful season.

Leadbetter won his heat in the 220yds., but was beaten for second place in the final by Black, of Canterbury

The Shot was an easy win for Kingston, of Otago.

Porritt rather unexpectedly beat Buckhurst in the Long Jump, and repeated the performance in the 120 Hurdles.

Griffin won the Half, with Paul, of V.U.C., second. Paul ran very well, and put up a good run in the straight to beat Grierson, of Auckland, by a small margin.

The Hammer was another event in Kingston's pocket, but Thomas gave him a bit of a scare with a throw of 102 feet.

The 100yds. was won easily by Porritt, but there was a great race for second place, the point going to Brownlee, of Otago.

The Mile Walk also went to Otago; the winner, McKenzie, came in for a lot of criticism owing to his style. It is very doubtful whether this "walking" would have been passed by judges in Wellington. McIntosh, of V.U.C., walked very well to fill second place. If McIntosh keeps at it he will be very hard to beat in any company, and the writer would not be at all surprised to see him annex a New Zealand championship. He is possessed of great determination and endurance.

The High Jump was rather a surprise, the winner turning up in Lintott, of Auckland, who beat Buckhurst, of C.U.C., by an inch.

Black, of C.U.C., scored a well-deserved win in the 440 Flat. Davies, of V.U.C., obviously lacked training, and Paul was suffering from his hard race in the 880yds.

The Three Miles went to Webber, of Auckland, with Valiance, of Auckland, second. Moore, of V.U.C., who filled third place, was unlucky in having to take the lead for the whole distance.

As expected, Odder won the 440 Hurdles. Malfroy, unfortunately, struck the first hurdle, and injured his knee.

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The Relay Rue again proved a fairly easy thing for the Victoria College team: Griffin, Davies, Hill and Leadbetter.

We turned out a team for the Tug-of-War, but were beaten by Auckland, who in turn succumbed, as usual, to Otago.

The final points were: Otago, 17; Canterbury, 9; Victoria, 7; and Auckland, 6. We thus dodged the Wooden Spoon by a narrow margin.