Mea Culpa!

The storm which followed the publication in the June "Spike" of the letter "Starvation for the Starving," convinced us that we had grievously erred in point of chivalry. We had failed to take into consideration the distress which, whatever the merits of the case, would be caused to a couple of old and valued servitors of the College. For that distress we cannot ex-press too keen a regret. Our regret is due also to the Students' Association for the embarrassing situation in which we involved it. At the wish of the Executive of the Association we publish the following resolution passed at one of its meetings:—

"The Executive of the Students' Association apologises for the form and wording of the article 'Starvation for the Starving' appearing in the last issue of the 'Spike' and requests that this apology be conveyed to Mrs. Brook through the Professorial Board."

A Distinguished Visitor

In this corner of the globe we do not get many opportunities of seeing and hearing great men. The world has too much use for them, and provides them with fuller stamping ground than we can command. The student, then, who values his opportunities, will shed his examination anxieties for one evening and attend Sir Ernest Rutherford's address in the Town Hall on October 27th. Sir Ernest is not only a great man; he has the additional distinction of being a New Zealander.

A Past Student

News of past students is very acceptable to the "Spike," but seldom comes. Mr. H. S. Tily, Dunedin, sends us the following to show that Victoria College still has "a place in the sun:"—

"Mr. Lyndon Bastings, M.Sc, a former research student in the Physics Department, has recently finished a two years' course of study under Sir Ernest Rutherford at Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. He has carried out researches on radio-activity, and as a result of his first year's work, was awarded a grant by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. A portion of this work has been published in the 'Philosophical Magazine' of December, 1924, as an article entitled 'Decay of Radium—E.' He has also devised an improved form of electro-scope which, by a greatly increased sensitivity, is expected to considerably facilitate work in the field of raidoactivity. He has now been appointed Lecturer in Physics under Professor Wag-staff at Durham University, England, and takes up his duties there in October."

Absent Friends.

Another piece of news comes from Mr. Tily:

"A social gathering of former students of V.U.C. was held page 48 in Dunedin on the evening of 4th July, 1925, at the residence of Mrs. I. Cleghorn, President of the Otago Association of Past Students, and a very enjoyable evening was spent. There were sixteen members present. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—

President: Mr. R. Gardner.

Vice-President: Dr. Muriel E. Bell.

Secretary-Treasurer: Mr. H. S. Tily.

Committee: Miss Stringer and Mr. Kimbell."

As the poet says fitly,

"Fond memories come thronging fast

And life grows green, and life grows vast,

When thinking of Otago."