University Club.

Since our last issue there has come into being what has been much talked about in the last twelve months, a University Club. Or not quite into being, for the Registrar of Incorporated Societies has not yet granted his certificate, but the members-to-be of the embryo Club are in possession of their rooms and furniture.

The movement began at last year's general meeting of the Graduates' and Past Students' Association, whose committee was instructed to inquire into the "practicability and desirability." of a Club being formed in Wellington. The inquiry took the form of advertising and issuing a large number of circulars for a meeting of those interested, and the meeting, after some general discussion, set up a provisional committee. The power to add to their numbers which was conferred on that committee was largely availed of. The full personnel was as follows:—S. A. Wiren (Chairman), H. McCormick (Secretary), Prof. F, P. Wilson, Rev. Father Gilbert, C. G. G. Watson, J. M. A. Ilott D. R. Hoggard, S. Eichelbaum, G. F. Dixon, P. martin-Smith, R. W. Edwards, G. Craig, D. S. Smith, A. R. Entrican, H. F. Von Haast Dr. P. Lynch, and P. B. Broad.

The Committee then drew up its prospectus. The Club was to have the usual amenities—dining-room, reading-room, card-room, billiard-room, etc.—and the entrance fee was to be £2/2/-, the subscription £4/4/-. The Committee were anxious, above all things, to be on a stable basis financially. They therefore fixed on 200 as their minimum membership, but, unfortunately, couldn't quite get that number. The enthusiasm on the part of the 150 who had signified their intention of becoming members was, however, marked. It seemed to the Committee that the work that had been done and the keenness that had been aroused should not be allowed to be dissipated. Another scheme was drawn out, for a reading-room and a card-room only from which a larger Club could grow. The 150 who had said they would join are almost all becoming members; and those who may not have been approached, and those who were not anxious to join until they saw what they were joining, and those who doubted whether they would be wise in paying a large subscription should help materially to swell the numbers.

The Club has secured two large and comfortable rooms in the National mutual Building, at the corner of Customhouse Quay and Hunter Street. There is a smaller room at the back which will be useful for many purposes. The rooms are bright, page 25 and, thanks to the very handsome donations of many enthusiasts, are extremely well furnished. Others have donated magazines and the like, and there is every reason to think that the members will be able to spend many happy hours together.

The inaugural meeting was held on 27th August, when it was enthusiastically resolved to form and incorporate the Club. Professor H. B. Kirk was elected as the first President, Messrs. S. Eichelbaum, J. M. A. Ilott, and G. G. G. Watson as Vice-Presidents, Mr. H. McCormick as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, and Messrs. S. A. Wiren, D. R. Hoggard, D. S. Smith, G. Craig, and R. W. Edwards as Committee. Mr. McCormick's address is 131 Featherston Street, and the subscription is £1/1/-, entrance fee 10/6.

The meeting then adopted the draft constitution. Perhaps the membership clause should be quoted:—

"The Club is open to all men who are 23 years of age and are graduates or past students or present students of the University of New Zealand or of a University 'recognised' by it."

Afterwards a general discussion took place. Mr. Watson stressed the necessity for every member bringing in another member. Mr. Stubbs hoped that everybody would be a regular attender. Mr. O'Regan and Mr. Eichelbaum expressed the wish that the Club would enable past students to keep in touch with University matters and with visiting intellectual leaders.

Hitherto in Wellington a place where University men could meet has been noticeably wanting, and the present venture should remove that want. The Dunedin Club, with somewhat different activities, has been a thorough success, while in larger towns, such as Sydney, University Clubs are flourishing. We trust that the Wellington Club will be the means of keeping our former students in touch with one another and with us.