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Weir House

Whenever the Weir House saga may be sung, it must begin with words of gratitude to one man. The House came into being through a generous bequest, described in these words of epic simplicity in the College Calendar: "In 1926, by the will of the late W. Weir, a sum estimated at £60,000 was left to the College to provide and maintain a hostel for men students." To-day a splendid building bearing his name stands to commemorate his action.

It is right to emphasise that the true significance of this liberality is not to be measured in terms of money or grandeur of buildings, but in the en-during influence that it may have on the life of the community. But while the institution to which the bequest gave rise is yet so young, one can look merely to the immediate material results.

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In 1931 substantial alterations were made in the plans for Weir House. This was partly due to the Hawke's Bay earthquake, for after that disastrous event the Minister of Education refused to approve the erection of a brick hostel. In addition, the usual Government subsidy, on which reliance had been placed, was not forthcoming. In the result the main building was erected on a modified design in ferroconcrete, and the foundations which had been laid for the separate dining hall block were temporarily abandoned. Another wing has yet to be added to the main building to complete the quadrangle.

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We may have started without traditions, but we have our ruins! The abandoned foundations for the dining block can be seen in the foreground of one of our photos. Many Utopian schemes have been advanced for the utilisation of this debris, the suggestions ranging from motor garages and swimming pools to a Greek theatre. But one student writes to say that we should leave things as they are. He declares that there could be no more fitting memorial to the "corner turning" escapades of 1932, and suggests the following by way of dedication:

When age-long sand-drifts cover deep
This fascinating concrete heap,
And some geologist lays bare
The ruined wonder hidden there,
Will he rack his brains to know
If this is ancient Mexico,
Or will he recognise the hand
Depression laid upon the land?

Least important, perhaps, in the year's progress, but much the most striking to the visitor, is the development of the mere externals of the place. The grounds have been changed out of recognition during the past six months. The task was undertaken by the City Council as one of its relief works, and the Director of Parks and Reserves personally supervised operations. Nearly four hundred hardy New Zealand shrubs have been put in, and the entire face of the embankment has been sloped and planted. By the entrances, cypresses have been placed, and borders are still being planted and lawns nurtured to the stage of greenest green.

* * *

Less spectacularly, the House itself has slowly but steadily claimed its quota of residents—as we write, the goodly number of 73. Dr. Henning, our first Warden, departed for Australia in the second term. His was a very brief reign, but we feel we owe him a great deal for what he did in those first few days in getting Weir House firmly established. To his successor, Dr. Sutherland, we renew our welcome.

* * *

And what of our first year? Inevitably during these stages of initiation Weir House as an institution has the formless appearance of every extremely young organism. But there has been much activity in setting up the necessary organisation in various fields. We should perhaps mention that a miniature library has been established, and we wish to thank those members of the College Council and others who have generously donated books and magazines. The sports room has been equipped, and also provides an excellent voice-production studio during the practices with our new haka, for which we have to thank Mr. Kingi Tahiwi.

* * *

In the second term the ubiquitous pianoforte made its appearance at Weir House, whose musical life may then be said to have started.

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Later, Dr. Henning was good enough to present his gramophone to the House on his departure. The rivalry between these instruments has been amusing. The House records comprise some that are excellent music, so that it may not be a wholly bad sign that the gramophone bids fair to vanquish the piano for popularity. But we much regret that it should have killed the exhilarating "community singing" which often arose impromptu in the earlier days. Some indication of our present standard of musical appreciation is disclosed by an interesting test made a short time ago. The results showed us to be only 4 per cent, lower than children six years of age, and 1 per cent, higher than residents of the Y.W.C.A. Hostel.

Our social activities have been somewhat circumscribed, but we can record an excellent House dance, and a successful "North v. South" football match for the Weir Cask.

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Above all, "Weir" is a place "where men can meet together and hammer things out." In this lies its supreme virtue. There are debates in common-room and study, discussions stretching far into the night. If the exuberance of the "House spirit" can be on occasions modified, then this is the way in which it may come to be the most potent force in maintaining all that is best in the University tradition.