THE WOMEN STUDENTS' HOSTEL

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 285, 26 August 1908, Page 5

THE WOMEN STUDENTS' HOSTEL

The establishment of a hostel'inx'Wellington for women' students was at \first. a rather uncertain undertaking. '■ TheroNwas no means of ascertaining whether the venture would pay, for'though it was known\that tho girls attending classes at Victoria \College and the Training College often found it difficult to get suitable lodgings, many people doubted whether.they would take kindly to a hostel, "and only with numbers could it be a financial success. All doubt on thaii\ question is at an end,- and after some month? of trial it.may now be said that the hostel •is.a triumphant success, a'comfortable homo for the thirty-five girls who; live there, and a : home that is, paying its way. .■) "Dominica " 'had seen the hostel spick and span on the opening day, when it was ready to be. a home, but was waiting'for inmates and the homelike atmosphere. Both these r things have been achieved now, and the result is all that could be desired. The bedrooms which on that day .waited in their freshness of tinted wall and new furniture for.the new owners, are now invested with an individuality reflecting the owner's tastes. There are pictures on'the walls, knick-knacks sparingly arranged on tho] folding; desks, where there is little room for ornaments, .and .just a few books, for the College girl has not much time for reading outside her subjects, nor', much accommodation for a library. In 1 fact, : in these rooms, especially when two girls share a room together, the wall space is about- all that is available for 'decorative purposes... ' . The College girl in term time leads, a strenuous lifej and her day begins at an early hour. Breakfast, is at half-past seven, in order that the girls may be at the Training. College by nine. - The dming-room is a cheerful looking place, and instead of having one or two long tables, the students aro distributed at four or five small ones, tho girls of each district gravitating naturally to the same table, so that Nelson girls will bs found sitting together, and Wairarapa and Wanganui willhaye their own.tables. Meal-times, especially •at brcalifast,' 'afford the best opportunity, the girls, have of meeting together, and ,a ; hum of conversation goes on all the;time, sometimes, when tho subject is 6f'general interest; all the tables joining iri the,discussion. Dinner is in tho middle of the day, arid tea is a movablo feast.' Some of the girls have.to bo at Victoria College for lectures at five, and for them tea has to.be at half-past four,, and others cannot get back to the, College till at least half-past, six. : It is this irregularity of meals that made it so necessary to havo one largo'boarding establishment where tho meals might match the hours, for, of course, the ordjnary landlady could not be. expected to provide tea at such varying 'times. Supper is'served after nine, when the last latd student is homo again, and it is 'a' substantial supper, too, as many of the. students have 'to spend some time still in study. . The'.hostel is governed by as few rules as possible! Tho committee has. realised that the girls who come to it aro not to be treated as children, but as. responsible people, who , must have,as much liberty as is consistent with' , the individual- and .'general well-being, and a housq committee, elected by the girls themselves, makes rules and regulations on minor'matters that "crop up from time.to time. ■'■" . - •'...-"'■ . '; . ■ There is a pleasant drawing-room, whero the students .- on .occasion entertain ■ their friends among the other students, and very pleasant these parties aro said to be. In the vacation time, when tho students havo all gone away to their homes, it is probable that arrangements may be made to take in other boarders for the few weeks or months of their absence, '■< and so add to the hostel's funds. ■.-'.■• ■■'■■' ' .