LIFE AT OXFORD

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 68, 14 December 1931, Page 4

LIFE AT OXFORD

Three Years’ Experience MISS McNAIR’S SUCCESS Not many girls in New Zealand have had the opportunity and ability to sit for an Oxford University entrance examination while they were still at school—and pass. Yet such was’ the good fortune of Miss Margaret McNair, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G/S. McNair, of Wellington. ■ Miss McNair Returned home on Wednesday after three years at St. Hughes College, Oxford, with the initials B.A. Hons., Oxon, behind her name, and she has only just had her twenty-first birthday. To a “Dominion” representative Miss McNair related > the story of her “fairy tale” adventures right from the time when she was at Nga Tawa School with Miss McCall as headmistress. It was there that she sat for the very stiff examination, never dreaming that she would gain the marks necessary for a pass. “After the papers had been sent to England to be marked,”’said Miss McNair, “several months passed and a cable was received at the school from Oxford by Miss McCall. I was communicated with and, to my intense excitement, the cable said ’'‘reserving vacancy.’” _■ ■ ■ ■ Miss McNair, with-her mother, then sailed for Englanif and Oxford. On being asked about tie . life . at the

women’s colleges in Oxford, Miss McNair explained that there were four women’s colleges some little distance away from the men’s. Her college, St. Hughes, was quite a mile away. It had the loveliest bld .garden - and was originally an old monastery garden. Miss McNair said she used to' spend hours roaming and absorbing its beauty. The other colleges were Lady Margaret Hall, Sommerville and St.

Hilda’s. 1 ■ y . “When I arrived'at my' college,” she

continued, “it was a Sunday, so I set to work and unpacked, feeling terribly excited and strange. . I had a bed-sitting-room, its size rather depending on one’s year. LecturesC'and work were from 9 a.m. till Tp.m., and in one’s own particular college one was assigned to a tutor.” Her tutor was Miss Seaton. She remembered so well the first day she went to lectures; everyone rode on a bicycle and she, who had only ridden occasionally, was put on one and then'left to struggle along, feeling terribly new and inexperienced. Miss McNair sat'for her “prelim.” exam, during her first term, and her subjects were -Latin, French, Greek drama and logic. Needless to say, she passed. ‘‘lf is quite the thing,” said Miss McNair, “in your first year to have coffee parties at night, at which you eat toast and drink tea, and discuss every subject under the sun. In your second year ‘coffee parties' are more rare, and in your third year such things are definitely ‘not done.’ ” “How many girl students are there?” she was asked.

“There are 600,” Miss McNair replied, “and one of the chief juies of the university is that you must be a certain number of ’days in residence at your college. Every night at dinner we signed our names. This, of course, kept a tally. I suppose really eating dinners means keeping residence. Summer term is the great one, of course, for then we have Boat Week. There are two college dances a year, arid such delightful ones they-were”—a reminiscent smile came over Miss McNair’s face as she said this—"arid, of course, in the evenings there are all tl’.e clubs — Oxford, by the way, teems with clubs —political, English, and dramatic, and, in addition, there is the Oxford Theatre. All the good provincial companies come to this theatre and put on all the latest plays. The, best music is heard—in fact, it is all just marvellous.

“In the afternoon, games and sports are played and for those who like'hiking all the winding countryside and woods await them. We work in the mornings and at night also, when necessary, but as is always the case the amount of study done depends on the individual. If one wants to work, one may. I made some delightful friends during my stay, and was sorry to leave them. During the ‘vac.’ I had an opportunity of seeing rural England, and spent many happj’ days in company with my mother.” “Is it true that you all wear caps and gowns to lectures?”? she . was asked. “Yes, quite true," Miss-McNair replied. “We ‘Commoners,’ as the rion-scholarship people are called, wore short gowns, while the ‘Scholars’ ’ gowns were long and- flowing. Some of the gowns, by the way, were .tattered and torn, victiriis of. various ‘rags,’ and, of course, much, prized bn that account. It has all been a most wonderful adventure and experience,” Miss McNair concluded, "and I feel I am very lucky. It is splendid being back again. I have missed my father terribly, and it is lovely to see him.” Miss McNair is an exceptionally modest young lady and does not speak at all about her brilliant work during the last three years at Oxford, but it is that modesty which adds so much to her charm.

Miss Polson, of Wanganui, and Miss D. Polson, of Stratford, were joint hostesses on Thursday afternoon at a pleasant party held at the residence of Mrs. D. G. Polson, of Wanganui, given in honour of Miss Hazel Franklin’s approaching marriage. An amusing double competition was won by Misses Zeisler and Palmer, of Dahnevirke. . Mrs. Grimmond, of the South Island, is the guest of Mrs. L. Strachan, "Wanganui East. The Marton Junior Reform League and Toe H of Rangltikei are combining in an effort to raise funds for Christmas cheer and to provide a summer camp,for poors boys in the Marton district. A concert in aid of the object has been arranged for Friday, December IS.