STUDENTS' "RAG"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23171, 18 October 1938, Page 7

STUDENTS' "RAG"

PRACTICAL JOKES n INCIDENTS IN MELBOURNE CLOCK STRIKES 178 TIMES [from ottb own correspondent] MELBOURNE, Oct. 14 University students are in disgrace as tho result of a series of practical jokes at the week-end in which a memorial gato was "planted" in the garden of Archbishop Head, the fire brigade was turned out to falso calls and a clock was made to strike 178 times at 4 a.m. " Archbighop Head was to dedicate the * ' Christopher Furness memorial gate at • tho Janet Clark Hall, the women's col- * lege attached to Trinity College, on Saturday evening. But early on Sat- - urday morning the discovery was made 1 that the gate was missing. Various "clues" were given by unknown per- , - sons on the telephone, and the gate * was found in the garden at Bishopcourt just in time for it to bo taken back to ~ the university for the cerem»ny. , Just as the ceremony was to begin three fire engines arrived on the scene. They had been brought on a fool's errand. Their arrival was cheered by A students and a rocket was released. The chief officer of the brigadf, Mr. J. T. Wilkins, promised that proceed- „ ings would be taken if the culprits it . could be traced. \ » "Ragging" continued throughout Saturday evening and even into Sunday "<' morning. At 4 a.m. on Sunday the clock in tho tower of Ormond College struck 178 times. College officials rose from their beds and started to climb " the tower. Water poured over them as they passed through doorways, string ensnared their hurrying feet and their ascent of the tower was impeded 1 by thick glue which had been smeared on the stairs. At last, however, the clanging was stilled. Residents of the college and of the suburb of Parkville sighed with relief and sought more sleep.