People and Their Doings.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 644, 23 December 1932, Page 6

People and Their Doings.

Every Record that is Broken at Christ's College Costs Mr J. H. Kirk a Medal : The World Can Stand Two Winston Churchills, but No More : Academic Versus Practical Knowledge.

jyjß J. H. KIRK could not have foreseen when he promised many years ago to give a medal for every new record set up at the Christ’s College sports that he would be “ struck ” for nine medals in the year of the great depression, and that fact was amusingly touched on when he told the boys in making the presentation of these medals that he congratulated those who had broken the record in record-breaking time, but he hoped that they would not go on doing it on the same scale or they might break him. Six of these records were broken at the recent sports meeting and three a year before. The records have been strictly kept for sixty years, and one of those recently broken was made in 1906. The day before the sports Mr Kirk asked Mr Flower what he thought of the prospects, and he said that they had two or three pretty good boys, but he could not see any new records sticking out. /Actually a record was broken in the very first race of the day, and that was one in which Mr Kirk was the donor of the annual prize.

sS? 3S? M R KIRK told the assembled school boys in humorous vein that Dr Acland conversationally had expressed the opinion to him that probably the Plunket way of feeding and bringing up babies might easily have had something to do with it. Therefore, said Mr Kirk, the boys might owe the winning of the medals to good mothers as well as other things. It was in May, 1870, that Mr Kirk, a very nervous small boy stood waiting on a spot on the floor which he indicated to the scholars of the present year, waiting for a desk to be given him, and he remarked that at that time not one of the present masters had come into the world. One of Mr Kirk’s schoolmates of those days was Mr E. J. Ross, with whom he was associated in an exhibition game of tennis the other day at Wilding Park. Incidentally, Mr Kirk saw the very first old boys’ race run at Christ’s College, and it was won by Mr Arthur Ollivier, Mr Cecil Ollivicr's father. Two of Mr Cecil Ollivier's sons are now at Christ’s College. 5 1? ® <gIR THOMAS HENLEY is a prominent man of affairs in Sydney and member of a number of public bodies, writes our Sydney correspondent. The other day the .Water Board had to recommend an appoint-

ment to a vacant position, and one of the applicants, who held a Bachelor of Engineering degree, appeared to be favoured bv a majority of the members. But Sir Thomas Henley spoke strongly in favour of other candidates who were older and had to their credit longer practical or professional experience than the University man. To the objection that these men had not the same academic qualifications Sir Thomas made answer that he did not attach much importance, in such a case, to University degrees. Pressed for a reason, he replied that to his knowledge a lot of trouble had been caused in such cases by “ young University theorists.” It is some consolation to learn that several of Sir T. Henley’s colleagues protested strongly against his attempt to belittle the value of academic education—one of them remarking that he had never known an engineer of any real standing who did not hold a University degree. In the end the Water Board duly appointed the B.E. in question.

® ® JDENTICAL NAMES can cause as much confusion as “ doubles.” Miss Diana Churchill, the eldest daughter of Mr Winston Churchill, whose engagement to Mr John Milner Bailey has been announced, has sometimes been mistaken for the other Diana Churchill, the daughter of a Wembley doctor, who, though only eighteen, has shown much promise both on the stage and on the screen. But as both Dianas were pupils at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in Gower Street, the confusion between them is excusable. All his life Mr Winston Churchill has had a namesake—and for the last thirty years a famous namesake —in the United States. Winston Churchill, the American novelist who published a political novel, “ The Crisis,” twenty years before the English statesman gave us “ The World Crisis,” is slightly the senior of the two; each has about the same number of books to his credit. The coincidence goes further, for the American novelist at one time entered politics, and very nearly became Governor of the State of New Hampshire. lie has often visited England. “ The world can stand two Winston Churchills,” he once said. “It can stand no more.”

Q K. JACKMAN, well-known as an Old Collegian cricketer, who narrowly missed inclusion in the representative team this year, has been doing his stuff well in other spheres. At the early age of twenty-one he passed his L.L.B. examinations, though working all the time in his ordinary job, and now, in spite of the counter interests of cricket, he has found time to get through further accountancy examinations. Jackman played in the first eleven for a couple of years at college, and in his young days also played a very useful game of football. 3? D AYS when he was Prime Minister of Australia were spoken of by Mr Stanley M. Bruce, the Australian Minister in London, at the jubilee dinner of the London District of the Institute of Journalists. “ I got more handsomely beaten than any other Prime Minister,” he said, “ and if I have set up no other record I have set up that.” lie said that during his Premiership he received the Press twice a day, and met with journalists of every shade of opinion, but he had never once been let down. Matters of the utmost importance could be divulged to the Press in full confidence that there would be no disclosure. 3? SF ® CIXTY YEARS AGO (from the ‘'Star” of December 23, 1872) : The Governor’s Visit to Akaroa.—llis Excellency, with Lady and Miss Bowen, accompanied by Mrs Rolleston, his Honor the Superintendent, Mr Studholme and Mrs Studholme paid Akaroa a visit on the 19th inst. Ilis Excellency and party came from Christchurch in Cobb and Co.’s coach, driven by Mr M’Kercher (whom both Lady Bowen and his Excellency complimented on his careful jehuship), the journey, including the stoppages, being done in about eight hours, the party appearing thoroughly to enjoy the drive and diversified scenery. Along the route the inhabitants of the different localities passed on the journey enthusiastically welcomed the distinguished visitors, and in German Bay, a presentation of fruit was handed into the coach,