News of the Dominion.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 1, 5 July 1911, Page 4

News of the Dominion.

OUK WELLINGTON LETTER. Wellington, July I. The Victoria College Students. HERE have been just two glad II | breaks in this week of drab, £ wet, cold days—the “Capping Day” diversions of the \ ietoria University College students, and the long looked for visit of the Shelheld Choir. I have not yet heard the Choir it’s much too cold to-night to leave one s fireside for a hundred choirs, but it is the theme of praise in the superlative degree from all those who braved last night’s miserable weather to hear it. The only complaint is on the score of the cost. But the students’ street festivities this week were a free show, and gave the lunch-time crowds a lot of fun. lhe students made a really clever display; their procession was a marvellous mixture of pantomime and vaudeville entertainment, and a long way more interesting than the Civic procession on Coronation Day. Perhaps the two best items in its affair were the lorries bearing tho Socialist party and the Liquor party. On the Socialist wagon the crowd recognised some of its favourite Queen-statue “redflag” orators, who held forth volubly 00° the right of labour to strike early and often, and to get well paid for doing so. On the liquor wagon there was the “Last of the Barmaids,*’ a buxom, hobble-skirted peroxided damsel, who cuddled Sir J. G. Findlay most brazingly, the while she served him with free beers; upon the s. one of depravity certain well-known temperance advocates turned protesting coat-tails, but presently repented so far as to sing a paeon of praise to strong drink. Auckland was not forgotten in the procession. There was seme tom-fool business about rats and morgues, which did not hold very much humour, but the knighting of Captain Knyvett by a very well-got-up Lord Islington, on top of a part, was an incident with a laugh in it. The youth who stood for Mr. Knyvett. wore a fearsome scowl, which did not depart even when llis Excellency whacked him severely over the head with a waddy, and called upon him to, “Rise, Sir, Captain Knyvett!*’

The “Capping” ceremony in the Town Hall in the afternoon was a quiet affair, as Cappings go. The students are evidently learning to behave themselves nt the indoor gathering, and to work oil* their ideas of humour in the street, fun making. In the evening, though there was a good deal of mirth at the “Carnival Extravaganza,” as the students titled it, given in the concert chamber of the Tuwn Hall. This jeu d’esprit. written by some of tho students had for its theme the following: “Reform all round,*’ from College to gaol. Cm* of the phases of the “Reform** business was a prison scene wherein one Dr. Fin-lee inspected a most luxurious gaol, with the prisoners lounging around in arm ’chairs and on couches, and smoking big cigars and qiiafling what j urported to I.> champagne. The Dr. expounded his prison reform scheme i.i a plaintive recitative, followed by a duct wit h a Tvpi ( al ('riminal. Sang tin' doctor: “For those who wi-h to come to gaol and taste its varied pleasures. I’ve introduced a of most humanitarian measures; Ami lest you cannot find the way or know nof where the gate is. I’ve xtmlied up some entry tips and give them to you gratis.” Ami then f<dlow< a few points on how to •'liter the Perfect Prison, which waM to bo made so exclusive and select, that only the very best-connected and most influ. oil ; t | criminals could hope to piss v.ihln it- portals. There were the inc' * .»!’.» dhjs nt the Coronation honours, end the recij.i. nts thereof, and Sir Joseph Ward. Bart had a son" all to himself. |'ho college songs and tli.e capping choruses were well sure: perhap* the best chorus was tho last of all; to the tune of the Old Brigade, if r theme was, “Wisdom 1® more than gold**: —

For this is the burden of the world, Which it speaketh clay by day, 'though many a wordly Lip be curled With a sneer that it does not pay; In our ears is the voice of a Mammon In our hearts is a tale that’s old, The tale of our garnered heritage—■ The Wisdom that’s more than gold! Plant A Tree. There are signs that the tree-planting chances of Arbor Day will riot be entirely neglected in Wellington this year, lhe city schools, at any rate, are movingin the direction of beautifying their grounds. I don’t" think I have ever seen more dreary and utterly repellent playgrounds than those of the Wellington schools—ugly, bare asphalt yards, with never a tree or a flower to redeem their gaol-like aspect. Any youngster who plays truant from such schools has a very good cause in these alleged playgrounds; the very sight of them, and) of the still uglier school buildings, is enough to strike terror to the soul of the average child. Now, however, the school authorities are waking up, and they are discovering that school grounds need not be so much like prison exercise yards, and that a few trees and flowers about might even be a good) thing for the children. The soil is unpromising-, but something can be made to grow if the work is gone about in the right way. So several city schools have applied to the City Council for trees to plant. The City Reserves Committee, it is stated, is short of trees at present, and the ActingMayor suggests that the State nurseries might be able to supply the schools. On> hopes that between the Council and the State the schools won’t lose their trees; it is good to find some one recognising that green foliage is more lovely than bare asphalt.

A Warning to Shirkers. The first youth prosecuted under the new Defence Act for failure to register his name as a Territorial under the universal training system, was before Dr. McArthur. S.M., at the Police Court yesterday. His name was Arthur Davis, and he pleaded guilty. He said that he had passed his eighteenth year, and that the reason he had not registered was because of his trade; he was a cabinetmaker. He thought the training would interfere with his trade. The S.M. pointed out that that was not Hie slightest excuse. He adjourned the ease until next Tuesday, warning the defendant, that if he did not register before that time a penalty would) be inflicted. He gave him that much grace because he (the youth) would no doubt find a fine a hardship, but it must be distinctly understood that heavy penalties would bo inflicted in the future. Tho youth got off lightly: but others who have been dodging their responsibilities had best take warning. Possible the next delinquent will give Peace Society religious scruples as his excuse for evading his duty to the nation.

Colonel Newall, C.B. Colonel Stewart Newall, C. 8., who has jus’t been awarded by the Government the auxiliary forces officers’ long service d.eeoreftion, is a Wellington resident, ami one of our best-known military veterans. He is a brother-inlaw of Colonel Roberts, late S.M.. of Tauranea. Stewart Newall joined the New Zealand forces back in 18(13. as a very young man, served in the Waikato war. and then in the Taranaki Hauhau war ; later on he was in Whitmore’s column of armed constabulary and Maoris which fought its way through tho Urewera Country in 18.19. For some years alter that ho served in the armed constabulary: was stationed chiefly in the Waikato, and received a handsome present from the Government, in recognition of his services in preparing an excellent strategic map of the Waikato district. Colonel Newall has South African experience ‘too. He commanded the Nou Zealand contingent in the Poor war and got his G. 8.. in acknowledgment. Lifts for the High Levels. The residents of the Terrace it is officially The Terrace now, not Wellington Ternec), and adjacent high lying parts

of the city are getting very tired of tramping up the various Jacob’s Ladders that lead to their lofty homes, and are wouying the City Cou-pcil for elevattors. Twelve hundred of them have petitioned the Council to build a subway from Boulcott-street under the Churchstreet steps, and erect elevators for the conveyance of passengers. It is stated that a tunnel, 220 feet long and a shaft, 120 feet deep, will be necessary, and it is suggested that there should be two lifts, each capable of carrying ten twelvestone persons. 'l’he capital eost is put down at £4250, and the annual charges at £874. The fares suggested are a penny for each ascent and a half penny for each descent; this would cover interest and sinking fund and the expenditure necessary. It is stated that 475 Victoria College students would be benefited by the lift. No one has suggested so far that it might do the students more good to climb the steps daily, by way of gentle exercise. But the podgy business man and civil servant have resolved to have those lifts, and won’t be happy till they get them. Certainly they would be a boon to all of us, especially those who miss the last Kelburne cable car at night. The Council has referred the matter to its engineer for a report.