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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1934

The Late J. W. Joynt an Appreciation

The Late J. W. Joynt an Appreciation

The late Mr. John William Joynt, M.A., was born in County Wicklow in 1852. After a brilliant career at Trinity College, Dublin, in which he gained first-class honours at every stage, gold medals and scholarships and the distinction of 2 double first-class Honours in Classics and Mental and Moral Science, he had a Fellowship within his grasp, when ill-health cut short what bade fair to be a distinguished career at Home. On the advice of Sir Robert Stout he come to New Zealand, and when I first met him in 1889 he was relinquishing the position of Associate to District Judge Ward, when the latter was an acting Supreme Court Judge, to take the position of Head-mastership of Nelson College. During his ten years tenure of that office he helped to raise the school to its present high standard. Then he became Registrar of the University of New Zealand, which was a much smaller affair then than it is to-day, the Calendar simpler, the Curricula free from the present complexities and the number of entries for examinations comparatively small. He had but one assistant and to many of those connected with the University, he was the University, performing the various duties enumerated in my farewell song on his departure from New Zealand to be University agent in London.

The post and the man were eminently fitted for each other. It brought him into touch with the many eminent University men who were our external examiners and to whom his scholarship and character made him persona grata and with his knowledge of New Zealand University life he was able not only to make clear to the examiners our circumstances and requirements but to gain their sympathy and interest. He naturally became a member of the Executive of the Imperial Universities Bureau on which he was able to do good work. The constant stream of post-graduate and travelling scholars kept him in touch with University life and thought. As University agent he had time in which to contribute Magazine and Newspaper articles on literary subjects. Although 80 at the time of his death in 1932 and in spite of failing health he kept at his post until he had to take to his bed when the end was approaching.

A somewhat gruff and apparently brusque manner concealed a warm and sympathetic heart and he was always interested in students and their activities, as his gift of the Scroll for Debating indicated. He had been no mean speaker himself, as his gold medal for oratory at Trinity College proved.

With his intimate knowledge of the Classics was combined a sound knowledge of modern languages and literature. He was an enthusiastic student of Italian, examiner for a time to the University in Modern Languages and lectured in German at Victoria College. A lover of music, he gave support to our Musical Societies and he founded the Shakesperean Society in Wellington.

I welcome the opportunity of paying tribute to the memory of a friend so closely associated with our University and Student life.

H. F. von Haast.

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In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Crown Studios Photo

J. H. Ruru

Professor D. M. Y. Sommerville.

Copy by Eileen Deste.

Professor D. M. Y. Sommerville.

Mrs. A. C. W. S. Mackenzie.

Copy by Eileen Deste.

Mrs. A. C. W. S. Mackenzie.

J. W. Joynt.

Copy by Eileen Deste.

J. W. Joynt.

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Crown Studios Photo.

Crown Studios Photo.

Victoria University College Students' Association Executive, 1934.

H. R. C. Wild. M. Hursthouse, D. M. Burns, If. K. Hurley, H. M. Mcintosh (Asst. Hon. Treas.), T. Gill. A. T. S. McGhie (Hon Sec.). K. E. Hoby (Vice-Pres.), R. J. Nankervis (Pres.), R. C. Bradshaw (Vice-Pres.), R. C. Morpeth (Hon. Treas.).

Copy by Eileen Deste.

Copy by Eileen Deste.

Women's Third Division Tennis Team.

Winners Women's Third Division Tennis Championship.

S. S. Phillipps, P. M. P. Edwards. M. E. Bell, E. Cook (Capt.).