FLAG FROM SCOTLAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 298, 30 September 1935, Page 6

FLAG FROM SCOTLAND

A METHVEN INTERCHANGE.

PRESENTATION CEREMONY. An interesting ceremony took place on Friday at the Methven District High School, when a presentation Union Jack from Methven School, Perthshire, Scotland, was formally handed over to the school. There was a large attendance o± parents and members of the school committee, a 9 well as the teaching staff and pupils. In introducing Mr James Campbell, a member of the committee, who has just returned from a trip to Great Britain, the chairman (Mr Stanley Smith), said the occasion was a memorable one in the school’s history.

Mr Campbell described his trip and the particular mission he had when he visited the Perthshire school to hand over the gift-flag from the New Zealand Methven School. The occasion had been looked on as one of considerable importance, and their Scottish friends were deeply grateful for the honour of receiving what was a further bond of kinship. In turn they had asked him to convey their good wishes and extend reciprocal greetings on his return. He also had been given a Union Jack in return, and this he now asked Mr A. S. Kennedy, headmaster, to accent on behalf of the school. The headmaster then hoisted the flag and the staff anl pupils marched past and saluted.

Mr Campbell also said that the Methven Perthshire pupils wished to form pen friends with the New Zealand pupils, and he asked that the suggestion should be adopted. Another interesting ceremony was the planting of a belt of ornamental trees in a street leading to the school, and also round the flag pole. Mr J. R. Dalton, for the school committee, gave the children an interesting address on the value of trees, and showed the benefits already accruing in North Canterbury by plantations put in in the early days by settlers. The children of various standards >n the school made the actual planting.