THE OLD SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 13 February 1926, Page 8

THE OLD SCHOOL.

Before the present University Arts Building was begun a member of the staff, -wishing to emphasise the poverty of the institution, said they had been glad to find a home in an abandoned Grammar School. The University has now removed from these school buildings to its permanent home, and the change is interesting as the last stage in a long struggle for a fitting abode. For the first time in the history of Auckland, the students assembling at the opening of the ! College year will walk into a block of buildings that are worthy of the city and the education they are seeking. We cannot, however, expect either staff or students to have sentimental regard for the old Grammar School. To-them it wae merely a temporary home. To Auckland people in general, however, it is something more. To the old generation it is still in a sense the Grammar School. The imposing building in Mountain Road is the new school, but the longest and the most interesting memories centre in the old wooden building in Symonds Street. There generation after generation of Auckland boys, members of a much smaller school community (and perhaps, on that account, bound together more closely than the pupils of the larger schools of to-day) Carved their mimes on every desk. And tore tuelr clothes, and inked their collars. And looked unique ana picturesque; But not. it may be, model scholars. There musters taught knowledge and ■'God's own eemmonsense, which is more than knowledtre." and thence went out into the world numbers of boys who were to distinguish themselves in various walks of life. Let it not be forgotten as it is apt to be in these days of separate schools—that girls were also educated in this building. There are many fathers and mothers of families who have a strong sentimental regard for the old place, and will await with interest the decision about its future. If it is to be pulled down—and bein? wooden, it cannot have an indefinitely long life—some figurative tears will be shed. I

"When they get the birch they never come back again," said Chief Detective Cummings to Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when the time had come for the magistrate to mete out punishment to two boys, one aged 14 and the Other 15, who were each indicted on four charges of theft from city firms and on three counts of damaging the locks of doors. The charge sheet resembled a bargain sale price list, among the goods stolen by the juveniles being chewing gum, combs, cigarettes and holders, hair oil, playing cards, and a safety razor set. One also appropn- J ated £4 5/1 in cash and the other £3 10/2. Both were admitted to two years' probation and ordered a birching. The Bench ordered that restitution be made, in the first case to the amount of £0 9/10 and in the other £6 13/2. An appreciation of the improved methods of treatment at the new leper station at Makogai is contained in the report from the islands of the visit to the lepors of the Governor of Fiji in January. On that occasion one of the European lepers from New Zealand addressed the visitors on behalf cf his fellows, and the addres3. together with those which had been received from other sections, was expressive of the deep gratitude of the lepers for the treatment They were receiving. The splendid work of Dr. Neff and of the Roman Catholic Sisters was especially commended by the patients. The inquest touching the death of Mr. Michael Middleton, whose body was found floating off the rocks at Rangitoto on Tuesday, was opened before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday. Leonard Frank Mar; in, a rigger, employed by the Harbour Board, gave evidence of identification. He said deceased had been his working mate. Deceased was a widower, aged 03, and his son wa~s killed in the war. Deceased had been operated on recently for cancer of the tongue. ,r He told mc," said witness, 'that if it came on again he .would take a dinghy and a boUle of whisky and go overboard. About a week before his disappearance he complained that his tongue was paining again." The inquest was adjourned sine die. The advisory hoard of the Auckland District Boy Scout Association will entertain Brigadier-General Andrews, the Dominion Chief Commissioner, at dinner and a social evening on Wednesday evening next at the Farmers' Union Building. Scoutmasters and troop committees will be present in strong force, and many prominent business gentlemen have signified that they will attend. A musical programme will be given by some of Auckland's amateurs, and Mr. A. McElwaiu has kindly consented to contribute items. The gathering should be most enjoyable, and result in furthering the scout movement in Auckland. Mr. T. W. Leslie, the custodian of the Wellington Town Hall, was the victim of an extraordinary accident, when standing in George Maslam's smithy in Taranaki Street The blacksmith lifted with a long pair of tongs a spring of a motor car out of the fire, and was about to lay it on the anvil, preparatory to ber ting it into shape, when the spring, which was red-hot, slipped from the grip of the tongs, struck the anvil, and bounced high enough to strike Mr. Leslie on the right cheek bone, just underneath the eye. The flying steel not only cut to the bone, but it burnt the flesh slightly, nnd partially dazed Mr. Leslie. Whether it is advantageous to cauterise almost at the same instant a wound is inflicted can scarcely remain in doubt after Mr. Lewie's accident, for after three days the wound has healed up, and therp is only a small scar to show where his cheek was cut to the bone. A scries of educat T onal demonstrations and lectures for the benefit of all pnultrykeepers of the Auckland distric 1 has been arranged by the Auckland Poultrykeepers' Association, which it is felt will br of much assistance to many who are interested in the industry. Mr. F. C. Brown (Chief Government Poul'ry Instructor) and Mr. E. C. Jarrett (Auckland Poultry Instructor) will be tho lectures. The first demonstrations will bo at Mangere and Papatoefoe on the 10th inst.. and Papakura, Pukekohe, •Henderson, Onehunjrn, and Albany will bo covered in the two succeeding days. On Saturday, the 20th inst., demonstrations and lectures will be given nt 2.30 p.m. at the contest grounds. Mount. Albert, where a large attendance is anticipated. Provision for further playing areas for children is being made by the Wellington City Council. It was decided at the last meeting that an area of land on the Parade. Island Bay. to the south of the Blue Platter tea rooms, be set aside as children's play area, the Island Bay Electors' Association having agreed to contribute £.500 towards the cost of the necessary equipment. It was agreed that permission be granted the Island Bay Electors' Association to hold a gala on the Island Bay beach from March 27 to April 0 for the purpose of raisin? funds to crpiip the area. Horas drivers are more and more beinc pushed oirt of their jobs. One old man who said he had been, in the one job for 25 years found that his boss was not going to buy any more horses, and as the present horses liad nearly finished fbeir usefulness he supposed that, like them he would just have to go out to grass' because he was too old now to drive a motor, and was not going to attempt to learn. l The Wellington City Council has decided to approach the ratepayers on the question of taking out of the hands of the council the sole control of the fire brigade and placing it in the hands of a hie board. In a discussion on the subject it was estimated that the city would save £10.000 annually. The" equipment was declared to be comparatively out of date, requiring an expenditure of £<ouo to rectify the deficiency. Following their conviction on a charge of assault at Christchnrch, Alfred Rolron Carey, aged 20, and John Wakefield. a Maori, were sentenced to two month*' imprisonment. They were release 1 on v> erlnesday after a rehearing of the ci» by Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M.. who sail that the new evidence, although contra d!ctory. shed new light on the matter. While riding a horse through a &ate at Maunsrakaramea, a 13-year-old °lad named William Courtney had his left le* caught by an iron hook of the c at e fasternng. A severe wound was caused thereby some of the muscles beinc torn out. The sufferer was brought into th" Whangarel Hospital for treatmeHt. Fire broke out in a barrel of oil in the back yard of the Universal Motor Company s premises in Patterson Street, just before 8 o'clock last evening.. A spark from a burning rubbish bear, se t fire to the oil but the City Fire Brigade sun pressed the flames without difficulty. r> C !, Cil J McGre g° r ' aged 24. working at Portland, got his right hand daiight in a pulley at the works yesterdav,-neces-sitating amputation of the first fin»er Hosp'itaT remOVal t0 the man^rei