GRAMMAR YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 298, 17 December 1929, Page 11

GRAMMAR YEAR.

ANNUAL PRIZE NIGHT.

MEMORABLE JUBILEE

SCHOLASTIC SUCCESSES.

"This year will stand out in the history of the school as one of the most memorable," said the headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, in his report presented at the annual prize-giving ceremony last evening. Dr. E. Roberton, vice-chairman of the board of governors, presided and presented the prizes.

During the year the school had celebrated its diamond / jubilee, and on August 22 over two thousand boys were present at a reunion. It had ljeen a time when old associations were remembered and brought fresh again to the mind. The foundation by the old boys of the memorial library had been a striking proof of the affection in which they still held their school.

At the opening of the school year the roll numbered 978, continued Mr. Manor., and this was less than the number in the previous year. Lack of accommodation was referred to in the address of Dr. Koberton, who said that, although the school had been built for 6CO pupils, it had been forced in recent years to accommodate almost a thousand; and even though a school had been established at Takapuna, the pressure was by no means lessened.

"If parents would take a further interest in both the school and the board it would help not only the board but the general interests of education in Auckland," said Dr. Roberton.

The year had been successful from a scholastic point of view, which was particularly the case in the post-matricula-tion forms. A system was being developed in the higher forms under which certain practical subjects calculated to be of value in later life were given special attention. The success of the school in outdoor pursuits was referred to, notably that of the Rugby fifteen. All boys, however, took part in some sport.

The achievements of old boys were dealt with in the school report. Scholastic distinctions included the graduation of Mr. R. W. Firth, Ph.D., at London University, and Mr. R. P. Anschutz, at Edinburgh. Mr. F. W. W. Rhodes, had gained, first-class honours in English for his B.A. degree obtained at Oxford, and Drs. M. Axford, D. N. Eppstein and F. E. Webster had secured the F.R.C.S. in England. Senior university scholarships had been awarded to six old boys, Messrs. R. G. McElroy, A. H. McDonald, P. C. Minns, J. A. Stallworthy, F. H. Sagar, and J. Williams.

Mr. Minns' selection as a Rhodes scholar for 1929 was a subject of special reference by Mr. Mahon. It was the ninth occasion on which an old boy of the school had won the distinction, and it was a record which showed the worthy part old boys were playing, not only in New Zealand, tut in all parts of the Empire. A tribute of grateful appreciation was paid by the headmaster to the two oldest members of the board of governors for their devoted service—Dr. Roberton, who had been a member since 1898, and Professor A. P. W. Thomas, chairman, who joined the board the following year, and had been chairman since the death of Sir Maurice O'Rorke in 1916.