WAITAKI JUBILEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 113, 16 May 1933, Page 9

WAITAKI JUBILEE.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GIFTS, MEMORIAL CAIRN UNVEILED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, Monday. The jubilee celebrations of the Waitaki Boys' High School ended with a ball last night. In the morning the Hon. W. Downie Stewart unveiled a memorial tablet on a cairn erected at the entrance to the school, the tablet being inscribed with the names oi tnc Waitakians who died in the war. It was presented to the school bv the rector.

Other jubilee gifts include a cricket ground of 10 acres and a cottage, from the rector; the trowel and mallet used by Mi , . S. E. Shrimski in laying the foundation-stone at Waitaki, from the Shviriiski family; a stained memorial window for the Hall of Memories from (he Cliristchurcli branch of the Old Boys' Association; Captain Scott's pipe and uniform buttons, from Lady Hilton-Young, who was formerly Lady Scott; a Union Jack that had been flown over the Viceroy's House, New Delhi, as a trophy of" historic interest from India for the Hall of Memories, from Viscountess Willingdon, the Vicreine.

It was announced that the council of the Overseas League was presenting its flag to be placed in the Hall of Memories. The accompanying message from Sir Evelyn Wrench stated: "This flag goes to you with an expression of our deep appreciation of what you have done to promote the ideals of service which we like to think the British Commonwealth stands for." Jilajor-General Sinclair Burgess, officer commanding the New Zealand Forces, unveiled a Union Jack which had draped the- Cenotaph at Whitehall, and was presented to Waitaki by the War Office. He referred particularly to the war record of the school. j\lr. Stewart, in congratulating Waitaki on attaining its jubilee, said the 50 years the school had been in existence had seen the growth, of New Zealand from an unimportant part of the Empire to a country taking its place in the affairs of the world. Waitaki had always done its share in educating young New Zealanders in international affairs. It had been one of the schools first to realise the importance of international education. The rector, Mr. F. Milner, read many congratulatory messages received. Among those who sent messages were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, Earl Jellicoe, the Et. Hon. L. S. Amery. Sir William Birdwood, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, the Minister of Education, the Hon. K. Masters, and the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myere. Messages were also received from sister institutions. Opportunity was taken to present a handsome bookcase to the rector from the old boys. Tlie unveiling of the stained memorial window from the Christchurch branch of the Old Boys' Association was performed in the Hall of Memories by Mr. K. Hill, president of the branch. In accepting the gift on behalf of the board of governors, Dr. Douglas said it would be a symbol of the affection the old boys had for their school. Out of £16,000 cxpended on the Hall of Memories and the memorial organ, £17 remained as a debt at the commencement of the jubilee celebrations, but owing to the generosity of two prominr>* Canterbury Waitakians that debt had now been wiped off. The Gerald Percy Keddell memorial shield. 23 s presented to the school by Mr. It. W. McVilly, on behalf of tie New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association.