AFTER THIRTY YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 170, 20 July 1936, Page 11

AFTER THIRTY YEARS.

OLD BOYS HOLD 'REUNION.

PRINCE ALBERT COLLEGE,

Old boys of a school which clqsed its doors 30 years ago—Prince Albert College —held their annual reunion over the weekend. As usual keen interest was taken in the rally, upwards of 70 former pupils of the school taking part.

The principal Junction was'a dinner held at the Star Hotel, at which Mr. R. G. Entrican presided. Two former masters, Mr. H. E. Gilbert Smith and Mr. A. W. Short, were among the guests, while one old boy who revived old memories with past school mates had come from Christchurch to bo present at the gathering. It was mentioned by the president that during the eleven years that the college had been in existence 453 pupils had been enrolled and that of that number only about 40 had been lost trace of. In mentioning that Hie collcge had possessed a strong individualism, Mr. Entrican stressed tlie desirability of all old boys keeping together and taking an interest in their association. Five per cent of the total number' of former pupils at the collcge, he mentioned, had lost their lives during the Great War.

As wag to be expected at such a gathering. the speeches were mostly in reminiscent vein. Several speakers, however, commented 011 the possibility of the college being re-established. Representatives of kindred associations' congratulated the association on the fact that year after year it was able to stage successful reunions, despite the fact that many years had passed since the school had gone out of existence.

In addition to "The King," two toasts were honoured, "Our Old School/' pronosed by JJr. J. H. Lawry, with responses by Messrs. Gilbert Smith and Short, and "Kindred Associations," proposed by Mr. X. R. Jones, with responses by Messrs. A. B. Kainger (King's College), J. V. Macky (Grammar School), G. Eoy (Sacred Heart) and R. C. Clark (Wesley College). Greetings by letter and telegram were received from absent members of the association. A programme of musical and elocutionary items was.contributed by Mr. R. G. Simmers and Mr. D. Flood. Mr. A. I'ow being the accompanist. At tlio annual meeting preceding the dinner, the following officers for the ensuing year were elected: —President-elect for 1037j Mr. N. R. Jones; joint honorary secretaries, Messrs. L. E. Rhodes and C. Ballnntvne; executive, Messrs. L. R. Brakenrig, P. S. Wallis, A. K Lawry, T. H. Martyn, F. G. Blott, W. H. McKinney, W. Stephenson, L. Keals, P. Bellow, W. Brook-Smith; president for the incoming year, Mr. P. R. Burton. The reunion concluded yesterday with the usual church parade and morning service at Pitt Street Methodist Church, at which there was a large attendance. The Rev. E. D. Patchett conducted the service and the Rev. A. B. Chappell was the preacher.