HOMAGE PAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 11

HOMAGE PAID.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL. OLD BOYS' REUNION DINNER. PER AUGUSTA AD AUGUSTA. "Sixty-seven years," said. Mr. C. J. Tunks on Saturday night at the reunion dinner of the Auckland Grammar School Old Boys' Association, is not a long time in the history of some of the great schools in England; but it is a long time in the history of -Auckland and New Zealand." He "was referring to the number of years of the Grammar School itself; and quite suddenly one realised that, to such an extent had the school grown with the city, it was not simply a school. It was an institution and a corporate part of the city's life. Old boys have become so used to expecting to meet other old boys wherever they go in the city and elsewhere, that the potency of this fact and the measure of its influence in the city is lost sight of. But these were the thoughts that gained a prominence as speeches were made and stories were told round those tables at Hotel Carge.i on Saturday. Reunion dinners usually present a fairly "mixed grill." They have their serious vein; they do not lack the lighter vein, for memories or reminiscence, or even a note of sadness. All these -were present on Saturday; but tho deeper undercurrent seemed to be a realisation of the responsibilities which old boys owed to the school and through tho school to the city. Why So Few There was not a great deal of talk about tradition. It was taken largely for granted. In fact, it is only at such dinners that it is ever mentioned at all. There is only one Auckland Grammar School. But, in all this strength there was a weakness, a weakness mentioned by the vice-president of tho association, Dr. K. MacCormack —tho comparative fewness of the numbers present. There were about 05 there. It was true that there were very few young old boys present and tho school song would have been better sung, while tho chorus "On the Ball" led by Mr. K. Dellow would have crept out of that room and on to the street as it ought to have done. During tho evening there were five toasts. "Tho King" was proposed by the president, Mr. J. Victor Macky. "Kindred Associations" was proposed by Dr. K. MacCormack, vice-president, and replied to by Mr. A. B. Raingcr, president of the King's College Old Boys' Association. "Our Old School" was proposed by the president and supported by Mr. Tunks. Mr. C. M. Littlejolm, headmaster of the school, replied. Mr. T. C. Webb, vice-president, proposed "The Masters," and Sir. J. F. Russell, assistat master, replied. The headmaster of King's College, Mr. J. N. Peart, an old boy of tho school, gave the toast of "Absent Old Boys."

Association Wants a Jolt. "Tho association wants a bit of a jolt," said Dr. MacCormack. The old boys, ho said, were keen 011 the school and their feelings to it lacked nothing at all, yet it was hard tp get them along to a dinner like the present gne. "It is tho old story of propinquity and indifference," he said. "The Old Boys' Association is easy to join." Ho referred to the sentiment of old boys for the school, but he said that the Old Boys' Association did not live for sentiment. It could carry on only if it had a job to do, and that job was to do all possible for the present boys. At that stage he pointed to a picture set prominently 011 the piano. It was one of the baths proposed for the school. "I commend this project to you as worthy," said the speaker. He said that as the years went by rivalry departed and left friendship behind. Ho was sure of the good wishes of kindred associations, .and he could not possibly have been uncertain on that point after hearing the reply of Mr. Rainger. "What a wealth of recollection and sentiment is enshrined in those three words, 'Our old school,'" said the president, proposing that toast, and there was some satisfaction as old boys grew older, that sentimental pride in the old school grew deeper. "The Auckland Grammar School," he said, "has woven its way into the life of this Dominion; it had'left its imprint to a marked degree on this city and province. It is.no idle boast to say that its pupils have the lion's share in the desirable and honourable posts in our community, and, in so doing, pay silent tribute to the sound training and influence received at the old school. Wherever Grammar School boys have migrated they will generally be found occupying responsible positions and playinjr a helpful part in the life > of their adopted country."

Influence of the Masters. It was not by chance that tlie boys had made good, but was clue in a large measure to the stronjr influence and teachings of fine masters and headmasters. He mentioned some of the masters by name. To the present-day old boy they were but a name; but over yonder at the head of a table sat five very old boys. They were nodding and smiling to themselves. And when Mr. Maeky' included Mr. Peter Drummond, for 35 years a master at the school, in his list of illustrious masters, it was the turn of the younger generation to smile in agreement. That smile broadened somewhat when the speaker mentioned Mr. Drummond's "stern discipline." In the final analysis, said Mr. Macky, the dominating factor in the success and influence of the masters was their character. It was not so much what they taught that was remembered, but what was caught from their example. ' The newer aim in education of teaching for leisure rather than for efficiency was explained by the headmaster • in replying. He said that a start in a small way had been made at the school. Timetables had been slightly rearranged. All forms had a library hour and period in the gymnasium. Also there were some 20 groups in the school which Were studying subjects not in the ordinary curriculum. These were efforts to enable boys to become better citizens. Mr. • Webb, in a happy speech, conveyed the thanks of all old boys to the masters. There were some names, he said, which would live while the school itself existed, ne knew that all would him sincerely and almost reverently to thank masters who had done so much for boys. Mr. Russell's reply was just as happy. He interspersed a good deal of humour through a theme that was serious; and for the first time, perhaps, some of the boys saw themselves as -the masters saw them.