PRESENTATION OF BANNERS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11413, 25 October 1902, Page 9

PRESENTATION OF BANNERS.

About 300 of the senior scholars of the Normal, Sydenham, and St. Albans Schools assembled "at the Normal School yesterday afternoon, when the annual presentation of banners took place. The proceedings were of an interesting nature, and the young •people :were very entbasiastdc. Mr P. Selig (vice-pie-sident of the North Canterbury Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association) was in the efuvir. Mr A. E. G. Rhodts (president of the Canterbury Rufby Vffion), Mrs Rhodes, and Mr G. H. Mason tst-tibr vice-president- of the Canterbury 'Rugby Union), made the presentatione. Mr' Solig said he had been a-sked to preside in th« absence of Mr L. B. Wood, the president. It gave him veiy great pleasure to do so, as lie had really been the founder of the Public Schools Athlftic Association, and had always done what he could to aflsLst it. The Association had baen in existence now three years, and had done good work in promoting echooi eporte. He did not intend to say much, but would ask Mr Rhodes to make the presentation of the senior banner.

Mr Khodes expressed his pleasure at being present with Mrs Rhodes at such a gathering, and for such a purpose. Some people thought that they were paying too much attention to athletic games and sports, bat he considered that taking a fair and manly interest in games made them grow up better and stronger, and even helped them to do their school -work better. Such game/*, if played in the proper spirit, taught them to be unselfish, and how to bear themselves in after life, and to play the game in a manly way. He urged upon them the necessity of continuing to play for the honour of the school rather than for individual honour, and to be euxe and give up anything of a tricky nature in their play, co that it might be all fair. He was glad to see the honours fairly well distributed. Sydenham liad won the senior (schools' banner twice, West Chrietchurch and St. Patriok'e once each, and now it fell to the Normal School team. He congratulated the ■winners, and hoped they would be able to hold it for another year. (Applause.) Mr G. H. Mason then presented the junior flag to the St. Albans team. In doing so he nafid he was glad Mr Rhodes had spoken as he had done in impressing on the boys the necessity of playing the game fair, and of the good training athletics were for the realities of alter Wβ. Hβ congratulated the winning team, and also spoke in praise of the Waitham boys, who*for two years had been unfortunate enough to be the runnera-up for the trophy and had just missed it. (Applause.) Mr E. Watkins, 8.A., Prindpal of the Normal School, said he was much pleased to near that the play of the schools bad been characterised by fairness and maniimtta, and hoped this spirit would be maintained.

Mr J. B. Mayne (Bt. Albans) said hie ( boys, he felt sure, had deserved the Jionour gained. Waltham had run them very close, and he hoped that school would have better luck next year. He thought that it ought -to be stated that the (success of the schoolJ boys In their sports was largely- due to the interest taken ia the games by the maatere.

Mrs Rhodes then, presented the public schools' cricket banner to the Sydenham school. f

Mr Waller (Sydenham) replied on behalf of the school, and expressed gratitude to the Canterbury Cricket Association for initiating the competition. Mr 0. T. Aschman (Normal School), who had arranged the gathering, gave a short speeoh, and called for three cheers for Mr Rhodes, Mr SeUg, and the other visitors), and three more for Mrs Rhodes, which were heartily given. Mesen Selig and Rhode* returned thanks, and the children were dismissed.