CHRIST'S COLLEGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18571, 22 December 1925, Page 13

CHRIST'S COLLEGE.

—« DIAMOND JUBILEE DINNER. HON. Wi P. REEVBB»S ADDRESS. In continuation of tho celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of Christ's College, a dinner was held last night in the Memorial Hall, and was attended by over threo hundred old boys. Tho Sub-Wardcu, Mr George Harper, presided, and had ou his left the headmaster, tho ltev. E. C. Crosse, and on his right l>r. U. M. L. Lester. Tho other at the head table consisted of members of tho Board of Governors, tho Hon. W. P. Reovca, and tho president of tho Christ's College Old Boys' Association, Mr E. K. Guinness. Amongst tho large number of apologies received were those from tho following old masters:—Messrs C. C. Corfe, B. B. Browning, J. B. Harrison, W. Douglass Andrews, C. L. Wiggins, J. P. Firth, H. B. Lusk, H. T. Perrar, J. IT. Collins. C. Harling, and the Very Rev. Dean Mayno. Apologies were received also from over 200 old boys. The chairman read tho following telegram:— "Otago High School old boys send best congratulations." (Cheers.) After an oxoollontly-Berved meal had been taken, a number of toasts were honoured. "Tho King" was proposed by the chairman, and was loyally honoured. The College. Tho Hon. \V. P. Beeves proposed "Tho College." Ho recalled that he was present at tho first dinner held "by tho Old Boys' Association, and Baid that it was vory small and very humble. Ho congratulated tho old boys on the splendid work they had done for tho College, and said that ho thoroughly and heartily appreciated tho active part the old boys wcro taking not only in. supporting tho school but also itt helping to direct and control it. As regards tho typo and material that was being turned out, tho old school had cot been fuithless to its ideals. (Applause.) But it was necessary that they should not only carry themselves manfully and honourably in business and private life, but that thoy should do something more. They lived in timeß when men had to play their part so that their country should gain some benefit from them, and devote themselves to the services of their country. (Applause.) Thai Wa» the point-he wished to dwell on. "What is the uso," ho asked, "of the old school turning out fine men if these fine men are not to do fine service to one of the finest countries in the world!"

Difficulties Ahead: He did not wish to exaggerate, but there were difficulties—ho aid sot wish to call them dangers because danger was an alarmist word--to be overcome if New Zealand wished to maintain'its extraordinary standard of comfort and happiness) and to make further ad' vanees the future. ' If its citiaens united he believed they could sufrnount these difficulties, and that New Zealand would become the. envy of thd *wli (Applause.) Nov? Zealand itss **,,e&V orate and intricate forjck of den>ae»ey» but they could not have » lwwjhl» that without paying for it. If flevr. Zealand, as h democracy, *fas to b« the success it should it wanted high principles and brought to bear in its administration. (Hear, bear.) It was men like the old beefs « Christ's College that could inskC NeWi Zealand demotaaSy a sneeett. f l > Bela«ra» With the aopirf. The relation of Ne* Zealand to iha* rest of the British Empire ttwf•tion entirely above sectional party. He wafl riot going t0 pjjtylt. them' by suggesting that likelihood of New an in&epeudeftt. IfliMPk with Australia or the united It was the desire of the ity of New Zealanfers to «tafM-Vm Empire and. retrain faithful ditions Of the nation and tftle «*£§ Mother Country. (Applause *ta£ .cheers.) ♦ * 4 "I hope to Heaven," he said, "thai New Zealand statesmen will #«*«* tiSSfr tho poor, and it seems to me ious, part of endeavouring to yneref-VQ Mother Country by endeavouring to «h sort themselves Of to maker a little political capital by persecuting Dow*ing street to alio* them ioatte MMW diplomatic 4 freedom; (Hear, < hew.) That I feel veiy strongly, I W&t that these self-govemiua _ IwfffflV comparing them with wet (mM are the very luckiest cdnatodf j» j§fe world. Tl»ey hive' ®WSf' to manage theif wwSli the same time, free turn sion. If they ijannot Country to keep the • and preserve tbii Happy coaditioti fairs, they, deserve to lose tlw> JWTOw they have attained. Ido hope tfcg New Zealand will steadily lay kefMilf. out not to embarnu# the great lifot&er Country, but help her in the great tw of statesmanship, 1 ' (Applause.). w eluding,. Mr Be** •$£ ttii law penalising the Athenians!, fljfiifr 'l|*£ fused to take part ia not, perhaps, 0«e of the if New Zaalanders did not throw tktift* selves into the publifia4ai*s6f fhj&r country, the conseqitefiee*; on their own. heads, and weuld regret it. - (Cheat.) The College song was sttttg ; aftefc t|f toast had be,en drank. \ The chairman responded ia a Speech that dealt interestingly with ma4y«f 'the outstanding opisodes of the history of the College. He spdke at *opo. length regarding the jubilee celebrations in 1900. ' . Before tho next toast -wua jtnjwti an old custom of the Ql4 M#s»! fljw'jifp tion was observed, tbesteward -''ntx Heald), and the chef (Mr Watson) beinj? asked to drink a glass of tffa|; with the company. Other Toasts. Mr F. J. Bolleston, MJP., proposed "The Governing Body," and gave some of his reminiscences of his days at the Collego. Mr Henry Cotterill responded, and, referring to Mr BceveS's expressed the hope that the ideal oitSift old boys of the College would bel6ta&r and service. Speaking of the affaOT& the College, he said that he wished'to disabuse the minds ofthosewhO«en~ sidered that "faros 4 rich body. But for two factors —tho in her fees and the giite ißjrift far old boys—the work of the adtcwl WwdA have come to a standstill during l t«> last twenty years. The College spoken of as a elass institution: that was entirely against the policy of the Board.. The object of the founders was to open the doors of the school aa widely as possible, and to give it? "beaefits to the poor as *ell a* tit* rich. (Applause.) ' "The Masters" was psropeeei ■by Professor T. 6. B. Blunt, and xessoa»* ed to by the headaiaater, J3t. Letter proposed "The Old Bm* 1 which was responded to by Xattra X, B. Guinness and L. 0. H. Tripp. Mr J. C. N. Grigg proposed $e tea* of the joint authors ol the Gdm fHib Messrs W. P. Beeves and A. J. MertoS. Mr Merton and Mr Baerea Last of all cane the 'Jup them and r