FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20834, 19 April 1933, Page 10

FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE.

0 LAURISTON SCHOOL JUBILEE. .MANY FORMER PUPILS PRESENT. Friendships made many years ago were renewed at the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the Lauriston School yesterday. Former pupils, some of whom had travelled many miles to be present, greeted one another with outstretched hands and smiles of recognition, and before long groups of three and four persons were standing about in the school grounds Recalling the incidents and escapades of their youth. Considerably more than 200 former pupils attended. The arrangements made by the jubilee committee for the entertainment of the visitors were excellent, and every one present thoroughly enjoyed the day. The visitors began to arrive about 10 o'clock, and after signing the old pupi's' register were issued with ribbons showing in which decade they attended the school. The school was opened in 1883. and in the pari of the register devoted to the first decade—lßß3-1892—there were 30 signatures. Among these was that of Mrs G. Kime (formerly Miss Sara Johnston), ofDunsandei, who was one of the pupils enrolled on the opening day of the school, and who was the earliest former pupil present. The Union Jack on the flagpole of the old school was broken by Mrs Kime. Those present then gathered outside the new class room, which was built in 1925. The original building is still in use, and is the same as when it was built, except that the bell-tower haj been demolished, as it was dangerous. Visitors Welcomed. Mr H. J. Crothers, chairman of the jubilee committee, welcomed old scholars and visitors. Several committees, he said, had worked hard to make the jubilee a success, and it was very pleasing to see present so many who were associated with the school in its early days. The work of the former committees and chairmen was deserving of the highest praise. Mr Crothers referred to the many old pupils wno had taken prominent parts in the life of the community. He read a number of apologies for absence, including one from Mr H. J. Bignell, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board. Mr C. Fyfe, chairman of the School Committee, said the present generation should remember the work done by those who had been responsible for the foundation of the school. He hoped and felt that the present committee was keeping up the high standard of the early days. The children were doing their part, both in the class room and on the sports ground. The teacher, Mr W. T. Church, was regarded in official circles as one of the most promising teachers in Canterbury, and he hoped it would be a long time before the Lauriston school lost the services of Mr Church. Objects of Education, Mr S. Smith, a member of the Canterbury Education Board, said he thought the main object of education should not be to teach children writing, arithmetic and spelling. It would make them more useful to the community if they were taught to think intelligently, and to think for themselves. He doubted if any school in the district had produced more public men than Lauriston, which showed that the school must have had good teachers. It was expected of the Lauriston school that it would be one of the best country schools, and this expectation was justified. He impressed on parents the necessity of assisting the teachers, and of taking an interest in the school. Many parents were inclined to rely too much on the teacher to develop their children. Mr J. Connolly, M.P. congratulated the committee and the district on the attainment of the school jubilee. The fact that so many old pupils had gone to the Great War spoke very well for the school and the district. Mr J. Moore, chairman of the Ashburton County Council, and an old puptil of the school, advised the pupils to be loyal to their school and to their teacher. He recalled that during the war he was billeted at Torquay. Near the billet was a Lauriston street and a Lauriston hall. While he. was there he and some others received parcels, which had been sent by the Lauriston branch of the Red Cross Society. Some of the men asked where Lauriston was. "I took pleasure in telling them," said Mr Moore, "that Lauriston was one of the best districts in Canterbury and the parcels had been sent by some of the finest women in New Zealand." Records Lost. Mr A. T. Maidens, a member of the jubilee committee, mentioned the difficulties experienced in communicating with all those who had been connected with the school, as the records covering a period of 15 years had been lost. He hoped that no one had been overlooked. Mr W. Buchan senr., the earliest chairman of the school committee present, congratulated the committee on arranging the celebrations, which had enabled so many old friends to meet. In the early days the great event of the year was the school concert and dance. A great deal of work was done for it, and it was always a great success. Mr J. W. A. Walker, the earliest teacher present, said that he first arrived in Lauriston by train in February, 1892, and had worked there for 10 years. It was his first appointment and he was very proud of it. He looked back on his associations with the Lauriston school with the greatest pleasure. Mr Alex Drummond spoke on behalf of Mrs Kime. He praised the work of the early teachers. He would like to remind Mr Smith that the old school needed a coat of paint. Mr W. T. Church, the present master, welcomed the visitors on behalf of the pupils. The children were the best he could wish to teach. Proposed changes in the education system were meeting with some opposition from parents. Ke would like to remind parents that they must consider what was best for their children and for their children's children. Memorial Service. A service in memory of those pupils who died during the Great War was held m the-grounds