DIAMOND JUBILEE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 14 September 1937, Page 2

DIAMOND JUBILEE

CHRISTCHURCH GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL GATHERING AT WINTER GARDEN SWIMMING BATH AS GIFT TO SCHOOL When a small group of pioneers, headed by the Hon. W. Rolleston, agitated 60 years ago for the establishment of a school for Christchurch girls, to bridge the gap between the primary school and the university, they could not have foreseen the far-reaching effect of their venture, but those who gathered at the Winter Garden last night for the diamond jubilee celebrations of the school were amazed at the number of old pupils who were still loyal to their school and interested in its progress. About 800 former pupils had accepted the invitation of the Old Girls* Association to attend this, the major event of their celebrations. Between intervals during the programme and during supper, they chatted happily together, and the older pupils particularly derived much joy from the gathering and the opportunity to see old friends whom they had not seen for years. Gift to School Mrs Edwin Hamilton, who welcomed the guests, said that the school had a wonderful record, and all who were or had been pupils were proud of it. The Old Girls' Association of which she is president, had* wished to mark the jubilee by some tangible gift to the school, and members had finally decided that a swimming bath would be the best possible gift, and one that would be greatly appreciated by the girls for many years to come. One generous donor had given £2O to form the nucleus of a fund for this purpose, and small socials had been held to raise funds. She hoped that the visitors would enjoy the entertainment arranged for them, and regretted that two items on the programme would not be given as one artist had been delayed. The composer of those two songs was Mrs Alice Mackay, one of the early pupils of the school, who had been the first bachelor of music in New Zealand, and she thought in the whole of Australasia. Mrs C. G. M. Boyce had organised the programme '< for which she acted as accompanist. All contributors, and those taking part in the short play, with one exception, were old girls of the school. A beautiful bouquet of abutilons was presented to Mrs Hamilton from the jubilee committee. Photographs of school clubs and classes arranged on the walls aroused much Interest, and during the latter part of the evening an old-fashioned dress parade and drill display caused much amusement among the young guests, and awakened many memories for the older ones. The specially invited guests were Miss P. M. P. Clark, principal of the Girls' High School, Miss M. Samuel, principal of the Avonside Girls* High Schpol, and aYJ teacTae-rs of. the school, past and present, and the following retired teachers: —Misses K. M. Gresson, C. Henderson, and M. E. Sims. Members of the capable organising committee were the following members of the association: —Mrs Edwin Hamilton (president), Mesdames N. Bates, R. W. Glen. George Maginness (vice-presidents), C. G. M. Boyce, Misses E. Bigg-Wither, E. Comyns Thomas, E. French, J. Hobbs (committee), Miss A. Fairbairn (honorary secretary), Miss R. Harris (assistant secretary), with the addition of Mesdames C. Ring, S. C. Owen, C. C. Holland, J. E. Wood, R. Caverhill, M. Mazey, C. L. Ridgen, Misses E. Sinclair, H. Otley, I. Milnes, P. Hollander. M Richards, H. Hills, R. Buchanan. M. Campbell, and B. Billens. The programme was as follows:—Trio. Misses Chrlstobel Robinson, Dora Deal, and Mrs Valmai Moffatt; song, "A Summer Night." Miss Vera Martin; piano solo, "Brahms Rhapsody in B Minor," Mrs W. R. Carey; song. "Spring's Looking Out of Her Window," Miss Beryl Emmett; sketch. Miss Naare Hooper; piano solo, "Toccata" (Saint Saens), Miss Vera Yager; sketch, "At the Cinema," Miss Jean Heath. The cast for a short play, "The Language of Love," produced by Miss Pessy Hollander, was as follows:—Misses Helena Lockwood, Alma Davies, Joan Norrie, Adrienne Perkins, Margaret Moyle, Romola Griffiths, and Louise Balcn. First-day pupils who were present were Miss Alice Lake, Miss Alice Cane, Mrs Hullah (Ada Mary Hutchinson), Mrs W. Tonks (Miss Emily Buchanan), and Mrs J. D. Fairhurst (Amy Wood), who arrived at the school on the first day, but did not actually commence her studies until the next term, Mrs Arthur Turnbull (Carol Lawson), who arrived on the first day, and Mrs S. C. Owen (Miss Roberts). Misses A. L. and R. E. Papprlll. Mrs W. Fraser (Helen Macpherson), Mrs W. O. Mackay (Alice Rowley), Miss M. Smith, Mrs R. Kinley (Emeline Lilly), Mrs F. Fish (Emily Cos), Mrs J. Robertson Clark (Kate Robertson), Mrs E. T. Menlove (Katie van Asch), Mrs J. Spooner (Fanny Crosbie), Mrs P. A. Laurie (Nessie Allan), Mrs K. G. Turner (Lucy Cuff), Mrs R. Anderson (Ellie Wilson), Miss Ethel Wilson, Mrs Aitken (Miss Shanks), Mrs F. M. Warren (Miss M. Ballantyne), Miss Marion Corsbie, Mrs M. A. Henderson (Marion Boag), Mrs C. T. Aschman (Miss Rose Joyce), Mrs John Parr (Kate Isherwood), Mrs R. M. Paulsen (Rose Smith), Mrs J. Tait (Fanny George), Miss Edith Manning, Mrs T. D. Boag (Helen Eaglesome), Miss Edith Dunsford. VALEDICTORY An enjoyable evening was spent in Church House, Hanmer Springs, the guest of honour being Miss Betty Marks, who is leaving the district. The evening was spent in dancing to' music supplied by Messrs W. Peters and H. Bland, with extras by Misses M McDowell and B. Forbes. Mr R. G. Simpson, on behalf of her many friends, presented Miss Marks with a suitcase. A Monte Carlo waltz was won by Miss N. McJannett, and Mr W. Randall, and Mr A. Boucher was master of ceremonies. Those present included Miss B. Marks, Mrs R. G. Simpson, Misses C. Wilson M. Stewart, G. Richardson, A. Crawford, H. McLeod, P. Whiting, A. Barlass, W, Shrubshall, C. McDonald, E. Kay, M. McDowell, I. Fraser, J. Waterman, N. McJannett, G. Reid, B. Forbes K. Graves, H. Tallott, M. Lorimer and O. Bathurst, the Rev. Mr Marshall, Messrs Fraser. Simpson, Maher, Colquhoun, Williamson, Taylor, Britton, Webber, Aitken, Flower, Randall Algie Bobbs, Basher, McMillan, Harper, Boucher, Stark, Peters, Bland.