West High School Marks Centenary

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28697, 22 September 1958, Page 9

West High School Marks Centenary

Christchurch West High School was the first public high school in Canterbury to celebrate its centenary, said the chairman of the school board of governors (Mr H. R. Peers) in his introductory remarks at the opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon. He was addressing nearly 3000 former pupils, teachers, and friends of the school, gathered in the front quadrangle for the ceremony. The school bell was then rung by the oldest registered former pupil, Mr A. Batten, aged 90. who attended the school from 1873 Jo 1882. Welcoming the visitors' on behalf of the board of governors. Mr Peers said It was the interest of former pupils which provided strong and close links with the past. He flourished a strap which he named as one of the old links with the past. Another old link was the 80-year-old brick building—‘‘condemned for the last 30 years”—and another was the old swimming pool. “We have the site for a new one," he said, “we have the urge and all we need is the money.” When the roll call was made by the chairman of the centenary controlling committee (Mr R. C. Thompson), 13 persons stood for the 1870’s. Mr Thompson said the registration for the celebrations was almost 2000. The minister of St. Andrew’, Church (the Rev. R. M. Rogers) said he had a very real appreciation of the origins of the school and its connexions with the church. Those early links had been maintained even Since the school began its separate and Independent existence. Those present should recall I something of the aspirations of I those who founded the school, he said. Their objectives were the assumption and conviction that education should have something of religious control and also that education with a practical emphasis should be provided and maintained. “They also had a deep concern for the establishment of a university," said Mr Rogers. They favoured a people's university. Mayor's Welcome

Welcoming the visitors on be, half of the Christchurch City Council and the citizens of Christchurch, the Mayor (Mr G Manning) also referred to the “people’s university.” He said he had been closely associated with the pupils and staff of the school in the work of adult education—a similar thing to what the founder of this' school (the Rev. Charles Fraser) had in his day.” "This school, having been In existence nearly as long as Canterbury has, has played its part in the education of children here since 1858. Those children have contributed their part to the development of this city of which we are so proud." In a brief speech, the headmaster (Mr C. A. Noble) said he tne stair or tna school

In that time he had taught between 6000' and 7000 studenta. Christchurch West had an antiquity rivalled by few public high schools in New Zealand, said Mr !• C. F. Ensor, superintendent of education, Auckland. It was One of the first six high schools to be established in the Dominion. It was the premier school, however, as it embodied a living history of all educational changes that had taken place in New Zealand. “Not Taught Here" “I am sorry that the Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) and Mr R. M. Macfarlane, the member of Parliament for Christchurch Central, cannot be here." said Sir Sidney Holland, the guest of honour. “Who do you think is having the most fun?" he asked. “Am I here or are they in Wellington? Fancy those people in Wellington having to listen to such language—language that was never taught in this school anyhow.”

Sir Sidney Holland said that in his wanderings around the world he had met many persons who were living memories of Christchurch West High School. “We have provided men in public places throughout the world,” he said.

At the end of the ceremony Mr Peen read a letter of congratulations from Mrs Agnes Macalister, formerly Miss Agnes .Tindel, aged 91, the oldest living girl pupil. Mr Peers said Mrs Macalister was also a pupil-teacher at the school. Decade photographs were taken in the school grounds, and visitors. were also able to Inspect the buildings, and view an historical display of photographs and documents covering the school's 100 years.

A conversazione was equally well attended in the evening.