WELLINGTON COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 58, 1 December 1917, Page 14

WELLINGTON COLLEGE

ANNUAL BREAKING-UP CEREMONY

THE PRIZE DISTRIBUTE

The annual breaking-up cereruon.V and prizo distribution of Wellington College was held yesterday. The prizes were presented b,y His Excellency the Earl of Liverpool, and Her Excellency tho Countess of Liverpopl was also present. The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, chairman of the Board of Governors of the College presided. The chairman in his introductory remarks said that tho school was dispersing earlier than usual tin's year, because at tho request of the Efficiency Board the term holidays had been shortened in order to give tho boys a bigger break at Christmas to allow of their helping tho farmers of the country in these times of stress. He offered good wishes to all the hoys for a pleasant holiday, and good wishes for a successful future to those hoys leaving school to begin their life in the world as men.

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) was next called upon. He spoke of the splendid work done in this country by Their Excellencies tho Earl and the Countess of Liverpool since the outbreak of war, imore particularly in stimulating the people by example and otherwise to devote their utmost energy to the task of winning the war. Referring more particularly to the college, be said that the bond between the school and himself was a very close one. He had not himself been a pupil of the school, which had only been a very small institution when he arrived in this country, but his three vons liad all been pupils at Wellington College, and they were now all on active service. (Applause.) And the old boys of the college who were at the front thought a great deal of their school, particularly on account of the fine war record it had made, and because of the patriotic work and generosity of the boys still attending. The splendid sacrifices made by the boys of the school had stimulated him on many occasions in his war work, and he was quite sure it had stimulated the people of Wellington also. Parents of boys now at the school ought to feel very proud of the manner in which the boys had shown most practical patriotism in this period. He wished them all success in the future, and said he hoped they would one day become worthy citizens of their country and of our great Empire. .(Applause.) The principal of the college, Mr. J. P. Firth, read his annual report. "One thousand six hundred of the old boys with the colours, 257 casualties, 139 fatalities, and 103 honours and decorations bring the war very near to us," he said as his opening sentence of tho report. "We are proud of these old hoys of ours who have so well proved their worth. To name only two of those who have won decorations —Brandon and Freyberg—these two men have made the fame of their names ring round the world.- And they aro ours." (Applause.) He spoke in some detail of the exploits by which Lieutenant Brandon, D.5.0., M.C., and BrigadierGeneral Freyberg. V.C., D.5.0., had won distinction. For the rest the report dealt with the work of the school, hut he mentioned with appreciation tho maimer in which tho boys had subscribed to the school patriotic funds by weekly donations, from their own. pocket money, a total amount since tho beginning of the war of nearly £2200. This year, as in previous years, they had foregone their priircs in order toallow the money to go to the patriotic ftinds of tho school. During the year three more of the masters of the college Lad joined the colours. Mr. Firtlj explained that ho did not agree wit'n much that had been said of the iianimount need for keeping up educational work during the war, even at the mpense of reducing war effort. 71c thought that the war should be /ho first'consideration always, and.for this reason he had never raised any objection to any of the masters ([oinrj to join the Army. He referred ih tnrm's of the warmest praise to the work of the prefects during the year, iand esnecially that of the head prefect, H. M. Caselherg.

After ho had distributed the awards. His Excellency the Governor-General made a. few remarks to the hbys. He had a joke first of all -with trie chairman about the fact that it wns Saint Andrew's v Day,' and this served very well to introduce the more ; serious matter on which he wished to speak. There was one other countryl besides Scotland, he said, which'had on. its flag the cross of St. Andrew, and that country was Euseia. This country had a population of 180 millions, and they • had gone stark, ! staring mad at present, and it would lie a long time before they would become sane again. The British people h;id grown to know the meaning of freedom, and they could enjoy it rationally.' Not for 250 years had we suffered any!thing like a revolution. In Russia a taste of freedom had caused such a 'revulsion that the whole country had <jone mad, and every kind of crank who. could be kept under in times when the country lived under some regular discipline was free to say and do what li!o pleased. Many of them were visionaries of tho worst description. Those of;them who had read any history would recollect that the people of FranOo passed through this phase at the tinie of their revolution. It was tin sort of thing that was liable to happen ikeu there was no discipline. He impressed upon the boys tlie great value ol! discipline. He congratulated the school also upon haying achieved ii Rhodes Scholarship this year. Ho had been surprised that no mention Jj.ad been made ol: this in the report of the principal. He thought the school should be very proud of the fact that the Rhodes scholar, Mr. H. A. Mackenzie, was an old boy of the school. He congratulated the boys i who had won prizes, but he had a word of comfort for those who had been unsuccessful. He said that it was not always thtf clever-boys, the school prize-win-ners, who did best in the world afterwards. For instance, he did not think that in the school ..Freyberg, the Victoria Cross winner and brigadier-gen-eral, had been noted as a very clever hoy. Johnny Gough, who hud been in his own regiment, was told by one of his schoolmasters that he was the stupidest boy in the school, and that he would come to a bad end. And ho rose to be lieutenant-genw'al, the youngest .lieutenant-general in the Array, and finished up with more decorations than any soldier bi the whole British Army. His Excellency's last remarks wero probably addressed to llitf parents of the scholars rather than to the scholars themselves. He said that the people of this country wi?re all fully united in purpose about this struggle, but be thought we should make _ a greater effort to achieve, something more nearly approaching uiiity of method in order to win the war. On this it did seem that the people wero just a little bit "wobblv." tt was not a good idea to "swap" horses too often in the stream, and it wan not a aootl thing to go on saying too many hard tilings about the horse which was carrying us over the stream.' We all wanted to win tho war, lint if we could all agrco to set about it the same way wo should nianago very much belter. The prize list is as tinder:— Scholarships. llhodefl (general),' JMO-H. A. W. O'Connor. Moore (general), JIO—J. M. Biehop. Rhodes (general), JCHI-H. Bourke. Moore (pencral), .£lO—N. C 4. Whitemnn. Turniwll (ma.theniafit:s and science), XlO—C. D. Meadoiveroft.

Tnrnbull (mathematics land science), JCS-J. F. Zohrab. Ttunbull (genernl), <£o--JJf. N. Bnrns. T\irnbull (general), J35- -K W. AnderI son. Le-vin (languages), £\- -X. A. Riddell. Levin (science), £I— J., F. Stewart. Special Pri ics. Head of school—H. A , AV- O'Connor. Barnicoat memorial— H. Caselberg, J. C. Bcaglehole. Liverton science—B. fj. Mitford. Lirerton history—J. (J. Bcaglehole. Navy League essay- -J. C. Beaglehole, I; J. K. Davidson, 2; L. A. Riddell, 3. Bethune New Zeala: id history—Senior. L. N. Watkins. Jnni'Jr: AV. L. AVateon. C'ld Boys' prize for : ftiathematics—B. G Mit&rd. •M. Eicholbaunr's pAjizes for English literature—Via, M. Thomson, ,T. (.;. Beaglehole; A r lb. H. .'ill. Ca*elberg; Va 11. N. Bnrns; A r b. )1. T. Dixon; ]Va, L. A. Biddell; IVb, K. L. Matthews. Mrs. M'Rae's pri: nasi (spelling)—a, V. F. Coningham; b, "fi. L. Palmer; c, 11. i. Unigh;'d, G. F. Hall. Mrs. Hales's pri: k for music—J. P. Zohrab.

Seriptme—a, R. 'A. Pankharst: b, C. E. AV right; c, H. IJ. Fountain, V. A. .Hopkirk; d, AV. 'I'. Chaplin; c. E. C. Arolrcy.

Shorthand—Seni r>r, R. G. Reveirs; junior, .(j. Shotlandf r.

Dr. L. C. Ha'iiw's prize (reading)— Senior, L. A._ I Wdcll; junior, C. 1!. Mayer. Dr. !N". -Wales's prize (recitation) —Senior, L. A. JRiddell; junior, D. E. Paokhurst.

Shakespeare Stisiety prize—L. A. Rid dell.

Carpentry priij •— Senior, K. L. Archibald; junior, S. il. White. Drawing—H. Hi. Robert*/ Reading—Sefl,i«jr, L. A. Riddell; junior, M. V. Harriasi.

Ricbarrison .'history prize—D. F.' Kulse. Richardson ■) jookkaeping prize—K. G. Reveirs.

Form prizEß -Via, Latin, H. A. AA 7 . O'Connor; U nglish, M.. Thompson, French, H. -A.. AV. O'Connor; science, J. M. Bishop. Vlb. Lati», C. D. Meadoworoft; English, J. F. 11l mrab; French, C. D. Meadowcroft; rt '.athematics, A. M'Kegg; science. C. -JJ'. Meadowcrofl. Va, Latin. H. N. Burns; English, rf. N. Burns; French, H. J!. Burns; mathematics, H. !N. Burns; (ciencc, L. K. Crow; maii , 'iculation history, H. N. Burns. ~ , Vb-LalnTi, B. G. P. Turner; Lnglisli, K 'J'. Di.'Mn; French, B. 0-. P. Turner; MatliemaYus, D. Clark; Science, D. Clark; Hj'.lriculation History (1>), Jt. Gibb; H : l-Jtory Vl>, J- A. Mnnton. Vc-Lat|.n, H. S. Brownngg; English, AV. E. Ci.' Eton; French, AV. A. Forbes; Hathemutiics, D. G. Cornish; Science, H. fci. Brownngg. IVa—:iv*tiu, J. Gillon and J. 1. Stewart; English, L. A. Riddell; French, L. A. Riddell; Mathematics, J. F. Stewart; Science, J. I'. Stewart. IVb-Jjatin, AV. H. P. Walsh j English, W. H. P. WaJsh and -F. S. Little; French, E. L. Palmer; Mathematics, C. W. AVai.ts; Science, K. L. Matthews. IVc-ti - Latin, N. M. Thomson; English, R. W, !L. Darroch; French, N. 11. Thomson; mathematics, L. D. P. Matheson; scierow, L. D. P. Matheson. A'lu--Latin, D. Harverson; English, L. K. lid we; French, D. Harverson; mathematics R. Gilpin; science, D. Harverson. M'DiJiern A—English, K. G. Eeveirs; Freiicih, E G. Reveirs; mathematics, R. G. JJeveirs; science, D. F- IJulse; bookkeeping, R. D. Hill. Modern B—English, A. E. Jacobson; French, A. E. Jacobson; mathematics, G. L Gibson; science, A. E. Jacobson and G. 'li. Gibson; bookkeeping, R. J. Brown. IKla—Latin, M. Lcadbetter; English, 3'i. Lcadbetter; French, H. H. Atkinson; mathematics, M. Leadbetter; science, D. (J. Currie. TITb-Latin, W. T. Clianlin; English, (V. T. Chaplin; French, W. T. Chaplin; mathematics, W. T. Chaplin; science, W. T. Chaplin. lllc—Latin, E. J. Appleton; English. .T. :(',. Kent: French. E. J. Appleton; mathematics, B. A. M'Kenzie; science, B. A. Jf'Konzie. , „ „ ~ , HTd—Ln.t<n, 0. AV. English, A. L George; French, 0. AA'. Schaef; mathematics, H. G. Edwards; science, H. G. Edwards. Modern. c-Enedish. ,E. F.. Tanner; French. E. F. Tanner; mathematics, E. F. Tanner; ,--We"ce,E. T. 'tanner; bookkrening, E. F. Tanner. Modern <I-Ei»:lish, ,T. E. Uuteliings; French, J. E. Hutching*; mathematics, C. TTnrn; scHcc .T. E. H.utchings; bookl;e»i>imr. R. H. Bluett. Non-French (pI-TI, Clark; (b) B. F. ,lo'i°s: fc) K. ,T. Lynam.

At intervals in the ceremony the boys sang a few sonss. Last of all them were several rounds of cheering, and boys can really cheer on the fast dar of school. Cheers were given for Their "TCxcellwirics the TV I and Countess of Liverpool, for Ibe Rhodes scholar, the •winners of honours at (he front: