JUBILEE OF COLLEGE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 112, 4 February 1933, Page 7

JUBILEE OF COLLEGE

Wellington East Girls Begin Festivities LOVE FOR ALMA MATER Old girls of the Wellington Girls’ College, and a large and representative gathering of Wellington citizens, filled the hall at the college yesterday afternoon when the official opening of the jubilee celebrations was held. Colonel Mitchell, chairman of the Board of Governors, Miss Greig, ALA., M.Sc., principal of the college, Miss Mary McLean, M.A., C.8.E., Mrs. G. W. Forbes, the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Wellington, Dr. T. H. Sprott, aud Mrs. Sprott, Miss Richmond, Mr. AV. A. Armour, Mr. F. Martyn Renner, Mr. Robert Parker, C.M.G., Miss Agnes McLean, Miss Esina North, Miss Batham, Mrs. E. W. Kane, Canon and Mrs. James, and other members of the Board of Governors and the Jubilee Executive Committee were on the platform.

The six ex-students of the Wellington Girls’ College, who were enrolled the first day the school was opened in 1883, were present. They are: Miss Margaret Kebbell (now Mrs. Vining, of Nelson), Miss Harriet Davy, Miss Essie James (Mrs. C. G. Houghton), Miss Amy G. Toomath (Mrs. E. W. Smyth), Miss Helen M. Morpeth (Mrs. H. M. Pope), Miss Emily Richmond, and Miss Kathleen Reader (Lady Hosking). . Large bowls of marigolds, gladioli, and tiger lilies were arranged in the front of the platform, and streamers of gold and black decorated the hall. Vital Traditions. “This is a momentous occasion,” said Colonel Mitchell, who presided. As chairman of the board, he exi>ressed their wish to be associated with all the festivities, and their pleasure in the gathering of old girls from all parts of New Zealand, a gathering which indicated that the school’s traditions were real and vital. They would, he hoped, find those traditions faithfully carried on, and it was always the aim of the board to maintain the school in such manner as to help the principals to mould the characters of the successive generations. The old girls’ love of their school, the speaker continued, had made possible the improved surroundings of the college, and it was good that those who had received benefits from the fine educational system of this country should remember their school with gratitude. Colonel Mitchell read the list of gifts to the college on the occasion of the jubilee, which included Medici prints from his Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Bledisloc, the memorial gates from the old girls, and a corresponding gate presented by Miss Greig. Referring to Miss Mary McLean’s gift of £lOO, the interest from which is to be used for prizes for Scriptural knowledge, Colonel Mitchell said that he wished Miss McLean to know that the board appreciated the noble purpose of this gift. Old Girls' C’o-operation. Miss Greig welcomed the old girls, and the representative citizens whose sympathy, co-operation, and backing had been so invaluable. She paid a sincere tribute to those fine pioneers of this country who set land aside for educational and religious purposes, and briefly reviewed the early history of the girls’ colleges in New Zealand. She thanked those who had honoured her by making her the hostess on this occasion. Miss Greig then read messages frrno .Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fergusson, and from distinguished old girls in London, Tokio, India, and America, aud said that many other messages had been received. Mr. de B. Brandon, third chairman of the Board of Governors of the college, said how glad he was that he could take part in the jubilee celebrations, and added that although it was eighteen years ago since he was actively connected with the school, he still took great pleasure in watching its progress. He expressed the hope that the increase of the roll would not have a detrimental effect on the good solid tradition of the school. He hoped that the jubilee would be most successful, so that those who attend the centenary of the college would be able to look back to the present jubilee and insist that “we did things even better in our day.” Miss Esina North read a jubilee ode which she had written in honour of the occasion, as her jubilee gift. Airs. Fhil Myers, a past pupil of the college, sang two songs, Beethoven’s “Hymn to the Sun” and “Alignou.” Memorial Unveiled. The gathering then moved into the entrance hall, where a service memorial to past principals was unveiled. The tablet was presented to the college by Airs. E. Dawson, president of the Old Girls’ Association, on behalf of the old girls. Airs. Dawson said that old girls from all over the world had contributed to this memorial. ■ This tablet, which bears the names of Aliss Hamilton and Aliss Alary AlcLean, ALA., C.8.E., and the beautiful words “A tribute of lasting gratitude,” was unveiled by Aliss AL Richmond iu the place' of her sister, the late Airs. Walter Fell. Aliss Richmond, a past teacher of the school, told a few witty reminiscences of both Aliss Hamilton and Aliss AlcLean. Aliss Batham, on behalf of her college staff and Old Girls’ Association, presented a clock to the mother college. Airs. E. AV. Kane accepted the clock on behalf of the Board of Governors. Aliss Greig thanked the AVellington East College for their gift, and extended to them every ‘good wish for the future. . Afternoon tea was served in the school, Miss Greig entertaining some of the guests in her sitting-room.