CHRIST'S COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1925, Page 9

CHRIST'S COLLEGE

OLD BOYS' ANNUAL REUNION ME. REEVES TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRISPONDJNT.) LONDON, 9th July. .' j Mr. J. 0. N. Grigg, of Long Beach, a fellow of Christ's •College, presided at the 1925 annual dinner in London of , Christ's College Old Boys' Club. It 'took place at the Criterion Restaurant, and was attended by thirty past pupila of the college: Unfortunately, a largo number were unable to be present, but even so there were two more than in 192 i, when twenty-eight old hoys assembled. ■ The oldest old boy was the Hon. W. P. Reevee, who, during the evening, made one of his delightful speeches, and, incidentally, mentioned his intention to visit New Zealand this year. He hopes to be in Christchurch by December and to attend a prize-giving at the college prior to its summer holidays. . Others present were:—Admiral J. B. T. Harper, R.N., Colonel R. Tristram Harper, Flight-Lieutenant Gordon Weston, R.A.F., Major Roger I. Dansey, Dr. W. B. Ainger, Dr. W. Butement, Dr. VV. Crosbie Hamilton, Dr. A. H. Williams, Messrs. H. J. D. Acland, H. Armstrong, G. W. Armifage, S. Blackburn, John Buckley. T. T. Caccia Birch, C. D. Bowen, H. R. Campbell, 11. K. Davie, if. H. Strachan, R, S. D. Harman, A. H. Hope, I. Horton, G. F. M'Hardy, J. F. Nelson, J. D. Ormond, M. Tancrcd Stack, R. D. Wood, Hal 'Williams (lion, secretary), and A. J. Nicoll.

Tho toast of the college was proposed by Mr. Reeves, who gave a number of very interesting- reminiscences of the earlier days of the college, and made the interesting- announcement that ho was bringing out, for private circulation, a new edition of his poetical works, which would include three or four poems about Christ's College, notably one on the old bathing place. He referred in feeling terms to the wonderful influence whicn the old masters, such as Mr. C. C. Corfe, Mr. Worthy, and others had exercise on tho school, and how, almost unconsciously, their influence had sunk into and affected the characters of the boys who had been trained under them. He looked upon Christ's College as one of the foundation pegs of old Canterbury, and considered that it was the duty of tho governing body and the Old Boys' Association to see that that peg remained stable and undisturbed.

The chairman, in responding, joined with Mr. Reeves in the tribute he had paid to tho ideals of the grand old men who founded Christ's College iii tho middle of tho last century. It had been their desire and intention* that tho college should be of immense benefit, not only to New Zealand, but all over tho Pacific and as far as India, and he was glad to be able to think that college boys had done well, not only in India., but all over tho world. The. old traditions of the founders had made, tho college what it. is, and younger blood who wrvo replacing the older 'men must see to it that those traditions are lived up to in the future.

Tho solo of the qollege song was sunff liy My. U. E. Davic, accompanied by Colonel Tristram Harper, after which a discussion took place on matters relating- to the college, and cerfciiu resolutions w.ro passed to be forwarded to the Old Boys' Association in Jfcw . Zealand,