1260 OTAGO SCHOLARS

Evening Star, Issue 15187, 19 May 1913, Page 5

1260 OTAGO SCHOLARS

GO TO LYTTELTON TO VISIT ThFbATTLESHIP. The generous offer of the Government, the hospitality of the Christchurch people, and the glad co-operation of the education authorities in Dunedin have made possible a gigantic and unprecedented excursion for the Otago school children—a. long trip by nail, plenty to see, and an abundance of good cheer, a welcome at the destination, and a free inspection of the bottle cruiser New Zealand. From the children’s mint of view it is a better outing than will be enjoyed by the youngsters who live near by tho ship’s berth, and parents a.ro pleased, because it is ever so much safer and more sure of reaching the end in view than to chance a run outside Otago Heads. Our New Zealand children are largely relieved of worry in respect to arranging hohclay trips. Father and mother do most of the tninking. Nevertheless, it may be imagined that many of the little ones peeped through the windows very early this morning to see what the weather was like. Johnny’s going depended entirely upon the sort of morning it turned out to be, and Alice had to wait for a definite answer till dad consulted tho barometer. Daylight did, not much help these decisions. The morning broke gloomy. But the wind bad dropped—that was "a good sign: by 7.50 a light air from the northewt b-vl begun to curl the smoke from the chimney; and by breakfast time the weather- wise, agreed in a hesitating manner with tile positive declarations of the boys and girls that it was going to be a fine day. So tiio parental consents were given in most cases, and during the middle parts of the morning there was a great scone of bustle at and about the railway station, everybody exulting in the strengthening sunshine. ° —The E'ight O’clockcrs. First to appear were the Morning-ton school children, with some from Kaikorai. The managers of these schools at the eleventh hour revoked their determination to stand out of the excursion, and though the time for preparing was limited, 40 of these children went by the 8 a.m. express in charge ot Mr J. M. Nicolson. relieving teacher, who undertook the duty in the absence from town of NR- W. Davidson. These pupils had a carriage to themselves, and they seemed to bo comfortably accommodated in a train that was not crowded. —The Special,— The giOat party of the kiddies left Dunedin by special train at 10.15 a.m. Mr V\ Eudey was unable to get away, but he helped officially tho marshalling, and go forth. The master in charge was Mr d. Rennie, with Air J. Waddell Smith and Mr R. J. Barrett to assist in tho control. It was a particularly orderly assembling at the station. .Each master mustered his pupils separately, and they marched bv ietachments to the train. The Albany Street Drum and Fife Band gave color and ntality to the scene, and hundreds of parents, most of whom wished they were toys and girls once more, went down and law the train off. There wore 18 carriages, two engines, a refreshment car, and a guard’s van. Mr Dobbie (station master) and Air Gibb (coaching foreman) had everything well thought out, and, though one or two of the carriages seemed to bo slightly over-packed, doubtless the children would shake down into places, before they had gone far. Chief-inspector Richardson and Mr Robertson represented the Education Office, and helped to straighten out the arrangements. The particulars as to numbers from each school and the persons in charge are appended:— ( Ravensbourne.—3B scholars, Mr J. B. Grant and Miss Thomson in charge Mosgiel.—sl, Mr J. H. Moir and Miss Bressey. George Street —33, Mr T. Petterson, Mr Bell, and Miss Mackenzie. Green Island.—42, Mr W. M'Donald and Miss Botting. Maori Hill, —4O, Mr J. A. FitzGerald and Miss Andrew. ‘ Moray Place —52, Mr M, Thomson and Misa M'Mullin. Pine Hill.—3. Mr Hawke. Wakari.—J.B, Mr J. Moir and Miss Christie. Arthur Street.—o6, Air R. J. Barrett, Mr Begg. and Miss Pilkington. High Street.—4s, Air J. -W. Smith, Mr Robertson, and Miss Taylor. Andersen Bay.—4o, Mr Jeffrey and Miss Cox. ’ . St. Clair.—24, Mr Langley Pope, Misses Alexander, Thomas, Griffiths, and Lydera. Albany Street.—67, Mr J. Rennie, Mr M’Laren, and Miss Crawley. Forbury. Mr Nelson and Miss * Hooper. Macandrew Road.—SO. Mr Macdonald, Miss Paulks, Mr Crump. Caversham.—32, Miss J. Given and Mr R. Wilson. Musselburgh.—32, Mr T. Paterson, Miss Ohalmer, and Miss Graham. Normal.—7o, Air W. M'Elrea, Mr APAlillan, Mr Moore, Miss Kenyon. Kensington.—so, Mr P. Stewart-, Miss Farquharson, Miss Aitcbeson. North-east Valley.—s3, Mr 0. Flaraank, Mr Rawlinson, Miss Andrew, Miss Patterson. Christian Brothers.—9o, Brothers Donoghue and Geraghty. Convent Girls.— 62, 'Miss Ritchie and Alias Long. Father Coffey and Father Delaney accompanied the Catholic children, and the Rev. E. A. Axclsen took personal charge of the 19 inmates of the Presbyterian Orphanage, who were with the Anderson Bay party. The total leaving Dunedin by this train, exclusive of attendants, was 912. —The 11.15 Express.—

The Hon. T ; Fergus and other members M the Education Board and School ComnissionOrs went down to see the second express off. By this train there travelled 160 boys and SO girls belonging to the Otago High Schools. The Rector (Mr MorrejU and Mr Parr travelled with the boys, accompanied by three other teachers Slater, White, afid Row. Miss Allan went up in the first train to receive the girls, leaving Miss Campbell, bliss M'Enight, and Miss M'Leod to go with the party. It was only on Saturday evening that the Prime Minister sent word through Mr J. A. Johnstone / that free passes would be issued to boys, and girls of the secondary schools, and the arrangements had to be hurriedly made. At the last moment about a dozen girls of the Technical School and some from Gifton College and St. Hilda’s Collegiate School were also found room for. The Navy League put a box of oranges into each carnage on this train, also large bags of peanuts. The-Port Chalmers children, numbering 50. were accompanied by Mr G. F. Booth and Miss Sinclair. The grand total of children so far as our figures show was 1,267, aiid that may be taken as approximately correct. Committeemen went with some of the schools. [Fho.m Our Own Retorter.] . PALMERSTON, May 19. Advice has been received that those c lu en the fifth and lower standards . th® primary schools and any pupils of Statldiifu VI. who were unable to journey to Lytte.ltem Will he conveyed free to Port rc hjJ 1013 "bile the battleship is off Otago Heads. E. _Hudson and Co. thoughtfully sent 32 51b boxer, of their choicest lollies iV \ . in *rf,, , sariie firm also jpiwicled ...*?« l?wd masters of. schools an aclfhowldegment of Messrs Hudson's kihdlv action bfe made through fhg litat,’ Mesm Stark and Co. sonnhed literature. The Albany Street Fife And Drum Band (51 strong), under Sergeant Johnson, gave selections en the joufney, THE CHRISTOiIURcir ARRANGEMENTS. [Pbr United Press Association.] . CHRISTCHURCH, May 19. Very elaborate arrangements have been made by Hie MAyoFs Committee in connection with the reception of children from the south to-hight. Committeemen will board the special train and the second ex-

press at Timaru and distribute numbered ribbons to the children. The citizens who are taking the children to their homes will bo provided with numbered cards at this end, and the children will find their hosts at the station, each group of numbers having its separate post, to avoid confusion. The whole scheme has been taken up with marked enthusiasm by t{xe citizens, and everything will be done to make the children’s holiday wholly enjoyable. CAPTAIN HALSEY AND THE CHILDREN. DUTY TO THE EMPIRE. Copies of the May number of the ‘ School Journal ’ contain a facsimile of a letter to the children written for the ‘ Journal’ by Captain Halsey, The letter is as follows H.M.S. New Zealand. To the Children of the Dominion of New Zealand. It is with great pleasure that the officers and men of this ship have been able to already receive so many of you on board the great battle-cruiser which bears the name of your own Dominion, New Zealand, and it is the earnest wish of all of us that the visit of you who have been on board has shown you, and that the visit of those of you who have yet to visit the ship will show you, what a vitally important duty you all have before you in life to uphold tho great traditions of the glorious Empire to which wo all belong. Whether wo are living in the Mother Country or in any Dominion or Colony, wo all belong to that Empire, and it is the duty of everyone of us to bo ready to defend that Empire. Your fathers and mothers have given that great battlc-cruieer to the Empire In oider to make that Empire strong and united, and therefore safe. You children, as you grow up, must always bear in mind that you have to also, in some way or another, do your duty to your Empire by your actions, and to do this very little is required of you. It is only this : First, always remember that your first duty to your King and country is allegiance and loyalty. Second, refrain from doing any act which you know is not straight and right. Third, by every act of your life endeavor to uphold that great heritage which your ancestors fought for, died for, but won—namely, honor. In conclusion, I should like to say to vou that everyone of you who does'not lead a straight, clean life, and who does not do his or her duty in life to the utmost possible, is- helping to endanger our grand Empire and to tarnish its honor. Lionel Halsey, Captain Royal Navy. Wellington, April 20, 1913.