M'GLASHAN’S PROGRESS

Evening Star, Issue 20670, 18 December 1930, Page 2

M'GLASHAN’S PROGRESS

THE PRINCIPAL'S ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of tho John M'Glashan College was presented by tho principal (Mr C. M. Gilray) at yesterday afternoon’s break-up ceremony. The report, which fully covered a wide and enterprising range of school activities, read:— Tho school year opened with 134 names on the roll and of these 54 were boarders and 80 day boys. There were 80 boys in the upper school, 41 in tho lower school, and 13 iu tho preparatory classes. During the year 14 new day boys and 5 new boarders were enrolled) and 5 day boys and 5 boarders left; 3 day boys became boarders and 1 boarder became a day boy. The roll, therefore, now stands at 143, 56 or them boarders and 87 day hoys (upper school 7th lower school 47, preparatory classes 18). The health of the boys has been very good throughout the year, aud tho reports of the school medical and dental officers show that the boarders are a vei'y healthy lot of boys. There have been no changes in tho leaching staff this year. Tho matron, however, whose health had been very indifferent all the year, was warned by her medical adviser that she ,must relinquish her position and have a prolonged rest, and she accordingly resigned in August. The board accepted her resignation with regret. Mrs Baigent occupied the position of matron for three years all but a term. She was very efficient, and thoroughly reorganised the domestic side. She was very popular with tho boys in the house, who were very sorry to lose her. Miss Gilltes, who was appointed to succeed Mrs Baigent, came into residence on October 2, and very soon made herself conversant with her new duties. Miss Glenclinning very kindly offered to come into residence and to carry on the matron’s duties as well as her own until Miss Gillies’s arrival, and this arrangement proved a very nappy one. In the lower school tho work has been arranged as in 1029, except that Mr G. IV. Johnstone has held a class m speech training each week. Mr Holmo mid Mr Buxton have taken drawing and geography in the upper school, and Latin and elementary science in thelower school have been taken by members of the upper school staff. In tho upper school the work has been arranged very much as in 1929, but Mr Woods has this year taken tome English with Forms IV. and V., while Mr Williams has taken Third Form French in addition to that of Forms V. and VI. Tho Third Form has had a period of singing each week, and the new class in biology has been attended by boys from Form IV. upwards. Tho usual classes in woodwork (Mr Slemint), woolclassing (Mr M‘Gregor), boxing (Mr Oxley), aural training (Miss Favell), and dancing (Miss Wallace) have been held and well attended, and Miss Gloss has given instruction in piano playing at the college. E. M. Elder, last year’s dux, gained fourtli place in the University national scholarship list, and W. S. Gilkison and J. M. S. Ross gained credit passes in this examination. At the end of 1929 higher leaving certificates were awarded to ten members of Form VI. Five boys passed the entrance examination, two passing M.S,P.. ono M.S., and two simple entrance. Four boys gained tho free place qualification in the senior national scholarship examination, and one the same qualification in the junior scholarship examination. The whole of Standard VI. was presented for this test, and all gained proficiency certificates.

E. M. Elder gained first place in tho Navy League essay competition, thus repeating his performance of Inst year and D. S. Malcolm again won “special mention.” Twenty - two secondary schools took part in tho competition. Tho John Stuart Reid memorial scholarship has been awarded to N. E. Adams. The Teddy Blomfield memorial bursary has been awarded to M. G. O’Callaghan, The General Assembly bursary has been awarded to J. H. Thomson.

Mr Maxwell (primary school inspector) visited the school on Monday, Juno 9. _ His report states, inter alia:—“The primary department of this school is well organised and under good management. Tone, order, and discipline are good, and attendance is regular. . . . Instruction is carried out in an energetic manner in all departments.” Mr Parr, senior inspector of secondary schools, visited the school in October to investigate the courses and claims of candidates for higher leaving certificates.

Wo have again received many gifts from friends of the college during the year. Numerous gifts of books to the library have been acknowledged in the magazine. A gift of special interest is that of a beautiful silver challenge cup which was presented by their Excellencies General Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fergnsson as a prize for the newly-in-stituted class in biology. Their Excellencies bad attended the prize distribution ceremony in December, 1929, and then expressed their intention of giving a prize for that purpose. Mrs J. R. Elder has presented a miniature cup to be kept by the winner of the tenuis bowl each year. The Old Collegians’ Association lias had a very good year, and continues to take a warm interest in the welfare of the college. Two essay prizes are being presented by the association, one for lorms 111. and IV,, and one lor Forms \ . and VI.; the winners this year are J. Mac Lean (juniors) and E. A. Pam nett (seniors). The usual matches with the school were held and well attended by the old boys. It is with the deepest regret that I record the death of J. E. E. Blomfield, a very popular old boy of /the school. He lost lns_ life on January 19 while acting as guide to a party of four ladies in the Mount Cook district. The party was overtaken by a blizzard, and all perished from exposure. Blomfield acted with great heroism and laid down his life for those in his charge. The old boys of the college and members of the staff erected a brass tablet in memory of Blomfield in the dining hall. The tablet was unveiled by the president of the O.G.A. at a service held on Sunday, June 29. Mrs M‘lvellar, the mother of

J. E. E. Blomfield, has founded a memorial bursary, to be known as “The Teddy Blomfield ” memorial bursary, which is to be awarded to the dux of the lower school from year to year. Only a week ago we heard with very great regret that another old boy had suddenly died at a very early age. W. S. Tannock, who upon leaving school in 1923 went to Christchurch to study at tho Forestry School, and who subsequently proceeded to England, where he had additional training at Kew and gained tho diploma in horticulture at Reading University, was recently appointed field manager and adviser to the Tung Oil Company at Auckland. He had just proceeded north to undertake his new duties when he fell ill and unexpectedly died. It is with deep regret that I record the deaths of two ex-members of tho Board of Governors—tho Rev. G. H. Balfour, who was chairman from 1917 to 1920, and Mr Walter Gow, who was the original treasurer. In conclusion, I once more record rayappreciation of the work done by the teaching staff and the residential staff. We have been fortunate in having no changes in the teaching staff this year, and the boys have had every opportunity a keen and capable staff could give them. Tho matron and sub-matron have taken the usual care of the boarders, a care for which we are rapidly becoming known. 1 wish to mention, too, the many useful services performed by the janitor, Mr Hoare. To Miss Glendinning, the secretary of tho board, I am indebted in many ways, and in particular this year for her ready offer to take up the duties of matron at the beginning of the third term. I trust that all members of the staff will enjoy a well-earned holiday.