OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 22030, 16 May 1935, Page 2

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD The monthly meeting of the Otago High Schools Board was held yesterday afternoon, the following members being present; —Dr G. E. Thompson (chairman) , Mrs S. M. Park, Bishop Fitchett, Messrs D. T. Fleming and J. C. H. Somerville. The Otago Basketball Association was granted the use of the courts of the Otago Girls’ High School. A reply was received from the Gover-nor-General to the board’s invitation to visit the two schools during his recent visit to Dunedin. —His Excellency said he warmly appreciated the invitation, but his visit to Dunedin had been short, and he regretted having been unable to accept on that occasion. 'He hoped that the invitation would be renewed in anticipation of his next southern tour. RECTOR’S REPORT. The monthly report of the rector (Mr H. P. Kidson) read:— I have to. report that the total number of boys on the school roll is 716, of whom 282 are seniors, 423 juniors, and 11 paying pupils. The corresponding totals for May, 1930-34 are respectively 703, 766, 778, 744, and 778. This term has been badly broken into by various holidays. The proximity of Anzac Day to the Easter holidays made the department suggest that the schools should close for the whole week following Easter Sunday. This long break coming within a fortnight of the May holidays was unfortunate. A short and simple service was held at the school on Anzac Day. It was this year something in the nature of a quiet experiment, but .1 feel justified now in making it an annual one.

The annual swimming sports were held on the afternoon of April 12. There were big entries and some good racing. S. W. Jarvis was the senior champion and C. M'Gregor the junior. One record was broken by the latter. Among recent visitors to the school was Dr Gordon, better known as Ralph Connor. He gave the boys an interesting and stirring address. The Cadet Corps, at very short notice, provided a guard of honour to His Excellency the Governor-General on the day of his first visit to Dunedin. His Excellency seemed very pleased with the bearing and appearance of the boys. The coins paraded on May 6, the jubilee of Ring George’s accession to the Throne. To commemorate the jubilee, the school was taken to see the film ‘ Royal Cavalcade.’ Special lessons were given to the forms on the Jubilee and all it signified. Winter games have begun. There are 19 teams entered for the Rugby Union competition and seven and four teams respectively in the Soccer and hockey competitions. It is interesting to note that Mr D. M. Stuart (at the school in 1895-97) has been appointed president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, and that Mr John Roberts (1887-91) is Provost of Selkirk, Scotland. Mr Justice Herdman (1883-85, a judge of the Supreme Court and a former Minister of the Crown) and Dr George Craig (1888-90, Comptroller-General of Customs and a member of important commissions and delegations) have recently retired. Dr H. C. Boydell (1887-90), who recently died at Chester, Nova Scotia, gained some distinction as a consulting mining engineer and research geologist in Canada and the United States. The report was adopted.

- LADY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The monthly report of the principal of the Girls’ High School (Miss King) stated that the roll number was as follows: —Senior free place pupils, 158; junior free place pupils, 392; paying pupils, 3—total, 553. The totals for the four previous years were 560 in 1934. 566 in 1933, 574 in 1932, and 482 in 1931. . ;. , , The report continued: A fairly large number of the pupils attended at the invitation of the R.S.A, the - Anzac memorial service. During the last week of the term the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty was commemorated by a full holiday on May 6, an address from Mr W. R." Brugh on May 7, and a session at the Regent Theatre on May 9. when the picture ‘ Royal Cavalcade ’ was seen. It .was well adapted to bring out the importance and eventfulness of the period under review. We are much indebted to Mr Brugh for his wellchosen and edifying address. The annual swimming snorts were held on May 7, Elizabeth Wrather winning the school swimming championship. On Mav 9 the senior classes presented their original plays, and a very good programme resulted. A fairly large number of friends of the school attended. On May 10 the school received a visit from Miss Saker. the principal of a large Indian girls’ school in Calcutta. Miss Saker gave a most delightful address on her school and the general life of Indian girls and women. The report was adopted.