SCHOOL JUBILEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 October 1926, Page 2

SCHOOL JUBILEE

? Ul — PROCESSION AND CARNIVAL. FIRST DAY’S BIG SUCCESS; The spontaneity of the interest taken in the Grey Main School Jubilee celebrations, which opened on Tuesday afternoon on the arrival of the express from Christchurch, has continued, and looks like growing till the conclusion of the celebrationß oil Friday bvtniing. The hearty way in wjiifili fill. sbiitiofts of the community liavS joined iii ths proceedings, and the idrge dttendaiicfes yesterday hfteniobri.. and evening dt cue School, surpassed the expectations of the most sanguine section of the Committee. With everything in its favour, so far as ideal weather conditions were concerned, the festivities have been characterised by a genuine warmth of feeling and good fellowship that will go to make the celebrations memorable to all those who have taken even the shiallbM part in them. Had Rip Van Winkle awakened at Greymouth last evening,he would have had every excuse foy thinking that it was Christmas or New Year’s Eve. The population of Greymouth is over 5000, and nine out of every ten people must have been out on tho streets, White hundreds of visitors were also in town. Brightly-illuminated streets and business premises added to the effect, and the crowning touch was the fine procession in connection with the State School Jubilee, which, wFth the addition of torchlights and fireworks,

repeated its afternoon parade. AFTERNOON CEREMONY; After the huge crowds arrived at the School yesttefday afternoon, no time was lost in getting the., various units into their places- The Territorials and School Cadets took up their places at the front, and north side of the platform, the public gathering round iliimediately behind them. Seats tvfere reserved in front of the Territorials for the old pupils and their Wivfis, iliid immediately behind these the school children were lined up. A number of the vehicles and exhibits were given positions in the school grounds, and the remainder were parked outside the school gates. Those who occupied seats on the platform were Messrs J. Tennejit (chairman of the School Committee), W. H. Parfitt (Mayor), T. E. Y Seddon, M.P., H. Herring, A. Olliver, R. Barrowman, R. J. Williams, W. Scott (School Committee), J. McLean, D. M. Shirlaw (headmaster), 11. Sweney, J. Conning, H. D. Smith (Hokitika District High School), Rev. J. F. Martin, Ensign Friberg, Mesdaines J. .Tennent, W. 11. Parfitt (Mayoress), ShirlaW, and Miss J. Sotheran (former mistress). After the Royal Salute, the hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” was sung, and Mr John Tennent (chairman) addressed the gathering. He said that fifty years was a long span in the life of a school. Many of the former scholars of the school during that period had journeyed to Greyinouth to take part in the Jubilee celebrations, which showed the reverence they still held for their ‘‘Alma Mater.” He was proud to think that during its career,

the school naa ueen me muuiug ground for many who had attained to high positions in Nbw Zealand. It was true, that wherever scholars of the school were to be found, in any part of the world, they were generally doing well, and the education received in Greymouth had assisted them. He knew all the pupils, past and present, were grateful to the teachers for the instruction they’ had imparted. Grey Main School had been most fortunate in having always headmasters and teachers whose ideals were of the highest, and whose aim it was to make good citizens of the pupils who passed through their hands. The school had two rolls of honour, first there was the roll of scholastic achievements that recorded the winners of the well-known and much coveted Watkins’ medal. The names of many well-known and highly respected citizens appeared thereon, and as years went on many mere would be added. There was a second roll, however, that the school treasured with pride and grateful remembrance, and that was the roll of the past scholars .who had answered the Country’s call, and among whom were names of those who had given their lives in Freedom’s cause. The service done by these, some of them nurses, to kith and kin, would outlive the memories of all other events in connection with the Grey Main School, and their memory would be revered till time was no more. Education was necessary for all, and it was important that only what was best and most needful should be taught. Enlightenment was necessary if good citizenship was to be sustained. Lofty ideaJs had to be inculcated if the national life was

to be such that it would .stand the stress of all the storms of life, and the school stood for enlightenment, education, and high ideals; not the Grey Main School only, but every school He had pleasure in extending a formal welcome to all the old pupils of the school, and the old teachers, who had come from afar to foregather with those of the present generation. He knew how pleasing it was for old pals” to meet after years of separation, and the ties formed in school days, though seemingly forgotten in the rush and stress of life, were only just beneath the surface, and a reunion such as the Jubilee was affording, gave opportunity for renewing the friendships of schooldays. He wished them all joy and happiness in the present gathering, and hoped all would carry away with them happy recollections of their re-union with the old pupils of the school who were resident in Grey mouth. Rev. J. F. Martin, President of the Greymouth Ministers’ Association, said it was fitting that the Association should be represented at the Jubilee celebrations, since it had the honour of being on the honorary staff of the school, giving religious instruction to the young. He acknowledged the good feeling which existed between the teaching staff and the ministers who visited the school. Another thing he remembered with pleasure was that one of the school memorials perpetuated the memory of one of the finest of ministers, and a revered citizen, in the person of the late G. T. N. Watkins, a former minister of the Church of England in Greymouth. For this reason he regretted that his friend and clerical brother Archdeacon Carr had not been able to be present to speak. He congratulated the School bn reaching its fifty year mark in an honourable career. The school was'the bulwark of the nation, for ft was there the young were trained to becoine good and useful citizens. The influence, of the school shewed itself jn the rising generation and did so much to mould character that care had to be taken that the teaching was the right kind to bring the best, characteristics of the grow-

ing' boy or girl td full development, whilst it should exercise a check on undesirable traits which might obtrude themselves. The' Grey Main School had achieved much' success in thia direction. The high ideals of the teaching stftff since the foUhdaildti Of the school must have been passed on to the pupils; when on all sides ,the school stood so Well id the feSpfeet of the people of the town and district. He hoped the years to come would hold much that was to be desired for both the school and its scholars. After prayer had been offered by Ensign Freiberg of the Salvation Army the Chairman read a sheaf of apologies for absence from old pupils, all of which conveyed congratulations and good Wishes for the success of the Jubilee ediebrafiotig; Three dfiedts Wdre theil called for the old hoys; three for the old girls, and three for the present pupils of the school, all of Which were given with zest. The National Antliem brought the formal opening proceedings to 2 close. STALLS AND SIDESHOWS The huge crowd present at once made its Way into the School where the various rooms had beeli traimformed into stalls, for the sale of the different wares provided by a hardworking committee.. In the main entrance there was a stall for the sale of Souvenir booklets and buttons where old and new scholars of the school were purchasing bile or both of these mementos. The following stalls were thronged with customers all the afternoon and evening and did excellent business:—

Sweet stall: presided over by Mesdames Topliss, Warnes, Harvey, Shuttieworth, Pound, Shirlaw, and Misses D; Pound and Cullen. Ice Cream Stall: Mesdames Robin, Leahy, Nelson, Murtha, and Misses Leahy, Robin and Watson. Produce Stall: Mesdames Brebner, Wild and Ashby. "Work Stall: Mesdames Restieaux, Sweetman, Hodgkinson and Miss M. Cullen. Afterhooil Tea: Mesdames Hambleton, Schaef, Coumbe, Robertson, J. Tennent, Larsen, Stewart, Wilson, Miss Sotheran and assistants. Waffle* stall: The Grey Technical School. Side Shows: Messrs S. McKay, H. and M. Jamieson, C. Neville, Rothwell (2), Barrow. HIGHLAND DANCING The Highland dancing drew a good entry, and considerable interest was taken in the competition. The results were as follow: — Highland Fling, under 11—Vera Cooper, 1; Jessie Blight, 2. Sword Dance, under 14—Mary Blight, 1; A. Tulloch, 2. Seantribhaus—l. Tulloch, 1: Mary Blight 2. Highland Fling under 15 —M. Blight 1; I. Tulloch and Jean McLaughlan equal, 2. EVENING PROGRAMME The procession of the afternoon was repeated early last evening when everything went off like clockwork. A great crowd gathered in the streets and walked to the School grounds. Some of the trade displays were lit un in the evening and looked very

effective in the brilliantly arranged lighting at the school. A fireworks display took place in the school ground and in Dixon Park, where coloured lights were also burned and a right good carnival spirit prevailed. A detachment of Boy Scouts had flares burning. The Municipal Band played selections during‘the evening, in the school grounds, whilst the various stalls were kept going “at capacity” until closing time. The Jubilee euchre tournament opened last evening, when there wye thirty-eight tables in play, the winners of the first round being:—P. Mullins, 9 games; Miss Simmonds BJ. It was a tired contingent of helpers and committeemen who wended their way homewards sometime, after eleven last night, but their faces were wreathed in smiles at the successful result of the proceedings thus far. When questioned as to the financial result, the man “with the bag” remarked “Good, in fact, much more than we could have hoped for.” THIS EVENING’S CONCERT The Jubilee concert takes place this evening at the Opera House. The following is the programme: Nursery Scene, —Infants; Action Song—Std. 2 Girls; Drill Display—St. 3 A. Girls; Fairies’ Dance—Blaketown Children; Song —“The United Empire”—Std. 5 A. Song—“ Fairy Bells,”—St. 1; Minuet,— St. 3 B. Girls; Gymnastic Display and Song “The Haymakers” Std. 4A. Marches — Blaketown Children;

' Dances—St. 5 B. Girls; Marching and i Song—St. 4 B; Country Dances —Girl Guides. Crimp Fire Scene—lntroduc r ing the following: Opening Chorus — “John Peel”; Dance— “Highland Fling” Jessie Blight. Recitation: “Morning at School” Valmai Haglund; Plantation Melodies with banjo accompaniment: “Massas’ in the Cold, Cold Ground,” “Poor Old Joe.” Topical Hits; Recitation —Mavis Bond; Dance —“lrish Jig”—lvy Willis; Recitation: “A Chinese Dinner”—Nance Martin; Closing Chorus: “The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.” At the School the second session of the euchre tourney takes place and the carnival fete will be continued. The Band will render a special programme, a wireless concert being held in between Band items and the side shows will be in full operation. KIDDIES’ DAY To-morrow is Kiddies’ Day. See their procession and come and help to give them a good time. £2O will be given in prizes. A treasure hunt and a baby show will be held. All school children in and around Greymouth are heartily invited and are requested to assemble in Boundary Street at 1 p.m. to form up for procession. The Grand Re-Union Ball takes place at the Town Hall. This will be the event of the season. At the , school the euchre tourney will be concluded and also the carnival fete. A special programme has been dancing, community singing, Band programme, wireless concert and grand conclusion —confetti —a battle of flowers—Old Lang Syne. ... All who had displays in yesterday’s procession are invited to assist in the Kiddies” Day' celebrations (to-mor-row) by asseriibling in Boundary Street at one p.m. to march to the school.