SILVER JUBILEE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 79, 2 March 1927, Page 4

SILVER JUBILEE.

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL. BIG ATTENDANCE IN AFTERNOON. MILESTONE IN SCHOOL’S HISTORY.

Highly successful were the jubilee celebrations of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School yesterday. In the afternoon, following on the proceedings of the morning, there was a very representative gathering at which speeches commemorating the occasion were madel

Among those present were the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs F. J. Nathan), Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., and Mrs Nash, Messrs W. Collins and W. H. Swanger (chairman and secretary respectively of the Wanganui Education Board) and the pupils of the Girls’ High School. Proceedings opened with a roll call of all old boys present, of whom there were over 200, and then addresses appropriate to the occasion were given by several speakers. The old pupils afterwards paid tribute to the memory of the late Mr J. E. Vernon, following which various sports were indulged in, the present and past pupils meeting in competition. Afternoon tea was dispensed by a band of young ladies. TRIBUTE FROM MR NASH. Addressing the assembled gathering in front of the school, Mr Nash, after referring to the importance of the occasion and the fact that the jubilee had been eagerly looked forward to, went on to deal with the early history of secondary education in Palmerston North. The first meeting of the District High School Committee had been held on February 20, 1902, with Rev. C. C. Harper in the chair. The members of the committee had been Messrs W. T. Wood, F. Pirani, W. Rutherfurd, J. L. Barnicoat, H. Palmer and G. Hirsch (secretary). In 1902 a deputation had waited on the late Mr R. J. Seddon with a request for a grant for a new building. Their efforts had been successful, and, in addition, the Borough Council had made a grant of 10 acres for the school site. The structure had been put up, but had been burned down some years ago, and the present building erected in its place. Mr W. Gray, the first headmaster, had relinquished liis duties in 1902, in which year the late Mr J. E. Vernon was appointed rector. The school roll was then 58 boys and 51 girls. In 1903 successful steps were taken to have the status of the institution raised to that of a high school proper, while in 1920 a girls’ institution was erected. This latter had been an unqualified success, with the recent lady principal, Miss C. B. Mills, and her staff doing most excellent work. In the first year of its operations the girls’ school had had a roll of 133, which figure had risqp to the present number of 202. The Board of Governors had been very sorry to lose Miss Mills, but this could not be avoided. The speaker felt certain that all would join with him in wishing the lady who followed her in office, Miss F. J. W. Hodges, success.

“The formation find development of character have always been the aim of the Bpys’ High School,” proceeded Mr Nash, “and 1 think we can safely say that the rector and his staff have been successful. The pupils that have passed through the school are making a success in life. In sport the boys have always done well, and in cricket and football they have been able to hold their own and win laurels for the school. Sport plays a very important part in the life of the school, and too much credit cannot be given to the masters for the interest and help they give the boys.” I The Parents’ Association, the speaker continued, took a lively interest in the school and had raised large sums of money, making it possible to secure many requisites for the school which the department would not grant. On behalf of the Board of Governors, he wished to extend thanks to the association for the work it was doing. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Regarding the proposed agricultural college, there was-a possibility _ that the school would be linked up with it. However, it had not yet been definitely settled whether it was to be situated here, but, with the college council behind the movementyrJPalmerston North had something to work for. The speaker was pleased' that Mr F. Foote, of Gisborne,': had been able to attend the old boys’ re-union, and it was also gratifying to see Mrs J. E. Vernon, wife of the date rector, present. Other visitors the school was delighted to see were Messrs W. Collins and W. H. Swanger, chairman and secretary respectively of the Wanganui' Education Board. " All others who were present the speaker wished to thank' for their interest in the school and for the fact that they were helping to make the celebrations a success. He was sure that all congratulated the old boys most heartily and trusted that the gathering would be the means of cementing the ties of friendship, and that, as the present boys left school, they would join up with the association and help it to uphold the traditions of the school.

HIGH SCHOOL

THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL. Mr J. Murray, M.A., the present rector, in addressing the gathering, stated that he wished to add a few words to what he had said to the old boys in the morning regarding the elements that made up the school. The interest of pupils, staff, parents, old boys and the public was another element which went to make an efficient school, and the jubilee proceedings that day were an expression of some degree of satisfaction that the required elements were represented in the school. He wanted the jubilee spirit to continue and he desired all to make the day one of jubilation. With Mrs Vernon, the school shared gracious memories of her late husband. Assembled there that afternoon were many of the school’s old boys, all presenting visible _ evidence of the training they had received. The girls that were also there were once part of the school, and it was certain that the spirit that had eminated from the late Mr Vernon and the ladv teachers he had had associated with him had found its way to Fitzherbert Street and was permanently established there. OTHER TRIBUTES. After, expressing gratification at

being able to attend, the Mayor (Mr F. J. Nathan) extended congratulations to the school on having attained its 25th birthday and on the advancement that it had made under the various boards of governors. Standing in front of him he saw men Who had made their mark—one, he remarked jocularly, gave him a licking at golf, another told him how to do his business and another wrote in one of the papers what he ought to do. The professions were wen represented in the men who had gone through the school. He was delighted to see such a gathering of old boys, and he trusted that the same jubilee spirit that was in evidence might permeate .-the citizens of the town for the remainder of the week. > Mr Collins, who was also called upon to speak, congratulated the school on the work it was doing and the position it now held. The speaker noticed in scholarship results that 1416 pupils of the institution were always prominent —a fact that reflected great credit on the school. PREFECTS FOR THE DAY. Prefects elected for the day were: Messrs E. TV. Inder (Auckland)j head; N. Thompson (Napier), 1904-07; J. H. Nash (Palmerston North), 1904-07; J. S. Hanna (Wellington), 1906-1909; E. G. Seeker (Palmerston North), 13; G. K. Hollier (Palmerston North), 1917-20; R. Kells (Palmerston North), 1920-24. CRICKET MATCHES. At cricket the school 1 a first eleven easily defeated a team of old boys. The latter, batting first, were dismissed for 111, A. Rose, the well-known representative player, being top-scorer with 43. High School replied with 142 for the loss of three wickets, J. Rose, a brother of the old boy mentioned, contributing a dashingly made 46 not out. Detailed scores were as follow: OLD BOYS.

A. Rose, o and b O’Keefe 43 Sollitt, run out 0 Hanna, c Spelman, b Seymour ... 7 Scorgie, st, b Seymour 1 HoUier, b Fletcher 13 C. Eglinton, b Fletcher 11 Kells, b O’Keefe ..1)..... 1 Law, b McHaffie 5 Lancaster, lbw, b Fletcher ........a 0 Brace, not out ■ H A. Fletcher, b E. Fletcher 7 Extras 12 Total ~.., HI Bowling analysis.—Spelman, none for 26; Seymour, two for 37; O’Keefe, two for 20; Fletcher, four for 20; McHaffie, one for 3.

Birch, thrown out 36 Spelman, lbw, b Brace 8 Pacey, run out 14 McHaffie, not out 9 J. Rose, not out 46 ■ Extras 29 Total for three wickets 142 Bowling analysis.—Lancaster, none for two; Rose, none for 21; Brace, none for 28; Hollier, none for 18; Fletcher, none for 10; South, none for 9; Sollitt, none for 23. JUNIOR MATCH. % In a junior match Old Boys made 83 (Gill retired 25, Faire 17, Vernon 10), High School replying with 106 (Canton 22, Gibson 22, McNeile 11, Kells 10) and- winning by 23 runs. TENNIS. Tennis results were as follow, Old Boys being mentioned first in each instance: —Tregurtha and Bendall lost to Abrahams and Wilson, 3—6; Whitehead and Sinolair beat Brewer aad Orgias, 6 —5, Chrystall and Murray lost to Sorenson and Paisley, 3—6; Culling and Robson lost to Bryden And Webber, 2—6; Law and Truby drew with Duncan and Walker, 6—3, Mason and Hands beat Orgias and Brewer, 6—l; Louisson and Robertson beat Paisley / and Sorenson, 6—3; Chrystall and Murray beat Clevely and Abrahams, 6—4, 6—4; McEwen and Donald lost to De Vantier and Orgias, 6-r-3, 3—6, 2—6; Glendinning and Lovelock lost to Barnett and Leydon, 4—6, o—6. RUNNING. School race, 120 yards: R. Wilson 1, E. Weber 2, J. Danks 3. Old boys race, 120 yards: A. Anderson 1, A. S. Faire 2, E. Law 3.

SWIMMING. 25 yards: K. Pacey (Old Boys) 1, A. Penman (High School) 2, E. Ball (High School) 3. 60 yards: C. McKenzie (Old Boys) 1, C. Espiner (High School) 2, Seifert (Old Boys) 3. 100 yards: K. Pacey (Old Boys) 1, W. Eyre'(Old Boys) 2, M. Wilton (High School) 3. Relay race: Old Boys (McKenzie, Eyre, Heard, Seifert) 1, High School (Smith, Espiner, McCorkindale, Penman) 2. ANNUAL MEETING AND SMOKE CONCERT. FESTIVITIES CONCLUDED. The annual: meeting and smoke concert of the High Schopl Old Boys’ Association was held last evening, the retiring' president, Mr J. D. Vernon, presiding over an attendance of over 200. ... ■ - The annual meeting business was taken first. ... ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report stated that it would be noticed from the balancesheet that the finances of the associa-

tion were in a fairly .satisfactory condition, but to enable that state of affairs to continue it was the duty or all old boys to join the association and thus help it in the many duties it had to perform. This year tne association s representative at the school prizegiving ceremony • was. Mr it. ±l. noys, and thanks were due to him for bis attendance on the association s behalf and for the excellent address given by him. It was with regret that the committee had to report that only 36 new members were elected during the year, and desired to take the • opportunity to impress on all unfinancial old boys the need to pay their subscriptions and take more interest in the workings of their association. In conclusion, the report expressed thapks to all those wno had assisted the association during the. year. , The report was adopted, as was also the balance-sheet, which disclosed a credit of £l4 19s Bd. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the ensu-ing-year resulted as-follows: —Hon. president, Mr J. Murray; hon. vicepresident, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.; president, Mr J. R. Hardie; vice-presi-dents, Messrs E. W. Inder (Auckland), N Thompson (Napier) and the president of the’ Wellington Association; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr L. C. Pickering; committee, Messrs A. Brace, J W. Rutherfurd, J. A. Grant, A. S. Faire and K. W. Eglinton, together with two representatives from the cricket and football clubs. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Pickering for tho work that he had done in the capacity of secretary, the chairman acknowledging the association’s debt to him.

THE TOAST LIST. The smoke concert was then proceeded with, a short but comprehensive toast list being honoured, interspersed with many enjoyable musical items, including several selections by an orchestra. In proposing the toast of “The School,” the chairman reterred to the necessity for maintaining the traditions of the institution—the school the old boys knew and loved so well. Mr J. Murray, rector.of the institution, in responding, paid tribute to the wort: that had been done by the late Mr Vernon in laying the foundations of the school. To-day a staff of 13 was endeavouring to the best of its ability to carry on the great work started by Mr Vernon. Ola boys would always be welcome at the institution, and to all he extended the best of wishes for future success.

“The Board of Governors” was a toast proposed by Mr E. TV. Inder, who made, mention of the foresight that had been displayed by that body and the energy and zeal it had exhibited. .Of the inundation members of the board, the late Mr Walter Rutherfurd had done very valuable work—a work that was now fittingly being carried on by his son, Mr J. W. Rutnerfurd. Replying, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., chairman of the Board of Governors, stated that it was an honour for any citizen to be elected to that office. The board now had much greater responsibilities than in the past, btlt the lot of the chairman was made easy through the whole-hearted co-operation of tne other members. The speaker endorsed the remarks of Mr Inder concerning the work accomplished by the late Mr Rutherfurd, and also made mention of the services rendered in past years by Mr J. L. Barnicoat, now of Wellington. In choosing Mr Murray to. .fill the office of rector on the death, of Mr Vernon, the board had chosen wisely, for he was the right man to carry on the work, while it had also displayed wisdom in its appointment of a member ,of the staff, Mr G. G. Hancox, as director of the Technical School. The toast “Past Masters” was in the hands of Dr. Barnicoat (Kimbolton), who referred to the great work that had been done by members of the teaching staff in the training of the pupils—educationally and in the moulding of character. The response was in the hands of Mr F. Foote, rector of the Gisborne Boys’ High Scllool and formerly first assistant at the school, and Mr L. Pole, who taught at the school in 1903 and who is now headmaster of the Dannevirke South School. Other toasts honoured were: “Kindred Schools,” proposed by Mr J. S. Hanna and responded to by Mr H. J. Thompson; “Absent Old Boys,” proposed by Mr A. Munro and responded to by Mr R. Boys, and “The First Head” (Mr W. Gray), proposed by Mr Alex. Anderson, the first pupil on tho register of. the school. . The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” concluded a memorable list of functions in the school’s history.