OLD BOYS’ REUNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 305, 22 November 1934, Page 2

OLD BOYS’ REUNION

PALMERSTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL. Attended by about seventy, the annual reunion of old boys -of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School was held last evening, the function taking the form of a smoke concert in the Empire Hall. The president of the Old Boys’ Association (Mr C. Eglinton) was in the chair. Following the loyal toast, Mr G. Tremaine proposed a toast in honour of the school staff, to whom ho paid a warm tribute. Commenting upon the affection shown for old teachers at the jubilee celebrations of the Terrace End School, which he had attended, Mr Tremaine stated that such senti-

ments always lingered. No old boy, he said, could ever forget the late Mr J. E. Yernon, who, as principal of the Boys’ High School, had been regarded with the deepest reverence and regard. Similar high respect was felt for the present principal, Mr J. Murray, who, when the speaker attended the school had been first assistant. The character of the boys going through the school had always been moulded by the masters, and the Palmerston North Boys’ High School had been particularly fortunate in this regard. It spoke a great deal for the school that four old boys were at present on the teaching staff (Messrs H. W. Kerr, R. W. Cumberworth, E. W.

and A. C. Espiner), while- two others had held temporary positions (Messrs A. McSweeney and F. StockweJl). Replying, Mr J. A. Colquhoun (first assistant) commented that the masters had their trials and tribulations, but one of the recompenses was the subsequent success in life of many who had been regarded as “ugly ducklings” at school. It was pleasing to hear, too, that the masters at the school were accounted “good fellows.” He stated that many old boys of the school occupied prominent positions in life and he thought they compared very favourably with the products of other secondary schools in the Dominion

Mr W. P. Anderson (second assistant), who also replied, recalled that the last occasion on which he had spoken at the old boys’ function was at the school jubilee some years ago. Now lie had reached his own jubilee as a. master at the school. Speaking in reminiscent vein, lie traversed his association with the school, and its progressive development. He stated that when lie first joined the staff he had been impressed by the familiar and friendly spirit as between master and pupil, and this had been perpetuated. When he first entered College House Mrs Vernon had been like a second mother to him. Mr Anderson commented that he had once held the erroneous belief that too much time was spent in sport, but now he was quite satisfied that that was not so, also that the real value of sport was not appreciated to the full by parents, as it was on the playing fields that the true character of the boy was developed.

Proposing the toast of “The School,” Mr Eglinton referred to its splendid scholastic and sporting record, saying that all old boys were proud of their association with the school.

.The rector, Mr J. Murray, was given an ovation when he rose to respond. It was good to be at an old boys’ gathering, he said. With the loyalty of the staff, and the success achieved by former pupils, he felt it an honour to be connected with the school. The common bond was the school, which drew all together and proved to be the unifying interest. The achievements of the institution undoubtedly compared favourably with other schools, and he felt sure that all old boys would strive to maintain this record.

The toast of “Absent Okl Boys,” including those who had passed to the Great Beyond, was proposed by Mr L. G. Sinclair, vice-president of the association. Old boys were to be found in every part of the world, he said, instancing Messrs J. Chapman (on the Secretariat of the League of Nations at Geneva), E. D. Andrews (London), Moss Hodder (Boston, U.S.A.), Eric Horn (a missionary at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and T. Stockwell (Ceylon). Mr Sinclair also mentioned that Mr H. C. Walker, co-pilot with SquadronLeader McGregor of the Manawatu Aero Club’s plane in the Centenary Air Race, was an old boy of the school, who had brought fame to New Zealand, the Manawatu and, incidentally, the Palmerston North Bovs’ High School.

“Kindred Associations” was proposed by Mr A. W. Yortt, responses, being made by Messrs A. McKegg (Wellington College Old Boys), G. McCallum (Waitaki), T. Ellison (Auckland Grammar) and a Scots College representative. Musical items were contributed byMessrs A. McKegg, A. Pizzey and W. Robertson.