ANNUAL REUNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 170, 19 June 1936, Page 12

ANNUAL REUNION.

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS. The annual meeting and re-union dinner of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School Old Pupils’ Association was held in the Rosco tea rooms on Wednesday, over 136 former pupils being present. The function was greatly appreciated by the old boys and old friendships were renewed. Following the reading of the minutes and the annual roll call, the president of tho association (Mr H. W. Kerr), in proposing a toast to the school, congratulated the Te Aute first fifteen on their win over the school players in the afternoon. The game, he said, had been a good one and productive of clean football. The main fault with the home team, said Dir Kerr, seemed to be a want of experience. The speaker expressed himself as being very pleased at the attendance that evening which easily overshadowed that of the recent reunion in Wellington. In dealing with general school matters, Mr Kerr said that there were three departments to a school—tho head, the staff, and the pupils. As far as tho P.N.B.tLS. v was concerned it could not wish for a headmaster who had its interests more at heart than the present rector (Mr J. Murray. The captain of a school, like the captain of a ship, had the power to wreck that ship or bring it safely into port. The rector, said Mr Kerr, was a trustworthy captain in all respects. There was, too, a splendid camaraderie existing between tho boys and tho masters. The boys were just tho same as any other boys; full of fun but yet ready to stand the tests of character which life imposed. The speaker extended a welcome to members of the staff in attendance and also paid a tribute to Mr Leet, the caretaker at the school, for liis many years of faithful service. The toast of The School was responded to by the rector. He congratulated the association on maintaining the reunion as ian annual one. Despite the increasing responsibilities of older old boys and the new interests of younger ones, it was a great encouragement to tlioso who cast the scholastic bread upon the academic waters to find it kept returning as the years went by, with a quality of manna-like freshness j so necessary to sustain those in quest [ of a promised laud, which indeed was the quest of education, something not static but a process that should go on throughout life. The attendance of old boys at their annual reunion was an acknowledgment that the school with its varied institutions, activities and associations, had helped them' in the past. Old boys of tho school were continuing to iive in the spirit of the school motto, first proved by the late rector (Mr J. E. Vernon) himself a strong believer in a strenuous life and scornful of slackness or shuffling. Old boys, too. were actively assisting in the work of local bodies, clubs and societies and in so doing were reflecting credit on their old school. Tho rector wished them all abundant health, wealth and wisdom, both for themselves and so that some day if an appeal were made to increase the amenities of the school, they might be in a position and be willing to help. What had been described ns the tertiary industries, those cultural and spiritual interests that make life worth living, would require more and more to be developed l>v the schools to fit thou pupils for leisure as well as work. To this end adequate libraries, art rooms, halls etc., were all desirable; and some dav old boys might be able to assist in "furthering some of these amenities. Mr J. J. Stevenson, a member of the staff, said that though he was not an old buy he was very happy indeed to be present at the reunion dinner. He knew that in the High School its pupils had something to be proud of. Jt was a school second to none in New Zealand. Mr Stevenson had several humorous tales to tell of life in Australia and at the conclusion was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation. ~ Mr J. A. Grant, m proposing the toast to tlie absent old boys, asked those present to stand for a moment in silence as a mark of respect to those who were, absent, because they had given their lives for their country during the war, or had since passed away. Other absent old boys, Mr Grant proceeded, were those who though away from the town and connection with the association were always ready and willing to help, and he contended that they should, if possible, be enlisted in the association'. Any appeal for assistance would not fall on deaf ears. There was a third class, who were not interested in the affairs of the school, and it was the duty of the association to do their best to enlist these and try and create in them some of the school spirit. It was decided that in future every financial member of the association should receive free a copy of the “Palmerstonian,” the school magazine. The election of officers resulted:— Patron, Mr Murray; vice-patron, Mr M. H. Oram; president, Mr T. M. N. Rodgers; vice-presidents, Messrs H. IV. Kerr, G. Butler,- C. Eglinton, F. JChristensen, and J. L. Nash; lion, secretary, Mr P. B. Trow ; hem. treasurer, Mr R. A. Brace; committee, Messrs F. Stockwell, J. and \V. Miller, C. Espiner, V. Monrad. G. Dawick, W. Moffat, 0. Waugh, T. K. Fraser, H. Palmer.’and L. Bradley; lion, auditor, Mill. Priest. The annual report and balance-sheet (previously published) were read and adopted. During, the evening humorous items were given by .Mr Paqualin and vocal solos by Mr A. G. Brown. The accompanist was Mr C. Teppett. A vote of thanks was accorded all those who had helped to make the. function such a success. I