BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Manawatu Times, Volume XLXI, Issue 3482, 16 December 1926, Page 8

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Annua! Breaking-up Ceremony

AND PRESENTATION OF PRIZES

The annual prize-giving ceremony in connection with the Boy's High School was held last evening in the Municipal hall, which was packed to overflowing by pupils, parents, and friends. The chairman of the Board of Governors (Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P.) presided, and apologised for the absence of the Mayor (Mr F. J, Nathan) and Mr. W. Rutherfurd. Rector’s Report. The 23rd annual report of the school was presented by the Rector (Mr. J. Murray, M.A.) who said that the personnel of the staff during the year remained as it was in 1925 with the exception that Mr. J. M. Paterson M.A., replaced Mr R. J. Mayne, M.A., who received an appointment in July in the Secondary Department of the Waluku District High School. The nominal roll reached 313, the average roll being 304. The numbers taking the five courses of the curriculum were, profesional 73, commercial 84, general 97, short general 21, agricultural 29. In the various public examinations for 1925 the results were as follows: —University entrance scholarship credit pass 1, higher leaving certificates 4, teachers’ D certificates 3, diploma of journalism (economics) 1, professional accountancy 1, matriculation 48, Accountant’s preliminary 21, national scholarships 2, New Zealand Education Department agricultural bursary 1, lower leaving certificate 1, public service entrance 19 (including first place for the Dominion and 6 credit passes), senior free places 63, proficiency 2. The Departmental Inspectors, Messrs Caradus and Foster, paid their annual visit to the school in September, and conferred with him re the awards of intermediate and leaving certificates, 68 senior free places being awarded. Recommendations for 12 higher leaving certificates have been forwarded to the Education Department where confirmation of them is expected towards the end of the month! That the award of higher leaving certificates ig one which carried tangible educational privileges which were appreciated was evidenced by the fact that, out of 37 awards made to the school during the past live years, no fewer than 32 had been made use of by their recipients in the furtherance of their education at the university.

Turning from ' the statistical results of the work of the school to Its playlife, a department whose Importance in the all round development of manly young citizenship was becoming more widely recognised the Rector reported that the policy of organising all extra-mural activities on the club system or house system continued to justify itself, providing as it did opportunities ror boys of all ages and all weights to participate in and obtain benefit, both physical and moral, from carefully graded and carefully supervised games. The football generally maintained its high standard ana the first fifteen won three and lost three inter-school matches. They were successful in the most important match of the year, that for the Poison banner against Napier High School. In both the swimming and the athletic sports, a very high average of ability was shown, and the performances and times registerea by tho boys compared very favourably with those of other secondary schools. In cricket in the club competitions, 20 teams were regularly engaged, and the practice thus obtained accounts to some extent ror the maintenance of a high level of play by the eleven of the school. The irter-school match played by the first eleven against Wanganui Technical College was won by school with a very good margin, as was the game by the second eleven against Dannevirke High School firsts. In debating the school clubs have held regular competitions, and efforts in this direction to promote the important subject of our English had met with considerable success in both senior and junior divisions.

The cadet company hold a barracks in the school ground for a week during March. Officers and instructors of the Defence Department, together with the school officers, carried out the week’s training, which resulted in the laying of good foundations for the years’ work, with immediate improvement in the boy’s drill and deportment. The cadets shooting had been of a high standard. The school team again won the Goldingham Cup for the best team in the area, while the school representative, Cadet C. McLaren, won the Watson Challenge Belt for the best individual shot. In the annual match with Napier the team won with the very good result of 783, the best which has yet been scored by either team in these matches. As in past years the school owed its best thanks to those who in different ways had helped in special

directions during the year: the Parents’ Association, the A. and P. Association, and the Borough Council for the use of grounds, and the following, Mrs L. Seifert, Messrs G. H. Bennett, H. Saunders. E. R. Whailey, T. R. Hodder, W. R. Birnlc, A. McSweeny, W. G. Rutherfurd, N. W. and M: Leet and the Old Boy's Football Club. Finally he had to thank, and though formally, none the less sincerely ,the members of the staff and the matron of College House for their unceasing assistance and wholehearted loyalty, the school prefects for their valuable work .and members of the Board for helpful consideration and co-opera-tion at all times. Splendid Results. The chairman, in addressing the gathering remarked that it was very gratifying to know that the school still continued to make progress. The curriculum of the school was a wide one and the school prepared boys for practically every career in life. The matriculation examinations last year were a record, the passes being 48, while the nearest approach of any other school was 36. Likewise in accountancy preliminary, the school secured 63 passes, the nearest approach of any other school being 25. (applause). These results, said the chairman, reflected great credit upon the teaching staff. He also referred to the successes of Sidney Newnham, who had secured first place for the Dominion in the public service examination, and Alwyn Carter who had secured first place for the agricultural bursaries. Agricultural College.

Mr. Nash then traversed the Agricultural College situation, and the offer by Lincoln College of properly valued at £220,000 to secure the institution. That offer was a very generous one and one which the Government must consider. As regards the Agricultural College League which he had set in motion, he intimated that Wellington and Auckland were both solidly behind Palmerston North, and he anticipated that by the time the Act again came before Parliament. Palmerston North would be abi e to put up a good fight. As far as the College was concerned he assured the audience that the position was being very closely watched. It would be a very sad business If Palmerston North missed its apportunity this time, Mr Nash, added. When Thanks are Due.

The chairman then referred to tho splendid help the Board had received from the business men of Palmerston North. Only a few days ago a deputation had waited upon the Borough Council with a request for the gift of extra land for the Technical school. This request had been granted, and he wished to return very sincere thanks for tho Council’s gift. (Applause) The speaker also referred to criticism made at the Council table about the leasing by the Board of land which had originally been a gift, tie assured those present that before anything could be done ,the Minister had to be satisfied that their action was the right one. The Minister had come to Palmerston North to see the site, and the Board had pointed out how useless a gravel pit was to the school. The Minister had agreed to the leasing of the land, and by that means the Board had been able to provide a long felt want in a girl’s hostel. Mr. Nash also returned thanks to the Parents’ Association for work accomplished in supplying many little wants at the school and to the Rector and teaching staff. Dr. Chappie’s Address.

The presentation of prizes (the list of which has already been published) was in the capable hands or Dr. W. A. Chappie, recently a wellknown member of thg House of Commons.

Referring to the p ro S res s which Palmerston North had made, the speaker expressed the opinion that it was going to be a otill greater centre (applause). He was pleased by the progress of New Zealand as well, and during the war he was glad to hear New Zealand praised. The Dominion’s soldiers also had a great self-respect that drew the admiration of the people of the Old Country, and those praises had been as music in his ears. The New Zealander abroad, added Dr. Chappie, was always a little ahead of others. Where Great Possibilities hie. Speaking of scientific research, he remarked that science was not the monopoly of doctors nor scientific men. What he meant by scientific research was research by scientific methods. Many great discoveries were a result of pure accident, but he didn’t want any of the boys to go through life looking for accidents. He wanted them to concentrate all their time, energy, and knowledge, in endeavouring to bring about those things which wouid be for the uplift of mankind. Science was not a phantasmagoria of test tubes and stinks (laughter) although there were people who thought such things. Science was the organised systematic pursuit of facts by observation and experiment, and the correlation of those facts to causes and results. So one could have a science of anything and everything carried out by anyone and everyone. It did not take a scientist to discover new things. The discoverer of the cancer germ was a hatter in Piccadilly whose hobby was the microscope. It was only a question of getting in pursuit of facta and correlating them. “Research is the hope of the world, and there is a great deal more to be discovered than has yet been revealed,’’ continued Dr. Chappie. All the boys present might be among the great discoverei'S of new things if only they went in pursuit of facts. The speaker illustrated his arguments by cases than had come under hl s observation. Nothing would restore Britain more rapidly to-day than the finalising of the coaj, problem, continued

Dr. Chappie. What had happened? First, the coal was harder to get, and the demand had diminished. Again a lot of the power of coal was wasted —only about 20 per cent, of .it actually worked, whilst a great portion of the smoke and gases from its burning were causing disease and damage? Research, however, was on its track and had a grip upon It. The investigators were trying to extract a smokeless fuel and motor spirit, and when those two things were secured, a new era would dawn —an era as great as when the possibilities of coal were first discovered. What had investigation done in the matter of disease? The object in medicine was to lessen human suffering, to increase human happiness.. Cancer was destined to go. To-day there were thousands pursuing the facts of cancer and correlating those fact s 80 that, he ventured to say, before long the disease would be mastered. Dr. Chappie referred to the efforts of Dr. Gye in this respect, and stated that Dr. Gye’s discoveries were momentous. They had startled mankind. The cause had been discovered, and now thousands were on the track of the cure. There was no secret of nature that could resist the continuous onslaught of the mind or man.

Consumption was the next worst scourge to cancer, continued Dr. Chappie but it only attacked those woh were non-resistant to the germs. Dr. Chappie then referred to the efforts of M. Spahlingcr in Switzerland, to discover a cure, which, he claimed, had been a success. He then referred to diabetes, which was fatal in young people, but not so in old persons. The investigations in connection with this disease were more technical, but less dramatic. Each one might be a worker in this wonderful field of investigation. It could be done just as readily in New Zealand as in London, and with just a s good prospects. The second speaker of the evening was Mr. B. H. Boys, of Wellington, who spoke on behalf of the Old Boy’s Association, urging that there was no real privilege in life that did not have its responsibilities. By their work after leaving would the world judge the school that had trained them. Me also urged the boys to set ,an example for the generation that would follow them, and those who were leaving the school, to join up with the Old Boys Association and share in the bond of fellowship which had now become Dominion' wide. Col. C. G. Powies presented the shooting trophies, and a vote of thanks to the speakers, moved by Mr T. R. Hodder, was carried by acclamation.