WHANGAREI HIGH SCHOOL.

Northern Advocate, 16 December 1916, Page 2

WHANGAREI HIGH SCHOOL.

SUCCESSFUL PRIZE-GIVING , DAY.

PRESENTATION OF FLAG-STAFF

AND FLAG'S,

IN HONOUR OF "OLD BOYS " AT THE FRONT.

There was a big and representative attendance at the Whangarei High School yesterday. The day was beautifully line and the ceremony of prizegiving was conducted in the open air in front of the school, where ample Keating accommodation had been provided. The Board of Governors were in attendance. Mr Killen, who presided, said they were present for the double function of presenting the prizes and unfurling the flags. But before proceeding with those functions he would ask the principal (Mr Lupton) to make his annual report.

Till] PRINCIPAL'S REPORT. Mr Lupton opened his remarks by Having that this year they were met with an abnormal influx of new pupils Some f>s new pupils presented themselves for admittance —47 boys aud 48 Lfirls. . Work commenced in February with a roll number of 1()5, S3 boys and 82 girls. Of this number IKS were in their first year, 47 in their second year and 25 in their third and fourth years, being a smaller number of senior pupils than there hail been for a number of years. The present roll was 105. .Seventeen of these held senior free places, lL'l junior free places and 17 were paying pupils. There were 12 scholarship holders. Mr Lupton explained the "space pressure" which bad existed pr'or to the erection of tho iiov agricultural classroom and workroom. But even the present accommodation had reached its utmost limit and he submitted for the serious consideration of the Board whether the present building should be added to or some other provision made. A second tennis court in the girls' playground would, he hoped, be ready for use next term. Tho principal went on to deal with the syllabus and his proposal for the future. (This interesting portion of Mr Lupton \s report will appear in

Tuesday's paper, December 19.—Ed.] With regard to school successes, one pupil took'the senior public service in all subjects and one other in four subjects, seven ■pupils matriculated, one obtained entrance to Dimtroon military college, ten qualified for junior public service, three obtained scholarships, one secured a junior national scholarship and twenty-six qualified for senior free places. During the year tluschool had interested itself in matters pertaining to the war. It had collected £20 for the relief of the Belgian children and recently it had voluntarily subscribed £20 to buy the fine flagstaff now erected in front of the school to commemorate the part played in the great war by former pupils. Mr Lupton concluded his report by thanking his teaching staff for their loyal assistance during the year. He added a few helpful words to those , pupils about to leave school, exhorting them in the battle of life to live up to their school motto and "play the game!" The speech was rewarded with prolonged applause.

Mr Killen said they should be grateful to have' such a man as Mr Luptou in charge of the school. He emphasised the need of parents taking Mr Lupton's advice to confer with him in matters of difficulty or doubt. He re t'crred to the great privileges of intermediate education which gave four years' instruction free of cost —and yet vhere were many who did not take advantage of it. It seemed that some parents sent their children k> the High school for the sake of saying they had been there and then put them into sonic business. His opinion was that the pupils should stay at the .s-hool as long as their scholarships would allow them. He congratulated the school upon it; successes during the year but urged that they should try and gain university scholarships. At Home, these scholarships were the proof of the depth and soundness of intermediate education and Whaugarei should aim at getting some every year.

To this concluding remark Mr Luptou replied that pupils did not stay ' at the school here for the length of time required in order to entitle them to qualify. Some seventy cadets then formed in square about the Hag-staff. Mr Lupton asked the Board 's acceptance of the staff and flags. The "old boys-" of the seho.ol had lived up to the traditions of the school. A number had ■oluntcered and were playing their part. They had lost no fewer than even of their former pupils; two boys vvent practically from the school to Trentham. On behalf of the Board the chairman accepted the gifts which would bt held in honour of the boys who bad gone. He expressed the hope that future pupils would prove as worthy of the flag as their successors.

The dux of the school (Sergeant Hutehings) was at this stage called upon to unfurl the flag. There was a general salute by the company of cadets, the flag was ' opened to the breeze and the company rose and sang the National Anthem. ■ The Mayor (Mr D. W. Jack) was called upon to speak and in the course of a patriotic address expressed his confidence that those lads then before him were as capable of sacrifice as those other old boys who had laid down their lives for the Empire. Cheers were given for the principal and the teachers of the school Afterwards the High School girls entertained the visitors to afternoon tea.