HIGH SCHOOL BANQUET.

Northern Advocate, 29 August 1919, Page 2

HIGH SCHOOL BANQUET.

A .MWM-OJIiVBLE OCCASION

On Wednesday evening , .Mr Quinn tendered to the boarders at the High School the second-term banquet, whidh was uniquely happy and successful. 'iMie governors of the board were guests of the evening, and owing , to the unavoidable absence of Mr Lupton, Mr Carruth took the chair. The spacious dining , hall was exquisitely decorated with. native shrubs and arum lilies, which blended admirably with tJlie golden masses of daffodils which decked the tabjes. The colour scheme was carried out in black and gold, the school colours, presenting , a picture of veritable bx>illianee. As the guests entered the banquet •hall punctually at 7.30, they were struck by the bevy of Hue healthy lads, wearing looks which betokened keen enjoyment, and the visitors received lusty cheers from the boys. Mr Oarruth opened the proceedings in a neat speech, in which he eulogised the efforts of Mrs McGeahan. and Mr Quinn in providing such a sumptuous and gay feast, and he assured the boys tlh&t they were fortunate in having a master who did iso much to entertain them. The toast of the King was then honoured. The musical programme —one of high standard — was opened by Air Dlaude Moody who played delightfully on the piano. v The toast of Alma Mater was proposed by Arthur Lamb, senior prefect of the sdhool. He was very happy in his speech and spoke feelingly of the splendid assistance the boys were receiving from their masters. He was sure he was voicing tihe opinion of every boy present when he said that School jife at YVliangarei High School was such) that it would leave many lasting and pleasant memories, and would plant in the hearts of the boys ideals whidh i would never fade. He called upon all present to drink Iheartily the toast of the best of schools.

Mr Smith, on behalf of Mr Lupton, responded. He thanked the senior prefect for the excellent spirit wMeh "he, as representative of the boys, evinced. In Mr Smith's opinion, the most successful boy art; school was he who left behind at the school more than he took away from it. Paradox as it seemed, it was tdie highest estimate of a boy. Those who were boarders had greater enhances of showing active /interest, but he had found all the boys wanting in no enthusiasm and activity. Let them ■all try to make history during tlheir school days, and Ihelp to build up the lasting monument of a fine school.

The next toast was that of "The Boys," proposed by Mr Qukui. . The speaker opened Ms remarks by congratulating , tihe botarders on the remarkable esprit de corps whidi existed among them; their tone was of tlhe highest, and their response to all that was done for them, was ad-

mirable. The boys were the isalt of the earthy tihe coming Empire-build-ers, therefore their training , was of vital moment. The war had shown that congregation of men was successful in its levelling influence. How mudh more so was it witfh boys? Education in the Empire, like a snake, was about to shed its old skin of sloth, and come forth into the,daylight of activity and progress. Let atll take care that that progress be in the direction of producing boys who would grow into men of integrity and magnanimity, men who would be imbued with the true spirit of democracy. The toast was (heartily honoured. Master 'Frank Cotton replied. [He thanked Mr Quinn for his congratulations, and also for all that he had devised to make boarding-school life bo enjoyable. They .had learned to dance, hiad done a little at elocution, and quite a lot at singing under his supervision, and every boy felt the better for iMr Quinn's influence. The boarders lhad borne their share of the burden in football, five of them being in the first fifteen. He would refrain from saying much about the seven-a-side boarders v. day boys (laughter.) In conclusion he thanked all for the (hearty manner in which tlhey had honoured the toast of the boys.

The next toast on the list was that of "Past Students." The young espouser of the toast particularly pleased all by (his ease and fluency. He referred to the glorious roll of honour of /the High School, and to so many students who Oiad g-one forth and carried withl them the lesson of "Pideliter." A sad note was touched in matking reference to those wflro had paid tflie supreme sacrifice. old boys of the school had not been as successful as they might have been in the football arena, but a start hlad been made. The old girls were meeting Avitth great success, however. The senior prefect, the cfaptain of the hockey team, and the secretary to the sports club .at the Auckland Training j College were all old girls, and an old girl had led Che Auckand representatives to victory. Mr H. Crawford responded. As an old student of the school, lie recalled almost primitive days when the sdhool-house was in Manse street. He assured the boys tlhat it was then that the seeds were planted wSiidh had grown into such noble school ideals. They played the game in tfliose days, so that they never learned to falter. Mr Crawford concluded his remarks Avith a humorous anecdote, protesting tOiat speechifying ril-. ways spoilt his evening. His remarks were loudly applauded. , The toast of "The Ladies" was in the hands of Master Tom Kerr, who, though brief, was responsible for some laugtfrter. He thought tfhat women had not yet been allotted the correct place in the world; he would like to see them in Parliament. The toast was coupled with the name of Mrs (McGeahan, and 'Master Kerr referred to the absolute motlhering which all tOie boys received from their fine matron. Mrs McGeahan was the type of woman who made the Empire what it is to-day. On behalf of the boys he t/hanked Mrs McGeahan for making the boarding school a

home away from home, and assured tier that she would always be remembered by the boys. Air Aleluniion replied, congratulating* the school on the line women it had produced. Referring to the war he said tUia.t one old girl 'had won grea.t distinction, and was now in charge of the Whangarei hospital. To all old girls he tendered his heartiest congratulations. lie advocated strongly 'the establishment of a girls' hostel. The toast oi' the "First Fifteen," coupled with the name of the captain, A-rthur Lamb, was proposed by the chairman, who began by congratulating the tea.m on winning , the junior cup, without suffering a single defeat. He -knew that the Higfh School boys always played clean, manly football, and were looked to to set the pattern. He was pleased that scientific skill had triumphed over mere strength and force, and hoped the boys would be as manly in defeat as they had been in victory. Arthur Lamb responded. He thanked iAIr Carrutth for his complimments. The boys had played a plucky and clean game and had rallied to every'call. They wished to thank their coachk Air Quinn, for his assiduous care. The captain remarked on the fine sports the boys met in all the opposing , teams. fJPhe last toast of the evening was Chat of "The Visitors," proposed by Geo. Hight/ He welcomed them all heartily and thanked those who had provided such excellent entertainment. Messrs -Weaver and Kishworth responded briefly and suitably.