AFTER THE PARADE

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1934, Page 7

AFTER THE PARADE

OFFICIAL PASTY ENTERTAINED. A PLEASANT GATHERING. SCHOOL WORK EULOGISED. Not the least interesting of the engagements of the Hon. J. G. Oobbe, Minister •of Defence, yesterday afternoon was a pleasant little gathering which took place at the instance of the principal, Mr A. R. Ryder, in the school dining-room, subsequent to the inspection of the Cadets. The school matron, Mrs Treloar, assisted by some half-dozen little ladies of the school forms, had tastefully arranged afternoon ten. tables, from which were served delicacies from the school kitchen. The Minister and party assembled comfortably around the tables and chatted on military matters, school work, the history of the Whangarei High School, and of some of the men and women who had been distinguished products of the school in years that had all too quickly passed by. It was altogether a happy ending to a fine review of tiie Cadets, which a. heavy downpour of rain caused to shorten just as the Minister commenced his address. Thanking the headmaster for providing a. finale so fitting to the afternoon's events, Mr A. J. Murdoch, M.P., said he felt that the Hon. Mr Cobbo, -Sir William Sinclair-Burgess and other members of the party bad thoroughly appreciated the thoughtfulness and kindness bestowed upon them by the school through Mr Ryder. He (the speaker), with the visitors, was very interested in tiie work of the school and had enjoyed the display that afternoon. Tiie Hon, Mr Cobbo said that he was very agreeably at one with the membet tor the district in the sentiments expressed. He would make no qualifieatinn in warmly congratulating the principal and his staff on the work of the school and of the parade of its Cadets that afternoon, which had unfortunately been cut. short by rain. He had been very pleased to see the manly bearing of the boys, particularly of the little fellows in the Cadets, who could not have long been under training. He was very interested in Whangarei and. its development, as Whangarei was the first place in which he had landed on his coming to New Zealand. Air Cobbe wished the school even greater success in the future than it had achieved- in the many years of its existence. Mr Ryder expressed his personal thanks and the thanks of his staff for the kindly tilings that had been said by the Minister and by Mr Murdoch. He was naturally proud of his school ami of his charges; -no one could feel Otherwise with the wealth of tradition

and attainments possessed by the Whangarei High School. He was pleased to receive and acknowledge on behalf of the school, the Alinister’s references to the bearing of the boys on the parade ground that afternoon, which would be very encouraging to the boys and to all intimately concerned in the administration and work of the school. THE MACHINE GUNNERS. “FEW BUT EFFICIENT.’’ VISITORS HIGHLY PLEASED. “Although the numbers were small, the men were strikingly efficient, commented Alajor-General Sir William Siuclair-Burgess, who, with the Minister of Defence, inspected the local machine gun platoon of the North Auckland Regiment last night. In attendance also was Colonel J. E. Duigan, Officer Commanding the Northern Command. The men were seen carrying out their training in the Drill Hall. The inspection occupied over an hour, during which the men wore called upon to execute practically every manoeuvre possible with the Vickers’ gun. Even in the most complicated phases of the work they were found faultless. Sir William put each man through an individual test, and the Alinister joined with him in complimenting the trainees upon their proficiency.