OLD BOYS’ WELCOME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVi, 30 October 1925, Page 4

OLD BOYS’ WELCOME

TO si.li ERNEST RUTHERFORD ENTI i U SIA STIC GA l l IKR IN l ! Some Lnj old boys ut Nelson College accorded Sir Ernest Rulhertord ;t rousing welcome in tho assembly hall hist evening, when the distinguishod scienlis.it entered accomptuiiod by Air C. 11. Rroad (principal) and Dr. _S. A. Gibbs (chairman of Heard ot Gov ei linrs). the appliiuse broke out spontaneoiisJy and lasted until alter Sii T'.inest was seated. I lie gathering was of qui.e tin mloi mai nature, and attei the speeches an adjournment was made to the dining room for supper, where Kir Ernest met and conversed with a muni.er of liis cuiii.einporuries, and evidently keenly appreciated the opportunity* tillered to renew old acquaintances.

Ah’ Broad who presided, in the course 01 extending a hearty welcome to Sir Ei ties!, referred to the great pleasure fell at his visiting the old school. H any of the old hoys studied the Old Bovs’ Register or the Honours Board, t hex wnnid realise that there were a great number of old hoys in till walks of life—the church, law, science, art did so on. “I know you will agree with me. said Mr Broad, amid loud applause, ''that pre-eminently the greatest ol them all is Sir Ernest Rutherford." He wont on to say that hr thought it was necessary for old boys to realise what a very great privilege it was to have Sir Ernest with them that night. Mr Broad went on to refer to several well-known facts in their guest's eaicir. lie mentioned these facts to tiv and impless upon them how proud they all were to have Sir Ernest. Ruth r! lord with them. (Applause). It was seldom indeed that New Zealand received visits from eminent men at the •zenith of their career. Air Broad then recalled in an interesting way the day Sir Ernest- arrived at College. when there were ahou*. 80 pupils. Sir Ernest was described at. that period as a "fair haired stranger who had the presumption to join the fifth form mi coining to College." In a very short time, however .they realised that the headmaster's classification was.a very correct one. “J ran still see him" said Air Broad, with a reminiscent twinkle in his eve.

■'waiiderii gup and down Hampden Street with Mr Littlejohn with a walking stick in his hand, and we on the green below used to aver that they were drawing diagrams of the Nelson Inis." Speaking of Air Littlejohn. reminded him wiiat the hoys of that time owed him. (Great applause). Several other incidents .in the school life of their distinguished guest were given by Air Broad, who concluded by asking Sir Ernest to accept on behalf of the old hoys three photographs or the College.

J)r. Gibbs, on behalf of the Board of Governors, joined with Mr Broad in extending a warm welcome to Sir Ernest, and congratulated him on the numerous honours that had been conferred on him. So far as it was possible. the old hoys had watched witli great interest the work of Sir Ernest, particularly with regard to radiation and radio-activity ard his researches into the structure of the atom; and would watch with still increased interest what his future researches would reveal. (Applause.) On rising to reply. Sir Ernest was met with a storm of applause. He said it gave him great pleasure to visit his old school again, even though it was not the same -fabric which he saw 011 his last visit. It was some 30 years since he was in Nelson, hut he had been able to watch its progress through the very admirable journal The Nelsonian, which hud been sent ie him very regularly although his sub script ion had been several years m arrears. (Laughter). He went 011 to rtcall liis entry at College in 183”. mentioning that he was head hoy in 1889. 'The duties. lie explained, were iml. very onerous at that time—there were not a great number of hoarders and of course the day hoys did not count. (Laughter), He had very vivid remembrances of the days in the dormitories—in fact he had-on occasions to literally light liis way through them, lie went on to deal in humorous vein with liis experience in 1 lie gentle art of self-ilcfcnce—-in those days lie was afraid science was thrown to tin* wind on him. Cnnt inning, he congratulated Mr Broad on succeeding as head mas ter —(applause) —and referred in. warm terms to the headmasters at College during liis own period at the school, making especial reference to Air Littlejohn, whom he described as having a real gift for teaching hoys. Hero followed a little story—“not for publication"—at the expense of the present principal—when a fellow student, whom Sir Ernest described at that time “as elusive as the electrop.” (Laughter). After saving how much lie owed the institution, and the great pleasure it gave him at meeting old hoys, he said it appeared to him that the succession of very distinguished men that had come from the College was almost out of proportion to the numbers who came to it. On the military side they laid Dav'd;'on and Ghnytor. among the distinguished school teachers was Major. He had been impressed with what lie had heard about; Milner, and la* had heard people speaking of him as though he were a demi-god. Any school should he proud of such a record. Kir Ernest concluded a most interesting talk by saying how much lie appreciated again visiting the school. Ho had been looking around the room and was no! quite sure how many belonged to that brilliant period to which Air Broad and Dr. Gibbs and himself belonged. (Laughter and applause). Kir Ernest then closely inspected tin Honours Board; afterwards giving an informal hut highly interesting scientific talk. He doall with his work at tlii* Cavendish Laboratory, which had * students and -111 research students. some CIO.IKIO a year being spent in research work. He stressed the point that tin* fundamental facts ot nature must he studied to maki science a real essential in life. After a eonple of songs had been given by Mr E. Khort an adjournment was made to (lie dining room for sup-