NELSON COLLEGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 May 1936, Page 6

NELSON COLLEGE

OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING HELD The Nelson College Old Boys’ Association held its. annual meeting in the Ritz rooms' last evening, a fair number of Old Boys being present. Mr G. Samuel, president, was in the chair. The annual report stated: The sub-committee appointed at the last annual ■ meeting has completed a list of .all Old Boys of the College up to 1935, and they were able to find the addresses of about 4,000. The executive wishes to express appreciation of the many hours of exacting work given- by this sub-committee. The number of Old Boys who take any interest in the Association is still far too small and your executive has decided to attempt to increase the number by sending out half-yearly a bulletin to every Old Boy whose address is known. The first of these bulletins is . now ready for distribution and it is hoped that an increased interest in the College will result. A portrait of Lord Rutherford has been completed for the Association by MiFrank Emanuel, a well-known English artist, and it should soon arrive in Nelson. It is an informal portrait in which the great scientist is depicted handling the little machine that led to his great discoveries regarding the atom. This valuable gift to the College has been made possible by the generosity of a number of Old Boys in Nelson who have each guaranteed to pay £5 towards the cost if necessary. The College Council will also assist with a very substantial donation. There will be fifty signed etchings of the picture and it is hoped to sell these at £5 each. The fund opened to provide a memorial to Dr. W. S. Littlejohn now stands at about £7O. In order that an annual prize of £5 may be awarded it will be necessary to collect about £l2O, and your committee wishes to close the fund at an early date. The Nelson College Centenary Endowment Fund holds insurance policies to the value of £2,600. Now that times are better; more Old Boys should consider subscribing to this fund, which is simply a means by which one may usefully pay an annual subscription amounting to something more than the meagre 2s 6d that the Association asks for to pay running expenses. Several policies have been allowed to lapse through nonpayment of premiums and the incoming committee should decide what can be done to revive them. An Old Collegians’ Ball was held in the College Assembly Hall on 13th August, 1935. The arrangements were made by a committee of three Old Boys and three Old Girls, and your executive consider that the success of the function was sufficient to warrant our cooperation with the Old Girls in arranging another ball on 23rd June of this year. During the year meetings have been held by the branches in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wairarapa. A party oi’ Nelson Old Boj's travelled to Blenheim on 18th April to attend a meeting for the purpose of forming a Marlborough Branch. The branch was duly established, and the Association is especially indebted to Mr R. P. Furness who organised the meeting and provided the room and the supper at his own expense. Our thanks are also due to .Mr H. V. Searle who took some of the Nelson party through in his car and whose presence undoubtedly accounted for so large a number of Old Boys attending. Mr E. R. Neale inquired what it was proposed to do about the Old Boys’ register now that the sub-committee had done such excellent work. The president replied that, having obtained the addresses of some 4000 Old Boys, it was proposed to circular-

ise them, and also to invite them to send the addresses of other Old Boys who had not received the circular. On the motion of Dr. W. D. S. Johnston a vote of thanks was passed to the sub-committee which had done such excellent work in connection with the register.

Mr R. B. McKay asked if there were any arrangements in hand for the in-ter-collegiatd football tournament. Some suggestion for holding an Old Boys’ re-union had been made, said the chairman. With regard to functions with Old Boys of other schools, in other places these gatherings had been held by the Old Boys’ societies of the school on whose grounds the games were being played, but they had not been in every case a great success. But four years ago Nelson had staged a very successful re-union and they hoped to have another such gathering. The report was adopted. In a discussion on the balance sheet, which showed a credit balance of £29 the chairman said that an endeavour should be made to strengthen the Centenary Fund. They should not attempt to dictate to the Old Boys of 20 years hence what they should do with the fund, as times changed so rapidly, but he was sure that it would be of great value. Another matter for which they were seeking funds was the Littlejohn Memorial; that appealed chiefly to Old Boys who really were “Old Boys.” It was proposed to give a prize or small scholarship for mathematics, that being Dr. Littlejohn’s strongest subject. They could not attempt to accomplish what Old Boys in some centres were doing, but within their means they should endeavour to do what they could for their college. Bricks and mortar were not everything; they could back up the college and the Old Boys’ Association by their moral support, which was even more valuable. It was the demeanour of Old Boys and college boys, he went on, which was exceedingly valuable and which was responsible for their getting boys from all over the Dominion. The balance- sheet was adopted. The following officers were elected: President, Mr G. Samuel; vice-pre-sidents, Messrs E. R. Neale, J. Glasgow, H. O. Cock, C. R. Fell, P. O. Moore, C. H. Broad, A. F. Waters, K. A. Sclanders, Drs. S. A. Gibbs, W. D. S. Johnston, and Colonel Brereton (Nelson), Professor F. P. Worley, Dr. T. H. Pettit. Mr T. C. Enright ''Auckland), Dr. C. G. Morice, Dr. W. P. Evans, Professor E. Boyd-Wilson, Messrs J. H. Fowler, G. O. Cooper, G. W. Barltrop (Wellington), Dr. L. A. Bennett, T. H. Williams, H. F. Baird, C. G. M. Boyce, J. T. Harkness, A. R. Jordan (Christchurch), I-I. D. Skinner, H. P. Kidson, G. M. Lloyd (Dunedin), C. N. Raine (Wanganui). H. Morrison (Wairarapa), F. Milner (Oamaru), W. H. Moyes, W. Devenish, R. A. Quilliam (New Plymouth), R. P. Furness. Dr. Russel) Adams (Marlborough), J. R. Say well (Hokitika), A. E. Mansford (Palmerston North), Dr. E. T. Rogers, W. J. King (Hamilton), J. H. Harkness (Westport); committee, Messrs R. B McKay (Wellington), C. B. Hodgson (Auckland), L. W. Lockyer (Wanganui), A. G. Betts (Wairarapa), K. Gibbons (Christchurch), D. Merritt (Marlborough), J. Newman (Otago), W. J. Glasgow, G. R. HoldenWebb; secretary and treasurer, Mr 11. F. Allan. Mr E. R. Black suggested that some one should be appointed in each & the small centres around and given an official receipt book so that they could get into touch with local Old. Boys and accept subscriptions. The chairman said he could see the advantage of having a man on the snot who could buttonhole others. ‘Dr. Johnston said that it would be very effective in local districts. At the conclusion of the business members met together at supper.