TRADITION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 June 1939, Page 3

TRADITION

BOYS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES

The pictures on this page recall scenes of interest in Nelson College history.

Many striking tributes have been paid to Nelson College by distinguished visitors.

I can truly say (said Lord Blcdisloc on the occasian of a visit during his term as GevernorGcneral of New Zealand) that ol the many experiences which I have had since I came to this beautiful country nothing has more profoundly impressed me on any of the premises in New Zealand than what I have seen this afternoon..

NELSON COLLEGE CADETS

BRITISH HEN URAL'S GLOWIN'! TRIBUTE Sir Charles Fergusson. during m. farewell visit to Nelson College Governor-General of New< Zealand said it was always a pleasure to him as an old soldier to see the cadets of Nelson College. The company had a very high reputation and il was very gratifying to find how that reputation was being maintained right up to its height, espcci ally considering so much of the time for drill came out of the boys own time. To him as one who had had the task of drilling men, it was a wonderful thing that a company should reach such a high standard and keep up to it and carry on •heir ordinary activities as well. “I am not flattering you.” said His Excellency, “when I say there is no officeis’ training corps which could hold a candle to you. and when I say you compare favour ably with the Sandhurst cadets Hieir work is more extensive than vours, but as far as you go and in what you do, by your smartness and attention to detail, you have nothing to learn from them.’

A WONDERFUL SPIRIT IN THE RANKS

EVIDENCE OF "THE VERV HIGH! SI TRADITIONS' Major Eady. Liaison Officer from the British War Office, inspected the College cadets only two weeks after the commencement of a term. He said: The standard of training was quite unique in my experience. The opening parade would have compared favourably wilh either of the two military Colleges in England nr the best Guards battalion. What struck me mnsl however, was Ihr wonderful spirit throughout the ranks. There was a "kick" which is only found in units where the very highest traditions are in he found.

“AN UNALTERABLE BAC KGROUND Some splendid things have been said by the boys themselves in the pages of ll e school magazine. “The Nelsonian”:— “It is to us. the present boys, that the school is now looking to maintain and uphold those glorious traditions and achievements to which we are heirs. The past has left a wonderful legacy to us—the present and to those coming after us the future. On us falls the responsibility and we must bear it manfully.” “Once again the decline of the year brings us to the parting of the ways; for many of us the period of our school days is over. . . Much that we owe to our school we do not recognise as such; it has gradually and imperceptibly become part of us. but if one thing more than another has been brought home to us during our stay at College it is this —that we can accept no privilege without undertaking corresponding duties and responsibilities. “The new boy, given some apparently trivial task; senior boy. responsible, let us say. for writing an editorial article, the Head of the School, with an influence for good or evil next to that of the Principal himself; each one must realise that he is giver his particular

iob, not for the glory of the individual, out for the highest good of the community of which he forms a relatively unimportant part. "The tone of the school, that nebulous esprit de corps that is so hard to deline and yet makes or mars a school, rises and falls slightly, according to the eff« i ts of the seniors, and the events of the day claim our passing interest, but deeper than that, we are the same brotherhood that has always been here, and any Old Boy might pick out from among us his friends of forty years ago. “Our local colour wc take from our year, but we have, as an unalterable background, traditions, which, like the x irginia creeper on l he west of the building, arc part of the school, and *-i e fresh and green eaeh year. “TOLERANCE A*ND SERVICE” “The big hope for the future lies in the development of a spirit of tolerance and service that will make possible team-work in which owners and employers. wage-earners, and labourers together with intermediate classes, will work in harmony. Let this stprit be a stimulus to us who are now at College and let the spirit of service be manifested in our school life. Let each remember that as a unit in the life of the College Ins first service is to his school and when he joins the ranks of the Old Boys, let the thought of his College be an inspiration to him to put his best into the services of the community. "A WORLD-WIDE BROTHERHOOD* “What is Nelson College? It is more than a mere building. It is a brotherhood extending all over New Zealand, in fact all over the world, held together by an indefinable spirit, “A new building will arise on the commanding site to carry on the great work of its predecessors. May it be truly worthy to house the traditions which have taken so long to build up, and may its corridors ring forever with the cry, ‘Floreal Nclsonia.’ ”

INTEGRITY AND GOOD-FELLOW-SKIP

ENVIRONMENT OF HONOUR, "As one .grows older” (the writer att nded Nelson College in the year* 1886 1887» "the years do seem to fly. Nevei Iheless, moniories of the College are always with me, and the faces of my old comrades as I knew them are ever present. To the masters and Ihe school the writer says he owes "a lasting debt of gratitude for providing that environment of honour, integrity and good-fellowship so necessary, combined with education, to fortify and sustain u.s in the battle of life.” BOYS AND THE SCHOOL SPIRIT SPEECHES AT FAREWELL GATHERINGS Farewell gatherings to boys leaving bring out a wealth of feeling for the school. The invariable hope of those leaving is that boys returning will rise to the* occasion and fill the vacant places. Those leaving know that they a**» not cutting adrift from the "old place” altogether for they are joining the ever-increasing band of Old Boys. "The Nelsonian” has placed on record many fine tributes by the boys. "A very great deal is owed by u* to the Coliege.” This they would endeavour to repay and always and everywhere upholding their College. The College had been to them a help-mate a friend, a teacher. “When Auld Lang Syne’ was sung, the fact that the number who went to the centre was small, did not lessen our sadness at losing them. This simple ceremony is one of our best customs. No boy will forget the poignant feelings that possess him when he stands a member of the sad little band in the certie of the old dining hall.” “When a boy had been at school for tw’o or three years, he acquired a certain amount of school spirit a love for the school and its associations. This was natural; but why should it remain with him in after life” He knew many very Old Boys who showed this same spirit, even after fifty years. If an Old Boy asked how* we were doing at game* he did not want to know the statistics of any particular game, but how we were doing as a whole —whether we were turning out sportsmen and gentlemen.” TRAIN-BOYS AND THE SCHOOL Since the older ones on thfe train began school they have seen many join the ranks and many leave them. Some of them who have become Old Boys have risen to responsible positions. Others have met with less success. Yet eacli and every one. we feel sure, ha* played the game of life as he played his sport at school: cleanly, solidly and honestly. And we who are following after them, may wo do our utmost for school at all times that we may be worthy of the great responsibility that has been entrusted to us. ‘Although the paths of life we walk may be divergent, we have one thing in common, a genuine regard for the Old School. We look upon our school i& a different light as time passes by. but there is always the one unalterable thing—our esteem for our Alma Mater.'