UNFURLING OF SCHOOL FLAGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12003, 27 June 1902, Page 3

UNFURLING OF SCHOOL FLAGS.

AVOXT>ALE SCHOOL. As all the arrangements for the ceremony 1 of unfurling thfi Avondale school flag, and' the presentation of a gold watch to the >ato infant mistress. Miss Priestley, had been made to take uhiee on Coronation Day, ill was deemed advisable, notwithstanding th«f" postponement of the Coronation on account* of the King's lamentable illness, to proceed; with those functions. Despite the somewhat? Itnpropitious stale of the weather in the early morning, a considerable number of' parent-, friends, and former pupils a--sembled in tho grounds soon after tie- usual 1 time for opening school. The children,., marching cut. of school, took their positions on throe sides of a square around the flagstaff, the fourth being oc< upied by tho parents and others assembled. Proceeding were opened bv the chairman of the School Corn-' miftee. Mr. .1. Bollard, M.H.R., who re-< ferred in feeling terms to the sail necessity tor the postponement of the Coronation cere-J inony, and then on behalf of the parents and; pupils of the school presented Miss Priestley,-, recently promoted to the Beresford-strcatJ school, with a handsome gold watch, suitably, engraved, as a token of the esteem and affectionate regard engendered during a period, of over 13 years' faithful service at the Avondale school. Mr. Clay, with appropriate ami feeling remarks, returned thanks on Miss Priestley's behalf. The acclamations of the children having subsided, the next stage of the proceedings was begun by the ltev. Alexander Maclean offering an earnest prayer, in which intercession for J lis Majesty's speedy recovery) was blended with petitions lor blessings oil the flag about to be unfurled as an emblem of Christianity, freedom, and patriotism, and on the children that they might grow up to bo worthy members of a mighty and God* fearing nation. Mr. Bollard then pulled dirt halliard and the flag floated out on the breeze* amid enthusiastic cheering, followed by 'ho singing of the National Anthem. After thanking those present for the honour they, conferred on him by calling on him to unfurl 5 the flag of the greatest and nnxst, humane? nation the world had ever known, and exhorting the children to honour it by doing their duty under it should necessity "call, as* their fellow colonists have lately'done >t» South Africa. Mr. Bollard called on Mr.. Monk, M.H.K., who had kindly consented to give an address, and introduced him to the? assembly. Mr. Monk's address, which proved to be quite an instructive and en-.' thusiastio oration on the origin and history of our national flag, was listened to «vithf pleased attention by all. calling forth several bursts of applause, after one of which *ho children, led by Miss Newton (Miss Priestley's successor), sang "The led, White, and Blue," nil at the conclusion "My Own Native Band." The ceremony of marchings past and saluting the flair ended, the children marched into their respective schoolrooms*} where cakes, fruit, and' bags of lollies, kindly! supplied by Messrs. Bollard, Olay, and other-' members of the committee, were distributed) to each, and by the liberality of Mr. Grey! a plentiful supply of gingerbeer was provided!! outside. When the children were fully satisfied, the parents adjourned to one ofi tho rooms, where tea was dispensed by Mrs.3 Hogwood. daughters, and the lady teachers.'. After cheers had been given for all and! sundry, the children gradually dispersed, Mr. Bollard having granted a holiday for tho resti! of the day. on condition that all attended/ school on Iho morrow, it being a matter of importance that the average should 1* main-* tained, so that the school may Iw entitled an extra male assistant-teacher. •'

LAKE TAKAPONA SCHOOL. The new flag for Lake Takapuiia school was unfurled by Captain Reid. The school children, numbering about 80, were man shaded in the sohoolground for a short pa-c lade. At tha school gate, they were joined by the boys of St. .Joseph's Roman Oatholi<? Industrial Schcol, numbering about 60, and ail marched to Robertson's corner, the public* school children wearing) rosettes and carry 4 ing flags, and the boys of the industrial] school clad in khaki. At this point th«Takapuna section of the Seddon Horse, oni foot, under Sergeant-Major White, joined the procession, which, after parading some of the principal streets, returned to the school' playground, where Captain Reid untried (W. flag amid cheers. The children then marched past and saluted the flap, and sang tho Na«» tional Anthem. Luncheon -was subsequently! served in the schoolroom, and in the after-" 1 n-jon the Seddon Horse took part in a shamfight, a party under Quarterrnasier-Sergeanfi > Lisle attacking the school and grounds, which] were garrisoned by a party under Sergeant-; Major White. Captain Reid acted as inn* pire. ,