THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 10

THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.

TRADITION AND INSPIRATION* SPIRIT OF THE REUNIONS. HISTORY OF INSTITUTION. The jubilee of the Auckland Grammar School fell on May 17 last. Celebrations befitting the event will take nlace next week. Comprehensive arrangements made by the Old Boys' Association will provide opportunity for men of the various generations to foregather and live their school days over again and for all to assemble in happy r e . union. Founded in the days of small things, handicapped for many years by lack of a suitable "home," the school, nevertheless, has been a powerful and quickening force in the life of each generation of Aucklanders. It has been the educational nursery of many distinguished men, but greater than scholastic achievements of outstanding brilliance has been the high standard of citizenship it has cultivated in its pupils through its 60 fruitful years. "Forty Years On" is the song of a famous English public school from which young men have gone forth to serve their country and uphold its -ideals in every corner of tho earth. The song is an inspiration. The same kind of inspiration arises from such anniversary celebrations as are about to take place among Old Grammar Boys in Auckland. A Great Brotherhood. To many tho occasion means the "forty years on"—and to some, more. Old, middle-aged and young will meet with a common sense of g,latitude that they have been privileged to attend the school, to be members of its great brotherhood and to share in what might be termed its mana. Through the men it had helped to mould the school has served the city, the nation and the Empire. It has been and is a char-acter-builder, a nation-builder and an Empire-builder, and proud should all those be who next week will wear the blue and gold. The school was founded by that groatcoloniser and Imperialist, Sir George Grey, who, during his first governorship, made provision for establishing a "college and grammar school or schools" by four endowments of land from the Crown. Two were made in 1850, the third in 1851 and tile fourth in 1353 Nothing was done toward utilising these endowments for several years. In 1356 they were vested in the superintendent o'f the province, and two years later, by legislative authority, they were subdivided and leasied for 21 years. They were released at the end of the term. The only other endowments received were those of two acres in Symonds Street, which became the site of the old school, and three acres in Howe Street, but the last-mentioned was revoked, the land eventually passing to the Education Board as a site for the Girls' High School.' Council and Superintendents, In 1866 the Provincial Council resolved that the time had arrived when the school should be established, it being of opinion that funds would be sufficient. The estimate was £1835, made up as followsßent, £693; interest at 10 per cent, on £5428, £542; and fees at the rate of £6 a pupil, £6OO. The superintendent, Mr, Frederick Whitaker, was not convinced, and as his "one-man power" was superior to that of the 35 members of the council, they could not initiate action. A state of stalemate existed for two years, but in 1869 the new Superintendent, Mr. John Williamson, expressed his reiadiness to send down a bill appropriate £1304, a p." a! lying unin v <i'.- f ad for the pmrpoja, and on May 17, 1669, the school was opened in the Immigration Barracks in Howe Street by the Duke of Edinburgh. The headmaster was the Rev. Rolyxf; Kidd. The roll was 78, nearly *!' of the pupils having transferred fvoci Wesley College, Upper Queen which" Dr. Kidd had conduced as a private school. Two years later the school migrated to the Albert Barracks, now part of the City Police Station. Here it remained until June, 1878, when an extraordinary,if not a unique, episode in the annals of education in New Zealand occurred. The ■ Improvement Commissioners desired possession of the building. The school authorities objected. The bailifiTs were put in, but the headmaster, Mr. F. Macae, seized an opportunity to lock laem out. They tried to force their way in with stones, but desisted, and the headmaster summoning the police to his aid won the day. Feeling ran high on the matter, and the action of the Improvement Commissioners was " melancholy farce " in the opinion of one side, and that of the headmaster " very high-handed" in the opinion of the other. A Home in Three Parts. The whole affair apparently turned upon the Improvement Commissioners' failure to secure the Choral Hall as a temporary school at what the Grammar School authorities considered to be a fair rental. Of course it was all a storm in a tea cup, but the " barring out " episode must be cherished in school hirrtory if only to emphasise the early difficulties of the institution. The 200 bo.vs went off for their holidays and doubtless were not greatly concerned about what solution their quarrelling elders would arrive at- in the interval. They returned to continue their studies in throe different buildings—the District Court, Eden Street, an old Maori chapel in Parliament Street, and St. Andrew's schoolroom, Symonds StTeet. Sir George Grey, now a most unsatisfactory state of tilings by securing a grant from Parliament for the erection of the old school in Sytnonds Street. It contained six class-rooms, but it was trebled in size before the school left to take possession of its new building in Mountain Road. In 1888 the girls' high school was united with the Grammar School, and until 1908 occupied part of tho Symonds Street building. The School's Headmasters. During tho last decado tho population of the city has grown to such an extent that the school authorities have found it necessary to establish two branch schools, one at Mount Albert and one at Takapuna, but tho " school " is still the school, even if locality of residence largely determines a boy's entrance to it. This must be so because an old and successful school has a soul and the quality of that soul is largely the manner in which tradition is built up by the- headmasters. The Grammar School has been fortunate in its heads. The Rev. R. B. Kidd brought from his private school a sound foundation. When ho relinquished the post ho was succeeded by Mr. Farqnhar Macrae, a strong man, who continued in charge until 1880. Mr. C. F. Bourne followed him, and when his task ended in 1893 the fame of the school had travelled far. Then came Mr. .T. W. Tibbs. who for 30 years left the mark of his noble influence upon every boy in his charge. Mr. Drummond succeeded " tho grand old man." An old boy himself, he threw every ounce of his strength' and enthusiasm -auto his task, but untimely death ended a brilliant reign. Another old boy, Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, is tho present head, and in his hands the school is growing in greatness. The torch has been passed on from worthy hand to worthy hand, and at this reunion time old boys have great joy in knowng that all \ is well with the school.