SCHOOL JUBILEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 14

SCHOOL JUBILEE.

CELEBRATIONS AT WAIHOU.

ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING.

[BE TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAIHOU, Friday.

Tho jubilee of the opening of the Waihou School was celebrated to-day, when about 800 ex-pupils, including many members of district local bodies and their friends, gathered for the official opening of the celebrations. The morning was devoted to the playing of games and exhibition of dancing by present-day pupils.

Associated with the committee on the platform were Mr. A. Burns, chairman, and Mr. D. W. Dunlop, of the Auckland Education Board, Mr. R. Coulter, Mayor of To Aroha, Mr. W. C. Kennedy, of the Piako County Council, Messrs. H. Ross and John Borrie, chairman and secretary respectively of the school's first committee, and Messrs. H. G. Cousins and G. K. Hamilton, former teachers. The proceedings opened with the calling of the roll of the school's first 14 pupil?. Those who answered to-day were Mr.. W. J. Sweeney, Mrs. E. Mulgrove, Mr; John Parr, Mrs. A. E. Voysey, Mrs. P. A. Sweeney, Mrs. M. A. Hodsoa and Mrs. E. Cochrane.

After Mr. R. Lewis, chairman of tha Waihou School Committee, had welcomed the visitors, Mr. Burns suggested that settlers and ex-pupils of the school should unite in holding an annual "schools day," quoting the example set by the schools of Auckland, and, in a minor way, the schools of the Hauraki Plains in their annual promotion of a happy day in the lives of parents and children. Mr. Dunlop spoke in appreciation of the work of the many teachers of the first class- who had taught at the Waihou School. These included Mr. H, G. Cousins, an ex-principal of the Auckland Training College. Tracing the early history of t?:)e school, Mr. Cousins referred with pride to tho fact that " its first pupil (Sir James Parr) was now one of the first citizens in New Zealand."

Telling of the trials of pupil teachers of the early days, Mr. Taylor, the school's first pupil teacher, mentioned that his salary was then £4O a year, out of which he 'was required to pay 15s weekly for board. The presentation was made to the school by Mr. Coulter of a tasselled pendant bearing the motto " Honour Befora Honours."

Mr.' McCowan, the headmaster, said: " The people of Te Aroha could not possibly give our boys and girls a finer motto." -

Ex-pupils and other guests were tendered a dinner at the Waihou Hotel, at which Mr. Lewis presided.