NEW PLYMOUTH JUBILEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH JUBILEE.

BOYS 1 HIGH SCHOOL. fine record of progress. . PROMINENT PLACE IN SPORT. 'A notable jubilee in the history of New Eealand secondary schools is the current celebration commemorating the 50th year of the establishment of tho New Plymouth Boys' High School. Intel est in the event is widespread in the Dominion, and. as the Taranaki Daily News remarks, the school has made a swift rise to a position as on© of the leading educational institutions in the country. There was remarkably little change during the first 50 years of the life of the school. When it was founded in 1882 the attendance was 30 boys and the figure ■was 70 in 1912. At the beginning the school was solely in the charge of Mr. Ernest Pridham. who was appointed headmaster by the Taranaki Education Board. Girls were admitted to the instruction at the school in 1885, but their number was limited to 25 for some time and they ■were taught separately from the boys. An agitation was commenced in the Education Board for the group teaching of boys and girls and the proposal was carried in spite " of the opposition of tile teaching staff. High School Act Passed. For eight years tho school was under the control of the board, but it was eventually felt that a Board of Governors should be instituted. The New Plymouth High School Act was passed by Parliament in 18S9 and authorised the Gov-crnor-in-CounCil to appoint seven persons as a board to administer the school. Mr. Pridham remained as headmaster until 1911, and in the following year the position was filled by the present headmaster, Mr. \V. 11. Moves, who was mathematics master at King's College in 1910. The roll number was then 70, and Mr. Moves at that time said he desired Taranaki to send 2()0 boys to the school. The school roll in 1913 opened with 133 boys and there has been steady progress since that year, in spite of a fire which destroyed the school building in 1916. For a time classes were conducted in the Taranaki Jockey Club's buildings, and it was not until April, 1918, that the new school was opened by tho actingPrime Minister, Sir James Allen. Gradual expansion has been experienced, with increased provision for boarders, and the roll number at the end of 1931 was 520 boys. The period of growth also saw the- formation of a separate Girls' High School, the hostel of which now has accommodation for more than 80 boarders. Fine Rugby Achievements. The school has built up a fine reputation in sport as well as in education. Its Rugby teams have been of particular note and all New Zealand secondary schools remember the period from 1923 until- several years ago when New Plymouth occupied the foremost position in secondary schools Bugby. The greatest rivals of New Plymouth teams have been those from Te Aute Maori Boys' College, Auckland Grammar School and Wanganui Collegiate School. The Auckland Grammar School, according to the records, has an equal number of wins with New Ply* mouth. Many of the leading New Zealand representative players were trained at New Plymouth. In cadet training the school has also gained gieat prominence. By winning the Imperial Challenge Shield for shooting in 1916, in both the senior and jDnior competitions, New Plymouth High School gained the highest shooting honours available to any school in tho British Empire. The performance obtained mention from King George. The school shooting teams have entered the Empire competition for 11 years and have been first for New Zealand on many occasions, besides securing places in the Empire awards.