GIRLS' COLLEGE JUBILEE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 3

GIRLS' COLLEGE JUBILEE

NELSON CELEBRATIONS FIRST PRINCIPAL PRESENT CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] NELSON. Monday The Nelson Girls' College Old Girls' Reception and Speech Night in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the collego was marked by great enthusiasm. Seven hundred former pupils attended. The assembly hall was filled and an overflow gathering in the gymnasium listened to the addresses as reproduced by a loud-speaker. The principal, Miss J. Stewart, presided, and with her on the platform were four ex-principals of the school: Mrs. W. A. Evans (Miss Kate Edger), 1883-1890; Mrs A. G. Talbot (Miss Beatrice Gibson), 1890-1900; Miss Margaret Lorimer, 1906-1926; and ]\Liss Clara B. Mills, 1927-1931. Mrs. Dunne (Miss A. C. Tendall), 1900-1905, was unable to bo present. Each was presented with a bouquet by an old girl who had been a senior pupil in her term of office. Over 100 messages of goodwill and congratulation from all parts of the Dominion and from Australia were read. The president of tho Old Girls' Association, Miss J. Glasgow, paid a tribute to tho spirit of Mrs. Evans in making the journey from Dunedin to attend the gathering. Mrs. Glasgow remarked that it was the same spirit that had won for her the distinction being the first woman in the British Empire to obtain a B.A. degree. Mrs. Evans, who received an ovation, said that six months ago she had felt unablo to visit Nelson, and had declined the committee's invitation, but as the time came nearer she had thought it was not right to be absent. No doubt it would be possible to mention many things in the life- of the school that had their origin half a century ago, but these she had not time to detail. Her message to tho past and present pupils was that they should cultivate tho power of positive thought, by which they might help the -world to rid itself of its evils. _ Addresses were also given by the three other ex-principals and by Miss Stewart. Fifty candles upon a large birthday cake were lighted, each by one from among those present, and the cake was cut by the principal. A pageant was given, showing the evolution of women's dress during tho 50 years of the school's existence. Yesterday morning the old girls assembled at tho college and dispersed to their respective churches, at all of which reference was made to the jubilee, A picnic was held to-dav and the celebrations closed this evening with a ball and card party.