PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13886, 25 April 1907, Page 10

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

" Otago High iScihool Old Boys' Kc^ist-cr." — This anticipated, volume, edited by two " Old Boys" of tho school, Mr T. D. Pearce, iI.A., now rector of the Southland Boys' High School, aud Dr R- V. Fulton, is now out of the pices,; and is something complete in tho way'of a record. It will naturally scarcely circulate much beyond those who have hud the privilege ol at some time or other attending the Bunedin Boys' High School, but theso are .by this tinlo quite a numerous body, as may be judged by tho fact that the register includes over 3500 names. The editors and authors of the book are to bo complimented ou the way;they ha.ve done their work, which haa obviously boen a labour ct love to them. The 44 years of its existon;e liavo already placed quite a history behind the High School, and it is deeply interesting to trace this in conjunction' with the history of the community generally.. "Old Boys" will find that a perusal of the register revives many almost forgotten memories; school days arc reilluminated'again in the imagination by a glimpse of a name familiar, yet long unrecullcd. The arrangement of the register seems all that could bo desired, tho alphabetical index making reference to any particular name au easy and speedy matter, the particulars given in tho register proper are concise: meagre, necessarily, no doubt, in some oases for hick o{ information," in oilier cases quite an imposing commentary, and throughout most interesting us showing the varied paths ■trodden ih later liic by former pupils ol the school. The Boys' High School of Bunedin may well be pioud of many of the names appearing in the register and of its record generally. Against many nair.es there is » talo of success and excellence in scholastic or civic sphere, again3t others there is the concise entry " nil," against quite a number are to be read details of active service in the South African war, and ngamst an honoured fev; a sicvy of life laid down in inus serving the Empire. In regard to the early history of tho school there is much excellent matter to bo found in the volume,' some appropriate jeference is made, to the early schools in Bunedin which were the precursor of tho Boys High School,- and the days of rectors and teachers unknown to the present, some even to the past, generation of pupils of the school are sympathetically and lucidly touched upon. The outdoor lifo of tho school in its development, has, moreover, been given considerable attention, and tile details supplied will he of interest to many. Altogether the "Otago High School 0!d Boys' Register" is an r.d.iwablp compilation, and place's on record ui easily accessible form a deal of valuable information connected with one of the most important of the colony's secondary schools. If the average individual will scarcely choose it to beguile Thp tedium of a railway journey, the Old Bov'' will without a doubt give inany a smile as he glames over :ts instructive ijsts, especially when he comes to that period at which ho was himself wont to revel in tennis-court practice, experience ihc joys of afternoon detention, or stake his whole ingenuity, on ,'Jic framing of a plausible excuse, lor an exeat. The volume should be welcome tj many, it contains some illustrative pages of interest, and is published by the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company.