THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, JANUARY 31,1931. THE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, JANUARY 31,1931. THE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

In the life of an educational institution the first fifty years must in retrospect always seem a period well studded with events of importance, particularly where the record runs parallel with the development of a new and growing settlement. In a large measure the history of our older schools and colleges reflects the story of the community. To the founders of these institutions it is natural and fitting that we should look back with every respect. Their work in establishing the pillars of the educational fabric which is such a substantial structure to-day called for enterprise, wisdom, and forethought. In Otago, as we know, it was wisely and energetically carried out, and the community is now reaping the benefit. There are few in our midst who do not cherish in after-life the memory of the school destined to leave the deepest mark upon the juvenile experience' and, therefore, the most abiding imprint upon the youthful mind. Fortunate are those who can carry to the end of life this feeling of affection for the educational past, however careless its moods, this pleasant recollection of school-room and of the teachers of a bygone day. There are not many finer pictures' in literature than that which Thackeray presents of the relations subsisting between the gallant Colonel Newcome and his old school at Greyfriars, the sanctuary to which he finally betook himself to lay down for good his grey and weary head. When this sort of sentiment is altogether out of date, a contingency not much to be feared, schools will cease to have traditions. Of the secondary schools in Dunedin none bears a more honourable name or is held in more genuine affection by the great body of its ex-pupils than the Otago Girls’ High School. The community as a whole will assuredly feel a keen and highly sympathetic interest in the jubilee celebrations which in the case of this institution are now being held. Very considerable indeed must be the percentage of homes in Otago in which the influence of the Girls’ High School has made itself felt, and this not infrequently even into the third generation. The history of the school has been very admirably sketched by one most competent for the task in the contributed articles which have recently appeared in our columns. It is a most interesting record, telling of earnest and faithful work, of dilemmas and vicissitudes, even of a Royal Commission of Inquiry, not lacking in humour, as for example in regard to the movement which secured the establishment of the High Schools for girls and boys respectively in separate buildings, and revealing throughout steady progress in conformity with high educational ideals. A conspicuous feature of educational development in the last half-century has consisted in the altered outlook in respect of the education of women. In the days when Otago was settled the higher education of women was not consider a very vital matter. This was the era when if girls wanted “finishing” in what was widely considered a liberal feminine education they were probably despatched to establishments like Miss Twinkleton’s Seminary or the Misses Crumptons’ Academy. It was not all misfortune that’ a new educational start had to be made in Otago and traditions did not greatly cumber the path. In the circumstances, however, it says a : very great deal for the foresight and common-sense of the residents of early Otago that the desirability of the establishment of a secondary school for girls was recognised and carried into - effect when Dunedin was still in its infancy. In the recent letter from Mr Alexander Wilson, the well-remembered former rector of the school, quoted already in our columns, attention is drawn to the very interesting circumstance, which to many may be rather illuminating, of the proud position which the Otago Girls’ High School is really entitled to take, on the score of seniority, among secondary educational institutions for Women throughout the Empire. Mr Wilson has pointed Out that it was not only the first school of its kind established for the higher education of girls in New Zealand, hut it was one of the earliest to he established in the British Empire. We are reminded also that the school was the first in New Zealand to furnish women for the learned professions, including medicine. This must focus attention in passing upon the influence which this school has had upon the community through its important contribution to the ranks of New Zealand women who have earned distinction in careers of a professional kind. The educational repute of Otago has always stood high, and Dunedin enjer-s a certain assured recognition as an educational centre. Among the institutions that have contributed to the educa-

tional standing of the provincial district the Otago Girls’ High School takes a prominent place. And the main credit for this is due to its founders and to its staff, which has included both men and women whose names are recalled with the highest possible respect, particularly that of the first principal, Mrs Burn, for her ability, energy,,, and wise influence were invaluable in bringing the school through the troubled days of its infancy and in establishing it upon a stable footing. The fifty years that have' slipped by have included the strenuous pioneer years, and it is a great tribute to the impression left by the Girls’ High School upon those who have passed through its portals, and drunk 01 the Pierian spring within its halls, that its former pupils should be rallying in force and enthusiasm to-day to do honour to its Jubilee. The object lesson afforded in the spirit in which this commemorative reunion has been undertaken and is being supported should not be lost upon the present pupils, even though veneration be not a quality greatly running to waste in our own time. Much might bq said regarding the difference between the conditions attending secondary education in the early days of the Girls’ High School and those of the present time, and the weight of emphasis would probably rest upon the difference in general environment which Time has brought about. We may be wrong, but it seems natural to conclude that education was taken rather more seriously in some respects by those to whom it was imparted a generation or more ago. Greater sacrifices had to be made, greater pains to be taken, to secure its opportunities, and there were not the same distracting influences ajs abound in 1921. Life was in many ways simpler throughout the whole community. Progress, it may be suggested, is not all advancement, but, like some Juggernaut car, what we term. Progress continues its irresistible march, and the adaptability of the human species is unquestionable. Of late years we have seen a marked growth of private schools and colleges catering for the education of girls, and probably the adoption of the free place system has not been without effect upon the character of a secondary institution like the Girls’ High School, bringing to it a greater percentage of pupils who may be compared to birds of passage. But nothing can deprive the Otago Girls’ High School of the fine traditions which have become its own, and upon which, more than upon anything else, is built the unassailable position held by it among our local scholastic institutions. As to the future of the school its many well-wishers will have no misgivings, but will picture it, well set in its steady course, introducing frpsh recruits every year to the stimulating field of higher education, marking ever more deeply its imprint upon the history of Otago, and gathering fresh laurels in the maintenance of its ideals.

NATIONHOOD AND EMPIRE. It not infrequently happens that great issues are obscured by relatively small occurrences. This has been veiy much the case with Empire problems, and more especially so with the important question of the future relationships of those countries encompassed in the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Imperial Conference will assemble in thh course of the next few mouths, but the Prime Minister, who will doubtless represent New Zealand at it, cannot possess any reliable information as to the real feelings of the people of the dominion respecting the constitutional question which will certainly engage the attention of the Conference. The subject was not even debated in the House of Representatives during the late session, though it was not ignored in the Legislative Council, in which Sir John Sinclair made a notable contribution to the discussion of the matter. It must be adrnitted that public interest has not yet been aroused on the points involved in the issues, though they may actually be said to concern the life or death of the Empire as it at present exists. The political leaders in the dominion have been singularly silent on the fundamentals of the problem, and to some extent this doubtless explains the apparent lack of public interest so far shown in the whole matter. It is contended, and it must be recognised, that the presence of representatives of the dominions at the Peace Conference and* their inclusion among the signatories to the Treaty, together with the acceptance by the dominions of mandates for which they are answerable only to the League of Nations, have given a new status to these portions of the Empire. Other definite steps than these are necessary, however, to complete the constitutional changes which are occasionally supposed to be incidental to this new status. Questions of grave import as to the future relationships of the various members of the family remain unsettled—whether, for instance, the dominions are to continue to occupy a position in which they have neither voice nor responsibility in peace or war because they will not accept a share of the burden therein entailed or whether they will agree to some form of federation in which they shall surrender their independence and assume international responsibilities according to the decision of the majority. The Round Table group in Wellington has issued a valuable pamphlet on “ The Constitutional Status of the Dominions” in the hope that the whole momentous question will be carefully considered and, publicly discussed. It is worthy of attention and, in view of the close approach of the Imperial Conference, the pending changes in the Colonial Office, and the necessity for an authoritative interpretation of the material alterations which the Peace Treaty has made possible in inter-imperial relationships, there should be little doubt that the matter will assume its legitimate position as a leading puMic question. Ja Canada and South Africa certain pronouncements of leading politicians have directed pointed attention to the possibilities of the future. The Samoan mandate has now been banded to New Zealand apparently through the Colonial Office, but Australia is reported to have claimed the right to receive her mandate rather as a member of the League than as an integral portion of the British Empire. It is no longer possible or advisable to ignore the important constitutional issues raised by the changed conditions which now face the Empire in particular the world in general.

The chairman of the Education Board has announced that the board will make no' objection to any ex-pupil of the Otago Girls’ High School who is in its employment absenting herself from her school in order to attend the jubilee functions, provided permission has been obtained from her own principal.

Owing to the repairs which are at present being carried out to portions of the Main North road certain parts of the Kilmog Hill are said to be very difficult of negotiation by motorists under the wet conditions at present prevailing.. The through express from Lyttelton on Saturday was an exceptionally long and" heavy train, consisting of 18 or 19 cars, each of which was hilly occupied. The train was about 20 minutes late in leaving Palmerston, but with a double-header on she made up most of the time on the run to Dunedin, and was only five minutes late in arriving here. The ease with which the express frequently makes up lost ua le on the most difficult part of the joumtr,, suggests that the run between Lyttelton and Dunedin might be made in quieter time.

There was a very large attendance at the Pnncess Theatre last evening, when the Rev. Frank Gorman delivered an address on behalf of the St. John Ambulance Association. The collection, which is to be devoted to the funds of the association, amounted to £52.

A Press Association message from Lyttelton states that the Maori had a stormy passage from Wellington on Sjiturday night. A fierce southerly gale was experienced right from the Wellington wharf, and heavy seas were shipped at times.

Dean Fitchett struck just the right note in nis address at the Otago Girls’ High School jubilee service at Knox Church yesterday afternoon, stirring up recollections oi matters and people quite familiar to almost all the old pupils of the school, while he was particularly happy in his references to Mr Wilson, and the late Dr Stuart. The address has given great satisfaction, while the service as a whole is generally regarded as having been very beautiful. In regard to 'the procession, an incident took place that deserves some notice, being somewhat unusual in the colonies, which are often considered lacking in the finer manners. An elderly man, an onlooker, stood bareheaded in George street while the ladies walked past, a fine tribute to womanhood and a genuine testimony te what the school has meant for the do minion during the course of ite 50 yean of activity.

An interesting incident wag related at Trinity Church yesterday morning by the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt, who has been giving a series of talks to children on the early Methodist Mission to the Maoris of_ Otago. He said that the first occasion on' which the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper had been publiply observed in Otago waa on Sunday, January 29, 1845—78 yeans ago. On this occasion the Bey. James Watkin, the Wesleyan missionary, with his wife and seven Native men, partook of the sacred emblems. Mr Pratt said he had gathered the names of the first Maori communicants from the journal of Mr Watkin, which had never Been published.' The names were— Iraia Tukiwaha, Haimona Pita Mptu, : Paura Tua, Aperahama Kara, Mohi Puhorokai, Rawiri Te Maire, and Toati Witiwhiri Papakawfaa. All but the last-named bore Scriptural names, and he received the name of “George Whitfield” in its Maori form. Rawiri Te Maire was the wellknown chief at Waikouaiti. All these Natives had been taught to read the Scriptures by Mr Watkin, who recorded that they knew a good deal about Christian doctrine and practice. On Saturday morning Mr Justice Sim granted probate in the estates of Urich Cdlitt, William Young, Alexander Dickson, Charlotte Rachel Grimmett, John Knowles, Catherine Halpin, Frederick Twigs, George .Jones, William Dallas, Elizabeth Flaherty, Maud Jackson, John Mair, William Thomson, Walter Scott Smith, and Reuben Jackeon. Letters of administration were granted in the estates of Charles Nightingale, Margaret Duncan Barron, Thomas Burnett, and Lucy Jemina) Fraser.

A special meeting of the City Council will be held at the conclusion of the ordinary business on Wednesday night for the purpose of passing a resolution fixing the number of members of the council 'as 12 at and from the date of, the forthcoming general elections in April, 1921. Aa the number of councillors at present is 18, exclusive of the Mayor, it will be seeu that the council is to be reduced by no less than a third.

Taxi-drivers are not generally under the necessity of deciding' themselves to what destination they will take their fares, and when they do it would appear that the result is not likely to prove very gratifying to those who have to “pay.” Two women took a cab at St. Kilda, but developed such an abnormal attack of intoxication that the driver decided there wps only one place to go to —the police station. The sequel will take place in the City Police Court this morning.

An amusing incident occurred in a hotel bar on Saturday, a “customer” giving the licensee the benefit of a pint of ale discharged all" over him. The result was prompt ejectment, with consequences a little more serious to the unruly one, aa he fell on the curb outside and cut his head, necessitating his admittance to the Hospital, where some stitches had to be put in.

The Chief Rabbi, Dr J. H. Hertz, who left England on October 8 on a pastoral tour of the British dominions, accompanied by Mr Albert M. Woolf, 0.8. E., vicepresident of the United Synagogue, and Mr A. H. Valentine as secretary to the tour, is expected to reach New Zealand about April 1, Auckland being his first port of call. Advices received by us from London show that his proposed itinerary in the dominion is: Depart from Auckland on April 6, arrive at Wellington on April 6, depart from Wellington on April 11, arrive at Christchurch on April 12, depart from Christchurch on April 14, arrive at Dunedin on April 14, depart from Dunedin on April 18, when he will return to Wellington for the Passover festival. His departure from New Zealand is provisionally fixed for May 1. The new judge of the Arbitration Court, Mr Justice Frazer, will take his seat for the first time on February 8, when the court will sit at Auckland. The employers’ representative on the court, Mr W. Scott, went north by the second express on Saturday.

At a sitting of the Port Chalmers Police Court on Saturday morning, before Mr A. Cable, J.P., John Anderson and John Paris were each fined 10s for committing a breach of the peace on the Bowen pier on the previous day, and Paris was fined a further 10s for being drunk.

During the quarter ended December 31, the local lour is t Office booked 1913 tours, as compared with 1951 during the same period last year. The revenue increased by £1462 8s sd.

The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph writes (says our London correspondent) that in a lecture delivered there Count von Luckner, who commanded the sailing cruiser See Adler, described the tricks by which that vessel managed to slip through the British blockade disguised as a Norwegian merchant ship. He did not say how h© came by the “genuine log book,” but he told how all the members of the crew took on Norwegian names and learned out of “Baedeker” the topography of the places wner© they professed. to have bean; born. They were also, somehow, furnished with photographs of sweethearts, which they had to show as evidence that they had been taken at the sailors’ birthplaces. The most difficult task was the provision of lew© letters, which seafaring men are accustomed to hoard up for years. It was known, said the Count, that the British were accustomed to' take “samples” of such letters, and it was therefore necessary to have them available. Seven men spent weeks in doing nothing but write such love letters. The ship’s papers “were altered by engraving, and rendered illegible by artificial dampness.” During an overhauling by a British , warship one of the crew played the part of the captain’s wife, and, in order to escape detection, pretended to have toothache, and lay in a bunk with his head swathed in compresses. The result of the British search was that an “officer gave a certificate that the completely illegible papers were in order.”

Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., presided at a short sitting of the Police Court on Saturday morning. Frederick William Hill was lined 20s for drunkenness, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. Alexander Livingstone, similarly charged, was fined 40s, with the alternative of seven days’ imprisonment. Arthur George Bossward applied for the remission of arrears under an order for the maintenance of his wife. Mr Irwin appeared for the wife. He said that the applicant had already served three sentences for failing to comply with the order. These sentences really wiped off the arrears. Mr Irwin said he would be prepared to consent to the application, if Bossward would undertake to keep up the payments in future The application was granted, costs (£1 Is) being allowed the wife. Our London correspondent mentions that Livingstone College, Leyton, which trains missionaries in the elements of medicine and surgery, has issued its annual report, which announces the decision of the college to admit women students and to hold a residential vacation course next July. At the present time two of the students at Livingstone College are taking their training before going out to work in Melanesia.

Interesting experiments to ascertain the drift of currents in the Pacific are being carried out by Mr A. C. Mackay, of Walpole Island, a lonely little coral island to the south-west of New Caledonia, Mr Mackay’e methods are simple, but effective. He encloses signed and dated messages in sealed bottles, which he commits to the waves, and then sits back and waits for advices from the finders. His investigations to date have disclosed many queer facts. For instance, on October 24, 1919, Mr Mackay oast a message upon the waters. This was picked up on October'4, 1920, by Mrs Clarice Osborne, at Rossel Island, near British New Guinea, over a thousand miles to tho north-east of Walpole Island, showing that, after tho bottle had drifted about for 12 months, it was carried far to the northward or tho spot at which it was launched. In her letter advising Mr Mackay of the find, Mrs Osborne says that she had just received a letter from th© Hydrographical Society in Washington in acknowledgement of a message enclosed in a bottle which had been launched from Rossel Island, and had drifted half around the world. She also mentions that tho crew of the ill-fated Matunga had thrown many messages overboard in the vicinity, but none had reached the island. Had they done so, it is quit© probable that the German raider Wolf would never have succeeded in eluding the Allied war drips. Writing from Sydney, a Wellington engineer on holiday says of the tramways there: “The cars here are just like rattletraps, and the noise and rattle ot loose parts is a disgrace, in my opinion, to the management. God knows how the people have become used to them. The Wellington City Council has just cause to congratulate itself in having officers who maintain their rolling stock in such high efficiency and it would pay some of the city councillors to take a trip over and compare the condition of the cars here with their own.”

The proposed farmers’ political movement is receiving considerable support from the different branches and sub-branches of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Auckland (remarks the Herald). Referring to the subject, the provincial secretary to the union, Mr W. Huey, said that one of the most pressing reforms the Farmers’ Political Party would undertake would be that of getting rid of the present system of voting for Parliamentary candidates, by replacing it with the more equitable method of proportional representation. This would tend to abolish party organisations. The farmer did not desire special privileges, and consequently could not understand why other people should have them. He realised what co-operation in industry stood for, and was determined to participate directly in the government of this country. He was not guided by any narrow class interest, but by a desire for the general welfare of the community. The idea of taxing bicycles in Christchurch has been revived by the Mayor (Dr Thacker). He proposes to have each bicycle registered annually by the traffic inspector, and to charge a fee of la As there are 40,000 bicycles in the city, he expects to obtain from this system a revenue of £2OOO a year, which, he states, will meet the expenses of patrolling the city streets in order that traffic by-laws shall he observed. “ A great deal of our land requires drainage, but this is an expensive improvement, and where it can be done machinery must bo used, if there is much to do,” said Mr J. G. Wilson at the Science Congress at Palmerston North the other day. “The Americans are before us in this respect, for drains are out in the States by an engine driving a drain-cutter, and this is one of the things that the Government might help in by importing a plant for this purpose,, to demonstrate how this can be done in the cheapest way. Horse machines have been used, but not many farms have a sufficient number of horses for draught purposes. Where the mole-plough has been used judiciously and with proper tiled outlets, the result has been profitable; but this style of drainage is limited 'to land having a suitable subsoil. Motors have not yet proved generally successful in replacing horses on the farm. Fuel has been so high in price as to make their running too expensive for the work, done. With our soils and climate there are many minor ways o c putting the land to profitable use which, tas time goes on may be more in vogue; but it will bo some time before any great progress can be made in this respect.” The present condition of the boot trade in Australia is causing grave concern, not only to the manufacturers and the employees, but also to sections of the public affected both directly and indirectly (states the Melbourne Age). It is not the existing industrial situation alone which has led to the dislocation of the boot trade. There are other factors which are equally important. The strikes and shortage of fuel have, in fact, merely aggravated a situation which was already serious. Interest in the subject is being manifested by the Bureau of Commerce and Industry, and the director (Mr Stirling Taylor) suggests that much could be done to remedy the position by the adoption of more efficient sales organisation, and he has made proposals to the boot and shoe manufacturers’ associations in the various States with a view to securing closer co-operation amongst manufacturers in disposing of their output overseas. South Africa is indicated as a potential market for Australian boots apd shoes. British manufacturers have regained control, in South Africa, which was largely taken from them by America during die war. It certainly does seem, says our contemporary, that with more efficient organisation for the exploitation of overseas markets much could he don© to save the boot manufacturing business from the disaster which threatens it.