RAVENSBOURNE SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 8

RAVENSBOURNE SCHOOL.

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. A SUCCESSFUL OPENING. The oldar generation of the ex-pupil* who attended the opening of the jubilee oolobration* of tho ITavoasbourne bchool yesterday afternoon had the truth of tho old saying they had copied so often m their Vero Foster copying book days—- “ Life is short and time is fleeting fully borne home to them. But they apparently did not feel in any way depressed by the fact that they had loft their youthful days long behind. They entered into the spirit of rejoicing at beim able to again meet tho friends of their boyhood days, and looked with delight on the fineJo°kmff boys and girls who ar© now attending their old school Notwithstanding that many of the old pupils were unable to b© present in the afternoon—they have intimated their intention of being present at tho other functions—tho roll- call of ex-pupils was answered by 157 people. The flag was hoisted to th© school flagpolo by Mr Robb, of th© School Committee, tho National Anthem was sung, and then tho prosont-day boys and girls gave thro© ringing cheers for the old pupils, and tho old pupils responded with three hearty hurrahs for the present pupils. Th o Ravensbourne school children have certainly been taught how to cheer. Mr H. E. Moller (Mayor of West Harbour, and an old schoolboy) presided. Ho said they had received mnnv telegrams from all over New Zealand from _ pupds who were unable to attend, apologising for their absence and wishing every success to the celebrations. They had with them Mr W. Barton, now of Wellington, who had come down after an absence of 28 years to attend the celebrations. Mrs Murray Russell (nee Miss Nellie Reid) had sent them a cable from Queensland, and the crew of the Winifred had also forwarded their congratulations. After 50 years they could say, every one of them, that they were mighty proud of thoir school. —(Applause.) While they had a very high opinion of their teachers and everything else connected with the Ravensbourne School, he would just like to point out that it owed its existence in the first place to tho fine work of the very first school committee. This committee was composed of Messrs Anderson, Balt, Jackman, Jones, Mitchell, Palmer, Stephens, Tennant, and Hartley. This committee collected money round about the district, and paid £llO for the sit© of the school. After the first collection they were about £47 short, and this was secured by making a daily toll. The speaker referred to tho prize-giving days of the old school, and said those were always pleasant affairs, presided over by tho late Mr David Blaokio. He had a cheery word for each boy or girl as he came forward, and he was well remembered by the older generation. Tho first teacher of the school was Mr Kirby, and the scholars ot that day all agreed that ho was a very fine teacher. Air Kirby was of an easygoing disposition, and on a wet day would take the pupils to his little house, give them a sum or two, and then they could go home.—(Laughter.) M r Kirby was followed by Air A. Kyle, who had with him their old friend Airs Maxwell (nee Miss Donald) as tho lady teacher, and might bo tell them that Miss Donald was a beautiful woman 50 years ago. —(Cheers.) Then came as head masters, Mr Bennett, Mr Aitken, Mr Reid. Mr G. W. C. Alacdonald, Mr J. B. Grant, Mr A. Williamson, and their present teacher Mr W. Strong. Mr Aloller humorously referred to many incidents connected with the school, and said that one of tho old pupils had asked him if Mr Reid were to be present at the celebrations, ns he wanted to see him and apologise for having thrown a slate at him on one occasion. He also told how Air Bennett on cold mornings would lead the scholars round the ground at a trot in what was called the “snake” run to warm them up. Air Bennett was the finest caligraphist in the Dominion. He was also a violinist of some parts, and they would all remember the old song they used to sing, “Drink to me only with thine eyes.” Ho said that Air Williamson and the joint secretary of the celebrations, Air Felix Alitchell, were suffering from a form of lunacy, because they could not see a vacant piece of ground without wanting to stick a tree in it. — (Laughter.) However, they would see by the plantations about the district that they had something to show for their socalled lunacy. Air Aloller remarked that the head masters at Ravensbourne had all been capable men, and he referred to the high positions they had gone to from Ravensbourne. He also spoke of some of the lady teachers —Aliss Donald, Airs J. L. Ferguson (nee Aliss Durham), Aliss Little, and Airs J. 1. Aliun (nee Aliss Blackie). Then they had with them that day their old friend Air “Ted” Pinder, who va* well known in scholastic circles in Otago. Air Moller caused hearty laughter by telling how he and other boys used to annex the goats owned by Air Finder's parents, take them into the bush, milk them, and drink the milk. Another head master who had learned his teaching business at Ravensbourne was Mr “Tom” Paterson, of the George Street School. Air Paterson, said Air Moller, used to be a well-known member of the Ravensbourne Football Club, but unfortunately he was a bit near-sighted, and once he secured the ball he would not let anybody else have it till he was dragged down by sheer weight. He was glad te see with them that day Mr Alex. Gillanders, who was well known for his swims out to the retaining wall, and who had earned the whole-hearted respect of everyone of his fellow-pupils for the larrikinism he had displayed in his school days.— (Loud laughter.) The speaker also referred to a number of others present, and said how pleased they wore to see them again at Kavenshournc. Air H. L. Tapley, member for the district, said it gave him great pleasure to take part in the inaugural function in commemoration of the jubilee of the school. Fifty years was a good long time. In the Old Country, of course, they had schools hundreds of years old, but the Dominion was only 80 years old, and 50 years was a good part of that period. The event was an epoch in the history of the garden suburb of Ravensbourne. — (Applause.) The school children of some years ago did not enjoy tho school conditions which existed to-day They had to pay for their schooling in many instances, but now a free education right up to the university was open to every school boy and girl. The speaker gave some amusing stories of his school days in Victoria. He said that a pupil might be asked, say. “What letter was that?” The child would not know. “Well,” would say the teacher, “that is ‘a’” —(slap, and so on through the alphabet. The system of teaching was most effective, if drastic, “Teachers, pupils, and residents,” said Air Tapley in conclusion, “I wish the school the greatest of good fortune in the future.”— (Applause.) Air J. Wallace, chairman of the Education Board, said he was sure, after listening to Air Aloller, that he better not say anything, because he had such a long memory that the next time he came down to Ravensbourne Air Aloller would tell him of what he had not said. — (Laughter.) He could not ho expected to tell them of all the good things of the Ravensbourne j School, because he might have to hear the criticism of the other schools.— (Laughter.) It had not been _ the first jubilee he had attended, hut it always gave him pleasure to attend such celebrations because he honestly believed that the children they turned out of thoir schools were worthy of it. The average New Zealander was quite aide to hold his own with tho average mail of the world anywhere. — (Applause.) The name of Tennant in the first school committee : brought back recollections of tho fact that I his son, John, had attended the Normal j School with him (the speaker). That I was nearly 50 years ago. John Tennant ( bad risen to be professor of education at I tho Victoria College, and had now retired for a well-earned rest. He said that with S due regard to the tributes paid to the head I masters ho considered that the female teachers had a great deal to do with the tone of a school. — ("Hear, heat;.”) In this connection he would say unhesitatingly that Aliss Stevens, a lady teacher at the Normal School, had had a great influence on his character, and had assisted him in no small way in his future career as a citizen. — (Applause.) He thanked them on behalf of the Education Board for the invitation extended him to be present. Alcssrs G. W. C. Alacdonald, J. B. Grant, and A. Williamson (head masters) gave brief audrcsscs. Air Aloller stated that Air Reid was on I big way to Dunedin to attend tho eclobra- ( lions, and that he worn 2 be with them I at the evening function. I M r Thomas Rodgers, chairman of the School Committee, gave some detail;; of (ho ! ivork connected with arranging for the j jubilee. Ho said that they wore proua of tliQ RavcasboiiiTiQ School And p£ their

children. To mark the oocaoion he said that the school was to ba stiyan a holiday on Monday, and the children cheered hastily. .. Mr Donald H. Cameron, an old pupil, said that on occasions like this one might gay a groat deal about the incident* of one’s school life did time permit. There were two things uppermost in his mind that afternoon. The first was that they were vein? favoured by Providence to be there that afternoon.-—(Applause). The second wa* that they should bo very grateful to their teachers for all that they had done for them while they were at school.—(Applause). These teachers —men and women alike —had done much to assist them m their education and to train them and mould their characters and to give them a good outlook on life. He could go back to the days of Mr Kvlo—about 47 years—and to those of Mr Bennett, two excellent school teachers. They were men who always seemed to him to take as their motto: “Thorough.” It was an excellent motto for any individual and any school. lie noticed that according to the programme the school had adopted the motto: “Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawa-nui.’ What that meant he really could not say. —(Laughter). ilio speaker said he did not desire to make a long speech, and in this connection he was reminded of a story told of a Governor who had visited the Otago Central. He was being entertained at one town, and, after the preliminary welcome, there was an interval, the people engaging in conversation and generally enjoying themselves. At the end of 10 minutes the chairman said: “Well, your Excellency, shall I call on you to speak now or shall we allow them to enjoy themselves a little longer.” —(Laughter.) He thanked the present-day pupils, on behalf of the ex-pupils, for their hearty cheers, and complimented the Jubilee Committee on the very fine arrangements it had made. With its good work, and with the able assistance of the two secretaries, the success of the celebrations had boon assured. — (Applause.) Mr E. Pinder, a pupil teacher at the school in the old days, said it seemed that people were more remembered through some particular incident in their past lives than as a result of their general lives. For instance, Mr Paterson had complained to him before the proceedings had started that he had not been remembered because of his scholastic achievements, but because of the fact that ne played football. — (Laughter.) He was glad to be reminded of the fact that he was remembered through goats.— (Loud laughter.) He had also been surprised to learn that the members of the Moller family had been in the habit of milking these goats on the quiet.— (Laughter.) He supposed he was about the oldest inhabitant connected with the school. He had been there as a pupil 54 years ago. It was about 43 years since he had left Ravensbourne. When his people had come to Ravensbourne there was no school there, vc -y little railway communication, and no railway station. From Mr de Lacy’s place to St. Leonards there was dense bush. There were few houses, and only a track to Burke’s Brewery. Ho remembered well going down to Burkes in Winton’s sledge one day, and also that the Scotch thistles came up through the bottom of the sledge. —(Laughter.) In those days there was a brewery at Burkes (The Chairman; Ah, now we are coming to it 1) and also a long jetty into the harbour. The beaches were covered with yellow gravel, the later sand deposit coming from the Victoria Channel. As a matter of fact there was no channel then. The larger boats came up to Dunedin on the Peninsula side, and a few lighters sailed up the Ravensbourne side. Ravensbourne bail gone ahead since those days, and bo had been surprised to see the fine houses and the beautiful gardens everywhere. As ho had said, when his family came to Ravensbourne there was no school at all. Later on there had been a small private school near the Congregational Church, conducted by an old gentleman, and there the Education Board had opened the school under Mr Kirby. Mr Pinder gave some reminiscences about the head masters ho had served under, and said that he always remembered Mias Donald as a fine-looking, gracious young lady. He hoped the school would prosper and increase in size.—(Applause.) Mrs Maxwell (Mias Donald) then called the roll, and Mr Y. Christensen and Mrs Randall (noo Miss Marv Tombs), two of the oldest ex-pupils, _ planted trees to commemorate the occasion. Cheers all round concluded a most successful celebration. Afternoon tea was then handed round. EVENING FUNCTION. The Town Hall was crowded to the doors at night when there was another reunion of pupils and teachers. Mr H. E. Moller again presided, and conducted the meeting in his usual nappy style. s Mr John Reid, who now resides at Oamaru, and who is in his eightieth year, gave some incidents regarding his connection with the school as head master. He said he had recently paid a visit to the North Island, and he had been very pleased to meet a number of old pupils and pleased to know how well they remembered him. Mr T. Paterson (head master of die George Street School) related some of his experiences when he was a pupil teacher at Ravensbourne, and also told of some of the early history of the Ravensbourne Football Club, when they played for three consecutive "seasons without winning a match. He said he would tell them how their old master (Mr Reid), to whom he owed a great deal, had received his nickname of “ Sinjin.” There had been a lesson in geography, and Mr Reid had given the capital of Newfoundland (St. John) its French pronunciation—“Sinjin.” The pronunciation had evidently appealed to the child mind, and as Mr Reid’s name was “ John,” they had given him the title of “ St.” and made it “Sinjin.”—(Laughter.) All the teachers present were then ashed to come on to the platform. The following came forward: —Miss Sheriff, Mr T. Paterson, Mr John Reid, -Mrs J. I. Minn, Miss Little, Mr A. Williamson, Mr G. W. C. Macdonald, Mrs Lothian, Mr J. B. Grant, Mr Rodgers, Mrs Maxwell, Mrs Nicholson (nee Miss Ada Hoffman), Miss Dunn, Miss Green, Miss Paterson (a daughter of Mr T. Paterson), Miss Castlewood, and Mr W. T. Strong. Of course, many of the teachers have passed away and others do not reside in Otago. Three hearty cheers were given for the teachers. An excellent concert programme was contributed to by the following:—Selection (flute), Mr John Connor; song, Mies J. Crawley; dance, Mona Silver; song, Mr Donaldson; song, Mrs F. MTvor; recitation, Nana Nowey; song, Mr J. Bain; dance, Stella Wilson ; song, Mr J. Christensen, sen.; song, Miss Young; song, Mr F. MTvor; quartet—Misses C. Young, C. Connor, Messrs J. Connor, W. Connor. Pianist, Mrs F. MTvor. National Anthem. Refreshments were then handed round. To-day there will be a picnic on the recreation ground, and at,night there will be a dance. To-morrow there will be a parade of the ox-pupils to the soldiers' monument and then to church, whore the service will bo condivlcd by the Rev. J, J. Cnirncv the Rev. C. P. Mitchell, and Mr C. Sullivan, all ex-pupils.