A MILESTONE IN EDUCATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21952, 13 May 1933, Page 8

A MILESTONE IN EDUCATION

A. considered expert valuation has put •q record that the three greatest educational achievements of the last century are the German University system of intensive scholarship, the Danish Folk High School, and the English public school system. All three systems have served their respective countries well, and their educational virtue’s have had more than a mere national influence. _ _ Secondary education throughout the British Empire readily acknowledges its obligation to the ideals and practice of the time-honoured public schools of England. Nor is this confined to independent and denominational schools, which have attempted, more or less successfully, to transplant the Engish school in toto to a new environment. The dominant ideal of character training, the prefectorial system of government, the house organistion, and the esprit de crops or collegiate soul of a school, are all derived from the ancient practice of the English institution. It "li an old gibe that Voltaire’s caustic castigation of the Holy. Roman Empire is equally applicable _t6 the English public ■cnools. Some wit has suggested that they are called English because they specialise in Latin, public because they are strictly private, and schools because they are athletic clubs. In New Zealand secondary schools are proud to acknowledge their debt to the English prototype. As a rule they refuse to be dominated by narrow ideals. Their objective is the training of the whole humanity of the pupils. And this is achieved just as much by the organisation of a rich array of extra curricular interests as by either classrooms or games. The most eftlightened practice to-day is. after the acquisition of working habits and familiarity with the tools or fundamental processes, to have a diagnostic period of intermediate education, and then to cater for the special interests and aptitudes of pupils by providing differentiated curricula—e.g., academic, commercial, industrial, artistic, and agricultural, which possess in, common the basic humanism of English literature and history. This cultural core redeems such pre-vocatioual education from utilitarianism. V- ... , w . This is certainly the practice at Wattaki Boys’ High School, where probably the, first agricultural side in Aew Zealand secondary educatibn was established in /1910. and has been maintained with Sradually-increasing support since that ate. Moreover, the institution ot a large number of school clubs catering for the hobbies and interests of pupils > in debating, reading, dramatic, and musical work, woodwork, photography, philately, nature study, etc., has abundantly jusified itself. Educational provision for the wi6e utilisation of .leisure is_ now regarded as a prime necessity of civilised life. Maeterlinck goes so far as to say. that by our use of our increased leisure civilisation will henceforth stand or fall. It has been the prescriptive right of English public schools to boast of their heritage of immemorial tradition. But ■ such deferential observance has inherent dangers. It leads to unintelligent deification of form, and to the enthronisation of convention. Our ■ New Zealand schoo.s have no such body of honoured tradition, nor the spiritual appeal of great historic association. But they have their own distinctive privilege—the privilege of ijnoulding their own traditions, and ot adapting them to the needs of their own environment and ‘ country; Our schools, aven the oldest of them, stand at the very threshold of their career, and each, jubilee celebration bears evidence of their Juvenility, and of their impressionable stage of' development. . < The celebration of Waitaki’s jubilee must necessarily lead to a review of its distinctive educational ideals. Perhaps outstanding among these is_ its training for Empire citizenship so signally recognised at Home by the Royal Empire Society. which has honoured the school by spontaneously organising a collateral jubilee commemoration in its rooms in London. And in this connection it will not be out of place to set down a synopsis 01 what may be termed

IMPERIAL INCIDENTS AND FEATURES

of Waitaki history. The founders appointed a notable commission of English scholars to choose the first headmaster, and Mr John Harkness, M.A., classical scholar of Corpus Christi, Oxford, was chosen. :A shield made of H.M.S. Victory copper and oak' was presented by Lord Strathcdha on behalf of the'British and Foreign Sailors’ Society to the Prime Minister of New Zealand at the Guildhall, 1911, for transmission to Waitaki for topping the Empire list in essay competitions. At the Guildhall, London, in 1913, a Bilk banner from her Majesty Queen Alexandra, patroness of the British and Foreign .Sailors’ Society, was , presented through the High Commissioner of Australia to Waitaki, in recognition of outstanding success in Empire essays conducted by that society. Admiral Halsey, in command of H.M.o. New. Zealand, unveiled the- Captain Scott Antarctic Memorial at the school in 1913. For over 20 years the school has been honoired by special visits from distinguished naval officers, including Admiral of- the Fleet Jellicoe, Admirals Halsey, Dreyer, North, and Blake, Captain Lord Kelburn, and a delegation from the Special .Cruiser Squadron (Rear-admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander Kamsay and Commander Sir Herbert Alison). ,:The school, in view of its modest roll, has a notable war record. About 700 old boys went on active service out of the then total of only 1000 old boys. One hiindred and twenty-five gave their lives, and over 300 were wounded. One hundred and ten were decorated for valour, including a V.C. (Sergeant D. F. Brown, who was killed in action), 1 D.S.O.s, 39 M.C.’s, 3 D.CM.’s, T7‘ M.M.’s, and 9 other decorations, while 13 old boys were mentioned in despatches. During the four years of the war the school raised £3OOO for patriotic purposes of various kinds, and subsequently raised another £2OOO for the Hall of Memories Fund. The Red Cross Society awarded the school a Certificate of Honour in recognition of its outstanding support and self-denial in foregoing throughout the war all pocket money, prizes, and trophies in favour of war funds. One member of the staff, Captain L. S. Jennings, was killed in action. In May, 1920, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales made an official visit, on which occasion he inspected the school, delivered an address complimenting the school on ■its war record, presented his portrqjt, and planted a memorial tree. In his address he said: “I have been very much impressed with all that I have seen here, and particularly with the guard of honour drawn up in front of the school. It is very smart indeed. I also want to congratulate the school on its splendid record in the Great War. I know, too, that you boys are very keen about the senior service, the Royal Navy, and that you take a deep interest in the Navy League. I learned this from Admiral Halsey, who visited the school in 1913 to unveil the memorial tablet to Captain Scott. There were many old boys from this school serving in the Great M(ar, not only in the New Zealand Division, but also in other units of his Majesty’s forces, and there were many casualties. 1 know that you particularly mourn the death of Sergeant Donald Brown, who won the Victoria Cross. All of you boys have careers before you. I know that you will uphold the fine traditions of the school in your careers if you follow the example of the old boys who fought and won in the Great War.” Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, chief of staff, cent a letter stating that his Royal Highness was much impressed by the school. Sir Lionel added: —“ I look upon your school as second to none in the Empire, and only hope that your old boys will see that it remains as such. To my mind such schools as yours are among the best assets which New Zealand possesses. Your record of service is a splendid one. . . . The Prince was very greatly impressed by all he saw, as he said, the boys looked splendid.” The London Daily Telegraph said: " One of the chief objects of the royal visit to New Zealand was achieved at Waitaki, when the Prince saw an assemblage of solid, big-framed, well-set-up boys at Waitaki College, and heard the full-throated cheers delivered with an energy that was almost deafening. The guard of honour of Waitaki boys for eteadiness on parade and precision of salute was one of the best yet seen during the tour. The Prince made a thorough

WAITAKI BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL JUBILEE. HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE.

inspection of this favourite high school for boys, which is evidently intended to be the nursery for the defenders of New Zealand and the Empire in coming years. No one who witnessed the scene in the hall when the Prince entered could doubt the eager and devoted loyalty of those fervent lads.” Overseas membership of the English Headmasters’ Conference was conferred, on Waitaki in recognition of the Prince’s visit. The president of the conference, who was then headmaster of Rugby School, wrote inviting Waitaki to membership in July, 1920. . Sir Edward Grigg, ex-Governor of Kenya Colony, wrote in a letter referring to hia visit to Waitaki in 1920 as follows: —“May I congratulate you on the excellent impression made by your school on all of us? I got a most stimulating sense of discipline, hard work, health, and enthusiasm. It is a great thing to be shaping boys so admirably for _ the services of the Dominion and the Empire. Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood, during his tour of New Zealand in 1920, paid a visit to the school, and delivered a most inspiring address to the boys. He described Waitaki as “ a magnificent institution,” and subsequently wrote stating that no school in the Empire had impressed him more. ’ Waitaki won in 1912 and again in 1920 the Earl of Meath’s Empire Cup open to all schools of the Empire—the only instances of its coming to New Zealand. C. A. King and R. A. Lochore were respectively the successful pupils. This particular competition terminated after 1921. The Wembley Exhibition essay, open for competition to the schools of the Empire for all boys under 16 years of age, was won by J. M. Bertram, of Waitaki, in 1924. the prize being £lO and an autographed certificate from the Prince of Wales. The London Times printed the essay in full, arid the editor called special attention to the thoroughness of the knowledge displayed. The Navy said: “The Waitaki High School branch of the Navy League was established in 1907, when Mr Milner, M.A., became headmaster. Ever since then the membership has comprised the whole of the members of the school, which by the latest return is 305. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales showed his keen personal interest in the branch by paying the school an official visit during his recent tour, and personally congratulating the boys on their practical interest in the fleet. An illustrated souvenir programme of the royal visit has recently been received at the head office, where the fine physique and smartness of the Cadet Corps have drawn many favourable comments from members in this country. Among the many distinguished visitors who have visited the school are Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey (twice), arid many other naval officers. The school runs an excellent school magazine, which, amongst many other subjects, includes the report of the school branch meetings. The thanks of the Navy League are due to the rector for his "co-operation in inculcating sea sense. The league desires also to congratulate him on the success of the pupils under his direction, as evidenced by a meiriber of his school winning the Palmer Prize Essay for 1912, which is presented by the Wellington' branch of the ’Navy League, and open to all schools jn the Dominion. The school branch is affiliated to the Dunedin branch, through the Otago branch of the Navy League. Head office sends hearty congratulations and best wishes for its further success. (This Dominion essay prize has been won by Waitaki for 10 consecutive years.)

In his farewell message of October, 1924, his Excellency Lord Jellicoe states: —“It would have been a very real pleasure to me to have visited the Waitaki Boys’ High School once again and to have left New Zealand with its great ideals fresh in my mind as a result of the visit; but to my regret time does not permit of this. I am sure that you are aware of my deep admiration for the school, which, under your leadership, has taken so great a place amongst the public schools of the Empire, and I should have valued the opportunity of meeting the boys again, if only for a moment, I take this opportunity of assuring you of my deep and continued interest in the school, and all those associated with it, to whom I send my heartiest fond wishes.” . „ In December, 1924, the Council of the Royal Empire Society congratulated Waitaki on its consistent success in the Empire essay competition of that society. The following is the resolution:—“The council has noticed with pleasure the interest which your school takes in the essav competition held under the auspices of this society, and they offer you their hearty congratulations on the result of the 1924 competition, in which no fewer than eight of the essays sent in from your school have received honourable mention. This must be very gratifying to you, and such achievement iruist be due to the untiring efforts of you and your staff to interest your pupils in the study of Empire subjects.” , , On November 1, 1923, the foundation stone of the Hall of, Memories was laid by the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, the money being raised by the old boys, assisted by the Board of Governors, whilst the rector also contributed very liberallv. Both Lord Jellicoe ami bir Lionel Halsey have presented trophies of Imperial interest to the hall, ihe platform chairs, table, and lectern are made of teak of H.M.S. New Zealand and H.M.S. Powerful, presented by the Admiralty through Lord Jellicoe and the High Commissioner for New Zealand. In the vestibule hangs a bell from H.M.b. Ajax, procured from Mr Clutha Mackeuzie through Lord Jellicoe. The cost of the Hall of Memories was £13,000, the architect of this magnificent building being Mr J. M. Forrester. In addition to the money raised for the Hull ot Memories, a sum of £3500 was raised for a large pipe organ, which has been installed in the hall by the old boys as a further memorial to their fallen comrades. The Duke of York paid an official visit to the school in March. 1927. On this occasion his Royal Highness formally opened the Hall of Memories. In the course of his address the Duke stated that he had come to Waitaki because of its warm recommendation by his brother. He presented art autographed portrait and planted a memorial tree. In recognition of the war service and Imperial training provided at Waitaki,

the Lords Commis«ioners of the Admiralty presented a naval souvenir from H.M.S. Tiger, which ship was associated with H.M.S. New Zealand throughout the war. In 1925 the order of Companion of St. Michael and St. George was conferred on the rector in recognition of the work of the school in training for Imperial citizenship. A special tribute to Waitaki was paid by Earl Jellicoe in June, 1927, before the Royal Empire Society. In the course of his review of New Zealand education Earl Jellicoe said that the system was magnificent. The primary and secondary schools among them + he Etons and Harrows of New Zealand, were turning out first-class boys. He referred specially to Waitaki, and the organised system there

of education in Imperial and international questions. "I would commend this daily practice to English headmasters,” he said. “At Waitaki the headmaster is a great Imperialist, and everything taught at that school is thoroughly sound.” Both Earl Jellicoe and the Right Hon. L. S. Amery have presented autographed copies oi their books to the school library. Under the auspices of the English Headmasters’ Conference 20 public school boys have been sent to Waitaki during 1929-1931 for instruction on the agricultural side before taking up farming in the Dominion. ,■; When Secretary for State for the Dominions, Mr Amery visited the school and addressed the boys. He presented a magnificent set of posters of Imperial significance. i Subsequently he described Waitaki as one of the most inspiring places he had seen on his tour of the Empire.

The secretary of the Empire Marketing Board stated: "I have still the most vivid memories of your splendid school at Waitaki. It is ia real pleasure to think that, by means of our posters, we have been able to be of some assistance in furthering the magnificent Empire spirit which is fostered in the school. Your assistance in making the work of the Empire Marketing Board known among the youth of New Zealand is very much appreciated by the Empire Marketing Board. The influence of your splendid work at Waitaki spreads over the whole of New Zealand.” Sir William Wayland, chairman of the Empire Day movement, sent congratulations to the school on winning the Royal Empire Society's essay competition (intermediate class), for 1931, open to all schools of the Empire. Referring ,to a booklet by the headmaster setting forth the ideals of the Imperial side of Waitaki education, United Empire, the official organ of the Royal Empire Society, says:—‘This is a tribute to British achievement, British character, and British leadership in troublous times, which would be of service in any circumstances, but never of greater service than now. It is so heartening and stimulating a reminder of the part' the British Empire has played and is playiug as an agency for the betterment of the world, that wo feel the Canterbury branch has made an exceptional contribution to the understanding of British ideals by issuing it as a booklet. Its circulation should not he confined to New Zealand.” DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF WAITAKI Another distinctive feature of Waitaki education is the happy compromise worked out between the academic and vocational aspects of secondary education. The Junior High School diagnoses the pupils and the senior school then receives them, and organises them in four differentiated courses. The agricultural side has for many years been the largest of its kind in New Zealand. I The utilisation of motor transport to adjacent farms has correlated practice with classroom technique in an invigorating fashion. The educational principle which is worked out in this organisation is impregnable. Secondary education must be a comprehensive organic whole, as Tar removed from materialistic utilitarianism as from cloistered idealism. There is no inherent antagonism between culture and vocationalism. Education, without losing Sight of its paramount spiritual and humanising function, must also cater for the special intellectual bias of the pupil. While providing him with a cultural equipment of liberal type, it must also develop the special mental interests or physical aptitudes of his complex being, so as to liberate both for the pupil and for society the special talent which is his distinctive service to his generation.

WIDE EDUCATIONAL HORIZON Finally any such review must mention the ideal of spaciousness in education, and the provision of a wide range of interests and hobbies. Any school that is obsessed by the examinational ideal and makes a fetish of passes and scholarships, forfeits thereby the highest educational virtues and values. It is this ideal of a wide educational horizon embracing the totality of a pupil’s endowment in the physical, mental and moral sides which the rector of the school defined as follows in one of his prize-day addresses: —“We must in this dynamic age look increasingly to education conceived'on broad and liberal lines, to reveal and develop for community service and individual enrichment, the powers

and special gifts of the individual; to safeguard democracy by the ideals and character of citizens against either exploitation or revolution; to promote national consciousness and individuality equally with the sense of Imperial unity; to temper nationalism with humanism by cultivating international sympathy based on international knowledge and a realisation of the growing interdependence of peoples.” THE WAITAKI HIGH SCHOOLS’ ACT The establishment of the Waitaki Boys’ High School was brought about by the passing of the Waitaki High Schools Act in 1878, as a result of the efforts of Mr Samuel E. Shrimeki, the then member for the Waitaki constituency. The Act constituted a Board of Governors of five members, comprising the Mayor

of Oamaru, chairman of the Waitaki County Council, a representative of the Otago Education Board, and two Government nominees. It vested an area of about 2000 acres, mostly situated in North Otago, in the hands of the board, this area including about 150 acres of land on which the school now stands. It was considered that the endowment would bring in a revenue to the board of about £SOO per annum. There was a certain amount of land set aside for educational purposes in Otago and Southland, and an Act was passed in the same year giving the Otago High Schools Board a considerable area of land in North Otago. The Oamaru District High School was then in the present Middle School building, and to it were attached secondary classes, Mr Robert Beattie was the rector of the District High School at that time, and there were about 20 pupils taking secondary subjects, for which fees were charged. There were also the North and South Schools. BOARD OF GOVERNORS The members of the first Waitaki High Schools Board of Governors were Mr W. J. (afterwards Sir William) Steward (Mayor of Oamaru) ; Mr Robert Campbell, M.L.C., of Otekaike (chairman of the Waitaki County Council); Mr Sarnuef E. Shrimski, M.H.R.; and Mr H. J. (afterwards Sir Henry) Miller, M.L.C., (Government nominees); and Mr George Sumpter, father of Messrs J. G. H. and Walter R. Sumpter, of Oamaru (representative of the Otago Education Board). Mr Shrimski was the first chairman of the board, the first meeting of which was held on February 20, 1879, when it was decided not to do anything towards the building of the Waitaki School in the meantime, but to wait until funds were available. Mr Miller was a man imbued with great ideals. He was an Eton man himself, and he wanted to establish another Eton in New Zealand. The board could have made a start, but the decision to await until further funds were available was no doubt' due to him, the intention being to erect a building on a somewhat bigger scale than was at first contemplated. There were two changes in the personnel of the board very early in its existence. Mr Samuel Gibbs was elected Mayor of Oamaru in July, 1879, and became a member of the board by virtue of his office, and then Mr Campbell ,vas succeeded at the beginning of 1880 by Mr Duncan Sutherland, who was a member of the board from 1880 to 1907, from 1908 to 1911, and 1912 to 1920, and was chairman of the board during his last two terms of office.

Mr Shrimski resigned from the Board of Governors in April, 1882, and was succeeded as chairman by Mr Miller, and Mr John Reid, of Elderslie, joined the board after Mr Shrimski's retirement.

In 1888 Mr D. Borrie became a member of the board. He remained a member until 1908, and was chairman from 1894 to 1908. Sir Henry Miller retired from the board in 1892. He had served as chairman, and was the real founder of the school. Though he left the board, he retained a very keen interest in the school up to his death in 1917. The death of Mr Shritnski occurred in 1902. He had not been a member of the Board of Governors for a long time, but had maintained the keenest interest' in the welfare of the school. Mr Duncan Sutherland retired from the chairmanship in 1920, and was succeeded for short periods by Messrs Bruce and Mitchell, and then by Mr E. P. Lee. who was chairman from 1923 to his death

in 1932. The present chairman of the board is Dr A. Douglas. THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS

The land over the boundary of the borough that was vested in the board was in the early days leased to Messrs Fleming and Hedley, auctioneers and land agents, and was used principally for the grazing of horses. The lease nad nine years to run, but was put up for sale in 1880, and the board took the opportunity of buying it in, paying £760 to secure it for the remainder of the term. The board then decided to reserve 30 acres for the school buildings, and so set aside the present site between the railway line and the sea. The remainder of the land was leased or eventually sold.

Tenders for the school • building were called in 1881, the architects being Alessrs Forrester and Lemon. The architects drew up plans for a very large school, and the board decided to go ahead with portion of the plans, and to build the present end block of the buildings. The contractors were Mr H. Sidon for the carpentry and Messrs Wilson, Roxburgh, and Co. for the masonry. There was a certain amount of opposition in the district at the time, but it did not become serious until much later, and the foundation stone was laid by Mr Shrimski on October 12, 1881. Special trains were run from Oamaru for the occasion, and Mr Shrimski was presented with a trowel and mallet, which have been recently returned by the relatives to the rector (Mr F. Milner) as a souvenir of the ceremony. It was found necessary to borrow £4OOO to build the school, and this loan was duly raised. This was long before free secondary education was thought of, and the fees were fixed at 10 guineas per annum, with eight guineas in the case of brothers. In the earlier years the surroundings of the school were in their natural state, and the grounds were covered with lagoons. There was no road leading to the school when it was opened, and the job of filling in the lagoons was one that needed considerable attention. The approach to Waitaki, formerly known as Virgil street, was widened and greatly improved in 1931 by the Waitaki County Council, and renamed Waitaki avenue. On either side of the avenue 'have been planted 120 Lombardy poplars in memory of the Waitakians who fell in the Great War. ‘ - In 1891 the then Governor (Lord Onslow) attended a garden fete at the school for the purpose of raising funds for the building of a gymnasium, and the money so raised, together with subscriptions, admitted of the erection of the building that is now used as part of the metalwork department. In 1904 the twenty-first anniversary of the foundation of the school was held, and £4OO was raised by subscription, which was increased to £BOO by the Board of Governors, and with a £1 for £1 subsidy from the Education Board to £I6OO, with which three new classrooms, comprising the middle block of the school, were built. This block was opened in 1905, the architect being Mr J. M. Forrester, son of the original architect, and Mayor of Oamaru during the term that has just expired.

The present gymnasium was built in 1908, and new laboratories were estab-

lished in a wooden building outside, which now forms the woodwork department. In this year also was built the library block on the north side of the quadrangle. The south! wing of the school buildings was built during 1912, containing four laboratories and classrooms upstairs, and the art room. The open-air dormitories were built in 1916, and all the boarders now sleep in these open-air rooms. ■ It was during September of 1920 that the south wing of the school buildings was burned down, but was rebuilt practically to the, same design.

THE FIRST RECTOR When the appointment of a headmaster came to be considered by the board, Mr Miller urged the appointment of an English public school man. He wanted a classical scholar, and the request was made to the then Agent-general at Home (Sir Francis Dillon Bell) to choose three men prominent in the English education world to make the selection. Professor Jowett (of Oxford), Professor J Stuart Blackie (of Edinburgh), and Dr Percival (of Clifton College) were appointed to make the selection. The salary was advertised at £6OO a year, and there were 250 applicants. The successful applicant was Mr John Harkness, M.A., a scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and a

brilliant classical scholar, who at that time was a teacher at the Manchester Grammar School. Mr Harkness arrived at Oamaru on April 19, 1883, and the school was opened on May 15 of the same year. Mr Harkness resigned at the end of 1896, and went to Christchurch, where he joined the staff of the High School in that city. He spent some years there before he returned to England, and is now living at Cheltenham. The old boys had lost contact with him, but it was reestablished in a rather curious way. E. D. Blundell, who had won his Blue, and was playing with Cambridge, was an old Waitakian, and an old gentleman, who knew he was a Waitakian, went on to the cricket field to speak to him, disclosing that he was Mr Harkness. Blundell let Mr Milner know of Mr Harkness’s address, and on. his trip Home in 1929 Mr Milner looked him up, and the old boys sent him a rug and an album of autographed views. The old boys thought a great deal of their old master, and

admired him. He wa a certainly a profound classical scholar and a thorough gentleman. He had met with great difficulties at Waitaki, and the place was probably not ready for the education of the type he wished to give. The Old Boys’ Association in England made Mr Harkness a life member. THE FIRST PUPILS The school opened with 19 boys, who were C. Christie, A. J. Clowes, E. E. Clowes, E. Clowes, H. O. Fenton, G. H. Gifford, A. H. Hedley, W. Hislop, W. J. Jones, T. Macfarlane, A. H. Newton, G. Pilkington, S. B. Reid, H. C. L. Robinson, J. G. H. Sumpter, W. R. Sumpter, A. D. Sutherland, F. D. Sutherland, and G. A. Sutherland. Sixteen of these original pupils, are still alive. No history of the school would be complete with-

out reiterating a stock story at gatherings of Waitakians, to the effect that the first pupil to attend the school was J. G. 11. Sumpter, who, having mistaken the date of opening, went out to the school on the previous day. The first boarder at Waitaki was James Borrie, a nephew of Mr Donald Borrie, of Papakaio; E. T. Menlove was the second, and William Menlove the third. OPPOSITION TO SCHOOL The opposition to the school, which had been noticed since its commencement, developed into quite a "rumpus” about

the year 1880. The District High School had been continued after the Waitaki High School was founded, and the idea had sprung up that Waitaki was rich and the District High School for the poor. The Otago Education Board endeavoured to disestablish the District High School, claiming that Waitaki was responsible for secondary education in Oamaru. That excited a good deal of opposition, because the fees at W aitaki were high, and the school was a long way from the town, and no provision had been made by the board for. the secondary education of girls. The disestablishment of the District High School was postponed for some time, but the Education Board made it quite clear that the postponement was only to give the Waitaki Board of Governors a _ chance to recognise its responsibility. After thati grew up a strong movement in Oamaru to have the Waitaki'; School removed nearer the town, and to have the constitution reviewed and placed on a more democratic basis, and to ensure that provision should be made for the secondary education of girls. Dr J. Macgregor, minister of Columba Church, was at the head of this movement, ‘and he led a big campaign, having for its object the removal of the school to town. This culminated in the presentation of a petition to Parliament for the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry into the whole question of secondary education in Oamaru. The commission, which comprised Messrs H., J. Shepherd, M.L.C., and W. Montgomery, M.H.R., sat in Oamaru for three days in Janhary, 1887. The members completed their report in March. It was not favourable to. the removal of the school, but strongly recommended that the Board of Governors should make some provision for the secondary education of girls. The Board of Governors had anticipated that to sqme extent, and the Waitaki Girls’ High School was opened on October 17, 1887. Aa a result of the controversy, candidates for Parliament we're heckled on the subject at meetings, and a noted case is recorded in the press of that time of Mr T. Y. Duncan being asked at a meeting at Maheno whether he favoured removing the Waitaki School to Maheno. THE SECOND RECTOR Dr J. R. Don was the kecond rector, from 1897 to 1906. He was;an Australian by birth, and had been in New Zealand for many years. He was at first a primary school teacher at Dunedin, and while teaching there took the M.A. degree with first-class honours in 1896.; He was a doctor of science, and a brilliant scientist. He was vice-principal of the Dunedin Training College before coming to Waitaki. He was a man of tremendous energy, a hard worker, and with indomitable will power, and was a most successful primary teacher. He made the boys work, and altered the general outlook of the school from the classical to the scientific. Dr Don was very successful in obtaining good examination results, and matriculation passes increased considerably. In 1906 Dr Don’s health broke down, causing him to resign in June. Mrs Don had been in very poor health, and she passed away shortly after his‘resignation

had been accepted. Dr Don Had* been sbsent for the first and second terms of the year, and Mr W. G. Grave/filled the position of acting-rector during* that period, and at the beginning of the (third term Mr Frank Milner wag appointed lector —a position which he has admirably filled since that time. THE STAFF At the commencement of Waitakf the rector had no assistance, but immediately the school was started the board advertised for a first assistant, and Mr A. C. Gifford, son of the Rev. A. Gifford, of St. Luke’s Church, Oamaru, was appointed to the post. Mr Gifford was an Oamaru boy, but had been educated in England, and had taken very high mathematical degrees at Cambridge. He commenced at the beginning of the second term in 1883. The roll number had risen to 28 before the end of the first year, and Miss C. Satchell, who afterwards married Mr Harknese, was appointed matron. _ i In 1885 a third master was appointed to the school —Mr S. Gilbert, of King’s College, London —and French was taught part-time by the French master, M. Ledez. At the end of 1888 both Mr Gilbert and Mr Gifford left Waitaki, and were succeeded by Mr W. H. Roll, another Cambridge man with high degrees, anq Mr D. W. M. Burn, M.A., from South Can-( terbury, who is now resident in Dunedin. Mr Roll left the school in 1892, and successfully practised law in Oamaru before taking his departure for England. When he died he was a judge in India. In 1894 Mr Burn left, and it was decided to endeavour to make an appeal to the public by appointing a stronger staff. Messrs W. H. Cradock and W. G. Grave received the appointments. Mr Cradock left after a year, and Mr MTlroy was appointed to the vacancy, but Mr W. G. Grave remained on the staff until 1906, and eventually became first assistant. He was the life of the school and did a lot of hard work that proved of benefit to the school in later years. . In 1899 a fourth master was appointed, Mr T. A. Hunter, who, while at Waitaki,

greatly improved the football of the school. Mr Hunter remained a member of the stall for five years. He is now a professor at Victoria University College, and vice-chancellor of the New Zealand University. In 1900 Mr MTlroy left and was replaced by Mr R. J. Thompson, 8.A., an old boy of the school. Mr Thompson left three years later, and was succeeded by Mr G. H. Uttley, now Dr Uttley, rector of the Southland Boys’ High School. There was a big change in the staff when Mr Milner came to Waitaki, for by the beginning of 1907 there was only one member of the previous staff at Wai-

taki, this being Mr Uttley. Mr Own resigned at that time, and Mr Uttley was appointed first assistant. Among the new members of the staff were Mr M. K. M'Culloch, now first assistant at Waitaki, and Mr D. S. Chisholm, now headmaster of the Waimate High School. Another member of the staff at that time was Mr H. H. Allan, now Dr Allan, at the Government Botanical Plant Research Station at Palmerston North. Mr Uttley left Waitaki in 1913, and Mr Chisholm in 1928, having been at Waitaki 23 years. THE PRESENT RECTOR Mr Frank Milner is a Nelson College old boy and Canterbury College graduate with the M.A. degree with first class honours, and at the time of his appointment -to Waitaki in 1906 was first assistant at Nelson College. He effected a veritable revolution at Waitaki during the last term of 1906 and the first term of 1907. It was then there were started the Navy League, the Camera Club, the Field Club, the School Orchestra, and .the School Band, and, in addition, the present serviceable school uniform was adopted. The Wanganui Collegiate School was the first, and Waitaki the second secondary school in the Dominion to adopt such a uniform. Mr Milner also introduced the prefect system at that time. |- The first school magazine was founded in 1886, and was called “ The Oamaruviarij" which ran until 1891, when there was a break of some years until the " Waitakian ” was begun by Mr Milner in 1906. ■■■ / Mr Milner took a keen interest in .debating and oral work generally, and in Imperial and international affairs, and

Lis talks on topical subjects to the boy* every morning became a distinct featur* of the school curriculum. " . A. Mr Milner was also responsible for fne development of the school library, and for the introduction of pictures to the school. When he went there the walla were bare, but there are now over 2000 . fine pictures adorning the walls of the building,, while the library contains 3000 volumes and subscribes to about 60 periodicals. , ~, _ T In 1921 Mr Milner represented the New Zealand Government , at the Pan-Pacinc Conference at Honolulu, and before his return he visited California. In 1921 Mr Milner was chosen to represent New Zealand at the International Educational Conference convened by the National Educational Council of Canada, at Vancouver, on the recommendation or the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson. He thence went on a trip occupying about a year to England and Europe. During his absence Mr M. K. M Culloch acted as rector. _ In 1925 Mr Milner was created a Companion of St. Michael and St. George. Mr Milner has been invited to deliver one of the principal addresses at the International Conference of Rotary clubs at Poston, United States of America, in June, when his subject will be The New World Order from the Standpoint ot Rotary.” Permission has been granted Mr Milner by the New Zealand Education Department to attend the convention, and his address will be broadcast over the whole of. America. , t=J FREE PLACE SYSTEM In 1904 the free place system came into operation, and quite altered the basis on which the school was working. It was some time before the majority or boys were 'free place holders, and' the new system did not'make much difference to the roll at first. It took a little lime before there was any demand tor free place facilities. At the beginning of 1906 the preparatory department was es tablished for junior boys. There were no free places tor , them, and the department was supposed to be self-supporting. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS The year 1924 saw the initiation of the scheme for junior high schools in Oamaru. A great public controversy was aroused over this departure, a considerable amount of opposition being dueo to the fact that the scheme involved the decapitation of the local primary schools. Mr Caughley (Director of Education at that time) visited Oamaru on three occasion* in connection with it, and addressed meetings of parents, which culminated in a large gathering in the Opera House, wher# the proposal was carried by a majority of two to one. The Junior High School came into existence at the beginning or the following year. The junior high school at Waitaki Boys’ in itself was a big change, as it meant that Waitaki had become a real democracy, and it added about 160 pupils to the roll. Starting off in Forms I and 11, there were .beside* the ordinary subjects mathematics and science, and either French or agriculture. The manual department was then. developed under Mr P. Jackson, 'and a littl. later the metalwork department under Mr D. M. Rutherford. Mr George E. Wilkinson was appointed to the staff of the junior high school, and with his musical ability he did a great deal towards the promotion of musical education, not only in the junior school, but also in; the > senior. The head assistant in th» junior high school is Mr H, Bolting. THE AGRICULTURAL SIDE The agricultural course was commenced at Waitaki in 1910. It is not quite certain whether Waitaki was the first secondary school —as distinct from technical high schools—to introduce agriculture into the school curriculum, but it was certainly one of the first to do so, and this branch of study has been a prominent feature of the school work ever since. The work was started under Mr Uttley and Hr Allan. . With the coming of the English school boys to Waitaki the agricultural side wag developed. The idea behind the movement was that when they had spent a year at Waitaki in order to become acquainted with New Zealand life and conditions, and bad made friends among the New Zealanders, the rector was to sea that they received cadetships on farms. The plot system, which up to that time had been •in vogue, was done away with, and work of ti more substantial nature was undertaken on Mr A. C. Hurst'* farm at Papakaio. Mr Hurst had kindly made his farm available for the boys to gain experience, and the work carried out under those conditions was of a decidedly practical nature. Mr B. B. Blackmore, who is in charge of this side of the school work, had gained a diploma after pursuing an agricultural course at the Agricultural College, Oregon.

-.EXAMINATION SUCCESSES ' There wag no prize-giving ceremony in 1883, but in the following year the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Stout, presented the prizes at the school. There wag no official dux at' the school in Mr ■Harkncss’s time, but A. Hedley in the first year was the principal winner of prizes, and the leading boy of« the school. The first two matriculation passes secured at the school were in 1886 when W. G. Grave, now of the legal firm of Messrs Lee, Grave, Grave, and Zimmermahu, of Oamaru, and H. Wilson, later a judge of the Native Land Court, passed the examination. ■After the coming of Dr Don there was an official dux of the school, and in 1897 A. Tudhope was the first dux of the school. f The outstanding success in examinations was the university scholarship gained by W. J. Martyii, who was second for the whole of New Zealand in the examina-j ’tion ß of 1902. A. M. Finlayson also* gained this scholarship. Both were bril- . liant scholars, and obtained the M/A* and M.Sc. degrees with double honours. Mr Martyn is now mathematic® master at the Otago High School. Mr Finlayson went Home, had a distinguished .career, and became a doctor of science. ’He was killed in the Great War. r Waitaki pupils have won 41 junior university scholarships, and 25 senior University scholarships. About'22o old .hfiys have taken degrees. Three Waitakipns have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships— Athol Hudson (1915), killed in the Great War: A. L. Haslam, now Hr Hafflam (1926); and J. M. Bertram (1931).' THE SCHOOL ROLL j Up to 1886 the school had expanded steadily, and the roll had reache;! 58 compared with 19 at the commcncarnent. Then came a period when the roll stood still and gradually decreased. The amount of the fees prevented a number of parents from sending their b®ys to the school, and the Board of Go%jernors was not popular for a time, Tke roll did not begin to rise again until a/decade afterwards, but, was never more t|ian 50, and for the most part averaged 4|D. The boarding department practically; disappeared about 1894, although in > 1891 it had reached 21 boarders. . In an endeavour to popularise the school the fees for tuition wei*s reduced in 1891, so that boys who hjad passed Standard V in the Waitaki County were admitted at the rate of £4 10s per annum. The school was out of touch .with local conditions at that time, but (there had been a general increase in values, and the revenue from endowments had risen to £I2OO per annum. / There was unfortunately a senes of disputes during the early nineties that did the school much harm, arid little propress /was made. The North Otago pastoralists were badly hit by * slump, and the population in Oamaru, which in 1880 was 6000, had dropped baeft to‘4ooo at the beginning of the century, _ Following on Dr Don’s arrival the roll numbers steadily increased. In 1896 the roll was 35, but at the beginning of the century it had reached 1101. of whom 47 were boarders. By 19(03 there were • 60 boarders, and this department had then become a necessary adjunct to the school. 1 The roll began to increase almost immediately Mr Milner took charge, and in 1908 the number of hoarders rose to 120, In the last decade the roll has more than doubled, due in some measure to the establishment of the Junior High School. The highest aggregate roll of Waitaki was reached in 1931, when ; it stood at 526. WAITAKI CADETS

The Waitaki Cadets, were officially accepted by the defence authorities in Insist. 1884. They were then called the Waitaki High School; Cadet Rifle Volunteers. Mr Gifford was'the officer in charge, and Sergeant-major , MTherson was the local defence officer.

In |IBBG there was a change in the name of tHe cadet corps from that of the Rifle Volutnteers to the Waitaki High School Navril Artillery Cadet Volunteers, the cade is wearing naval uniforms in keeping wittf the name. This lasted until Mr Mib/ier’s arrival at the school in 1906. The Waitaki Cadets have won the Victory! Shield for shooting, open to the South Island schools, on several occasions, and hold the shield at present. Last year the cadets won the Islington Cup for shotting in competition with the whole of the i schools of the Dominion. At present the cadets are under the chfjkge of Major M. K. M'Culloch. ; "j SWIMMING BATHS : fflie first swimming baths at Waitaki wrire constructed by digging out one ot fellfe lagoons on the grounds in the back p Ikying area. This was filled with water, and, as there was no inlet or outlet, was the source of many stories told in later ytears by the old boys of that period. , When the present up-to-date baths were ■constructed they were made only 25 yards in length, but about 1917 they were increased ‘to 33 1-3 yards in length. I ROWING MATCHES ■ From 1913 to 1922 Waitaki competea annually in a four-oar rowing match with Wanganui and Christ’s College and the Christchurch High School. In the first year Waitaki won the contest, but did not do so again, and the competition was given up because of the difficulties of training for the event, the harbour being too far away from the school, even if rowing on the.harbour would afford good preparation for river rowing, the contests being held on the Avon or the Wanganui River RUGBY The first Rugby football match played against the Timaru High School took place on June 9, 1884, and was won by Waitaki by 3 tries to 1 try. That was the first of an unbroken series of 61 games, as in some years two matches were played, the second one played against Timaru in 1884 being lost by 10 tries to 1. Waitaki also played the Otago High' School 'Second fifteen that year, losing the match by ,4 tries to 1. Waitaki continued to play the Otago second fifteen until 1904, when the matches were played against the Otago first fifteen. The biggest defeat inflicted by the Waitaki team on the football field was against Timaru in 1889, when Waitaki won by 10 goals and 14 tries to nil. For the most part the goals were converted tries, so that the score in points under the present system of counting would have been between 80 and 90 points to nil. Under the coaching of Mr T. A. Hunter the first fifteen was undefeated in 1899. In 1901 the team was defeated by Timaru —the only brqak in a series of 18 matches from 1898 to 1912. The Rugby fifteen experienced a very successful season in 1904, winning the North Otago Junior Grade Championship with a score of 194 points for r and 6 against. Waitaki also defeated Timaru by 20 points to nil, and, meeting the Otago first fifteen for the first time, defeated it by a like score. R. C. Ongley and A. Falconer played for the North Otago representative team in that year, and Ongley, at the age of 17 years, was chosen to represent Otago. He was an outstanding boy, being captain of the first eleven for three years out of four, and in 1004 and 1905 he represented North Otago at cricket. He was in the first fifteen for three years, and was captain in 1905. in which year he was dux of the school. There were three Ongley brothers—R. C., M., and A. Ongley—all of whom were fine athletes and good students. From 1905 to 1912 were great football years for the school. R. Duthic and C. Molloy, who were both killed at the Great War, and R. Maclntyre were prominent players, and. Inter on M. and A. Ongley were also prominent on the football field. For two seasons the first fifteen played with the assistance of the masters in the North Otago senior competition, and won as many games as they lost. They were, however, generally nutweighted, and ns they had to play without the masters in the inter-school matches, which upset the organisation of the team, the innovation was dropped. The year 1913 was an important football year, because Timaru defeated Waitaki for the first time in 11 years. For ten

years Timaru had not scored a point, but in this year Timaru won by 12 points to 8. That commenced a period of success for Timaru, which ran on to 1922, and since then the two schools have been level pegging in football honours. Waitaki has won the North Otago junior championship on several occasions, and at present holds the Burns Memorial Shield, the trophy for that competition. CRICKET The first cricket match played against tlie Timaru High School was in 1886. Two matches were played this season, Waitaki losing the first by 8 runs, and the second by 39 runs. Both the masters, Messrs Gilbert and Gifford, played with the team. The first cricket match against the Otago High School was played in the following year, and was won by Waitaki by 12 runs. One of the earlier cricketers of Waitaki was A. H. Fisher, who later became a New Zealand representative cricketer, and is at the present time general manager of the Standard Insurance Company. The school eleven now takes part in the North Otago senior competition, and for some years past has secured its full quota of representative players. ATHLETIC RECORDS ■ The first athletic champion ot Waitaki was T. Macfarlaue, in 1884, and the winner of the championship in the secondary sports of the same year was R. Driver. The year 1899 gave Waitaki its oldest sports record, which still stands, that of putting the shot by D. A. Macfarlane a distance of 31ft sAin. It is one of two records at the school that is at present more than two years old. Gerald Keddell, who later established ttie Australian record for the 120 Yards Hurdles, and the New Zealand record for tne Long Jump, was junior champion at the school in 1901. R. C. Ongley put up the 100 Yards record of 10 2-sscc, which has not been broken officially, though Perkins bettered that time unofficially last year. Ongley represented Otago at the New Zealand championships. The year 1932 was an outstanding one in the athletic history of the school, for all but two records were held by boys attending Waitaki in that year. H. W. Milner’s success as a hurdler was perhaps the most noteworthy, as over 3ft hurdles he established a record of I 4 4-ssec. for the 120 Yards Hurdles. W. 1). Borrie cleared sft Clin in the High Jump, and T. M. Perkins did the 75 Yards in Bsec. H. B. Chisholm established records for the Half-mile and Mile and Cross-country runs, and F. E. Smith equalled the 220 Yards record of 23 4-sseC. Milner also broke the 440 Yards Flat record in 54 1-lOsec. The history of Waitaki would not be complete without the inclusion of the names of those associated with the Board of Governors and the school staff during the past 50 years. • The secretaries of the board have been: — G. Sumpter. 1879-1897, being honorary secretary until 1884, when he was a member of the board. G. R. Hlslop, 1897-1902. A. A. M'Kinnon. 1902-21. ,r, W. Macklsack, 1021-1927. D. V. G. Smith, 1927-1933. The following have been chairmen of the board; — S. E. Shrimski, 1879-1882. H. J. Miller, 1882-1880. J. Reid (Elclerslie), 1880-1.887. W. Christie, 1887-1888. H. J. Miller, 1889-1892. D. Dunn. 1892-1893. D. Borrie, 1894-1908. D. Sutherland, 1908-1011. St. J. Buckley, 1911-1912. D. Sutherland, 101.2-1920. J. M. Brown, 1020-1921. J. Mitchell. 1921-1923. E. P. Lee. 1923-1932. Dr A. Douglas, 1932-1933. The first assistants during the life of the school have been: — A. C. Gifford, 1883-1888, D. W. M. Burn, 1889-1894. W. 11. A. Cradock, 1895-1890. W. G. Grave, 1897-1900. G. 11. I'ttley, 1906-1913. M. K. M'Culloch. 1913-1933. The present staff consists of: — Rector— Mr P. Milner, C.M.0., M.A. First Assistant—Mr M. K. M'Culloch. M.A. Second Assistant--—Mr “W. M. Uttley, M.A.

Assistants —R. H. Inder, M.Sc., P. W. Hargreaves, 8.A., M. F. Woodward, M.A., F.R.E.S., F. A. Crimp, 8.A., H. T. Hall, 8.A., K. C. M'Donald, M.A., R. T. Cole, 8.A., h. V. Bryant, M.A., H. J. Robins, T. H. Hendra, 8.A., J. L. South, M.A., ( H A. E. Hotting, M.A., G. E. Wilkinson, B A., P. S. Seyb, M.A., B. B. Blackmore, B So., P. A. Jackson, D. M. Rutherford, and Miss H. Edgar (art mistress). . It is anticipated that hundreds of Waitakians will attend the jubilee celebra* * tions from all parts of the Dominion, and. j, indeed, some are expected from Australia, whilst the British Overseas Club has placed its organisation and rooms at the disposal of British Waitakians, so that , they may celebrate the jubilee of their ,j Alma Mater in London. The celebrations / will commence to-day with the enrolment)) [ at the school, followed hy a garden party in the afternoon, and the dinner and smoke concert will be held in the Scottish Hall in the > evening. To-morrow i afternoon there will be an assembly at thp i Hall of Memories, and in the evening j church service in the Hall of Memories ¥ On Monday the roll call will take plac k at 10 a.rn., followed by official speechei L etc.; in the afternoon there will be a jp interprovincial sevcu-a-side football tournament, general athletics, and a ball w> i!l be held at the Drill Hall in the cvenin p. • - —", j j JUBILEE DINNER IN LONDf |N A LARGE GATHERING I 1 (United Press Association.) ; i (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. || LONDON, May 12. (Received May 12, at 8 p.m.), j There was a large gathering a J p the Waitaki High School’s jubilee dim pir at the Royal Empire Society. The sp takers included Admiral Sir Lionel Hals( jy, Mr L. S. Amery, Sir Edward Grigg, a pd Sir Thomas Wilford. The Master of f lempill read messages of congratulation at (d good wishes from the Prince of Wales, r pcalling his visit to the school in 1920, ar mI from the Duke of York, who mentioned ’ /Tis visit in 1927. j