A GLORIOUS PAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22023, 4 August 1933, Page 6

A GLORIOUS PAST

RECORD OF BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY ATTAINED CELEBRATIONS BY EX-PUPILS Old boys of the Otago Boys’ High School from all parts of the Dominion and from as far afield as England and Japan assembled yesterday to celebrate with the . present pupils the completion of the seventieth year of ■ the life of the institution. The 700 ex-pupils who participated in the various functions included representatives of every period in the school s history, no fewer than seven old boys who joined the school in its first year being present. Pride in the scholastic achievements of the school and in the doings of its sons in a sphere that is almost world-wide was the prevailing note in the speeches delivered during the day, the functions being arranged in such a manner as to revive memories of every phase of the school’s activities and to allow those who participated in the celebrations ample opportunity to renew old friendships and exchange reminiscfences of their school days.

THE DAY’S PROCEEDINGS

own life is an illustration of that. His brain was beating with life —creative, dynamic—but what a fight he had for character. In a revealing letter to Charles Kingsley he tells his own story: “Kicked into tne world, without proper guidance, I confess to my shame, few men have tasted deeper of every kind of sin.” From this slough three things saved him. Carljie e “ Sartor Resartus ” showed him there coffld be a deep religious faith without an involved theological system. There was, in the second place, his passion for truth, and in the third place love.

PARADE AT THE SCHOOL NEARLY 1500 PARTICIPATE The proceedings began in the morning with a procession of past and present boys. The old boys gathered in decades in Arthur street and, preceded by banners, marched through the ranks of the present boys, who were formed up on either side of the road and who cheered the members * of the earlier decades as they marched past. The present pupils followed the old boys through the memorial arch, and all gathered at the rear of the _ school. Nearly 1500 past and present pupils participated in the parade. Of these over 700 were present pupils, the number of old boys of the various decades who took part being as follows: —

Religion, the utmost for the highest—an object to achieve —devotion to one’s fellows—can there be a nobler trinity? Let these be the methods and objects of our school, and we shall build character. Says Carlyle: “The hope of the world is in heroes being born to it,” but the essence of heroism is character. This school must provide men of character for our ideal human structure. The world may be cursed with clever devils —men with brains of undoubted capacity, but with hearts of buccaneers. If this our human structure is to stand, its foundations, its pillars, its arches, must be made of men of merit.

1863-72 80 1873-82 85 1883-92 65 1893-02 60 1903-12 102 1913-22 149 1923-33 197

Can we say of our British Empire to-day what Milton said of the England of his time; "Let England not forget her precedence in teaching the world how to live”? Can we say that of this spot in the Empire? In a large measure we can. For men of character have not been wanting, but we need more. They are expecting that we should follow in their path. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews has a striking picture of the world amphitheatre where the victors in the race of life are spectators watching those still striving for the prize. Memory, imagination—how they stir us, tier upon tier of these unseen witnesses, calling upon us to endure. From the best of them we should gain the advice to keep the reviving look. Looking unto Him Who is the captain of their salvation and the perfection of our faith. The School of Christ is founded on character. and that school stands. The service was concluded with the hymn, “Abide With Me,”_ and the pronouncement of the benediction by the Rev. Robert Dickie.

THE RELIGIOUS SERVICE AN INSPIRING ADDRESS' After photographs had been taken, past and present pupils reassembled for divine service, which was conducted by old boys of the school. The proceedings were opened with trie hymn “ Our God, Our Help in Ages Past, which was followed by an appropriate prayer by the Rev. F. V. Fisher. _ After the Lord’s Prayer had been recited in unison the Rev. G. E. Brown read ( the verses from Ecclesiasticus beginning “ Let us now praise famous men and fathers who begat us.” , _ • The address was delivered by the Rev. A. Brian Kilroy, who said: Seventy years —according to accepted tradition the allotted span of human life —so that very few who were at the opening of this school can be here amongst us to-day; but if there be any such, our bounden and sacred duty is to say to them first of all “Hail!” In the main, however, it will be for us a case of “ Let us now praise famous men and the fathers who begat us.” Seventy years in the life of a New Zealand institution is no small achievement! In this particular case we shall be pardoned for considering it a triumph; for the old school to which we once again to-day pledge our love and loyalty shows no signs of being decrepit with age, but rather goes from strength to strength. Here we are gathered, men and boys, of varying ages, of divers interests, from very different surroundings, to pay our tribute to the school from which we have received more than we know—more than we can ever repay. As we passed in procession under yonder memorial arch, what different emotions stirred in our hearts! Each decade had its own peculiar memories, and each individual of that decade his own special recollections of the old familiar faces and reminiscences of scenes and happenings within arid without these honoured walls.

AN HONOURED SCHOOLFELLOW MEMORIAL TO SIR THOMAS SIDEY At the’ conclusion of the service, Sir Francis Dillon Bell unveiled a tablet, erected by ex-pupils of the school to the memory of Sir Thomas Sidey, paying, as he did so, a glowing tribute to one who, by his services to the country and to the community, had brought honour to his old school. The tablet bears the following inscription:— In Memory o£ Thomas Kay Sidey. A Pupil o£ this School, 1876-1881. M.P. 1901-1928. Leader Legislative Assembly and Attorney-general, 19281931. Established Daylight Saving, 1927. Representative Imperial Conference, 1929. Member Otago University Council from 1899; Chancellor, 1925-1933. Member Board of Governors of this School for 25 years; Chairman, 1914-1920. Erected by Old Boys of the School.

Sir Francis Bell said that it was because he was among the oldest of the fellowship that he had been invited to unveil the memorial of the school to the memory of one of their most notable schoolfellows. That was not the time nor the place to speak of Sir Thomas Sidey’s political life nor of the many reasons for which his name was honoured in the city. It was of their schoolfellow and his work amongst them that he spoke to them. Sir Thomas was for 25 years a member of the governing body of the school, and for a large part of that 25 years he was chairman of the board, chosen practically by his schoolfellows of old days to preside over the business management of their school. For that long service it was well that they of the present were mourning his recent and untimely end. Another of his educational honours that it was fitting to mention was the chancellorship of the University of Otago, which lie held for years until his death. He was, as they all remembered, gentle, quiet, and entirely unassuming, and although he was well equipped for the defence of the right, he was little fitted for attkek, and yet he fought for the young to get for them something that would make his name long remembered. He gained sumagainst curious and singular difliculties. Massed against him were many interests, but with that quiet persistence and endurance he fought and gained for the young the sun longer in their lives. It was no exaggeration to say that bir Ihomas Sidey’s name would be Jong remembered on this account. Hampden s name was associated with one particular thing, and that of Wilberforce in connection with the abolition of slavery. Sir Ihomas Sidey was one of them, and his memory would long endure. As one of the oldest schoolboys, ho charged them to keep the memorial so respected and unsullied that the boys of the future might claim and attest the right to share with those of the present the remembrance that the memorial was placed to preserve.

How our thoughts gather round these buildings and precincts! And why not? On account both of its site and its structure the Otago Boys’ High School presents a picture in which we may all take a due pride. While I was in England there was sent to me a photograph of the old school. You can imagine how I felt in Cambridge, amongst such noble architecture, poems in stone, to find no small praise for this so young institution in so young a land. Look on her, set in this beautiful place, above the noise and bustle of the city—central, commanding, controlling, symbol of the relationship that exists between her ideals and the life of the great world. Look at her, these two towers with their heaven-pointing pinnacles, emblems of the ideals that should dwell in the hearts of all her sons. These ideals centre round the buildings and grounds in which we now stand.

But they are even more concerned with those who walked in these surroundings than with the surroundings themselves. The greatness of our school, the glories of its past, and the splendours of its future are not to he found in stones and mortar, but in the character of those it has trained. We are the school. What it should mean I shall try to show by adapting a quotation concerning the ideal church, from Manson’s “ Servant in the House”:—“lf you have eyes you will presently see the church itself —a looming mystery of many shapes and shadows, leaping sheer from floor to dome. The work of no'ordinary builder! . . . The pillars of it go up like the brawny trunks of heroes; the sweet human flesh of men is moulded about its bulwarks, strong, impregnable; the terrible spans and arches of it are the joined hands of comrades. It is yet building—building and built upon. Sometimes the work goes forward in deep darkness; sometimes jn blinding light; now beneath the burden of unutterable anguish; now to the tune of great laughter and heroic shoutings like the cry of thunder. Sometimes, in the silence of the night time, one may hear the tiny hammerings of the comrades at work up in the dome—the comrades that have climbed ahead.” The quotation, as 1 have adapted it, might readily apply to our school ideally conceived —apply to it as its ideal. Such ideals go before us as pillars of cloud by day and pillars of fire by night, leading us to a true human brotherhood. In the contact of scholar with teacher and scholar with scholar we were moulded, and are still being moulded, for our place in that''structure. The whole process is the formation of character, and. through character, the making of society. So, then, it comes to this—that the buildings, surroundings, the curriculum, the school activities, the memories, the loyalties. and even such celebrations as these, should have one sreat end —the building of character. “ Clever men,” says Thomas Huxley, “are as common as blackberries; the rare thing is to find a good one.” His

HISTORICAL MEETING EARLY PUPILS WELCOMED As old boys entered the school hall for the historical meeting they were handed cards on which they recorded their names and the years during which they attended the school. The meeting was largely attended, those present showing a disposition to extract as much humour from the proceedings as possible. There was an outburst of cheering as the president of the Old Boys’ Society (Mr W. R. Brughj conducted into the hall Mr John Gould, the first of the expupils now living to enter the school. As Mr Gould took his seat he was given a rousing haka. which was followed by the singing of “ For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

Two other ex-pupils who were present

on the opening day, Mr W. Mills and Mr T. M. 15. Muir, were also given an enthusiastic reception. Mr E. Webster then called the roll, those present standing as the name of the rector in whose term they attended the school was called. No fewer than seven pupils who attended the school during Mr Abram’s term as acting-rector in 18G3 were present. They were Messrs Gould, Mills and Muir, Sir Francis Bell, and Messrs A. Kilgour, R. W. Brown, and W. Ridley. Mr Brugh then called on the chairman of the Board of Governors (Dr G. E. Thompson) to preside. "A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE” Dr Thompson said that this was a day of remembrance, and he was reminded of the words of a Latin poet who had said, “lie who can enjoy the past lives twice.” Behind their day of remembrance was a simple philosophy. The education which had been received in the school was of two kinds and had appealed to two different departments of their mental and spiritual make-up—the conscious and the snb-conscions. Masters and lessons appealed to the conscious. Outside the school there were activities and influence that talked to the sub-fcon-scions. They came to open the door of the conscious and admit over the threshold of the snb-conscions as many old memories as they could. On a day such as this they could call up memories like welcome friends. The chairman road messages of congratulation from 180 old boys in Auckland, the Epsom Girls’ Grammar School, the Rev. Bro. O’Connor (formerly principal of the Christian Brothers’ School and now principal of St. Kevin’s College), the Arthur Street School, the John M'Glashan College, the Auckland Grammar School, and the Waitaki Boys’ High School. THE RECTOR'S WELCOME “ I had looked forward with the greatest, of pleasure to welcoming, on behalf of the present school, this assemblage of boys of seven decades now past,

who have come here to celebrate with us the reaching of another landmark and to testify their undying love for their old school,” said the rector (Mr W. J. Morrell). “Temporary loss of voice compels me to make by spoken welcome brief and perhaps ineffective. But the welcome itself is no less cordial and sincere. My own time of service in the school now covers nearly 27 years, and you will understand that if it means much to you it means at least as much—l will dare to say more —to me, and I greet you therefore as comrades, fellows, old boys, and helpers in a great task. Our task, our duty, and our sure hope is so to maintain and further the good name of ‘Otago High ’ that it shall ever hold place among the first schools of this Dominion. Through the boys and masters of the past it has long held such a reputation. In educational achievements, in sport, and, more important, than either, in the character and record of men it has-turned out, it has no reason to be ashamed. The service done to this city and province, to the Dominion, and to the Empire by our old boys needs no words of mine to set forth. I rejoice that there arc still with us to-day, though since 1023 their ranks arc sadly lessened, a good number of those veterans who in the first decades took their part in laying the foundations of the school’s good repute. ■ It is a great thing for us to have them here. We honour them, and with them their schoolfellows who have gone before, and the rectors and masters whom they too honour, and who guided the destinies- of the school in those critical days. The present masters and boys, I can assure you, share most heartily in the welcome now extended. The past record of the school and its old boys is an inspiration to all, and 1 have no doubt that for many generations yet to come that record will be maintained ami strengthened. “Circumstances forbid my saying much no-w, but 1 should like to bear testimony to the heartiness of the good wishes extended to the school on this occasion by our old friends of Christ’s College (the oldest school in New Zealand, dating from 1850). 1 must also "mention a very cordial letter from Mr D. W. Faigan, lion, secretary of the Auckland branch of our Old Boys’ Society, who says that a largo number of old boys will bo meeting this evening, with Professor Murphy as guest of honour, and he hopes Dr Craig and Mr J. B. Gow—three out of four members of the Tariff Commission. Once more I welcome- to the hall every old boy here, from the oldest to the youngest,' and trust that those celebrations may bo a joyful memory to all. Many, I hope, will be here to speak of them in 1903 —themselves the veterans — with kindly words and thoughts about to-day, and still that to-day’s gathering will add some living tradition of the school’s beginnings.”

GREETINGS FROM THE CITY The Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) said he brought to the school the congratulations of the city on 70 years’ distinctive service to the community and to education throughout the Dominion. He congratulated them on having the finest school in the Dominion —architecturally —and added in response to the ironic interjections that greeted this remark, “ and in every other sense of the word.” The buildings were a credit to any city in the world, and the roll of honour in the vestibule wag a credit to any school in the Dominion. He congratulated them on the great number of pupils that had passed through the school since its foundation and had been sent out into the world equipped and fitted to fight the battles of life. To-day, the world had changed greatly, and the younger generation was growing up in a world where every plank seemed to be wobbling, with the result that they might have to find their own plank. To stabilise this plank, and to find a way to reconcile opposing extremes so as to make the foundations safe would be the tasks of the future. Only by recognising the greatness and glory of the past and that there was something, Someone in life beyond materialism could this be done. THE PAST DECADE A history of the school from 1923 to 1933 was given by Mr Brugh. It was difficult to condense into small yet interesting compass a decade of the school’s history, he said. As one would expect, each year lying between the sixtieth and seventieth had seen many changes and many incidents. Honours, not only academic, but in civic life and in the field of sport, had been freely earned and bestowed. Naturally this period had been a strenuous test for those boys of the old brigade, those stalwarts who had enrolled in the historic years 1863 to 1872. A bulky necrology was unavoidable. “ In one short year after our diamond jubilee—on the first day of May, 1924,

the grim reaper took from us that veritable Sir Grcatficart, Robert Valpy Fulton,” he added. “ Ten years ago his dynamic - personality breathed enthusiasm or. all our functions. His activities have already been recorded in our annals. Let it be sufficient lo say that as pupil, old boy, ami-governor lie loved his school and lived for it. His memorial now finds place on the wills he loved so well, and in his honour the latest erected buildings were fittingly named the ‘Fulton Block.’ “ In the following month (June 17,1924) the former gymnastic instructor, John Hanna, died. Although he had loft the school in 1913, lie still retained a keen interest in his ‘laddies.’ He was always vivid and ho retained his straight lathlike figure to the end. Many old boys scattered up and down the earth’s surface remember with pleasure the instruction they received from John Hanna. On September 19 in the same year another outstanding ox-pupil passed to the Great Beyond. John W. Salmond was a man of outstanding ability and character. A worthy son of a no less worthy father, he passed with honours thick upon him. He had made for himself a name famous in the councils of the Empire. He died a knight, a judge of the Supreme Court, and a gentleman. “Nineteen hundred and twenty-eight was a fateful year. Colin Macandrew died on March 16. He was closely intimate with the school. As a bright boy lie was the first to dash into its sacred portals ami enrol as a pupil on the historic day, August 3. 1863. For many years lie was secretary to the Board of Governors. Ho was with ns in 1913 and in 1923, and he was with us in spirit to the end. Herbert Webb died on March 20, and James A. Park on April 5. The former entered the school in 1864 and (he latter in 1867. Botli were prominent old boys, keenly interested in the school ami the Old Boys’ Society, and prominent also in the jubilee and diamond jubilee celebrations. Herbert Webb served on the Board of Governors for many years. On May 6 James Allan Thomson died. He was a son of Mr G. M. Thomson. J. A. Thomson brought honour to his school by being chosen as the first Nov; Zealand Rhodes scholar. He was a man of great academic distinctions, and held the following degrees: —-M.A. (N.Z.).M.A. (Oxon,). I).Sc. (N.Z.), A.0.5.M.. F.G.S.. and Fellow N.Z. Inst. “John G. Fnllartou, an ex-pupi] and former master, died on March 31, 1929, and in the same year Mr J. M. Galhuvay died. He had been a member of the Board of Governors for 29 years, and a great supporter of the school in all its activities. A few weeks ago—on May 10. 1933—we lost an outstanding old boy in the person of T. K. Sidey. A memorial I plate has this day been unveiled, and as I

such epitomises his activities. On May 24, 1929, Mr Alexander Wilson died at Inverness. He was well and favourably known as a former rector of the school, and also as a man of artistic taste in literature and the fine arts. A suitable memorial plate was feelingly unveiled by Professor T. D. Adame, a former pupil, at a recent prize-giving ceremony. At the breaking-up of the school in 1931 a pleasing tribute to the memory of the late Mr Mungo Watson in the form of a memorial plate, subscribed by the Wellington old boys, was suitably unveiled by Mr John O’Shea, of that city. "Fortunately, all our records are not a necrology, and after our tribute to the dead we gladly turn the page to scan the honours showered upon the living. Congratulations, therefore, to Rector Morrell. He was with us as rector in 1913, again in 1923, and once again in 1933. He has guided the destinies of the old school up to and during three of its greatest epochs. Boys have passed through his hands during his 27 years of rectorship. He has recently received the honour of being appointed chancellor of the Council of Otago University. He has lived to see many of his pupils obtain great distinctions earned by their ability and industry. Therefore let us not grudge to him the honour which has come with the passing of the years. "Of the masters who were with us in 1913, the following are still to be found at their posts:—F. H. Campbell (appointed 1894). W. J. Martyn (appointed 1911), A. Watt (appointed 1912). “Mr G. M. Thomson, a former master, received the New Zealand Institute’s Hector medal in zoology in 1928. Mr A. Y. Smith, -whose activities as a master date back into the dim and distant past, is, we are pleased to say, still living in Invercargill. Mr F. 11. Campbell, as pupil and master, has served his school for half a century with just sufficient break to enable him to complete his arts course. Verily, the pupils of the rector and F. 11. Campbell have gone forth to the uttermost ends of the earth, so that the sun never sets on those old boys who can testify to the prowess of

"D. T. Fleming, J. B. Gow—formerly members of the Legislative Council, the former still functioning strongly as a governor of this school. SCHOLASTIC HONOURS.

Rector Morrell and ‘ Barney ’ Campbell. (Loud applause.) In sketching this period of 10 years one recognises the dangers and difficulties of mentioning names and omitting others. Who can, assess the ultimate value of the achievements of our old. boys? Oft-times, indeed, the greatest reward is earned by the man of patient merit —the man who sits not in the councils of the great, nor seeks the greatness of academic distinctions. But our old world being as it is, we must" perforce acclaim the victors whose achievements stand for all to see. THE CHURCH. “Adam Begg, a dux of the school, served a term as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Wilfred E. Powell is professor of religious education in Yale University, U.S.A. A. T. M'Nanghton, formerly a vivid master in the school, is perfecting himself in religions education in the United States of America. Hector Maclean, M.A., M.Se.j 8.D., has been appointed professor of Old Testament studies in Ormond College, Melbourne. POLITICS. “ Sir F. ,11. D. Bell, our stalwart of 1863, still lends his considerable force in guiding our good ship of Stale. Honours have come thick upon him. Leader of the Upper House. Acting Prime Minister (tiie first New Zealand horn to occupy the position), knight, Privy Councillor, and representative of Now Zealand. League of Nations, at Geneva. He has been reappointed as a member of the Legislative Council for a further term of seven years. He is one of our oldest old boys—five times dux —yet he retains his boyhood still. Wo acclaim you, Francis 11. I). Bell, and wish you many more active years of usefulness. “William Downie Stewart, an Acting Prime Minister, late Minister of Finance and Attorney-general, whose voice was heard at Ottawa. Like Francis H. D. Bell, he has an international reputation, honoured, indeed, by the King himself. We regret his absence to-day, hut national calls are taking him far afield. “ Charles E. Statham, Speaker of the House of Representatives, knighted in 1926 —a picturesque figure in the politics of New Zealand. A man whose praises spoken by the Governor-General at our recent prize-giving ceremony are yet ringing in om- ears. “ Thomas Kay Sidey—a man of many parts. A man blessed with the singleness of many purposes. One of Dunedin’s outstanding citizens. He will ever bp remembered for our_ extra half hour of summer sunshine. Knight, leader of the Upper House, Attorney-general, Chancellor of the Otago University—-he has passed to his long rest honoured and distinguished.

“ The following ex-pupils hold the positions of principals or headmasters of the undermentioned secondary schools: —Colin M. Littlejohn, Takapuna Grammar School; W. F. Munro, Pukekohe Technical High School; Whampoa Fraser, Hamilton Technical High School; W. T. Foster, Napier Boys' High School; W. A. Armour, Wellington Boys’ College; H. B. Tomlinson, Wairarapa High School; Colin Gilray, Rhodes scholar. M'Glashan Collegiate School; Joseph Hunter, Gore High School; G. 11. Uttley, Southland Boys’ High School; W. W. Bird, recently retired from the position of chief inspector of primary schools; Maxwell R. Holgate, inspector of schools, Malay States. In primary schools old boys can be numbered by the score. GENERAL. Dr C. S. Hicks holds the Marks Lectureship in applied philosophy and Sheridan Fellowship in the Adelaide University; R. A. Farquhagson, Rhodes scholar, now Government Geologist in British Somaliland; Eric R. Arthur, professor of architecture Toronto University A. C. Aitken, D. Sc. (Edinburgh), the first New Zealander to gain such a distinction; R. S, Allan, Ph.D (Cambridge): W. P. Morrell, Ph.D. (Oxford), holds a university readership in history at Birkbeck College, associated with the London University. He is an acknowledged authority on international history and politics. We welcome him amongst us today; George Craig, commissioner of Customs, LLiD. and C.M.G., and advisory officer at Ottawa, a long stride from Tomahawk to Ottawa; R. R. Nimmo, Ph.D. (Cambridge), now lecturer in physics at the University of Western Australia; K. G. MTndoe, M.Sc., obtained the Shelvin fellowship of the University of Minnesota, United States; H. H. Cornish, M.A., LL.B., appointed to the chair of English and New Zealand law, Vic-

• toria University College; G. M. Moir obtained his Pli.D. in dairy chemistry, i University of Reading; M. H. Watt, is i at present Director-general of Health; • Bevan Dodds is dean of the Dental : Faculty of the University of Otago; W. , A. Hayward obtained his Ph.D. in chemi- ■ cal engineering, London University; G. E. • Thompson, D.Litt., received a Carnegie ■ Corporation travelling scholarship, also ■ the French distinction (Academic de Palme); A. R. Andrew, D.Sc., dux, api pointed director of the Otago School of Mines; George 11. Clutsam, still maintains his name as a successful composer; T. G. G. Beck obtained Commonwealth , Fund service scholarship ami has just ■ completed two years’ engineering experience in America. These are but a few i of the many distinctions received; space and time preclude the mention of others. “ The pains and pockets of the public are guarded by doctors and lawyers whose names are legion. In the business world equally with the professions, success has been met with everywhere. The boys of the decade just completed are yet young, but with the years there is little doubt that they will occupy the positions of trust and command of great enterprises throughout Now Zealand and elsewhere which have been and are now being held by their fathers and elder brothers. It is more difficult to enumerate specifically the men who have made good in the business world. A happening which took place a year or two ago in Melbourne might be illuminating. Many years ago —for their sakes wo will not say how long —three bright boys travelled in daily from Green Island to the old school. The boys were Jim Tastier, Will Watt, and Ernest Eva. For the first time, shall we say, tor 40 years did these three meetagain. What stories of the Otago High they had to tell at that nerry luncheon party we must leave to the imagination. Jim Fastior is Australian manager for Joseph Noy, a Bradford firm; Will Watt is the Commonwealth meteorologist; and Ernest Eva is general manager in Australia for the Commonwealth Shipping Company. Truly, good things and good men can come out of Green Island, particularly when their destinies have been shaped by the Otago Boys’ High School. “In 1902 a great change took place in the educational system of the Dominion, namely, the introduction of the free place system. At the jubilee dinner bold in 1913. air Morrell, as rector, in replying to the toast of ‘The School,’ said that lie concurred most emphatically with the declaration of his predecessor, Mr A. \\ ilson, who had said at his last prizegiving that after four years’ experience of the now system he was convinced that in tone, discipline, and industry the school had suffered no change whatever. If the success of ex-pupils stands for this, then anyone listening to a recital of these

records can say, and must say, that Mr Wilson was right and that Mr Morrell was right, and that the prestige of this school—our school—stands as high to-day as ever it did. This is further exemplified by a short glimpse at the sporting record of the period. The School Cadets were deservedly praised for their smart drill and behaviour after the diamond jubilee bv such competent judges as F. H. D. Bell and A. W. Robin. In 1923, Fea, Dickinson, Morgan, Scott, Wise, and Townsend played for the Otago Rugby football team. In 1925 the school defeated Christ’s College by 70 runs in the annual cricket match. This was the first win for many years. D. Y. Allan made the fine score of 108. On November 13, 1927, for the first time, a secondary schools’ athletic championship meeting was held on the Caledonian Ground and was a very successful fixture, which has since been repeated annually. In 1930 a cricket match was played, when old boys of this school met old boys of Christ’s College. The game was both interesting and enjoyable. Only one innings was played, and our school had a lead of 35 runs. In 1932 the following old boys represented their province in Rugby football—namely: R. Allan, W. E. Bathgate, W. T. Dunne. J. G. Henderson. J. W. Hook, 11. Service, and R. J. D. Wilson, while A. W. Holden represented Southland. In cricket V. G. Cavanagh, T. J. Chettleburgh, G. R. Dickinson. A. R. Knight, V. J. Leader, D. Moloney, and W. A. Priest represented Otago in the Plunket Shield matches, and Cavanagh was twelfth man fop the New Zealand team. The school has_ produced some very fine swimmers during the past few years, and the events at the annual sports are always keenly contested. In 1931 the School Championships were won by R. Geddes, with W. Jarvis an excellent second, records being broken. At that time Geddes held the New_ Zealand Breaststroke Championship in his division and Jarvis was New Zealand Junior 100 Yards Champion. At the New Zealand Swimming Championships held at Invercargill in January of this years, these two boys, also S. Jarvis, carried off several championships. Peter

Affairs, was the first British Cabinet Minister to visit us, which he did on December 2, 1927. I have tried to compress into a short half-hour 10 years’ history of a great school. To all those who should have been mentioned and have not, I tender my apologies. To-day we stand upon the threshold of a new decade. As one surveys the vast array of ex-pupils assembled here to-day one realises how deep, abiding, and heartfelt is the call of the old school. We have indeed none of the craven fears of being great. We proudly contemplate the past, and confidently anticipate the future.’" —(Applause.) • ROLL CALL OF DUXES A roll call of duxes was responded to by 16 ex-pupils, who had won that distinction. They were as follows: —186468, F. H. D. Bell; 1878-79, P. A. Lindsay; 1899, A. C. W. Standage; 1901, T. D. Adams; 1904, R. M. Rutherford; 1910, A. C. Stephens; 1915-16, W. P. Morrell; 1920, W. Lang; 1926, K. S. Birrell; 1927, T. C. Brooks; 1928, F. R. Meldrum; 1929, N. Davis and D. S. Nicholson; 1930, L. F. Moller; 1931, W. R. Rogerson; 1932, N. G. Robertson. A poem, “ Otago High Revisited,” written by Mr D. W. M. Burn (1874r79), was read by Mr L. F. Moller. The concluding feature of the meeting was a procession of old boys and their sons who had also attended the school. It was headed by Mr H. W. Reid, his son. Mr 11. S. Reid, and his grandson, Mr J. S. Reid, who were greeted with loud applause.

THE AFTERNOON FUNCTION A PAGEANT OF YOUTH From the point of view of many ex- 1 pupils, particularly those from other parts, the informal gathering held in th«

S. Anderson, an ex-pupil, has materially assisted the Otago Four in securing Nev Zealand championships and the prowesi of their oars won for them the Stewan Challenge Cup and Senior Fours in Mel bourne. These are but a few items called from a great mass of sporting records. I cannot conclude this short reference to sport without mentioning tlu hjsi pric game which was played al Christchurch this week. The jubilee football match was played between Christ’s College and our school. The first game is the earliest Rugby football match between secondary schools recorded, not only in New Zealand, but in the Empire, and no doubt in the world itself. A hard game ended in a merited victory for the College by eight points to nil. Our boys put up a plucky fight against much heavier opponents and a solid pack of forwards; so much so that the old boys who were present were almost as proud of them in defeat as if they had been the victors. A wonderful spirit exists between these two schools, and a dinner given by the combined old boys' societies was a most successful and, indeed, an inspiring function. “ During the decade we had many vice-regal visits, all of which wore greatly appreciated by the rector, staff, and boys. Lord Jeilicoe visited the school on March 25, 1924, Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fcrgusson on November 20, 1925, and again on December 13, 1929. Lord Blcdisloe paid his second visit when, with Lady Hledisloc, he attended the prize-giving last year. Lord Stonehaven, the retiring Governor-General of Australia, visited the school on October 14, 1929. and the Right Honourable L. S. Aniery. Secretary of State for Foreign

afternoon in the school grounds was probably as satisfactory a function as any, for it gave them an opportunity of •'foregathering, renewing old acquaintanceships and exchanging reminiscences. The grounds were crowded with visitors, pupils, past and present, and friends, and while a number of them inspected the buildings, there were many who put in an interesting afternoon watching a gymnastic display by the present pupils, and Rugby, Association, and hockey matches played between teams of past and present boys. The gymnastic display, under the direction of the school’s physical culture instructor (Mr J. P. Northey), was particularly interesting. In all, 70 boys, each representing a year of the schools’ history, were engaged, and as they marched on in squads of 10 (indicating seven decades) they made an impressive sight. They were first formed up, and then broke off into squads to carry out a series of evolutions on the parallel bars and the horse, the neatness of their work winning them round after round of applause. Chief interest in the Rugby match centred in the fact that the old boys’ team included in its ranks no fewer than three All Blacks—W. R. Pea, G. R. Dickinson, and G. 1). Wise. The game was of short duration, but it was lively while it lasted, and although the old boys put up a game struggle, they could not make the pace set by their younger op- ! ponents, and present pupils won by 9 ! points to nil, Payne, Cameron, and Wil- | son each scoring a try. Sir J. L. Calder I refereed the game.