A GLORIOUS PAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22023, 4 August 1933, Page 7

A GLORIOUS PAST

t THE REUNION DINNER i OLD MEMORIES RECALLED The attendance at the dinner in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, in the evening was nearly 400. Mr W. R. Brngh presided, and representatives of a large number‘Of secondary schools throughout the Dominion were present. Following the honouring of the “ Loyal Toast ” and the “ Silent Toast,” the chairman extended a welcome to those present, and said that it was wonderful to see 400 old boys of the school sitting down together to* dinner. “ THE SCHOOL.” In proposing the toast of “ The School,” Sir Charles Statham said he proposed the toast not only of the school, but of the old school, and past, present, and future pupils, and he did not leave out the masters. The school had come to be one great continuous establishment; it had already reached the age of 70 years, and he hoped it would go on for a good many more, end that‘many of those present would be spared to see the centenary. It wan rather much to ask that they all would see it. He remembered at the fiftieth anniversary celebrations in 1913, the wonderful manifestation of the spirit that pervaded the school and the old pupils. He had been told, by one well qualified to judge, that the celebrations on that occasion were worthy of the great public schools of England, and he believed that they had in Otago the spirit that had made such a great name for those schools. One of the secrets of the success of the public schools of New Zealand was that men were brought from overseas from the universities and the public schools of the Old Country, and they infused into the schools of New Zealand an atmosphere and culture from the Old Land, which they could not hope to have in such a young country as New Zealand. He thought before a man could do justice to the position of headmaster of one of New Zealand’s secondary schools, he should have come into close touch with the universities or public schools of England. At school they all learned to play the game, and when they left they had to go on playing it. The discipline a boy learned on the football field and at school would do much to help him to overcome the difficulties he would encounter in after life. It was tradition that had. enabled England to build up a name unparalleled by any other nation in the world. England in the past had had her faults and failings, yet they saw her still standing out as the soul of honour, and they shoufd try to follow her to the best of their ability. A great deal depended on the boys who went through secondary schools, and in their hands lay the building of the traditions of their colleges. Those who were present that evening were delighted to meet their old masters, and they were specially pleased to be able to meet the present rector, whose appointment to the chancellorship of the University was a matter of gratification to them all. Mr Morrell’s memory would long be treasured by them, and his name would go down in the history of the school.— (Applause.) Sir Charles concluded by referring to the fact that Mr Morrell’e son (Dr W. P. Morrell) was with them that evening, and said that he was the distinguished son of a distinguished father. In replying to the toast the rector (Mr W. J. Morrell) said that it was impossible for Parliament to please everybody, but he was sure that there was something about the House that pleased everybody, and that was the fact that an old boy of the school (Sir Charles Statham) was its Speaker. The rector added that he the element of continuity, which was the most important _ thing in the history of any great institution. The school had a great history, of which all old and present boys might be justly proud. There was a golden thread of tradition running through the history of the school which had brought them together in harmony and concord. Nothing had been more satisfying to him during the celebrations than to see the early decades so well represented. While Sir Charles had spoken of the bearing of those who had attended the school during the 1883-93 decade, he personally had particularly admired the bearing of those ex-pupils of the 1863-73 decade. They had come in all the spirit of youth with the determination to' renew their youth by reviving old memories of the days when they were boys themselves. They knew very well what times boys remembered most. He had that day spoken to an old rectory boy who had kept a diary of hie doings there. The old boy had confessed that the diary contained a great deal that had to do with “ eats.” The things which an old boy remembered might well be “ eats,” matches, and fights. They remembered -with great kindness their old masters and teachers. He supposed that they all had differed with their masters from time to time. He remembered that he had had differences with his own masters. He remembered also the fighting which it had been necessary for him to undertake during his first fortnight at school. In fact, there was nothing in his life that he remembered as well. It was a good thing to know that the names of old masters were remembered. The present staff knew that it was building on the foundations of the early days. It was due to the teachers that he should say how fortunate he had been in his staff. Without detracting from the men of former times, he would like to say that it was now the custom of the teachers to give themselves more fully to the boys than in the early days. The boys, as well as himself, knew what, a vast amount was done for them by the staff. He wished to pay his tribute to it, and he knew that the old boys present would also like to pay their tribute. The rector referred amidst applause to such old masters as Messrs G. M. Thomson, Daniel Brent, and Mungo Watson. It was the task of the staff, he said, to carry on the traditions created by those men and to see that the traditions of the Otago Boys’ High School had the same quality and strength as those of the great public schools of England. His own school was over 300 years old, but he believed that the old boys of the High School had an equally strong attachment to their old school. As deep a loyalty to the school was found as bad been built up in any school in the Old Country. He was sure that that tradition had been in no way lowered in recent years. The. longer a school went on the greater was the body of memories that attached to it. He felt sure that in the future the traditions of the school would still go on. He was sure that the beauty of the present school counted for a great deal in the minds of the scholars though thev might not be conscious of it. The rector concluded by reading a message of congratulation from the British Public Schools’ Club of Otago, and by expressing his thanks to the committee which had worked so hard to bring about the success of the gathering.

OTHER TOASTS. The toast “Kindred Societies” was in the hands of Mr E. Webster, who emphasised the value of old boys’ associations to their schools. He had had the privilege, earlier in the week, of witnessing the fiftieth annual Rugby match between Christ’s College and the Otago Boys’ High School, and at the function held in the evening he had been much impressed with the spirit of comradeship that was evident among the boys of the two schools. Were it not for the fact that both schools had strong old boys’ associations, such functions could not be held. It was necessary that all old boys’ associations should combine to urge upon the Government the necessity of having legislation brought down so that they could register their colours. It was most important that every association should have its own colours, but, unfortunately, as matters stood at present, anyone could make use of them. Dr G. Barnett (Christ’s College) responded to the toast, and said that so far as his school was concerned the annual Rugby match against Otago Boys’ High School was the premier fixture of the season, and the boy who got his colours in that match considered himself to be fortunate indeed. Year by year the affection and esteem of one school for another had been strengthened and cemented, and between the two there had always existed the warmest feeling of regard. On behalf of Christ’s College, he cordially congratulated its neighbour, the Otago Boys’ High School, on having attained its seventieth anniversary. Mr B. A. Duncan replied on behalf of the Waitakl Boys’ High School, and, after adding his congratulations to those of the previous speaker, emphasised the debt that the schools and past and present scholars owed to the masters. He referred to the friendly feeling that had alwaye existed between the two schools, and expressed the hope that as the years went on this would become even stronger. Mr G. R. Ritchie, in proposing the toast of “ The Old Brigade, said that the school was already rich in tradition, and for that they were indebted to the early pupils. It was impossible to mention many names, but he wished to refer to one or two. First, there was Mr E. RSmith. He knew that Mr Smith could still make the possible in shooting at 50U yards. They also welcomed Sir Francis Bell, whose inspiring speeches had been listened to by old boys during the last 20 years. He would also like to mention Sir Charles Statham, and that doyen of teachers. Mr Ft H. Campbell, who had done such good work for the school. Mr W Downie Stewart, another old boy, was a ‘wonderful example of patience and cheerfulness. He would also like to mention Mr William Mills and Mr Tom Muir. He would like to include two rectors, the late Dr Belcher, to whom the school owed a great deal for organisation and discipline, and the present rector (Mr Morrell), who had the longest period of rectorship in the history of the school, and to whom the school owed much in scholarship and culture. There were also those who had given for the school the greatest gift of all their . Mr E. R. Smith, m reply, said that in these days one heard a great deal ot higher education, and he thought that the prevailing idea was that those of the first decade were a primitive race who received primitive instruction, doubted, however, whether the curriculum of the present day could be wider than that which had been in use in the first decade. If the present boys, with the instruction which they received, were prepared to back it up when they went out into the world they . would succeed just as well as the old^brigade. A call for a haka for the old bngade” met with a ready response. Dr W E. Carswell proposed the toast of “The Masters,” and, departing somewhat from the orthodox manner ot handling such a toast, dealt with his subject in a humorous vein and spoke ot the influence that pupils had on their teachers. In concluding, however, he paid a tribute to masters under whom he bad studied, and said that at the present, more than at any time, the influence ot firm and wise masters was a necessity in every educational institution. In replying to the toast Mr H Chapman said it was difficult for him to realise that it was nearly 30 years since he assumed duty at the High School. He recalled that the first master he was introduced to was Mr “ Barney Campbell, who extended to him a courtesy and hospitality that he had never forgotten. Mr Chapman went on to relate several amusing anecdotes of his teaching days, and said he was proud to speak on behalf of the past-masters and masters at such a notable and representative gathering of old boys. . , Mr F. H. Campbell, who was greeted with cheers and the singing of “ For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” said he thought he could claim to be the connecting link between the past and present masters, as he came to the school in 1894, and no other master on the staff was earlier than 1911. He thought there was no master at the school who did not look back with pleasure on the old masters under whom they had studied, and felt pride in their association with such notable teachers as Mr D. Brent, Mr Mungo Watson, and Mr G. M. Thomson. The last-named was at present laid aside by illness, but he had asked him to convey his deep regret at being unable to be present. Mr Campbell referred to the fact that rib fewer than 15 of the present masters were old boys of the school, so that besides having dealt with them as a teacher, he had now the pleasure of having them as colleagues who were imbued with the spirit of doing the very best they could for the boys under their charge. He was proud of bis association with the Otago Boys’ High School and with its masters. The toast of “ Absent Old Boys,” proposed by the chairman, was also honoured.

During the evening items were contributed by Messrs W. N. Satterthwaite, Cecil Rranigan, Robert Moore, W. Strang, and H. W. Harvey. School songs were also sung. DINNER IN WELLINGTON (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 3. The annual dinner of the Wellington branch of the Otago High School Old Boys’ Society was field to-night. The occasion marked the seventieth anniversary of the school. Mr C. G. White presided over a large gathering. A link with the earliest history of the institution was formed by the presence of Mr John Mackay. who joined the school on August 3. 1803. The speakers were Professor H. H. Cornish, Mr G. H. Weir and Mr M. Mackav, Dr B. J. Maunsell, and Mr E. T. Norris and Mr Herbert Webb.